Yippee, leave of absence to travel...

So what happened to the Austria thing? I thought that the new job
required you over here a lot of the time.

 

NY has the Met, but that's a bit expensive to base an entire lifestyle
on....

 

You're welcome to give it a try, though I happen to know that Cane is
first on her list...

 

That phase doesn't start until November, but I might demote that part
until after a phase that will take place in Vicenza for legitimate
business (bigger $ value) as well as personal reasons (I like Italy).

 

You've gotta be kidding! If ignorance precluded posting, this place
would be real quiet.

ummm, that's why I wrote "AIR" & "may". Since it wasn't mentioned, I
figured it was worth tossing out.

They are ridable in the middle of the night, FWIW.

 

The Sierra Nevada will be too cold, too. Most of the passes will be
closed. All the other roads in California should be open, but anything
north of Point Conception could be wet & chilly. If that's not an
issue, you can still have a lot of fun. It'd be a shame to miis those
mountain roads, though. I think the highest passes open around now.

 

Really? Well, youklive and learn. Have they leant the NYPD to London
in the meantime?

As I cba to google it, I'm having to guess that it's a museum, or
possibly an opera house? That fit's the 'expensive" bit well ehough, I
guess, but not the implication that it's something good.

 

Of course there are many incredible sights in the West, but I think if
a person only has one week, those are at the top of my list. Toss SF,
LA, & Vegas into the loop and you have the best and worst that America
has to offer. IMHO, again.

 

They did a Met exchange. It's working well in London, where the Valkyries
are a popular and effective replacement police force, although there's
some worry that the Thames might suddenly rise up and wash the world
away. They're less happy in NY, because the only show they can put on is
the Pirates of Penzance.

 

Good point. Tioga Pass (Through Yosemite) didn't open until late May last year.

 

I believe it works both ways. Handy, because I have a list of my
own...

 

most European bikes seem to cope in the Alps, where many roads reach 8500
feet

 

ITYM you won't notice you are sweating as it will evaporate rapidly. You
will still dehydrate unless loads of fluids are imbibed.

 

Doesn't everyone?

 

SF is OK, and like you, I pretty much hated LA.

Of the places I've visited, NY (Manhattan at least ) is the 2nd best
city in the world.

Other US citied I've liked are Denver & Phoenix.

I didn't see enough of Chicago to get a good feel for it, so I'd like
to revisit.

Oh, and Vegas, for just being bonkers!

 

SF is OK, and like you, I pretty much hated LA.

Of the places I've visited, NY (Manhattan at least ) is the 2nd best
city in the world.

Other US citied I've liked are Denver & Phoenix.

I didn't see enough of Chicago to get a good feel for it, so I'd like
to revisit.

Oh, and Vegas, for just being bonkers!
[/QUOTE]

Yeah Vegas is pretty bonkers, we wish we'd stayed longer, did Hoover
Dam, Lake Mead and Grand Canyon but apart from the top end of the strip
missed a lot of Vegas itself.

We really liked Toronto, and apart from St Petersburg we've not found a
city in Europe we really like, although we've been to most we've not
been to Rome or Paris yet.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, CT

I like Denver, haven't seen enough of Phoenix to form an opinion.

San Diego is a great place.

Chicago I liked, but I was there in summer. Winter, I suspect, is less
fun.

 

We really don't like cities at all but enjoyed our stay in both
Istanbul and Sarajevo.

Istanbul because it is busy, bustling and just...different. The gap
between rich and poor is very apparent which is perhaps not so good.
This street scene -
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2621997576_832dffe5f9.jpg showing
luxury boat next to horse and cart is fairly typical and this one
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2621182529_6e80ee781c.jpg showing
those that are less fortunate contrasts with the luxury shops visible
in many parts of the city. Nevertheless it is a lively and interesting
place to visit. Private medicine in Istanbul knocks spots off that
available in the UK IME.

Sarajevo because it just felt comfortable. All generations and many
different faiths (apparent from their attire) are out in the streets
together -
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2585111588_ac740b9f2e.jpg and
there is a very social atmosphere -
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2585110750_fab90c526f.jpg. The
atmosphere is the most pleasant we have ever encountered in a city
which is remarkable when considering the recent history or perhaps it
is because of the recent history.

I have to say I hated New York - too busy, too aggressive - but that
was based on visits where I flew in, had meetings and left again after
2 or 3 days. L and I were both in the US at the same time for work at
one point. We met at weekends in New York and really enjoyed doing the
'tourist thing'. It's definitely not somewhere I'd like to stay long
term though.

Kevin

 

Not been there but it is reputed to have "The Perfect Climate". That may be
TM and not necessarily true.

 

Not far off. The place I lived (93012) was just inland enough and
surrounded by sufficient mountains to ward off the wind, rain and
extreme heat and give a decent constant temperate climate. I'd take
that climate again in a heartbeat.