116 replies to this topic

[Rap]

Is this bama's shovel ready job creation?

[tamathumper]

I was wondering about the length of the shutdown (in miles) as well, if the reason is to re-work a single overpass...

Either it has something to do with aliens, or there's a glitch in "the Matrix".

[flash]

they aren't just working on the overpass, they are removing it to then replace it later

[ds968]

Well, looks like the widespread scare tactics strategy might have worked , seems a lot people stayed home and the massive gridlock predicted never happened..
OT- Bob, got your VM; thanks, but 'twas nothing important, it can easily wait until next week or whenever.. we'll catch up after you get back

Edited by ds968, 17 July 2011 - 06:56 AM.

[flash]

no worries - actually looking forward to being home

[Cloud9...68]

While I generally find over-hyping by the media of weather and traffic-related issues to be very annoying (you should see how they treat weather in Austin - if it drops below 50 degrees, all the news stations shout in unison, "Hide the women and children! Barricade your windows! We're all gonna die!!!!"). But in this particular case, all the months of hype seem to have been very effective in getting people to avoid the freeways this weekend, and the whole thing seems to be going very smoothly.

Edited by Cloud9...68, 17 July 2011 - 08:22 AM.

[ds968]

let's hope the media's alarmist m.o. doesn't scare me from being in Austin next year for F1 grand prix

[Cloud9...68]

I hope you own a twin-turbocharged cool suit!

[ds968]

i heard ice cold beer running in the veins should have a similar effect as the cooling race suit

[flash]

in munich now

4+ hour layover and then on to LA

VERY ready to be home

[flash]

ok - i'm back in town and have already been crazy busy catching up - anybody who emailed me and has not gotten a response, i had extremely sketchy access while i was gone, and i can't get to some of my emails, so i apologize - please send me another one

i finally got a minute to post a few last pics

the castle we stayed at in pergia as seen from the other side of the valley
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the fiat 500 we nick-named "BoBo" (not booboo) - i really needed some big yellow shoes and a red nose
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orvieto as seen from our B&B just outside town
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they do love to build towns on hills - can't remember what the name of this one was
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in rome, we stayed at what i called "the matt helm suite" - only $10k per night
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one of the 3 balconies
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the view of the balcony
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the view from the balcony
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then it was off to the Wind Surf, which is a 150 cabin power sailer
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the suite on the boat
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off to sorrento
a shot of vesuvius
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we then hired a driver and car and be-bopped down the amalfi coast to positano, amalfi, and revelo

positano
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gore vidal's house
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capri - another castle
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taormina
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off to greece

monemvasia
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santorini
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people hauling their asses up the hill
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leaving santorini's behind
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off to athens- the view from our balcony
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we were right above the square in front of the parliament building - hillary was in town, so all the nuts had to pop out, including riot dog
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great trip - we ate a LOT of really great food, got tons of cooking tips, drank some really amazing wines, and generally unwound for 3 weeks - very much needed - tons more pics, but thought i would get a smattering up - going back to work now

[flash]

p.s. - stay out of athens - horrible place - gotta go once, to see the acropolis, but not planning on going back

[flwbyu]

Bob,

Those are some great shots. Thanks for sharing! Love the BoBo. LOL

[ds968]

Awesome shots ! Well done. But, as EVERYONE says, " it's good to be back home " ..isn't it ?

[flash]

thanks guys - had a blast - got some really amazing, and some very "artsy" shots, but i thought these were better to post

good to be home indeed - we were very ready to be back - great trip though, and came back very "re-charged"

[Langley968]

Fabulous pictures! Just showed them to my wife and her reaction was: we need to go to Europe again! We have been in Venice, but nowhere else in Italy, so that will become a priority for the next trip. Thanks for sharing.
What we need to do now is find someone in Europe that would own a 2nd 968 and rent it out to us North Americans...
(OK - that's a long shot..., but I sure missed my 968 when I was in Europe in March)

[cosimo]

Flash, when in Firenze, did you see the statue of COSIMO D'Medici? He is sitting on a horse. Looks a lot like me!