Jackson, WY for a few days.
Dinner at the Bistro In Cooke City, MT was decent but nothing special.
The two days in Yellowstone National Park were great. We only saw one bear and one coyote, but several elk, deer, and pronghorns, and hundreds of bison. What's the difference between bison and buffalo? We got up pretty close when the bison walked up to us, but didn't annoy them. We heard some guy got gored by one last week. The mud geysers were colorful and beautiful and of course, we witnessed an Old Faithful eruption. We took a number of hikes and really got a feel for the place, at least as much as possible in 2 days.
We stayed at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel for 2 days, a beautiful property with large airy rooms, but no TV or cell phone service for me to check on my beloved first place Yankees. The dining room was about the best we've found in any of the national parks, but still nothing special. $12 corkage.
We spent today in Grand Teton National Park, with magnificent scenery. Tomorrow, we're going rafting on the Snake River. We had dinner tonight in Jackson at The Blue Lion. It was the best dinner of the first week of our trip, but the chef loves his peppermill a little too much. We brought a 1999 Martinelli Jackass Zinfandel which was clearly not up to previous bottles. It didn't taste old, but I have to figure its best days are behind it. $15 corkage.
Stockholm Sweden for work. Have eaten at Godot's and the Grand Hotel so far. Great dinners. Wine markup here is 4x.
quote:Originally posted by Board-O:
What's the difference between bison and buffalo?
The short answer is that true 'buffalo' are native only to Africa and Asia (Water Buffalo, etc).
Bison is the correct name for the N. American animal seen out West.
Sounds like a great trip!
Cobourg, Ontario
At least it's not raining...yet.
At least it's not raining...yet.
Thanks for the info, KSC.
We're in Torrey, Utah this evening and will visit Capitol Reef National Park and Monument Valley tomorrow, winding up in Moab. We hope to dinner there on Saturday with the gigabits.
Yesterday, after another great day in Grand Teton, rafting the Snake River, picnicking, and sightseeing, we had dinner at the Gun Barrel in Jackson. The buffalo wrap appetizer was outstanding and the velvet elk (medallions with a wild mushroom sauce) was good but I'd have liked some delicacy to let the elk shine through. Corkage was $10.
Today, we drove a long way from Jackson to Torrey. Utah sure is a beautiful state. Off to dinner soon at a highly recommended restaurant. We'll see.
We're in Torrey, Utah this evening and will visit Capitol Reef National Park and Monument Valley tomorrow, winding up in Moab. We hope to dinner there on Saturday with the gigabits.
Yesterday, after another great day in Grand Teton, rafting the Snake River, picnicking, and sightseeing, we had dinner at the Gun Barrel in Jackson. The buffalo wrap appetizer was outstanding and the velvet elk (medallions with a wild mushroom sauce) was good but I'd have liked some delicacy to let the elk shine through. Corkage was $10.
Today, we drove a long way from Jackson to Torrey. Utah sure is a beautiful state. Off to dinner soon at a highly recommended restaurant. We'll see.
Board-O, how do you keep your wine cool on a driving trip such as this? Just a regular cooler?
quote:Originally posted by haggis:
Yup... and another day of "aloha"
Being a botanist in Hawaii is cheating if you ask me. It's like a major leaguer showing up to hit at a little league game, just too easy. If Haggis had any fight in him he'd be back here in Chicagoland.
quote:Originally posted by grossie:quote:Originally posted by haggis:
Being a botanist in Hawaii is cheating if you ask me. It's like a major leaguer showing up to hit at a little league game, just too easy. If Haggis had any fight in him he'd be back here in Chicagoland.
Why don't you come here and say that???!!!
Elko, NV...and that's all I have to say about that.
Was there an offline in Elko I was not aware of?? Drove through there about 6 weeks ago for the first time and can't imagine what brought you there.
quote:Originally posted by mountainman:
Was there an offline in Elko I was not aware of?? Drove through there about 6 weeks ago for the first time and can't imagine what brought you there.
Work believe it or not.
Taos, New Mexico at the moment.
Cafe Diablo in Torrey, Utah was good, considering the limited alternatives. If there was any rattlesnake in the rattlesnake cakes, it escaped my detection. The other food we had was dominated by whang.
We then visited Capitol Reef National Park, a conglomeration of towering rock edifices of varying unusual shapes, sizes, and colors, definitely worth a visit.
From there, we drove south to Monument Valley, possibly the most imposing scenery we've seen, but the dirt road was really dusty and rough. Then we drove to Moab, Utah for a couple of days. The sightseeing highlight in the region was Arches National Park, somewhat reminiscent of Capitol Reef and definitely worth a visit. We even visited a winery.
We had a forgettable Mexican dinner the first eveing and then a fun BYO evening with the gigabits at Desert Bistro. Food was good here, but the combinations were a little off for me. The bleu cheese dominated the tenderloin, but dinner was a great success due to the company.
Next we drove to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. This is a park dedicated to keeping the pueblo life of early Indians alive. Dinner in the Metate Dining Room was one of the better meals we've ever had in a national park. The accomodations at The Far View in were in need of a little sprucing up.
The next day (today), we drove high into the Rockies and had an excellent Mexican lunch at The Elkhorn Cafe in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. We continued into New Mexico and arrived in Taos. The New Mexico State Trooper who stopped me for speeding let me go with a promise to obey the speed limit. We just returned from dinner at Doc Martin's in the Taos Inn. The 2006 Curran Grenache Blanc ($46) was excellent and stood up to the spice. This was possibly the best dinner of the trip so far. More touring tomorrow and then off to Santa Fe for 5 days on Wednesday before heading home.
Cafe Diablo in Torrey, Utah was good, considering the limited alternatives. If there was any rattlesnake in the rattlesnake cakes, it escaped my detection. The other food we had was dominated by whang.
We then visited Capitol Reef National Park, a conglomeration of towering rock edifices of varying unusual shapes, sizes, and colors, definitely worth a visit.
From there, we drove south to Monument Valley, possibly the most imposing scenery we've seen, but the dirt road was really dusty and rough. Then we drove to Moab, Utah for a couple of days. The sightseeing highlight in the region was Arches National Park, somewhat reminiscent of Capitol Reef and definitely worth a visit. We even visited a winery.
We had a forgettable Mexican dinner the first eveing and then a fun BYO evening with the gigabits at Desert Bistro. Food was good here, but the combinations were a little off for me. The bleu cheese dominated the tenderloin, but dinner was a great success due to the company.
Next we drove to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. This is a park dedicated to keeping the pueblo life of early Indians alive. Dinner in the Metate Dining Room was one of the better meals we've ever had in a national park. The accomodations at The Far View in were in need of a little sprucing up.
The next day (today), we drove high into the Rockies and had an excellent Mexican lunch at The Elkhorn Cafe in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. We continued into New Mexico and arrived in Taos. The New Mexico State Trooper who stopped me for speeding let me go with a promise to obey the speed limit. We just returned from dinner at Doc Martin's in the Taos Inn. The 2006 Curran Grenache Blanc ($46) was excellent and stood up to the spice. This was possibly the best dinner of the trip so far. More touring tomorrow and then off to Santa Fe for 5 days on Wednesday before heading home.
Board-O: sounds like an intersting trip! I'm taking notes...
BTW: greetings, as always from...well, you know where
BTW: greetings, as always from...well, you know where
Copenhagen: beautiful, quiet, clean, friendly city. Got lucky with the weather too-- lots of rain until I arrived, not a cloud in the sky since, around 75 degrees with slight breeze, about perfect for us.
Great beer here <Jacobsen Dark is the best one so far). Had one of the most memorable meals of my life at Michelin-starred Herman at Nimb, really a razzle-dazzle of presentation with incredibly creative displays. I'll post about it when we get back in a few weeks, but it's how I imagine El Bulli to be, with science contributing to cuisine. Had some excellent Ruinart and Philliponat Champangnes too.
Hope everyone is well here.
Great beer here <Jacobsen Dark is the best one so far). Had one of the most memorable meals of my life at Michelin-starred Herman at Nimb, really a razzle-dazzle of presentation with incredibly creative displays. I'll post about it when we get back in a few weeks, but it's how I imagine El Bulli to be, with science contributing to cuisine. Had some excellent Ruinart and Philliponat Champangnes too.
Hope everyone is well here.
quote:Originally posted by Seaquam:
Copenhagen
Very, very nice.Keep up the travel log, Seaq. We can trip with you vicariously.
Agreed! The bar was raised when you provided us with your Paris diary last year so we expect the same with Copenhagen. Have fun.quote:Originally posted by KSC02:quote:Originally posted by Seaquam:
Copenhagen
Keep up the travel log, Seaq. We can trip with you vicariously.
Board-O, thanks for posting on your trip as well. I think this could be a great use for this Greetings thread instead of having millions of small threads for travel.
Back at school. Students report Monday. 
quote:Originally posted by Dom'n'Vin'sDad:
Back at school. Students report Monday.
That was a short Summer break, no?What's up with that?
Our superintendent wanted to shrink summers to aid kids in academic retention. Two week spring and three week Christmas breaks made the summer way too short!
St. Petersburg, Russia. Ugliest waterway entrance I've ever seen, but beautiful architecture once you're into the old city. I'm going to have vodka and caviar for lunch. I think that's what the natives do here.
Caviar makes up for a lot of ugly. St. Petersburg is on our wish list for next summer.
Windsor, NS. Small, small town about an hour from Halifax. Oh, and the prices and selection as the NSLB make the LCBO look awesome. I would imagine there will be at least a couple weeks of me not complaining about the LCBO. Maybe.
quote:Originally posted by Seaquam:
St. Petersburg, Russia. Ugliest waterway entrance I've ever seen, but beautiful architecture once you're into the old city. I'm going to have vodka and caviar for lunch. I think that's what the natives do here.
quote:Originally posted by Board-O:
Caviar makes up for a lot of ugly. St. Petersburg is on our wish list for next summer.
I loved St. Petersburg when I was there about 10 yr ago. Agree with Seaquam about the architecture. And there's a shabbiness that I like...sort of like tarnished silver. The beauty is there to be seen, but it needs some polishing. On the other hand, the "tarnish" is beautiful in its own way. There are some wonderful gardens there, too.
quote:Originally posted by Don in KS:
Board-O, how do you keep your wine cool on a driving trip such as this? Just a regular cooler?
Just saw this. We travel with the wine in a styrofoam shipper which insulates well. When the wine is in the car, it's seatbelted in the back seat with the air conditioning on. As soon as we get to a hotel, we put the wine in the airconditioned room. If we're travelling and leave the car for a half hour or an hour, we lave the windows open a drop and try to park in the shade. Even on a hot day, after an hour, the wine is still cool to the touch in the sealed styrofoam shipper.
Napa, CA.
quote:Originally posted by Board-O:quote:Originally posted by Don in KS:
Board-O, how do you keep your wine cool on a driving trip such as this? Just a regular cooler?
Just saw this. We travel with the wine in a styrofoam shipper which insulates well. When the wine is in the car, it's seatbelted in the back seat with the air conditioning on. As soon as we get to a hotel, we put the wine in the airconditioned room. If we're travelling and leave the car for a half hour or an hour, we lave the windows open a drop and try to park in the shade. Even on a hot day, after an hour, the wine is still cool to the touch in the sealed styrofoam shipper.
ROTFFLMAOWTSDMC. You gotta be kidding me. While you will no doubt accuse me of following you, I will honestly say I would laugh at anyone who posted that. That is beyond over the top obsession. The imagery that conjures up is hilarious. You need wine that badly? Ever heard the expression, When in Rome do as the Romans do? Wine geek doesn't even begin to describe that behaviour.
Given the crap you drink, I can understand you feeling that way. It's no trouble for us, but then again, we don't drink the swill you do.
Sober up.
Sober up.
Sao Paulo, Brazil. I'm here all week.
Beginning my trip tonight and will end up in Boracay, Philippines among other islands for a few weeks.
quote:Originally posted by wineismylife:
Napa, CA.
Me, too.
Joe, did I meet you at Randy's tasting and not even realize it?
quote:Originally posted by dannyk8232:quote:Originally posted by wineismylife:
Napa, CA.
Me, too.
Joe, did I meet you at Randy's tasting and not even realize it?
Actually, we did meet albeit it briefly and we didn't get to talk much.
quote:Originally posted by wineismylife:quote:Originally posted by dannyk8232:quote:Originally posted by wineismylife:
Napa, CA.
Me, too.
Joe, did I meet you at Randy's tasting and not even realize it?
Actually, we did meet albeit it briefly and we didn't get to talk much.
Bummer!
California ....
8/16-8/21: SF. Highlights include dinner at Fleur de Lys, cocktails at Bourbon & Branch, a free walking tour of Nob Hill by the folks from SF City Guides.
8/21-8/25: Carmel/Big Sur. Highlights so far include dinner at Passionfish and Pacific's Edge and watching sea otters break open clams and oysters at Point Lobos State park.
8/25-8/31: Napa/Sonoma wine country.
8/16-8/21: SF. Highlights include dinner at Fleur de Lys, cocktails at Bourbon & Branch, a free walking tour of Nob Hill by the folks from SF City Guides.
8/21-8/25: Carmel/Big Sur. Highlights so far include dinner at Passionfish and Pacific's Edge and watching sea otters break open clams and oysters at Point Lobos State park.
8/25-8/31: Napa/Sonoma wine country.
...Rome...........NY, that is. 
Wine, forget about it.
Wine, forget about it.
Hurricane, WV 
Starting the countdown for Rome, Siena, Florence and Venice.
...the MGM Grand in sunny (hot) Las Vegas.
I'm here, with my lovely wife, for a conference. However, we will be able to relax a bit and enjoy some time without our children.
Today: Some conference time, then out to the pool.
Tomorrow night: Dinner at Gonzalez y Gonzalez then a show (Zumanity)
Thursday night: Dinner at SEABLUE.
P.S. Nine Fine Irishmen is a very cool bar.
I'm here, with my lovely wife, for a conference. However, we will be able to relax a bit and enjoy some time without our children.
Today: Some conference time, then out to the pool.
Tomorrow night: Dinner at Gonzalez y Gonzalez then a show (Zumanity)
Thursday night: Dinner at SEABLUE.
P.S. Nine Fine Irishmen is a very cool bar.
Traffic school. 
Siena, Italy. Tomorrow we are off to do some tasting in Tuscany.