allberry2001

Fall trip to Milan Italy

December 13, 2018December 27, 2018 by allberry2001, posted in Main

This month was a trip to Italy and the Milan area and a 3 and a half hour drive south to visit some other small towns. The first part of the trip was to drive from Milan to a small city called Monticelli. Now, this is not a place most people would stay in Italy. But it had a train station and was not far from places you do want to visit. Being one of the drivers on this tour it was important to me to find something where I didn’t have to drive all the time.

Well you think driving in Italy was hard, it’s no different than any other city you have driven in. Now the signs are in another language but that’s to be expected. The drive took some time after 20 hours of flying so we stopped in some town to eat, the owner and her kids were so glad to see us ( it seemed to me) a party of 5 in a small local pizza place. The food was wonderful.

The next stop was to be Rapallo, Italy but the driving got to us and after a coffee break, it was time to hit the hotel for some sleep. The town we were staying in was Montecatini Italy, this was a point we could get to other locations from using the train or the cars. Worked out great for me as I was one of the drivers, and when in Italy wine and driving don’t mix ( there is my PSA for this blog).

The town was not a tourist site but was very small and cute, the people were friendly as always. I think the hotel was used for conventions because it was close to where the tour buses parked. After a good nights sleep it was off to Lucca via the train.

Have I told you it rains in Italy and every day it seems I found a puddle first thing in the morning. We get to Lucca later in the day then we wanted and it had been raining most of the day, getting out of the train it was a downpour. We needed a cafe and some coffee to try and wait it out. Now one of the reasons I wanted to go to Lucca was because there is a square that the boys from Top Gear visited. Now, this is a walled city with a lot of footpaths into the city but not many built for cars, as we walked around not knowing what way to go we found all the footpaths flooded. After walking the wrong way for a while we got directions on how to get into the city. We got in and took some photos without finding the plaza I was looking for. Back to the hotel for wine.

The next day was Piza, now from what I heard there was not much to see except for the tower. And this was a car trip so we got an early start( so I could have some wine later in the day) I was correct about it being small.

And then there was wine, starting to see a trend here.I do have to say if you never read any of my post’s before the food is wonderful and I have not found a “bad” place to eat in Italy and there are so many food blogs about the food there I would be wasting time.

Time to move to the next stop La Spezia, this was a apartment we rented on our way back up the coast. It’s a port with a lot very large and expensive boats in the ports, but that god for Google maps I never would have my found my way in and out. One of the reasons for this stop was the coastal city’s. Now we did bring a photo enthused with us, but that’s a long story you don’t want to read.

Manarola, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy; Shutterstock ID 66791440; Project/Title: Best of Europe; Downloader: Melanie Marin

La Spezia was a cool little city to visit and I would like to go back for a long visit.Lets see what work thinks about the time off.

Now I’m a bad blogger and its taken me 3 weeks to get this posted, if you would like more info about the places we visited feel free to contact me. Now back to the wine.

Travel Anxiety

November 20, 2018 by allberry2001, posted in Main

Is it a product of the airline industry or am I just doing it to myself? I remember being so excited to go vacation in the 90’s not sure it feels the same. I got screwed more than enough time by the airlines that I feel different now. Just check old posts from this blog.

We leave for Itay on Wednesday and working this Monday and Tuesday is killing me with thoughts running around in my brain about the trip and are the flights on time and did I get everything done at work.

To Vegas and back

November 16, 2018November 16, 2018 by allberry2001, posted in Main

A weekend away to see a Radio/Podcast show I have been listening to for years. The Mike O Meara show is a podcast I have been listening to for years, and I have been to a few of the live shows before. But never in Vegas, that a horse of a different color. Driving from Reno to Vegas was the first task that needed to be done and on the way down its always best to go halfway. Between the 2 cities, it Tonopah, Nevada, we stayed at the Tonopan Station last time so we wanted to try something new this time.

The Mizpah hotel was what we decided at this time, and I think it was a good choice. What a page of Nevada history to visit. The wood bars and chandeliers in the lobby were impressive, and the old vault was not a treasure trove of old memorabilia.

The staff was friendly ( and way overworked ) the bartender was giving out drinks at the bar on the floor and was the person at the cash out cage. At the bar, while we were gaming they said they could not “comp” the drinks ( gin and club and 7 and 7 ) but could discount them and I found that odd, as for the same drinks in Reno and Vegas the drinks are on the house if you are gaming enough money.

Next pit stop was more or less just photo shoots on the way, I guess now would be a good time to explain why we are going to Vegas. There was a Radio ( Don and Mike )show that turned into a podcast ( The Mike O’Meara Show ) that is doing a live Las Vegas show that I wanted to see. I have been to the live shows they have done before and have a great time every time I go.

Then there is the Vegas factor, the wife got us tickets to see Cher Saturday night and I have never seen her so good time will be had by all. What I mean about the “Vegas factor” is the booze, the day of the TMOS show by the time we got there after the long drive I was feeling no pain. And the bar at the show was pouring some good drinks. Needless to say, I got way too drunk to fast and once the bar at the show closed I was out of there, missed a good half of the show.

Now Saturday rolls around and in Vegas, the drinks start early, as you know. Can you see where this is going? I should say the Cher show from what I remember was great, loved the way she talked to the crowd and the costume changes were awesome.

That time of the year again

October 16, 2018 by allberry2001, posted in Main

So for the next few month’s, I will be traveling quite a bit. We have the Tuscany region first and I will be doing some driving for the first time in Italy. I have driven in the UK, Scotland, and Ireland ( to the left to the left to the left..left..left ). So it should not be a problem, the rest of the crew we are going with says I should get an International license. When I asked about it at the rental company about having one in Ireland he just giggled and sent us on my way.

BTW if you go a barber in Ireland make sure they speak English if you ask for a “trim” of your beard. What was I talking about…

The next trip will be to Florida in February ( Dinsey world ) I so wish it wasn’t in Florida ( read previous blogs about Florida ).

And then in March back to Roma with my sister in law and son and girlfriend, it will be the sons and the girlfriend to Italy. Not sure if I posted about the last time my sister in law took a trip to Italy with us ( long story with crying ). My son is so excited about going he has been asking about everything we can go see.

I would like to post the photos and story’s of the trip’s here and not on Facebook, let’s see how that goes…

One of the Best lunch’s in Reno

October 12, 2018 by allberry2001, posted in Businesses, Main

I often use this space to bitch and moan about a company, this time I wanted to say how much I am thankful for Nu Yalk Pizza in Reno. Its the closed thing to real pizza ( NY pizza ) in the area.

https://www.nuyalkpizza.com/