travel thread

[IPA4Me]

I'm going to the Indy 500 in 2 weeks. Any protips from cats who have been or places to eat in Indy?

My thoughts

https://goEMAW.com/forum/index.php?topic=42664.msg2264693.msg#2264693

[Spracne]

@Spracne I'm on facebook today reading chain emails from the early aughts

For all my friends and family that have never ventured to Dallas, Daalis, or Dallus, here is an aerial view of one of the major mix masters (highways intersecting).
TRUE STORY! Driving in Dallas......
First you must learn to pronounce the city name. It is DAL-LUS, or DAA-LIS depending on if you live inside or outside LBJ Freeway. Next, if your Mapsco is more than a few weeks old, throw it out and buy a new one. If in Denton County and your Mapsco is one-day-old, then it is already obsolete. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. (Frisco has screwed everything up.) Dallas has its own version of traffic rules... "Hold on and pray." There is no such thing as a dangerous high-speed chase in Dallas . We all drive like that. All directions start with, "Get on Beltline," which has no beginning and no end. (It REALLY DOESN'T!!!) The morning rush hour is from 6 to 10. The evening rush hour is from 3 to 7. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear-ended, cussed out and possibly shot. When you are the first one on the starting line, count to five when the light turns green before going to avoid crashing with all the drivers running the red light in cross-traffic. Construction on Central Expressway is a way of life and a permanent form of entertainment. We had sooo much fun with that, we have added George Bush Freeway and the High Five to the mix. All unexplained sights are explained by the phrase, "Oh, we're in Fort Worth !" If someone actually has his or her turn signal on, it is probably a factory defect.  Car horns are actually "Road Rage" indicators - and remember, it's legal to be armed in Texas .. All old ladies with blue hair in a Mercedes have the right of way. Period. And remember, it's legal to be armed in Texas .. Inwood Road, Plano Road, NW Highway, East Grand, Garland Road, Marsh Lane, Josey Lane, 15th Street, Preston Road all mysteriously change names as you cross intersections (these are only a FEW examples). The perfect example is what is MOSTLY known as Plano Road . On the south end, it is known as Lake Highlands Drive, cross Northwest Highway and it becomes Plano Road, go about 8 miles and it is briefly Greenville Ave, Ave K, and Highway 5. It ends in Sherman ...The North Dallas Tollway is our daily version of NASCAR. The minimum acceptable speed on the Dallas North Toll Road is 85 mph. Anything less is considered downright sissy. It also ends in Sherman . If asking directions in Irving or SE Dallas , you must have knowledge of Spanish. If in central Richardson or on Harry Hines, Mandarin Chinese will be your best bet. If you stop to ask directions on Gaston or Live Oak, you better be armed... and remember, it's legal to be armed in Texas. The wrought iron on windows near Oak Cliff and Fair Park is not ornamental!! A trip across town east to west will take a minimum of four hours, although many north/south freeways have unposted minimum speeds of 75. It is possible to be driving WEST in the NORTH-bound lane of EAST NORTHWEST Highway . Don't let this confuse you. LBJ is called "The Death Trap" for two reasons: "death" and "trap." If it's 100 degrees, Thanksgiving must be next weekend. If it's 10 degrees and sleeting/snowing, the Fort Worth Stock Show is going on. If it has rained 6 inches in the last hour, the Byron Nelson Golf Classic is in the second round (if it's Spring) - and it is the Texas State Fair if it's Fall. If you go to the Fair, pay the $15.00 to park INSIDE Fair Park . Parking elsewhere could cost up to $2500 for damages, towing fees, parking tickets, and possibly a gunshot wound. If some guy with a flag tries to get you to park in his yard, run over him. Any amusement parks, stadiums, arenas, racetracks, airports, etc., are conveniently located as far away from EVERYTHING as possible so as to allow for ample parking on grassy areas. Final Warning: Don't Mess With Texas Drivers ... remember, it's legal to Be armed in Texas.

IMO, the only unacceptable pronunciation is HOWS-ton. Like SoHo in NYC.

[Phil Titola]

I'm going to the Indy 500 in 2 weeks. Any protips from cats who have been or places to eat in Indy?

The answer is Skyline Chili.

the Indy 500 isn't located in Cincinnati.

Indianapolis may have the least impressive food scene of any city with a pro sports team. Denver is right up there.

[mocat]

You should go back to Denver and re evaluate

[steve dave]

I think we're going to Japan next July as a family. Probably stop off in Hawaii on the way there, possibly on the way back too. We'll hire a tour guide for probably a couple of the days to haul us around. pretty stoked.

[Pete]

I think we're going to Japan next July as a family. Probably stop off in Hawaii on the way there, possibly on the way back too. We'll hire a tour guide for probably a couple of the days to haul us around. pretty stoked.

That will be awesome. You should all wear giant cowboy hats the entire time.

[Stupid Fitz]

I think we're going to Japan next July as a family. Probably stop off in Hawaii on the way there, possibly on the way back too. We'll hire a tour guide for probably a couple of the days to haul us around. pretty stoked.

I've never been terribly interested in international travel, but Japan has always been on my list. Looking forward to copying your exact trip in 3 years. 

[michigancat]

I have only been to Tokyo and I loved it. I was going to suggest going to Robot Restaurant but it looks like they are permanently closed.

[Tobias]

[michigancat]

Seattle?

[Spracne]

Salt Lake City?

[Phil Titola]

Albuquerque

[Spracne]

Albuquerque

It seems v Southwestern, but is there a large body of water?

[ben ji]

I cheated and used Google lens, its not even in the US and now I'm wondering WTF Tobias is doing there.

[wetwillie]

Visiting the motherland

[Ghost of Stan Parrish]

I have only been to Tokyo and I loved it. I was going to suggest going to Robot Restaurant but it looks like they are permanently closed.

Hahaha, I went to Robot Restaurant, too. Absolute madness, I couldn't stop laughing.

Recommend to check if one of the sumo tournaments is happening while you're there. Visiting Kyoto is an absolute must. Kind of cool to visit a sake distillery and have samples. Kabuki theater was super interesting, but I don't know if kids would enjoy. Same for an onsen we stayed at in the middle of nowhere (Iya Valley), which was beautiful but probably not something kids would enjoy, at all.

[ChiComCat]

I agree that the robot restaurant is great if it's not dead.  My group also did a Mario Kart-esque tour where we dressed in costumes and cruised around Tokyo.  It seemed way safer than I would've expected experiencing traffic in the States but I'd imagine the lil' Daves are too young.

The pig/puppy/monkey/owl cafes seem fun but are super depressing once you get in there.

[michigancat]

I agree that the robot restaurant is great if it's not dead.  My group also did a Mario Kart-esque tour where we dressed in costumes and cruised around Tokyo.  It seemed way safer than I would've expected experiencing traffic in the States but I'd imagine the lil' Daves are too young.

The pig/puppy/monkey/owl cafes seem fun but are super depressing once you get in there.

I went to a hedgehog cafe that was fine

[passranch]

I cheated and used Google lens, its not even in the US and now I'm wondering WTF Tobias is doing there.

I was going to guess the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD until I saw this post.

[ben ji]

I cheated and used Google lens, its not even in the US and now I'm wondering WTF Tobias is doing there.

I was going to guess the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD until I saw this post.

Hint, it's our northern neighbor and a 50k ish town that I have never heard of.

[IPA4Me]

Not a bad time to visit there (I used Google Lens too).

[Pete]

Regina?

[ben ji]

Regina?

As a citizen of the great plains I have heard of Regina.....Further east...past Montreal...

[star seed 7]

Regina?

This is a family blog.

Also I have family by marriage in the Tobias spot 

[ben ji]

Also Regina is a territorial capital and has like 250k people which is about 5x what this random ass town Tobias is in has. Without cheating no one will ever get it.