starwhite3

I loved Curves - mindless workout and good friendships formed. However, I'm done with Curves. I joined one to the town north of me (Curves A). That closed after one year - poorly managed. I got some of my prepaid money back, but not all.

So I joined the Curves in the town south of me (Curves B) (there never was a Curves in my town). That succeeded for a couple of years, but unfortunately it was mismanaged also. The owner had a hard time keeping coaches - the coaches always lost their enthusiasm after a short time, so attendance therefore dropped off. Thus this Curves closed. :-(

Two enterprising women who had worked at Curves B struck a deal with a nearby (relatively) community fitness center and got a "Curves-like circuit" installed in this fitness center (let's call this Curves C). However, it didn't have the 30 minute work-out like a real Curves with the music and the peppiness. The machines were not Curves-machines and they were hard to manipulate. I joined the fitness center (as a previous-Curves member and got "a deal") so I could use the "Curves-like circuit." Didn't like it. But I did learn how to use the fitness machines (Cybex). I like them better than the "Curves-like machines." Over time I've learned to use the Cybex machines and they have done wonders for my back. I have been able to stay out of the Chriopractor's Office (very expensive) for four years. Yay!

To update you on the "Curves-like circuit" at the fitness center, that those two smart ladies got installed, the fitness center ended their "Curves" association, so Curves C closed.

I heard that very recently a Curves opened in a town about 25 minutes from me (let's call this Curves D), but it is too far for me to travel. Don't want to spend an hour in transit.

I hold the record for being a part of the most closed Curves.

P.S. I forgot about a 4th Curves that closed, just north of Curves A. I did not join that one but I did work out there a few times.

Are they still working on excavations northeast of the wedding cake? Right to the east of Piazza Venezia. When I was there in June of 2013 I was dying to see what they were working on.

I noticed on the Marcella Roma website, that they charge 6E per day for city tax. I thought it was 3E. I guess they can charge anything they want, but it doesn't seem quite right, seeing that the hotel is not centrally located.

Travelplus, have you stayed at the Marcello Royal yet? Just wondering how it was. Thanks.

If you do spend time wandering around in Sorrento itself, I can recommend two restaurants: Bufalito (best tomatoes I ever ate; my pal ate artichokes, squisito, as the Italians say) and Ristorante da Gigino (very good spaghetti carbonara). There is a restaurant where you can see ruins through the glass floor - La Lanterna. Food and service below average, but the ruins underneath our table were the best. Gelato was 7Euros on the main drag (Corso Italia).

Thanks CintiPam and Cruisemom re. Istanbul's Archaeological Museum. I'll be in Istanbul, also, in October (taking V2A) and was planning on spending time in the museum. Any up-to-date info you can find about it's being opened or closed would be much appreciated.

Thanks for the report. Nice photos. I mean, molto bene.

Excellent reports and photos, VirtualRain and Cruisemom42.

I am following this thread as I am on a cruise that stops in Tunis in early Nov. In the Chicago Tribune today:

After an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, the U.S. Department of State warned Americans to leave Tunisia. Some planned tours to the region have been canceled, but many trips will continue on schedule, and some question whether tourists will be safe. Because the embassy was damaged and some services will not be available, travel experts advise against independent trips at this time. Group trips that rely on a reputable operator with deep experience in the country are not considered at risk.

What's WOE?

Thanks for asking. I meant "by getting off of it" - eating a well-balanced diet including 50% carbohydrates, like, for instance, on a cruise ship - fruits, bread, maybe dessert, starch at dinner, etc. and I'm not talking about going hog wild, just normal eating. I've been rigid with Atkins' induction (day 44 for me). No slips. Can't afford it right now.

For exercise, I do 30 minutes on the exercycle every day. Tennis 2 or 3 times a week (doubles), a tennis drill, croquet (you'd be surprised how good of exercise this is, sometimes it's 3 hours). I do the pull-up bar in my house (15 seconds hanging) and do the big ball with some exercises with the cord.

I'm on day 40 of induction. Plan to go 56 days on induction, then go on Owl. I really have to watch it because I've been on Atkins before and when I got off I got the sweet cravings back like there was no tomorrow. I plan to add 5 carbs a day the first 2 weeks (1 cup of raw cauliflower, plus 2 tbsps. of sour cream), then the next 2 weeks add 6 strawberries to my Atkins shake, then the final 5 days before I leave on my cruise I will had 1 slice of fiber whole wheat bread. Then I'm not going to worry what happens when I'm away - I'll be busy. Gone 16 days.

When I get back I hope to maintain at about 129 carbs a day. I did that for 6 weeks and didn't gain. I'm a once a day exerciser.