New England Off Topic and Banter as Most Brilliantly Proposed by Cape Cod MINI

[MGB Boy]

Quote: Originally Posted by GBMINI (original)

Help, I can't keep track any more

Which part?

-Ricardo

[m2smith]

Well Pam and I are about to do our "vacation of the century" this Saturday (Me - post 50 + she - permanently pre 50 = 100). I know this is a world traveling bunch so I am looking for any "don't miss" suggestions. We are in London for a few days then off to Germany where we begin a trip along the Rhine then into Switzerland and ending in Austria. We are in Munich for Octoberfest and we have plans most of the way, BUT we end in Vienna with very few particulars (planning burnout)... Any suggestions???

We have been to the UK once but that is our only Euro-experience so everything will be new for us.

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by GBMINI (original)

Help, I can't keep track any more

Quote: Originally Posted by MGB Boy (original)

Which part?

Of how many MINIs he has maybe..? You need to be driving the 'old' one today Ian..!

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by m2smith (original)

Well Pam and I are about to do our "vacation of the century" this Saturday (Me - post 50 + she - permanently pre 50 = 100). I know this is a world traveling bunch so I am looking for any "don't miss" suggestions. We are in London for a few days then off to Germany where we begin a trip along the Rhine then into Switzerland and ending in Austria. We are in Munich for Octoberfest and we have plans most of the way, BUT we end in Vienna with very few particulars (planning burnout)... Any suggestions???

We have been to the UK once but that is our only Euro-experience so everything will be new for us.

If you want to do more UK, I'd say Cotswolds, Lake District and some of Scotland - probably Edinbugh and a bit north from there. In Switzerland get up into the Alps. Interlaken is a nice town between two lakes (hence the name ) and from there it's not far to Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Murren and Grindlewald. There's a huge waterfall falling from the cliff and you can take the cog railway and cable car and pretend you're James Bond (On Her Majesty's Secret Service). From Wengen you can take a railway up to the base of the Eiger and there's even a station in the ice of the glacier coming off Jungfrau. From there you can take a cable car back down the other side into the Grindlewald valley (but that's not so much use if you left a car at Wengen!). It's a beautiful part of the world that I went to several times as a kid.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...16573,0.380058

And while you're in Germany, pay the 5 euros or whatever it is to drive the Nurburgring..!

[m2smith]

Cotswolds YES! - went there when visiting son at Oxford - Absolutely beautiful - and that is where we fell in love with MINIs.
Murren and Piz Gloria are on the itinerary! Nurburgring...hmmmm.

Vienna anyone? Bueller?

[bethandlouis]

Bought our tickets for the Highland Games. We can only go on Saturday and Louis is not going to be happy to wake up so early. Want to meet up?

[yellowmininy]

I was only in Scotland (skipped the London & south of England part to see more of Scotland), but Edinburgh was great. Went to the Willow Tea Room in Glasgow for my daughter's 21st birthday.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh The Willow Tea Rooms, Glasgow.

Of course, I'm sure you can find fun things to do around London (post in the main OT&B section, and I bet you can get a lot of international suggestions)

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav (original)

You need to be driving the 'old' one today Ian..!

I am ...

[MGB Boy]

Quote: Originally Posted by bethandlouis (original)

Bought our tickets for the Highland Games. We can only go on Saturday and Louis is not going to be happy to wake up so early. Want to meet up?

Sure, I'll be there all weekend, heading over Thursday night or Friday morning (got a friend with a big-ass ski condo in Lincoln). For the clan parade and opening ceremony on Saturday, I'll probably be luxuriating in the exclusivity of the "members tent" (ooooh, swanky) since that gets me a better view of things, but before and after that I'll be out and about with my peeps. Just look for the half Spanish half Scottish guy with the shaved head, goatee, and red Grant tartan kilt. Can't miss me. I'll be there all day, I'm sure we can figure a time/place to meet up, show you the sights and such. I'll PM you my cell number, hopefully it will work up there.

Some thoughts/things to consider:

Non-members (i.e. people who just buy a ticket and don't give them a bunch of money!) have to park off site. There will be signs for where to park, the main lots are off Exit 32 (Hobo RR and up behind the Timbermill) and Exit 33 (Clark's Trading Post, Whale's Tale Waterpark). School buses run back and forth up to the site at Loon. Account for that in your travel time! Everyone seems to get to the parking lots at 11:15am thinking that will give them plenty of time to get to the Opening Ceremony hoo-hah at noon, then they discover that 10,000 other people had the same exact thought. Also, no pets, even tiny little dogs, unless you can convince them you are blind and have a very small guide dog.

There's all kinds of stuff to see, of course. A few highlights I'd try not to miss; The Massed Bands & Opening Ceremonies on the Parade Ground at noon. One of the signature events, all the participating pipe bands march in, then collectively play a few tunes, which is pretty cool when it's several hundred pipers and drummers. This particular event is always popular so the choice viewing spots around the parade ground get occupied quickly. Sure, there's another massed band performance at 5pm, but it's just not as good as the noon one. Also, try to catch a performance by Albannach, one of the bands playing there. Four drummers and a piper making an absurd amount of noise, it's good clean fun. They are doing short (25 minute or so) shows at 11am, 12:30pm, and 3pm around the site. And, of course, there's big burly men in kilts throwing large random objects around on the athletic field. Can't miss that. That will be going on all day.

The whole sched (still curiously lacking an online version of the map they mailed out) is at:

2006 NHHG Schedule - NH Highland Games

What are the odds of getting Louis to try haggis?

-Ricardo

[m2smith]

ZEN SARCASM

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the h e ll alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17. Duct tape is like 'The Force.' It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

[dracmanf]

Quote: Originally Posted by m2smith (original)

Well Pam and I are about to do our "vacation of the century" this Saturday (Me - post 50 + she - permanently pre 50 = 100). I know this is a world traveling bunch so I am looking for any "don't miss" suggestions. We are in London for a few days then off to Germany where we begin a trip along the Rhine then into Switzerland and ending in Austria. We are in Munich for Octoberfest and we have plans most of the way, BUT we end in Vienna with very few particulars (planning burnout)... Any suggestions???

We have been to the UK once but that is our only Euro-experience so everything will be new for us.

I'm Jealous. This is a great time of year to be in Bavaria. Hopefully you'll get a chance to drive while in southern Germany and visit King Ludwigs castles at Linderhof and Hohenschwangau. Pay the 5 marks and take a horse ride to the castle....the walk can hurt you for a few days! The drive to/fm Munich is rt B17 or the Romantistrasse with some really great twisties. I had an Audi 80 once that was really fun, I know my Mini would be even better! check out Ludwig II of Bavaria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As for Eating in Munich.. Right around the corner from the Glocklenspiel in the center of Munich is a restaurant called the HaxenBauer which specializes in schweinehaxen served with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. (Not on the the American Heart Association list.) This is a must go to place. One pork shank can easily feed two, and if only one person is going to have the pork shank order a half. They will show you your shank before it's cooked because you pay by the kilo. Also, you'll love their white radishes & butter & brown bread. It's a two minute walk from Marianplatz station. Get to MArianplatz a few hours early and just walk around, It's a great place. If you want a Brauhaus, Weißes Bräuhaus is probably my favorite and the Brauhaus down the street from Haxenbauer is also very good.(It's where Hilter got his start)
Enjoy!! let us know the details when you return.

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by GBMINI (original)

I am ...

I found the article, but the link doesn't work.

[GBMINI]

I don't know why MT does that sometimes
(fixed)

[m2smith]

Quote: Originally Posted by dracmanf (original)

As for Eating in Munich.. Right around the corner from the Glocklenspiel in the center of Munich is a restaurant called the HaxenBauer which specializes in schweinehaxen served with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut.

Thanks for the tips. You're the second to recommend that place for the same meal! - Its got to be good! - and Pam informs me I'll be ordering for one

[MGB Boy]

I don't really think that avoiding spinach is going to be a real problem for me. Now, if they'd said there was a nationwide ecoli outbreak tied to cupcakes, that would be front page news...

-Ricardo