Trip Report Readers Chick Chat and Guy Gabbing Thread!

[Loco_driver]

Some things I’ve done lately that are lightly tied to this thread.

Traveled to our state capital city twice in the last two weeks. It was work travel, so not as much fun. A free trip is a free trip though, right?! No I was not driving when I took this quick snap through the car windshield.


I was able to teach a few of my younger coworkers a thing or two about hitting golf balls!


Obligatory mention of my many bucees visits.


Sandwiched between visits to Austin was a trip to DFW with my dad to watch the cowboys backups squad take on the Seahawks backups. He just had lasik surgery and wasn’t comfortable driving in heavy tradfic, and boy was it heavy at 5 PM on a Friday! We look forward to attending some real games in the upcoming season.



They never mention on Tv broadcasts the traffic nightmare that awaits just outside the stadium. This parking lot sells for over $200 a spot on game days BTW.


Anyways, 14 days until A and I embark on our next Disney adventure!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Some things I’ve done lately that are lightly tied to this thread.

Traveled to our state capital city twice in the last two weeks. It was work travel, so not as much fun. A free trip is a free trip though, right?! No I was not driving when I took this quick snap through the car windshield.
View attachment 663578

I was able to teach a few of my younger coworkers a thing or two about hitting golf balls!
View attachment 663577

Obligatory mention of my many bucees visits.
View attachment 663579

Sandwiched between visits to Austin was a trip to DFW with my dad to watch the cowboys backups squad take on the Seahawks backups. He just had lasik surgery and wasn’t comfortable driving in heavy tradfic, and boy was it heavy at 5 PM on a Friday! We look forward to attending some real games in the upcoming season.
View attachment 663583
View attachment 663582

They never mention on Tv broadcasts the traffic nightmare that awaits just outside the stadium. This parking lot sells for over $200 a spot on game days BTW.
View attachment 663580

Anyways, 14 days until A and I embark on our next Disney adventure!

Looks fun! I’m glad that you and A are finally making it to Disneyland. You two will have so much fun. Be sure to try my favorite treat, it’s a chocolate peanut butter sandwich and found in the candy shops. Although if you don’t like chocolate and peanut butter then…boo to you. Haha!. Bengal BBQ is good for some skewer snacks.

 

[MinnieM123]

They never mention on Tv broadcasts the traffic nightmare that awaits just outside the stadium. This parking lot sells for over $200 a spot on game days BTW.

I enjoyed your photos, and thank you for sharing with us. Also, very happy that you and your wife will visit Disneyland soon. I've always enjoyed all of your TRs, so an upcoming one will be something for me to look forward to!!

P.S.: My jaw dropped when I read the price for parking at that stadium though!!! (So glad I don't follow any team sports -- too expensive!)

 

[FutureCEO]

P.S.: My jaw dropped when I read the price for parking at that stadium though!!! (So glad I don't follow any team sports -- too expensive!)

And to think I thought around $55 near Fenway and TD Garden was expensive.

 

[erstwo]

And to think I thought around $55 near Fenway and TD Garden was expensive.

Everything's bigger in Texas.

Looking forward to hearing about DL @Loco_driver ! Even if you don't post a full TR, hoping you'll share a few things about your trip!

 

[Loco_driver]

P.S.: My jaw dropped when I read the price for parking at that stadium though!!! (So glad I don't follow any team sports -- too expensive!)

And to think I thought around $55 near Fenway and TD Garden was expensive.

To be fair, this is only for cowboys parking. They actually sell season parking passes that then get resold for stupid amounts of money. We went to the rangers game which is literally next door to the cowboys and we paid $15 to park.

Everything's bigger in Texas.

Looking forward to hearing about DL @Loco_driver ! Even if you don't post a full TR, hoping you'll share a few things about your trip!

I’m still undecided on a full TR. Leaning towards doin one, but it may not be as detailed since it’s our first trip there and I won’t be taking as many notes.

 

[Loco_driver]

Looks fun! I’m glad that you and A are finally making it to Disneyland. You two will have so much fun. Be sure to try my favorite treat, it’s a chocolate peanut butter sandwich and found in the candy shops. Although if you don’t like chocolate and peanut butter then…boo to you. Haha!. Bengal BBQ is good for some skewer snacks.

It’s been on my list since I saw you post it on instagram some time back. Chocolate and peanut butter is a major food group for me!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

It’s been on my list since I saw you post it on instagram some time back. Chocolate and peanut butter is a major food group for me!

My sister and niece were just at Disneyland and they are bringing me back about 10 of them. They freeze pretty good, the chocolate gets a bit sticky upon thawing but nothing to deter me from enjoying them. When I went to Disneyland in early June they were not for sale and I was very upset. In early June there was a huge peanut butter recall, so I think Disney must use whatever brand was being recalled.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Double post sorry

 

[Bullseye1967]

Some things I’ve done lately that are lightly tied to this thread.

Traveled to our state capital city twice in the last two weeks. It was work travel, so not as much fun. A free trip is a free trip though, right?! No I was not driving when I took this quick snap through the car windshield.
View attachment 663578

I was able to teach a few of my younger coworkers a thing or two about hitting golf balls!
View attachment 663577

Obligatory mention of my many bucees visits.
View attachment 663579

Sandwiched between visits to Austin was a trip to DFW with my dad to watch the cowboys backups squad take on the Seahawks backups. He just had lasik surgery and wasn’t comfortable driving in heavy tradfic, and boy was it heavy at 5 PM on a Friday! We look forward to attending some real games in the upcoming season.
View attachment 663583
View attachment 663582

They never mention on Tv broadcasts the traffic nightmare that awaits just outside the stadium. This parking lot sells for over $200 a spot on game days BTW.
View attachment 663580

Anyways, 14 days until A and I embark on our next Disney adventure!

The Love is for Bucee's, The Cowboys, time with your Dad, and DL, not the parking or traffic!

 

[RememberWhen]

I am not a Crocs person.

Never had a pair.

Never even tried some on.

Then I saw these.

View attachment 662917

I now own these cute (and ridiculously expensive) Crocs!

(Confidential to @Nunu ~ I won’t be wearing them on an escalator! )

I saw these and was sooo tempted, but the price was a bit too high. DD5 did get these though:

 

[FutureCEO]

Question for travelers: Do I need a bag pack? Normally at Disney I don't have one (I'm not the one carrying rain gear) or walking around NYC. I typically tie my sweatshirt around my waist. '

If I do need one.....do I need a slash proof one? I liked one simple bag (fjallraven) but they said they like to slash bags in Italy/Spain. I'm not one to buy two bags when I could just buy one.

 

[erstwo]

Question for travelers: Do I need a bag pack? Normally at Disney I don't have one (I'm not the one carrying rain gear) or walking around NYC. I typically tie my sweatshirt around my waist. '

If I do need one.....do I need a slash proof one? I liked one simple bag (fjallraven) but they said they like to slash bags in Italy/Spain. I'm not one to buy two bags when I could just buy one.

Did you mean to type backpack? Maybe?
I personally like a cross body for two reasons - everything is in front of me and in ‘highly trafficked/ known pickpocket areas’ (front of Eifel Tower, Spanish Steps, Downton Nashville etc) I can literally keep one hand on my purse at all times.
Backpacks make me nervous because someone standing behind me can unzip it on the train, etc. and I might not notice.
My current favorite is my crossbody with a metal chain strap.
When I travel for work or alone, I keep just the essentials, including my passport, with me at all times in my purse. I keep everything else in the hotel room. When I’m with my family, my husband carries everyone’s passports in this small fabric pouch that goes around your neck and he wears it under his shirt.

 

[FutureCEO]

Did you mean to type backpack? Maybe?
I personally like a cross body for two reasons - everything is in front of me and in ‘highly trafficked/ known pickpocket areas’ (front of Eifel Tower, Spanish Steps, Downton Nashville etc) I can literally keep one hand on my purse at all times.
Backpacks make me nervous because someone standing behind me can unzip it on the train, etc. and I might not notice.
My current favorite is my crossbody with a metal chain strap.
When I travel for work or alone, I keep just the essentials, including my passport, with me at all times in my purse. I keep everything else in the hotel room. When I’m with my family, my husband carries everyone’s passports in this small fabric pouch that goes around your neck and he wears it under his shirt.

Opps just notice I wrote bag packs

 

[Swissmiss]

If I do need one.....do I need a slash proof one? I liked one simple bag (fjallraven) but they said they like to slash bags in Italy/Spain. I'm not one to buy two bags when I could just buy one.

While I’m sure it does happen, I would think that if slashing bags happened frequently it would make it into newspapers over here. Don’t scream « tourist » in the clothes you wear, the way you carry yourself, etc and you should be fine. I too usually have a crossbody bag so that I can easily keep a hand on it in crowded situation.

 

[erstwo]

Opps just notice I wrote bag packs

Okay - yes. I just wasn’t sure if it was something I’d never heard of! (I don’t know it all - don’t know what fjallraven is either! )
I think the number one thing is to do exactly what you are already doing. Do your research and take it seriously.
For example - you read about the pickpockets outside the Eiffel Tower - They are real and all the things you read online are true. You just have to be super rude - don’t respond to them, just give them a stern look so they know you are aware of your surroundings, and walk quickly past with purpose toward the Tower and keep a grip on your bag at all times. If you do that, you should be fine. They are mostly looking for an easy target - someone they can slip a hand in your bag while you sign their ‘petition’ or listen to their sad story. A wannabe ‘influencer’ who lays their bag down to put their camera on the tripod for photos and the thief can just grab the bag and keep running.
Same for your other high risk locations - Be aware of your surroundings and keep a hand on your valuables.
Another thing my husband does is wear a ‘money belt’ with some of our cash. It’s old school and I tease him for it but it’s a way of avoiding a wallet that could be stolen out of his pocket and we always have currency in a pinch!
Really though, I think you’re already on the right track!

 

[MickeyCB]

I saw these and was sooo tempted, but the price was a bit too high. DD5 did get these though:

Isn't it crazy what we do for our kids?! I can't count the times I won't spend x number of dollars on me, but will blow triple that on my kids.

 

[Songbird76]

Okay - yes. I just wasn’t sure if it was something I’d never heard of! (I don’t know it all - don’t know what fjallraven is either! )
I think the number one thing is to do exactly what you are already doing. Do your research and take it seriously.
For example - you read about the pickpockets outside the Eiffel Tower - They are real and all the things you read online are true. You just have to be super rude - don’t respond to them, just give them a stern look so they know you are aware of your surroundings, and walk quickly past with purpose toward the Tower and keep a grip on your bag at all times. If you do that, you should be fine. They are mostly looking for an easy target - someone they can slip a hand in your bag while you sign their ‘petition’ or listen to their sad story. A wannabe ‘influencer’ who lays their bag down to put their camera on the tripod for photos and the thief can just grab the bag and keep running.
Same for your other high risk locations - Be aware of your surroundings and keep a hand on your valuables.
Another thing my husband does is wear a ‘money belt’ with some of our cash. It’s old school and I tease him for it but it’s a way of avoiding a wallet that could be stolen out of his pocket and we always have currency in a pinch!
Really though, I think you’re already on the right track!

You might also consider a small backpack as a dummy. When I was in Paris, I was hyper aware because we had been warned about the pick pockets, etc. A common place is in subway stations, especially on the stairs. A lot of times they are crowded and people aren't paying close attention. But I had my backpack with snacks, a guide book, and a notebook in it. Nothing valuable went into the backpack. I kept my money in a bag in front of me. Anyway, we entered a subway station and it wasn't busy at all. It was just my husband and me, and these two guys behind us. The stairway was really wide....it's built for crowds of people, so several can go up and down all at the same time. I found it really strange that in a basically empty stairway, these 2 young guys stayed right behind us, especially since it seemed like they were hurrying to get down onto the platform. They were several yards behind us, hurrying down and then suddenly they were right behind me. It just didn't feel right to me. Then I felt my bag jostle just a bit, like someone had tried to open it. I turned around and the guys took off. I took the backpack off and the front compartment was halfway open, with the notebook sticking out. So they were definitely pickpockets, but there was nothing for them to pick, and since I was paying close attention, they didn't have a chance to even get that. All they would have gotten was my notebook, but still.

There are also backpacks with hidden compartments for wallet and passport that go against your back so a pickpocket can't access the pocket unless it's not on your back. I think just being aware of your surroundings is huge. Learn to say "No thank you" in whatever the local language is. If someone approaches you, just say no, thank you and walk away. They most likely aren't going to chase you. Just don't allow them to distract you. And be wary of street performers...often they work in groups, so one or two will be doing some performance and others walk through the crowd of spectators to pick pockets. If you do stop to watch a performer, make sure your valuables are not in an accessible place. Where are you heading, again?

 

[Darstarr]

@Zipadeelady , we missed you the other night at the game!

The guy on the left, behind me is a semi random guy we met on the train. Should have been you.

Game was 2hours 19 minutes. Then we waited an hour for a train (smh, curse you NY!). We thought we would grab a snack from the bodega while we waited.
Here were our choices…


Also, of note, a Red Sox fan showed up. (At a Dodger/Met game in Queens) We had some words (I might have called him a mass hole) and he threatened me Then X came back from getting some food and, X being a Yankees fan had some words for him. When X found out the guy threatened me he had more words for him. The guy finally left but not before becoming racist.
Red Sox fans are the worst!

 

[Loco_driver]

The guy finally left but not before becoming racist.

That’s the Boston way!