This forum is dying

nns1400

Thanks, TDL...

I just emailed that link to my mom...

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The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.

thoughtforfood

Costa Rica is a great place. In terms of Latin America, it is the most well educated and safe. You do see people with machine guns out garding banks and the like, but for the most part, it is a wonderful place. The coffee is freaking AMAZING. Funny thing is that they export good stuff to Europe (though not as good as the pure stuff they keep at home), but they add more Arabica to the stuff they send to the US. They say we are very unsophistocated coffee drinkers.

I for one cannot deal with the resort vacation. I am more a Lonely Planet kind of guy.

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Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.
-- Albert Einstein

thoughtforfood

This is the "country" in me: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wPJB7...feature=related
I was at this show, and if you look, there is a shiny bald head in the crowd near the line to the bass drum. That is me.

These guys are fantastic, and tour all over. If the come to a venue near you, go. I promise you will love them.

Thanks for always thinking of me when you think "redneck" nns. It warms my heart...:-)

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Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.
-- Albert Einstein

Crankyfeet

Interesting info on the Costa Rican coffee.

On resort vacations - you obviously haven't experienced the comfort of being able to go to resorts in 20 different countries and they all feel the same. It makes one feel like they are comfortably at home, even though one has travelled. The extra expense is worth it, otherwise you have to walk the foreign streets not knowing anything, and trying to communicate with the "foreigners"...

If you're lucky as well, there will be lots of young kids screaming and shouting around the pool, making the atmosphere really exciting and carnival-like...

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thoughtforfood

I love Ricky Skaggs: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CpH8W...feature=related

I don't like country much, but Bluegrass is another thing. I love the sound of a banjo.

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Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.
-- Albert Einstein

thoughtforfood

You know I had never considered that particular feature of resort vacations....I am guessing they "America" everything up. I will have to consider that one day.....

I don't mind hotels so much anymore, and I will fly now, but I still like to walk amongst the people so that I can feel superior and show disdain face to face. You know, I find that in another country, it is always best to just go ahead and ask if they speak English in English. They really seem to like that. Also, play 3 card Monty all over the world. You will find one ally in the crowd who will mark a card in some way to help you win....funny thing is that when you pick the card, it isn't the queen. I guess those people helping are really shocked...but it was your money that was lost, so no real skin off of their back. I also found that staying away from local cuisine is also the way to go. You can count on McD's to provide consistent quality all over the world. Another suggestion is to sew an American flag on something that you always carry.

I have some more travel tips if anyone is interested.

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Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.
-- Albert Einstein

nns1400

Funny..I just saw a bluegrass band yesterday...at some old home days kind of thing. They were really good too..but I don't know their name. Even if you don't enjoy bluegrass (I like it) you can't help but marvel at their talent. Saw some really cool people caning chairs and making handmade bows and stuff...

The funniest part was talking to a lady who could do all kinds of authentic Indian fingerweaving, who had this guy from STL basically trying to figure out if she had running water in her house, LOL... she looked at me and winked and said, y'know, I even wear shoes most of the time too...

(P.S. I know you don't like country much (along with everyone else here) but I like to post songs I think are funny)

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The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.

nns1400

This isn't country, or bluegrass or anything...it's just Van Morrison and one of my favorite songs...my heart's down south tonight...(I miss my mom).

Tupelo Honey...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GBQafSOfmpI

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The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.

Bro Deal

I managed to watch the first hour of Transformers before the suckage became so unbearable I had to get relief by switching to a werewolf movie starring Kevin Sorbo. Wow, Hollywood blows.

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"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

Crankyfeet

I've never even risked trying to watch it. Even less chance now.

Watched Ruthless People the other night. That was a funny movie...

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Crankyfeet

I am interested.

Here's some of mine:

>Always tip way in excess of the normal expected tip. This helps to ensure that other travellers get treated as cheapskates when they tip the normal amount.
>The only products you should buy when travelling are those sold in souvenir stores. A collection of snow globes of places around the world could be worth millions in years to come.
>Take as many pictures as you can on your trip. I learnt this one from watching the Japanese and Chinese. Every picture should involve you or your travelling companion standing in the middle of the picture in the same pose with a different statue behind you. If you can't find 400 different statues you're not trying hard enough.
>One of the best things about being in a different country is that you can litter at abandon and you're not making your own country "messy" at all
>When you get out of customs make sure you take one of the private limousines that are being offered by numerous guys. The fares are about three times the rate of an American limousine service, but it's way better than waiting 5 or 10 minutes for those free hotel shuttles.
>If you drink the local water out of the faucet, you can often lose up to 20 lbs of weight on your trip, making it a fast and efficient way to lose weight.
>Don't tell the taxi drivers in Mexico City, Manila, or Caracaos that this is your first time to visit.

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Eden

Agreed!

Someone stole one of my bikes today! (locked up outside of Westlake Center) It was my utility bike, so not a huge monetary loss, but it still sucks. It's the only one I had that could take a rack and panniers, so it was my errand/shopping bike. They also got my jacket, my helmet, my favorite set of panniers and worst my heart rate monitor watch.

Now I'm cranky.....

Crankyfeet

That's crap. Did I drive near there today when I went down Broad onto Alaskan Way to dump my Mom on a boat?

FBI Field Officer Frank Cranky wants to get on the case. Need a full description of items. Did they/he just steal it while you were inside briefly? Check the Westlake Center (or whatever building your bike was parked outside of) as they may have security cameras that picked up the crime.

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Eden

I went to security at Westlake before I called the Seattle police - they were pretty useless.... Seattle PD was nice enough, but really reporting it is more a way to just let them know what sort of crimes are happening than anything, as there's little chance they have the time to spend looking for stolen bikes.

Now I have heard that bike thieves around here have started a habit of stealing a bike then locking it up somewhere else until it "cools off"... The bike that was stolen was a pretty cheap one - a Marin Larkspur (a hybrid) so its not really worth stripping of its components as they are mostly low end shimano mt bike. If you happen to see a silver Marin hybrid with a black front fork, red and black Blackburn panniers and black fenders (especially if they are creatively modified to fit in the front with a bronze colored coat hanger in place of the original fender stays...) locked up somewhere, let me know so I can hang around it and give the person who comes to get it a good swift kick.