slidergirl

There is also an AC Hotel in Florence. It's somewhere on the other side of the Centro Storico about a 15 minute walk to the train station. If you don't mind a non-brand, I stayed at the Urban Market Hotel this summer and I loved it. about a 5 minute walk from the train station and about the same to the Mercato Centrale and another 5 to the Duomo. I didn't partake of the breakfast there - I went next door to the coffee shop for a nice cappuccino and a cornetto. Also, it doesn't matter if you do not speak Italian or Spanish. Google Translate on your smartphone is your friend! You can even take photos of menus and it will translate. Be sure, though to learn a few things - bongoirno, bonanote, dove e un bagno, grazie, prego.. Donde hay un bano, Buenos dias, buenos noches, gracias, de nada - it goes a long way when you try the basics!

At Roscioli, if you like bacon, you'd like guanciale! It's just like small cut-up pieces of bacon. Sooo yummy. I was hoping you like meatballs, but alas. I agree with checking out Katie Parla's blog. I got to know Katie back in the day when we all chatted to each other on Chowhound (RIP). She is the one who turned me onto Roscioli. Another place to look at the menu is Da Cesare al Casaletto. It is an easy #8 tram ride to the end of the line, which is Casaletto. Down a block. Katie recommended this one to me, too. Their fried gnocchi in cacio e pepe is freakin' amazing. Good Carbonara, too. I'd say the meatrolls are good, but you don't like meatballs... If you like roast pork, you have to try Porchetta. Panifico Bonci (same guy as Pizzarium but different location) makes awesome porchetta and puts it in a sandwich. Remember - in a restaurant, you don't have to get something from every course. If you just want pasta, order the pasta.

I'm a little confused by your comment that you didn't see much that you'd eat at Roscioli. They have carbonara, which you mentioned you like. As a meat lover, you'd really like the polpette, which are nice big meatballs, made with beef, pork, and veal. I don't normally eat red meat, but I LOVED them. It sounds like you got overwhelmed by the appetizers before you got to the pastas and meats.

More snow yesterday and overnight. It wasn't pleasant. Started out as rain then morphed into various densities of snow. Made for vey slippery roads. But, plenty of my guests were out there skiing despite the howling winds and snow. When you pay for a ski vacation, you go ski regardless of the conditions! One of my owners gave me my Christmas gratuity yesterday, so I made it to $420. Into the vacation fund it goes! Already had a "guest from H#ll" and he wasn't even part of my condo group - he's renting a unit managed by another company. But I was the only presence, so he let loose on me. Note to future guests - we only have ONE parking spot per unit. It doesn't matter that you decided to rent 4 cars for your hoard. Go park down the hill in the free parking lot. Don't try to scam us into taking more spots - we have cameras and we KNOW when you do it. Sigh. I'm a little like Lois - when I'm not working, I need to get out of the house more in the future. OOTD: leggings and my Pittsburgh Penguins hockey sweater. I have to go to the market to get the makings for my fresh Ricotta di Limone to take to our owners get together tomorrow.

It was really mellow at the condos yesterday. We played Christmas music all day and evening. Only had to inspect 2 condos for arrivals today and then nada. The two of us just sat and talked about places to go after the season. Dangerous 😉 We got to doing Northern Italy, train to Spain, then Portugal and then fly home via Iceland with a week's stopover there!!! My co-worker is from Daytona Beach and a surfer so she was giving me beach towns in Portugal to stay in. On the good side of things, I did end up with $320 in holiday gratuities - not bad. It's enough to pay for a hotel and food for a night... Melody - those are beautiful family photos!

Hi all! First, wishing all a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah! Cynthia - yes, I'm working. I actually prefer to work the holidays so co-workers who have family can spend the day off. I've been doing this for years. I can have my dinner and a nice drink after work! I did get an invite to the Owner's party on Friday night. I could only stay a few minutes as I was still on duty and had some things to finish up. Mr. Oliger did force me to make a plate of food and gave me a ginger beer to take back to the desk. "Gift"-wise, I have $220 in holiday gratuities from my owners. I never expect, but I alway appreciate it. Today should be pretty mellow - no arrivals, no departures. I'll just sit at the desk and play my Christmas Music - new Andrea Bocelli, Manheim Steamroller, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Mariah Carey, etc. And, I'll be wearing my festive sweater and my "antlers". Stay warm those in the bomb cyclone. Stay cool those in the lower half of the Earth.

We're supposed to be up to 38 day after Christmas, then stay in the upper 20s and off & on snow for 6 days and the low in the teens each night. About right for this time of year.

Melody - I had to chuckle at the "Drizzle" prediction at -15!! That I'd like to see. A friend who lives in Aurora did the "throw water in the air and watch it turn to snow" trick and posted it. We lucked out here in UT - it was cold last week, but nothing like what everyone is getting this week. Got another 3 inches of snow overnight, a foot of snow in front of my driveway, thanks to the snowplow. Ugh. Everyone - take care if you have to drive!! I'm still browsing around, looking for potential vacation ideas. Something is telling me I should just stay Stateside and do another camping road trip. But, Europe is calling, too. OOTD: Black Woolx leggings and my Pittsburgh Penguins Winter Classic jersey/sweater. My gray Chacos booties.

When you come back, please add your spots to that link!

Hmmm... Trying to remember what I did this summer. 1. I did eat once upstairs at Mercato Centrale. One spot had a nice-looking Caprese Salad with Prosciutto and next door at the bar I got a nice Spritz. 2. Over by the Uffizi is a place called La Prosciutteria. It is NOT a restaurant (so says the sign in the store). But it makes outstanding sandwiches and charcuterie boards and offers wine and beer. A little wall stand where you can put down your eats and go at it. It is across the street from the famous All'Antico Vinaio, a place with a LONG line to get a sandwich. 3. If you are on your way to/from the train station - across from the station is a little porchetta place called "Antica Porchetteria Granieri 1916" . The only one on the web, though is the one over on Porto Rosso. I'll vouch for this one, though. The pig in the window will give it away... It's between McDonalds and Burger King!!!

The short cruises to Mexico are kind of booze-intense. But, the short ones that reposition LA-Vancouver and reverse are actually pretty calm. I've done Princess & NCL in each direction and I was very relaxed. Maybe because they are mostly "sea days" and not stops in Catalina and Ensenada. Did enough of both of them growing up in So. CA so I have no need to go back!

Crazy Time has officially arrived at the condos!!! People are still leaving their brains and common sense at home when they come for vacation! It was a busy and long day today. We are supposed to be getting one more person maybe next we Can't wait! If anyone down in Florida wants to borrow one of my parkas for the next few upcoming days, let me know! Maybe you'll even get some snow to go with those temps in the 20s!! Anyone making a TJ's run - the Peppermint Creme candies are supposedly heavenly. I bought a box of athem and took them to work - they are snarfing them up like nobody's business. They are like Pepermint Patties. OOTD: my pumpkin-colored Delancy straight cargoes from Athleta, my big white sleeveless hoodie from Athleta, a 25-year old base layer from YMX Yellowman that looks like tattoo sleeves, and my OluKai shoes.

I can't remember that one. We were more on St. John than St Thomas. We were camping over at Cinnamon Bay campground in the NP.

That's kind of how all "older" independent hotels are in most of Europe. You have to book with a chain to get "equal" rooms. Did HAL book you into those? From what I remember, they were using the Savoy and sometimes the Westin.

My Rhone Canal barge cruise this summer was just what I was looking for! Not everyone's cup of tea, as they are very small and not "elegant". But our food was excellent (the 11 of us had a sit-down set menu each lunch and dinner). The canal barge was not on the river until the very end at Sete - even then a Seaborn ship took our docking spot and we ended back up the canal at Frontignam, right at the fairgrounds where they were having their Bastille Day festivities and fireworks - even better than the standard dock at Sete. Try a barge canal sometime - slow, small and fun.

Were you at the sub base??? Back in 1989 when I vacationed in St. John/St. Thomas, I ate at the Chart House "at the sub base". Some people collect Hard Rock Cafe, I used to collect Chart House 😉

Another bluebird day and warmer, 19 degrees. Even my cranky owner hugged me today and said the snow was good (he's a very advanced particular skiier). Saw some of my owners back again today, so it's a fun day. BUT, yesterday was the official start of Crazy Season here at the condos!! Only 4 arrivals, none mine, but they all showed up with 15 minutes of each other, massive families, screaming kids and none knew what to do to get into their units (different property managers). Since no one from their companies were around, they'd bombard me with questions and get a little snotty. Hey - they are lucky I decided to help them all, as I am not required to lift a finger for them! I'm thinking I may have to go a mini work clothes spree here. I'm bored with what I've worn the last 4 years. It's a fine line for shirts/sweaters, as I can get hot if I'm running around alot or hauling luggage. Maybe another sweater vest or two. I've got plenty of Ts to wear with them. Enough leggings, jeans and pants to wear so not worried about them. And, I'm set for shoes. OOTD: jeans, blue/white stripe long sleeve 1/2 button shirt, my Sundance menswear button vest (Not a sweater vest, but like a suit vest), my OluKai shoes.

Laurie - sorry to hear about the DH's turn with RA. Did he, by chance, have COVID? Researchers are finding out that it is activating some of the autoimmune and inflammatory issues with people. Some never had them and get it, some had it mild and get it worse. My boss is in that 2nd group.

cynthia - nice kicks! I've got some burgundy velvet shoelaces (from the old hippie lady store) that would go well with them!!

Melody - so lucky you are on a nice warm cruise! This morning, it's clear, crisp and sunny. But, at 8am, it was only -9F!!! A good day to be inside at work. I changed the laces in my new OluKai shoes. I thought they looked too much like Boat Shoes with the off-white laces. I had a pair of flowered laces from my old hippie lady store laying around so I put them on. LOVE IT! And they matched the socks I had on (from the old hippie lady store). If anyone is looking for a waterproof leather casual shoe, definitely look into the OluKai Wao!! So, very comfortable!! OOTD: jeans, my red Nordic sweater, my OluKai shoes. Red Patagonia jacket.

Is that 9am when the ship gets to port or when you physically are debarking? Usually there is some time, maybe up to a few hours, between ship getting into port and when you can leave. I honestly do think you have enough time to do your travel from the ship to the airport in that short amount of time. I'd pick another flight. That's just me - I'd rather have to wait at the airport than be anxious that I've cut it too close and I'm going to miss my flight.

If it gets too bad, if one of our two HOA-owned units is empty, I can camp there. I also carry a "winter" emergency kit - it has a thermarest air mattress and a sleeping bag. I know drivers behind me may get a little upset that I drive soooo slow down the mountain. I don't care. I did a 280 down that hill once and another time I hit a guardrail (Kept me from sliding down the hill). It's one of the things that I don't like about working where I do. Melody - when I looked at your photo again with the red hoodie - you could use my pink furry boots!!! Day off!! Yay! I was so tired at the end of yesterday and I did 11 hours of sleep!!! We are supposed to have a newbie start work on Friday - I sure hope so, even if she is part time. I sent an email to some of my favorite owners to let them know about our good snow - 3 of them showed up last minute! It was fun to see them, and some more are coming over the weekend. 2 more weeks until we start the Wine & Cheese après ski gatherings in the lounge. One of my fun times - get to chat it up with everyone. OOTD: not going anywhere, so some sweatpants and a long-sleeve T.

Really bad news at work today. 2 nights ago, some 20-somethings were out sledding behind our condos on the ski run. One girl crashed into on of the lift towers. The Fire Dept had to Med Flight her down to Salt Lake for skull injury - she unfortunately didn't survive. She wasn't staying at our condos, but there are 4 other buildings around the ski run we are on. Sad. It happened 2 hours after I left for the night. The new OluKai shoes were very comfy all afternoon. And, the snow dumped all day long. Fortunately, it stopped and things were decently plowed so it wasn't a bad drive home.

Lois - I'll hope that your Medicare news ends up with good news. Cynthia - I deliberately bypassed that snack!!! I chose 1, so I took the peppermint meringues. Not as deadly. One of my owners gave me a little "thank you" this morning for getting her unit ready for a last-minute visit - some vegan dark chocolate salted caramels (made with coconut cream) and a little cash. Not the $200 start I had last year from my first guests, but it's a start to the gratuity train!! I have both Christmas trees all decorated and lit here at the condos now. I don't think I want to decorate another tree ever again!! Last night was horrible driving down the mountain home. First really big storm and the plows hadn't been up the road at 7pm when I left. I only skidded twice and I knew it was coming since we all skid at this one turn. But, after that it was BAD. It's a 6% grade and 2.5 miles of 2-lane road. I was in 1st gear and no more than 5mph the whole way. Saw 6 cars already into the snowbanks. Once I got down, it was OK the rest of my7.5 mile drive. Just too early in the year for this!! Now, I'm just looking out my office window, watching people without winter tires slipping while trying to drive up the street!! OOTD: my cheetah print Hot Chillys zip neck shirt, my white Athleta big sleeveless hoodie, my brown Pact moto leggings and my NEW OluKai Wao chukka boots. They are my new waterproof booties to wear for work. I got the tan color and they came out this week with "cloudy" color, a light beige. Good for wear anywhere where you are going to have any wet weather!! I wanted the Hawaii'iloa Manu Hope booties, but I wasn't sure how my reconstructed ankle would fare with a slip-in. So, I got the Wao, which ties up. Very comfy!!!

Melody - enjoy the cruise! You are going to miss a nice big storm - we are supposed to get maybe a foot over 2 days Sunday & Monday.