coldcoldcajun

I've only been to a couple of games since graduating in '85. One was a homecoming reunion so we had a get together at our building on campus. The other was a bad season daytime game, so not too exciting around the stadium. I know there were a couple of food trucks in front of the assembly center at the game last year, but food options outside the stadium were very limited.

We will be going to a better night game this year. Are there any tailgate gatherings that are open to the public "by donation", or do you need to know someone and be invited in?

Not sure if your travels take you near this town. A village left as it was ruined.

Oradur-Sur-Glane

I don't see a visit to Shield's Date Farm in Indio on your list. Or Joshua Tree.

It is a "I can say I've been to the Sistine Chapel" type of experience. Unless you have a limited group tour you are herded through like cattle as you are trying to view something well above your head while trying not to bump into the person next to you doing the same.

Also, I just saw that they are doing some restoration work on the ceiling so there will be scaffolding and netting in some portions. They are cleaning the layer of salt from tourist sweat that has filmed onto it.

I did some quick Apple Maps walking directions between various landmarks in the Centro Historico and they all come up "mostly flat". St. Peter's Basilica to Trevi Fountain, Trevi fountain to a restaurant in Trestavere, Roma Termini to the Pantheon...

It's not San Francisco. There may be rises and drops but over the distance it's evens out. At those distances they would probably Taxi.

Now will walking through the Roman Forum, around the Colosseum on a tour, up the Spanish Steps,...Okay...those might be difficult.

Just can't understand going to Africa over Italy. But that's my opinion.

Bought a new Maytag washer in December. Has touch screen controls. I need to hold my finger on the start touch pad for about 30 seconds until I see the Maytag logo appear, then keep holding until I get a “restarting” screen. Need to keep holding while screen goes black for another 30 seconds until a 5,4,3,2,1 countdown starts. Sometimes an hourglass shows up for 30 seconds, sometimes not. Then I finally get an actual working touch screen with the options for temp, speed, and dirt level. At that point I should be able to cycle through those and put my finger on the actual “play” touch pad. 1 1/2 minutes or so just to get the thing to start.

Does anyone else have one of these and is this lunacy the way yours works? I just had to try the process about 10 times because it kept kicking turning off before I could hit the cycles on the touch screen itself. Had to unplug for 5 minutes for a hard reset. Finally got it to cooperate on the 2nd try after plugging back in.

Hawkster - Not sure what happened to you in Italy that made you hate it so much. I guess I’m a pathetic prick because I enjoyed every moment of my 2 week 5 city visit to Italy. Granted I was in my mid-50’s and was able to put in the 30,000 steps a day we put ourselves through. I don’t remember Rome being hilly. Florence either. Cinque Terre yes if you do the walks between cities so I suggest they don’t go there. Venice is flat except for all the bridges you need to use to cross the canals and walking is really the only option. My closest to Tuscany experience was Assisi which had a lot of slope from one end of town to the other, but it was wonderful.

If they’ve never been to Italy I think they should go before they really can’t do it. Stay at a hotel that has a good roomy lift. Plan to use Taxi’s. World class museums, art, and architecture. They can see giraffe’s and elephants at Audubon Zoo or Animal Kingdom. They can’t see Michalangelo’s David or Pieta there. They can’t experience the Colosseum or Pantheon or Vatican City/ St. Peter’s Basilica on the Serengeti. They should enjoy a Cappucino in the morning at a cafe, an Aperol Spritz in the afternoon at another cafe, and a gelato in the evening at another.

I’ve got a whole new list of things to do in Italy the next time I go when I will be in my mid-60’s and I will go back.

I think we went to Arlington via the Hop On-Hop Off bus if you were thinking of doing that. It was a great way to see the major sites. Used it all day. Was a nice way to see the monuments at night.

Throw out the paper map if you get one. Locate your destination on Google or Apple maps but don't try to follow it. Download a compass on your phone, and when you the map says turn right go east, turn left go west, etc... You'll be driven crazy trying to find the "street" name sign because it will be a an old ceramic tile plaque about 25' up on the corner of an old building. And the street you've been looking for...that's the 30-inch wide alley that goes about 3 buildings deep. The fun is all in the confusion and what you'll discover next!

Thanks Lemmy, good business points. We’ll eat the extra cost I guess.