Your Vacation Location

[Herdfan]

Of note, when on the aircraft after landing in Paris, the Air France flight attendant went though the airplane and told the people who were going to use wheelchairs to remain seated and deplane last! I looked at my wife and said NFW, we would not make the connection. Being among the the first off and using a wheelchair was what made it work for us.

One thing we have noticed is that announcements are no longer made about connections. We and the offspring had 2 recent connection issues on the United BUR>CMH or CMH>BUR flights, both through DEN.

The first one the wife and I were flying back from dropping her off in CA and our flight out of BUR was delayed by 45 minutes. The Pilot came on and said all connections were good so we didn't think any more about it. Until we had a hold landing in DEN. We should have grabbed a FA and asked her to call ahead because we would have a tight connection, but we didn't. Got to DEN and the door was closed, so we missed that connection. Ironically our bags made it (United app is great for knowing where your bags are). So not wanting to wait until the later flight, we ended up grabbing a flight through ORD >CMH.

When the offspring was headed back home, we were about half way to the airport when she got an alert her flight had been delayed and the projected arrival was after her connection. So the wife (former TA) called and gets her rescheduled on the same flights the next day. She couldn't do an overnight layover because she had her cat. Get to the airport the next day, drop her off and head to dinner only to get a panicked call that her plane delayed again (someone puked on the inbound) and her connection was getting shorter by the minute. She finally got on, but her connection went from 1:10 to :35 and she was at the back of the plane. So she did ask is there was anyway she could get off first as she had a tight connection. She was told all connections were good.

She made it to her gate as the last boarding group was boarding. She didn't get anything to eat, but she lived.

But like I said, I remember FA's making announcements about gates and sometimes they would keep everyone seated until someone with a tight connection could get off. And the airlines did a better job of knowing who had tight connections and would help them make them. Now sadly it seems they don't care.

As for the BUR<>CMH on United, we are done with it.

 

[Huntn]

One thing we have noticed is that announcements are no longer made about connections. We and the offspring had 2 recent connection issues on the United BUR>CMH or CMH>BUR flights, both through DEN.

The first one the wife and I were flying back from dropping her off in CA and our flight out of BUR was delayed by 45 minutes. The Pilot came on and said all connections were good so we didn't think any more about it. Until we had a hold landing in DEN. We should have grabbed a FA and asked her to call ahead because we would have a tight connection, but we didn't. Got to DEN and the door was closed, so we missed that connection. Ironically our bags made it (United app is great for knowing where your bags are). So not wanting to wait until the later flight, we ended up grabbing a flight through ORD >CMH.

When the offspring was headed back home, we were about half way to the airport when she got an alert her flight had been delayed and the projected arrival was after her connection. So the wife (former TA) called and gets her rescheduled on the same flights the next day. She couldn't do an overnight layover because she had her cat. Get to the airport the next day, drop her off and head to dinner only to get a panicked call that her plane delayed again (someone puked on the inbound) and her connection was getting shorter by the minute. She finally got on, but her connection went from 1:10 to :35 and she was at the back of the plane. So she did ask is there was anyway she could get off first as she had a tight connection. She was told all connections were good.

She made it to her gate as the last boarding group was boarding. She didn't get anything to eat, but she lived.

But like I said, I remember FA's making announcements about gates and sometimes they would keep everyone seated until someone with a tight connection could get off. And the airlines did a better job of knowing who had tight connections and would help them make them. Now sadly it seems they don't care.

As for the BUR<>CMH on United, we are done with it.

Delta does have screens at the gate showing connections. It seems like those announcements are things of a different technical age.

 

[Herdfan]

Delta does have screens at the gate showing connections.

I have always liked Delta, but sadly once they did away with service from CVG to CRW I had to stop flying them. They still go to ATL, but I avoid that place like the plague. CVG isn't bad, but for some reason that extra 30 minutes driving home from CVG over CMH seems like hours.

What were the main routes you used to fly?

 

[Huntn]

I have always liked Delta, but sadly once they did away with service from CVG to CRW I had to stop flying them. They still go to ATL, but I avoid that place like the plague. CVG isn't bad, but for some reason that extra 30 minutes driving home from CVG over CMH seems like hours.

What were the main routes you used to fly?

All over. When I was on the A-320, domestic + Mexico and Canada.

 

[Edd]

Hit Utah last week for 4 ski days as they’re having an epic snow season. If you like booze like I do, Utah fucking sucks. They’ve essentially sucked all the joy out of being out on the town and having a few.

But, the skiing:

Me:

 

[Herdfan]

Hit Utah last week for 4 ski days as they’re having an epic snow season. If you like booze like I do, Utah fucking sucks. They’ve essentially sucked all the joy out of being out on the town and having a few.

But, the skiing:

Park City? Beautiful no matter.

Went to Park City back in the early 90's. Being east coast skiers, we wanted to experience real powder. Well, we chose the wrong time to go because it was just as icy as Snowshoe.

The upside was we could ski it and many others couldn't.

Got powder the next winter in Aspen, but that is a whole different story.

 

[Edd]

Park City? Beautiful no matter.

Went to Park City back in the early 90's. Being east coast skiers, we wanted to experience real powder. Well, we chose the wrong time to go because it was just as icy as Snowshoe.

The upside was we could ski it and many others couldn't.

Got powder the next winter in Aspen, but that is a whole different story.

Loved the town and the terrain in Aspen. That was over 10 years ago. Bummer to read stories about how difficult it is for non-rich people to exist there.

 

[Herdfan]

Loved the town and the terrain in Aspen. That was over 10 years ago. Bummer to read stories about how difficult it is for non-rich people to exist there.

I was there in the early 90's and even then the workers came in on the bus.

Could not beat the skiing there. It was gray and cloudy in town, but get on the gondola and pop up through the clouds to warm sun.

Haven't skied in years. Still have "straight" skis as I never upgraded to the parabolics. But as bad as my knees are, I think I would need to learn to telemark if I was going to ski again.

 

[Edd]

Quebec City. Like the town, love the skiing.

 

[Huntn]

Tomorrow heading back to France for our third trip there. It was original scheduled during the year of COVID, even had tickets purchased, then cancelled, and now we are giving it another shot visiting some estates and gardens, in central France including Giverny and Paris., Today we relocated to Minneapolis to see family, and tomorrow catch the direct Paris flight. More to come!

 

[Alli]

Tomorrow heading back to France for our third trip there. It was original scheduled during the year of COVID, even had tickets purchased, then cancelled, and now we are giving it another shot visiting some estates and gardens, in central France including Giverny and Paris., Today we relocated to Minneapolis to see family, and tomorrow catch the direct Paris flight. More to come!

Giverny is fabulous! Eat well while you’re there.

And while you’re off in France, I’m heading to Mexico on a cruise with the entire family to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday. She’s really excited about it, and she doesn’t even know that all 4 of her grandchildren will be joining us. Surprise!!!

 

[Huntn]

France 2024-
After Tuesday (4/23) arrival, checked into an CDG airport hotel to catch up on some sleep and acclimate. It’s amazing that I can get 10 hrs of sleep, wake up at 8:00 (01:00 my home time) and still feel like I don’t want to get up.

Wed, (4/24) We rented a car from north of Paris, drove down to Chateau De Fountainbleau, about 3 hrs to tour the property. As we left Paris, fortunately the rain stopped and the traffic thinned. It’s Spring, highs in the 50s (10s C) shrubs are blooming and bulbs are pushing up and some have popped.

Found in the Anglais Garden. Does anyone know what shrub this is? On the Fountainbleau Estate,
the leaves remind me of Rhododendron or Mountain Laurel. Update: iPhone 13 IDs it! Rhodendron, sweet!

We then made our way to a nice country home, with rooms for rent in Montlouis-sur-Loire. This time of year, quiet. I personally love the lack of tourists, especially nice when having dinner at a local restaurant.

Today (4/25) heading to Chateau De Chenonceau.

 

[Huntn]

Giverny is fabulous! Eat well while you’re there.

And while you’re off in France, I’m heading to Mexico on a cruise with the entire family to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday. She’s really excited about it, and she doesn’t even know that all 4 of her grandchildren will be joining us. Surprise!!!

Last night had some Crepes de Poulet, hmm good. Of note everything is expensive here, but in the spectrum, this restaurant was reasonable, about 45e for 2 to eat here. Almost empty restaurant. I’m finding it interesting that the dinner crepes are made with what I believe is buckwheat flour, something I noticed on our last visit to France, but had nor previously tasted since my childhood, in some dish I can’t remember the name of.

 

[Huntn]

France 2024 Part 2: Will upload images when I get better internet… Uploaded!

We’ve been staying at the Chateau de la Bourdaisiere in Montlouis-sur-Loire. With off season rates I’ll call this an outstanding value as per the airport hotel we stayed at for 1 night which was significantly more. It has a large comfortable room, splendidly decorated with a big comfortable bed, and wonderful views of the forests. With a small number of guests, quiet and pastoral.

I rented an economy, sub-compact (?) and ended up with a Citroen C5, a nice midsize, 6 speed stick, SUV. I’m in the groove now shifting the “new to me“ vehicle and navigating a bumper crop of round-abouts, a piece of cake.

Yesterday we visited the Chateau de Chenonceau. The wife saw this on a Monty Don show, Gardens of France and that was it. It was built for some King’s mistress and it’s not that big, but its unique feature is that the building started as a mill but then it was expanded to span the river. It also has 2 large square gardens adjacent to it, bursting with flowers, along the river.

Taken with iPhone 13

After that, I was very pleasantly surprised when we drove to a nearby small village known for its flowers, planted next to and growing on the sides of buildings and homes. The name is Chedigny. The place seemed almost empty so it was very pleasant strolling through.

Today we tried another village, Crissay-sur-Manse. It was ok, but not nearly as nice from a flower perspective.

 

[Huntn]

France 202- Part 3
Have been lucky with the the weather, rain on and off, but so far when we head out to see something. Driving North from the Loire valley to, I got hit by another type of storm, an urgent need to take a huge dump! Fortunately I was at a gas station at the time and barely made it to the toilet. This turned into the runs which I have been plagued with for the last 2 days. My wife accuses me drinking tap water but my defense is we have been here, twice before, granted in different locations, but it has not bothered me before so my position is that the cause is unknown. Could have been some food! Anyway, it’s a real bummer to have to get up 4-5 times a night to run, and have a squirt on the toilet. I broke down, found a pharmacy, since the grocery stores don’t seem to have any over the counter meds, and bought some Imodium which quickly seemes to have turned this situation around… I think. (just had a little squirt).

In Giverny, we visited the Monet House and Garden. Since every place before had light crowd, instead of buying tickets online, Intookna chances of buying the gate… mistake, an hour wait to get in. The garden is lovely, but many blooms were already spent (there will be more). The famous Water Lilly pond was divine, the house was packed so we skipped that and walked down the street, to The Impressionism Museum. That was a bit of a disappointment, because there hardly any Monet works in there, but in hindsight this might make sense because all his good stuff has been farmed out to museums around the world.

 

[Edd]

France 202- Part 3
Have been lucky with the the weather, rain on and off, but so far when we head out to see something. Driving North from the Loire valley to, I got hit by another type of storm, an urgent need to take a huge dump! Fortunately I was at a gas station at the time and barely made it to the toilet. This turned into the runs which I have been plagued with for the last 2 days. My wife accuses me drinking tap water but my defense is we have been here, twice before, granted in different locations, but it has not bothered me before so my position is that the cause is unknown. Could have been some food! Anyway, it’s a real bummer to have to get up 4-5 times a night to run, and have a squirt on the toilet. I broke down, found a pharmacy, since the grocery stores don’t seem to have any over the counter meds, and bought some Imodium which quickly seemes to have turned this situation around… I think. (just had a little squirt).

View attachment 29213

In Giverny, we visited the Monet House and Garden. Since every place before had light crowd, instead of buying tickets online, Intookna chances of buying the gate… mistake, an hour wait to get in. The garden is lovely, but many blooms were already spent (there will be more). The famous Water Lilly pond was divine, the house was packed so we skipped that and walked down the street, to The Impressionism Museum. That was a bit of a disappointment, because there hardly any Monet works in there, but in hindsight this might make sense because all his good stuff has been farmed out to museums around the world.

Specificity is the soul of narrative. And this post was pretty specific.