Karebear Central

We went to a wedding this weekend a little town right near the Wisconsin Border.  Since this was 4 hours away, we had to get a hotel.  We went to Hotels.com and booked a room at the only one with a pool at AmericInn.   (The invitations did not include a list of hotels to stay.)  We knew we would not have a lot of time to swim, but if it was only a couple dollars more, what the heck.  It ended up about $80.00 for one night.

The hotel was very nice.  The employees were very cheerful and nice.  They apolgized that they were slow (they weren’t really) due to new computer system.  They told us about the fresh continental breakfast in the morning from 6-10. (Sausage, waffles, cereal, donuts, bread, bagels, eggs–all really good)  The room was well cleaned, looking really nice.  Our room looked out onto the street, so we could make sure our car was okay.   I enjoyed our trip–since we did squeeze in time for the pool (nice and clean–even had a backboard for pool basketball), hot tub (nice and bubbly) and sauna.  I would stay at this hotel again or this chain.

With all this overtime I have been working, I have been thinking about what our next trip is going to be. Andy’s brother now lives in Maryland, his aunt and uncle in DC area and I have a cousin and Andy has a friend both in Boston. But if we are going to go out there, I am going to want to go head over to New York.
I am very touristy when I go places because I don’t care what people think. I am probably never going to see them again and really I don’t know if I will ever get out ther again. One thing I know I would like to do is one of theNew York Tours. The buses are double deckers with a really cool feature–only seating on the top, not in the bottom. It is to give the tourist the best possible view for the tours. I hate trying to figure out what to see and what there really is to see in a city. I like having someone tell me all I can see and give me options of what to see and not to see. Plus not only that, you can have day trips to Philly, DC or Amish country. I love vacations that are planned for me. It would make life easy for me!

Tonight, I was going through pictures from various trips, remembering the hassels and fun I had with each one.  I know we are going to be heading to California again in the next year (my best friend is moving back there) so that got me thinking about our trip to and the things to do in San Franscisco. 

The craziest thing that happened there was my friends and husband trusted me to read the guide book.  Yes, I am an English major and am not stupid, but for some reason when I read guide books, I do not read everything in small print.  We wanted to do some Go Cars.  These are go cart things where it guides you around the city.  We started walking up the street that leads to Lombard Street and the numbers kept getting higher and higher.  Well, the number we were looking for, eventually someone one else looked at the book and discovered I had transposed the numbers.  We had continued walking an extra block uphill!  Needless to say, not friendly response from my friends! 

 We packed so much into that trip from Alcatraz to visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Who knows when we are ever getting back there again, so we made sure to make the most of the trip.   I know it would be great to find a site that had great family vacation ideas.   As a family, I think San Francisco would be a trip to take when the kids are in their early teens.  Any earlier, I do not think they would enjoy it as much.  I know going back I would rely on tours more than anything else.  To really see the city, you need a guide or at least some sort of direction.  If you do not have a plan, it will be hard to fit everything into a short trip without help!

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The weather lately has had everyone so down and gloomy.  It makes me want to get away.   Andy and I were discussing what our next trip was going to be.  He wants to do a royal caribbean cruise, but I’m not sure.  One, I get seasick.  Two, I want to have some friends come along.  I mean, I love my husband, but we’ve been on enough trips alone now, I would like to share with more people.  Andy says the ships are so big I shouldn’t have a problem with seasickness.  I think I would enjoy a cruise.   I suppose maybe we could look into it. 

One of the things that I had hoped to do when we were in Europe, was to head over to Austria or Switzerland to see the Alps.  We would have to, but there was just so much to see on the drive over, we ran out of time.  Looking on the web, I realize I would love to go to a Courchevel chalet some time for a dream vacation.  How many people do I know that would take a trip like this?  Not many.  It would be great to be able to wake up in the morning in a nice ski resort and be able to ski on great hills.  For me, I have never really been skiing, but it is something that looks like it is a lot of fun.  You know, once you get the falling part down!  For me, the cool part would be for the chalet to have the food and wine ready for me, that would be great.  I think I would spend more time inside than out. 

  When we first started dating, Andy told me he would show me the world.  I thought he was just being a guy and talking out his butt or trying to impress me.   But I have realized that he really does want to show me different places.  I never thought I would have this opportunity.  I mean this castle Neuschwanstein is beautiful.  I’d seen it in pictures, but to actually be there is amazing.  Interesting fact about this castle, only 7 rooms are done.  Its only about 9 euro to tour the 7 rooms that are completed.  You can take a bus, walk the long route or the short route.  Andy’s brother decided to take the short route to avoid horse poop.  Well, he didn’t tell us this would be the steeper climb.  I again had forgotten to train for our vacation!  That is why I look a little red! 

Before we went to Paris, Andy suggested we go to the library and read some Let’s Gobooks.  These books are for the on the budget traveller which we kind of were.  I was looking at wine bars, and this one caught my eye.  We went to it on a rainy Tuesday night.  It was a small place with about 12 tables and a bar.  Everywhere you could think to put a clown, there was a clown.  I had the best filet Mignon pork ever here.  The only problem was we were running low on Euros and the place does not take credit cards.  So Andy ran down the street to a ATM.  We had enough money for dinner and one glass of wine, but if we were at a wine bar, I wanted to try more.  Plus Paris makes the best chocolate mousse ever.  But anyways, I do not normally find clowns freaky.  But after seeing this clown walking down to the bathroom, I can see why people are afraid.

   Seriously, though, if you are ever in Paris, go to this restaurant.  Awesome food.

I love food.  I love to be around it, eating it, savoring it.  There is nothing I like more than to find an interesting restaurant.  More now since I am beginning to like more food.  I would love if there were an abundance of choices, but in the Green Bay area.  But in St. Augustine, there is an overabundance of restaurants, even ones that Andy can get paella from.  I have even heard there are quite a few places to find some good wine.  There are also a bunch of Events in St. Augustine especially on the last Saturday of the month, including October 27 and November 24th. 

Ever since we went to Europe, I love history and old buildings.  We could visit the Oldest Schoolhouse in the USA or even the Cathedral Basilica, the oldest catholic congregation in North America.   I would be willing to fly down and spend a Saturday night takes place from 5:00 pm to 9:00.  I can get Andy to get down there by promising a visit to the A1A Ale Works, a microbrewery.  I know Andy loves micro-brews and I know he loves a good time.  Plus, it would be a place new to both of us.  Andy has been everywhere, so its hard to find someplace neither of us has been.

People keep on asking me where we are going to go on our next vacation and I originally was saying Guatemala because some friends of mine were going to renew their vows there.  They have decided not to now, so I was thinking of looking into Hotels in Brisbane, Australia.  I have had a couple friends and relatives visit there and they speak very highly of Australia. 

I would like to visit someplace where its warm, has beaches, shopping, etc., all stuff I love to do.  Don’t get me wrong, I did like Europe, but it was different type of vacation than I am normally used to.  I think the Brisbane Accomodations would be much different than Europe too.  The small room left a lot to be desired.   I mean look at this hotel and pool.  I think I could live here for a week. 

I think the other thing I would really enjoy is the people and the culture.  I would actually be able to have conversations with other other people and learn about Gold Coast Accomodations too.  I sometimes need a bit of excitement on my trips so I know I would need to find the amusement parks to go to. 

I do have to say I’m sadden by the fact that I will not be seeing Paris Hilton at Oktoberfest.  NOT.  She was kicked out this year for showing up last year promoting her canned wine.  The best part of this situation is that the Bavarians stated that she “cheapened” the event.  I’m liking these people already!