Trip Report - USA

[Renato1]

Funny becuase i noticed the exact same thing when i went into a CV pharmac_, which also ironically sells alcohol. Huge 1.5L bottles of Barcardi for $25 each. I was tempted to get a few!

Pretty amazing wasn't it?

The other ubiquitous drinks that they sold at supermarkets, Walgreens and liquor shops were the huge cans of margarita drinks like Lime-a-Rita, Straw-ber-Rita, Razz-ber-Rita at 8% alcohol. They were sold in 16 oz cans for around US$3.70 and were absolutely delicious. Alcohol usually doesn't affect me much after I eat, but a small glass of them knocked me about quite a bit, and sent my wife to sleep very quickly.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Well, I agree with you.
Spent 8 days in NYC and 2 in Niagara Falls. Never had a meal served to me that I hollered over. Having just spent the previous fortnight wandering around Scandinavia I also thought there was nothing that I don't see in an Australian capital.
When was the last time you saw cobblestones on a regular street, small homes on a street front, people riding bikes without car drivers going berserk? In Australia?
Drivers are better in US. Remember, these folks can be packing Heat and you annoy them they might just pull it out. But I saw one rage incident and it was totally called for - unlike Sydney where you'll cop a spray for a nothing incident.
People serving in the shops? Start a training business down here folks, you'll either get real rich or get real broke. Aussies just don't get service in shops like the US does.
Homeless - yes, lots and some serious cases on the street. The comment about poor and ill is very true and real.

Smokers not allowed in Parks? Yee haa, I just loved it. Bring it on.

Just shows to go, we all have different opinions and experiences. Like Renato said, if you don't compare things why bother leaving the house.

Thanks - you share my way of perceiving these sort of things, and enunciate it better than I do.

You'll be pleased to hear that San Diego Zoo bans smoking AND vaping.

The thing is, this is over the top - there is no danger from passive smoking from smoking in the open air. At least Disneyland is sensible about it and has two designated smoking areas in the huge complex. Even the Communists in Hong Kong who have banned smoking in parks leave some designated smoking areas for smokers. The US has gone more totalitarian than Communist Chine.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

If staying around mid town NYC, you can take advantage of the upmarket sample sales which tend to be located in the Garmwnt district. You need to sign up for the email telling you where they will be in the coming week.

Thanks. Funny how one finds out about these things after one gets back.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[earlyriser]

I settled on big Burritos from a Mexican place which satisfied my craving for meat.

Did this happen to be Chipotle? Here one can get half a days calories (or maybe more for smaller or sedentary folk) for ~$13 US and it's actually reasonably healthy. I have found Mad Mex here is comparable (maybe a little less food) for ~$13 AUD although it doesn't quite taste as good.

 

[jastel]

I think you have similar tastes to mine - wanting man-sized servings instead of high class or worse, "healthy", girl-sized servings.

Yes, I'm glad we did Las Vegas - it was spectacular at night, especially the ceilings inside the Venetian casino shops and Caesars Forum shops which make night time look like just-after-sunset evening time.

It was a pleasure being able to drive again on big roads where people weren't ridiculously scared to drive 5 or 10 mph above the speed limit. It reminded me of Victoria the way it used to be before they put speed cameras pinging everyone for 2 kph above the speed limit.

The cheaper petrol was good but wasn't a big factor for me - I've driven similar distances in Europe and petrol/diesel at the end of the day, isn't a huge expense.

Yes - more likely to get hassled here by the homeless who are on over $20,000 a year pension/dole.
Regards,
Renato

I see you are from Melbourne where petrol is cheap already...lol.

Drove 10000miles or so around USA and loved it, (some in a Mustang), except for big cities which I tried to avoid so the petrol added up, even though it was cheap.
Definitely much dearer in Europe, despite half the kms and a 4 cyl golf cart my bill was similar for driving there last year.

I do look at prices as I walk by or if I have time to kill, but only buy clothes etc if/when I need them, I have shops here...don't need to go overseas to shop.
My motto is if you cant carry it...don't buy it.
The one thing I would like to buy cheap over there is a car...but it wont fit in my carry on.

Much rather see the place than shop...

 

[Renato1]

Did this happen to be Chipotle? Here one can get half a days calories (or maybe more for smaller or sedentary folk) for ~$13 US and it's actually reasonably healthy. I have found Mad Mex here is comparable (maybe a little less food) for ~$13 AUD although it doesn't quite taste as good.

No, I bought it in a place down Market Street in San Francisco called Mexican Pleasures.
I was actually curious to see what Burritos in America tasted like, because I used to be able to buy Burritos that I really liked at Doncaster Shopping Town years ago, which I though were great - but the shop closed down during the centre's remodelling. I must say, the Australian version was very comparable to the US version. I ate the Burritos from that shop two nights in a row. Basically, they are just pastry with a heap of vegetables and meat. Seemed very healthy and substantial eating to me.
Regards,
Renato

 

[dragonman]

Thanks - you share my way of perceiving these sort of things, and enunciate it better than I do.

You'll be pleased to hear that San Diego Zoo bans smoking AND vaping.

The thing is, this is over the top - there is no danger from passive smoking from smoking in the open air. At least Disneyland is sensible about it and has two designated smoking areas in the huge complex. Even the Communists in Hong Kong who have banned smoking in parks leave some designated smoking areas for smokers. The US has gone more totalitarian than Communist Chine.
Cheers,
Renato

Nope mate its not over the top. Its fair. You want to smoke you have no right to do it anywhere near me. I am sure you have the passive smoking stats to back up what you say. Or maybe not. See here is the way I see it. I won't put any noxious substances in your lungs. Don't put any in mine.

There will always be people who think McDonalds and Burger King make great burgers. In my opinion BLT in the Mirage makes fantastic burgers. To each their own.

 

[moa999]

Just imagine if there was a constitutional right to tobacco.

 

[Renato1]

I see you are from Melbourne where petrol is cheap already...lol.

Drove 10000miles or so around USA and loved it, (some in a Mustang), except for big cities which I tried to avoid so the petrol added up, even though it was cheap.
Definitely much dearer in Europe, despite half the kms and a 4 cyl golf cart my bill was similar for driving there last year.

I do look at prices as I walk by or if I have time to kill, but only buy clothes etc if/when I need them, I have shops here...don't need to go overseas to shop.
My motto is if you cant carry it...don't buy it.
The one thing I would like to buy cheap over there is a car...but it wont fit in my carry on.

Much rather see the place than shop...

If only the speed limit was a bit higher, driving would be even better. In California it was 70mph (112 kph) and Arizona it was 75 mph (120 mph). Yes, most people were doing 80mph - which is nearly the European limit of 130 kph - but I worry about speeding in foreign countries.

The only things I bought over there were 12 SP4 chapsticks which I can't find over here any more, and northern hemisphere planisphere to nut out the constellations overhead that weren't making too much sense to me. I'm not fussed by clothing either because I only wear Farrah Casual trousers when travelling (since with a little trick I can make sure my wallet can't be picked) and Gloweave Modal shirts (since I can wash them and have them not crease).

But my wife is another issue.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Nope mate its not over the top. Its fair. You want to smoke you have no right to do it anywhere near me. I am sure you have the passive smoking stats to back up what you say. Or maybe not. See here is the way I see it. I won't put any noxious substances in your lungs. Don't put any in mine.

There will always be people who think McDonalds and Burger King make great burgers. In my opinion BLT in the Mirage makes fantastic burgers. To each their own.

Slippery slope - next step - no right to wear scents and perfume.
But a guaranteed right to wear stale body odor.

Also, your view is that the entire park is yours and yours alone, and that if there is a designated smoking area, it should not be there because you demand the right to go and stand there.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Just imagine if there was a constitutional right to tobacco.

Yes - I do.
I think Europe is far more smoker friendly, and they continue to reap the benefits.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Oh - I forgot to mention one other observation.

I didn't go down to the South on the trip, but I was staying at The Hamilton Crowne Plaza in Washington DC, where I made the acquaintance of one chap who was attending a conference of local governments being held there.

Much to my surprise, he was still very resentful about "The War Of Northern Aggression", and in particular the poor way Robert E. Lee was treated in having his property illegally appropriated to set up Arlington Cemetary.

I would have thought enough time had passed to heal those grievances.
Regards,
Renato

 

[drron]

Now that last one was a step to far.As I heard in Dagwood,Kentucky at their civil War museum if Stonewall Jackson had not sent his doctor to treat some no good yankee prisoners he would have survived.If he had survived the south would have won the war.So the result obviously was just an historical accident so not to be believed.

As to shopping we quite often get 90% + off clothing and shoes but like everything it requires some research which mrsdrron is only too happy to do.Regularly find that discount in Dillards but I don't think they are in the west.All the department stores will give discounts to foreigners but you need to know how to ask.Not too hard to find out.
As to outlets they vary in quality.Also various stores have their ultimate outlet usually in just 1 location-Armani for example is it's one in Manchester Vermont where a lot is 90% off.
Then remember the other discounts like AAA discounts which we can get flashing our RACQ card-the same goes for every state.The Americans just love coupons-found especially in weekend newspapers.but sign up to those brands you like and get emailed coupons.That even works for chain restaurants.For accommodation the State Welcome centres on the interstates usually have small books of coupons for hotels/motels.

Also research tax free states.There are lots of ways to save money and to get good quality as well.My shirts are now Brooks Bros which I buy for ~$A30.Drip dry overnight and have never needed ironing.Some of them now over 10 years old.So actually we are now in the situation of not needing clothes and shoes.

 

[get me outta here]

I have relatively inexpensive items delivered to my hotel from various supplies incl ebay often at no or very low postage. All arrived present and correct.

 

[njba]

Slippery slope - next step - no right to wear scents and perfume.

As a frequent public transport users, yes please.

 

[dragonman]

Slippery slope - next step - no right to wear scents and perfume.
But a guaranteed right to wear stale body odor.

Also, your view is that the entire park is yours and yours alone, and that if there is a designated smoking area, it should not be there because you demand the right to go and stand there.
Cheers,
Renato

Your cheap scent is unlikely to increase my chance of lung cancer so away you go. Put your designated smoke area in a room that I do not have to go anywhere near and I have no problem. You want to increase your odds of lung cancer you go for it. You have no right to increase my odds.

 

[Renato1]

Your cheap scent is unlikely to increase my chance of lung cancer so away you go. Put your designated smoke area in a room that I do not have to go anywhere near and I have no problem. You want to increase your odds of lung cancer you go for it. You have no right to increase my odds.

Sorry - I won't let you get away with that.
I was talking about a designated smoking area in a park, and you have changed it to designated smoking area in a room.
You KNOW that you would be totally unaffected by a designated smoking area in a park, unless you grandiosely believe that you have a right to stand in the middle of that designated area and breathe in the smoke by standing almost face to face with a smoker.
Cheers,
Renato

P.S. - I own nine Creed scents for men, check them out on the internet. Cheap they are not.

 

[Renato1]

Now that last one was a step to far.As I heard in Dagwood,Kentucky at their civil War museum if Stonewall Jackson had not sent his doctor to treat some no good yankee prisoners he would have survived.If he had survived the south would have won the war.So the result obviously was just an historical accident so not to be believed.

As to shopping we quite often get 90% + off clothing and shoes but like everything it requires some research which mrsdrron is only too happy to do.Regularly find that discount in Dillards but I don't think they are in the west.All the department stores will give discounts to foreigners but you need to know how to ask.Not too hard to find out.
As to outlets they vary in quality.Also various stores have their ultimate outlet usually in just 1 location-Armani for example is it's one in Manchester Vermont where a lot is 90% off.
Then remember the other discounts like AAA discounts which we can get flashing our RACQ card-the same goes for every state.The Americans just love coupons-found especially in weekend newspapers.but sign up to those brands you like and get emailed coupons.That even works for chain restaurants.For accommodation the State Welcome centres on the interstates usually have small books of coupons for hotels/motels.

Also research tax free states.There are lots of ways to save money and to get good quality as well.My shirts are now Brooks Bros which I buy for ~$A30.Drip dry overnight and have never needed ironing.Some of them now over 10 years old.So actually we are now in the situation of not needing clothes and shoes.

I wonder if Southerners realize that if the Union hadn't had such an incompetent general as Meade, the war would have been over almost as quickly as it started, and they'd have lost.

Thanks for the comprehensive run down on getting the discounts. As it turns out, my wife reminded me that she did get the foreigner's 10% off at Macys a couple of times.

Funny that you mention shirts. For the last five or six years I've just been buying heaps of Gloweave Modal shirts from their DFO Moorabbin store, at around $10 each (reduced from $50 or $60) because they don't require much by way of ironing - which makes them ideal for overseas travelling. Coupled with the fact that I only use Farrah Casual trousers when overseas - as no one can get my wallet out of my pocket using them - I really have no need for buying clothes overseas either.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I have relatively inexpensive items delivered to my hotel from various supplies incl ebay often at no or very low postage. All arrived present and correct.

Interesting - are you in such hotels for a longish time?
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

As a frequent public transport users, yes please.

You prefer Body Odor, I prefer Body Kouros.
Though I wish people would stop dousing themselves with Joop Homme.
Cheers,
Renato