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Post by questa on Jan 12, 2020 12:39:28 GMT
The Glorious Gang of Gigglers Get together again. 2020 The story so far.........
Bixa....”I'm in”.....Sept 2019 Kerouac 2....”I'm interested” Jan 2020 Mickthe cactus...”put me on the list” Jan 2020 Questa....” any time after June 12th” .Fumobici...”.hates heat and crowds high season” Mich.....” ? Away May/June...?away Sept.” Bixa...High season prices higher. Whatagain...in S Africa June/July Kerouac2 says Sept and June both good for travel.
Would it be worthwhile looking at September? It has possibilities. Hey...I'm not taking over...just doodling to delay having to do a stack of ironing.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 12, 2020 14:21:07 GMT
Where?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 12, 2020 17:13:15 GMT
Note that Questa's précis was taken from the old London get-together thread. Mick revived it (page 7, reply 184, click above) back in September to ask if there would be a repeat. Questa consolidated the answers from then to now. To answer Cheery's query of "Where?", the only places mentioned so far have been London again and of course I remind all of you that every year in November everyone waxes enthusiastic about Oaxaca, but nothing ever comes of it. I am going to assume that Kerouac was kidding about North Korea, but ...
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Post by breeze on Jan 12, 2020 20:07:40 GMT
A get-together in 2020 would be great even if I can't be there; I'd just enjoy reading about it and seeing photos.
My husband and I don't have a lot of leeway about where we travel and when, but just to let the Anyport planners know, we'll be in France from May 4 to June 8 2020 and would really enjoy meeting any of you during that month. We would even drive to Paris to do it, though I could also make a case for meeting in the Orne or the Mayenne. However, I remember that bjd is not a fan of the Mayenne, so that's out.
You may be surprised to hear from such an infrequent poster, but I'm a faithful daily reader. If my life ever gets more interesting, you may hear more from me.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 12, 2020 21:59:37 GMT
You are a valued Anyporter, Breeze, and I have long wanted to meet you!
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Post by questa on Jan 12, 2020 22:23:58 GMT
I like "Breeze" for your name...sounds peaceful. Did you choose it for that reason?
and Bixa...what is Nancy doing with that fish? I see we have a fish theme going from your last avatar.
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Post by breeze on Jan 13, 2020 1:09:33 GMT
That's very nice of you, bixa. The feeling is mutual.
Questa, I'm not good at coming up with fake names. I looked at a map for this one.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 13, 2020 2:14:53 GMT
Thanks, Breeze! I thought of you just now, as I was watching the Longwood Gardens segment of Monty Don in America. Questa, except for ruby slippers, my avatars are heavy on the fish theme. Looking for something entirely unrelated, I came across that isolated portion of a Nancy & Sluggo comic and just thought it was so "me". Here is the original:
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Post by questa on Jan 13, 2020 3:19:12 GMT
I could never "get" Nancy and Sluggo...are they children or adults, what's with the bald head and hat that leaps up to show surprise...I'm confused...
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 13, 2020 5:24:49 GMT
Well, they're kids. Nancy doesn't have parents, but lives with her Aunt Fritzi. Sluggo is poor and appears to have no adults. Sometimes his home is shown and it's all rundown. These are details that still sort of fascinate me. As far as the leaping hat, that's sort of a comics trope, along with those dashed lines to show surprise. I love comics. Nancy & Sluggo weren't in the same celestial league as Lulu & Tubby, though.
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Post by questa on Jan 13, 2020 8:57:38 GMT
I don't know them but loved 'the wizard of Id, the little king and of course Dagwood.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 13, 2020 14:15:54 GMT
Are we definitely coalescing in the UK, then? I would imagine Benelux, France or Germany to be equally easy, but I am under the impression that an English speaking country offers more people a comfort zone. Ireland?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 13, 2020 15:36:02 GMT
I wouldn't think so, Kerouac. That's why I used Questa's post to start a new thread -- so there wouldn't be an automatic assumption that the next meet-up would be in the UK. Repeating myself just to point up that there is no venue, and the only real input so far has been people saying when they could or could not come in the event there is a meetup ~ To answer Cheery's query of "Where?", the only places mentioned so far have been London again and of course I remind all of you that every year in November everyone waxes enthusiastic about Oaxaca, but nothing ever comes of it. I am going to assume that Kerouac was kidding about North Korea, but ... So far there have been two "named" get-togethers, both generated because of at least two anyporters committed to being in the same place at the same time. This doesn't count any of the other times that two or more anyporters managed to meet.
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Post by fumobici on Jan 13, 2020 19:50:20 GMT
I've only met K of the usual suspects— so far. Htmb and I missed by a single day last year. It'll be a happy coincidence if I can make a meet-up, I'm certainly game.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 13, 2020 20:00:04 GMT
My desire for this year is to finally go to Morocco. Who's up for that?
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Post by questa on Jan 13, 2020 23:08:58 GMT
In Bali I learned,"if you want a dream to come true, put a date on it!" That draws the energy that is floating around and directs it to the goal. I am going to throw in some thoughts for our consideration (The ironing can wait) Please feel free to knock down anything I say...I am speaking from a base of ignorance of Euro travel.
The WHEN is more important than the WHERE at the moment, so long as the venue for the GTG is reasonably close to transport, catering facilities and no steep steps or hills. Later on we will look at accommodation
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Post by mich64 on Jan 13, 2020 23:49:13 GMT
I am checking in regularly with interest! We have to get through an appointment with the surgeon at the end of the month to perhaps get an idea of when/if we will be able to travel in 2020.
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Post by questa on Jan 14, 2020 0:46:21 GMT
BAD COMPUTER! now I have messed up the order.
Looking at September...Mich may be able to come, High season is over which suits Fumobici, Questa, Bixa for lower fares, accommodation. Whatagain is back from S Africa. Weather less hot and sticky. Not sure when onlyMark gets back. Fewer tourists around. Negatives...Breeze would have to make an extra trip, don't know about other Anyports yet. Could we make a video for Breeze and others? Over to you good people...we can do WHERE later
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 14, 2020 1:02:50 GMT
Realistically, I think it's going to be hard for people to commit to time and place because: 1. Need to factor in schedules/preferences of family member(s) 2. Desire not to wait until last minute because of airfares, etc. 3. This is kind of 2a. -- how many trans-Atlantic/Pacific trips are people willing or able to make in one 12-month period? 4. Probably much will count on how many people are in a given country or countries w/in easy range of each other. Fumobici wrote: It'll be a happy coincidence if I can make a meet-up. He goes on to say he missed Htmb by one day. When I was in Italy at the same time as Fumobici, because of our schedules it was impossible for him to travel south to where I was or for me to travel north. This is not to throw cold water on the idea of a get-together, but so far the two official meetups worked because people were either already in the chosen spot or were able to travel there fairly easily. Are we definitely coalescing in the UK, then? I would imagine Benelux, France or Germany to be equally easy No argument here. Those countries would make good jumping-off places for those of us planning to travel on somewhere else or, for that matter, a last stop before returning home.
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Post by breeze on Jan 14, 2020 3:15:58 GMT
Questa, you are so right about making things happen. It's hard to do with a group though, especially having to choose both dates and location. Here's where Anyport could use a border collie.
If it turns out to be in September somewhere in western Europe, my husband and I could perhaps join the group. We like to go to France in September and if we knew by mid-June the dates of the gathering, we could arrange our trip around it. We're kind of in a rut in France, a very satisfying rut, but it wouldn't hurt us to shake up our routine for a few days, especially with the lure of meeting some of you.
What place would the farthest-flung of you most like to visit? I was going to name the Anyporters that I think of as far-flung and realized I had positioned myself as center of the universe. Maybe I'm the one who's far-flung.
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Post by questa on Jan 14, 2020 3:29:38 GMT
I'm the crazy one. 2 28 hour flights with 3 days in between to meet people and tour Oxford. Time for a rethink!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 14, 2020 5:20:12 GMT
In terms of getting airline tickets, Breeze, each of us is the center of the universe. Questa, wouldn't you figure out some way to make that very long haul a worthwhile trip with part of it being meeting anyporters? Here's a plan neatly incorporating my desire to go to Morocco. I've picked out a nice place for all of us to stay together & it's in Tangier, just a ferry hop from Spain. Nice, huh? www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p1542665a?noDates=true
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 14, 2020 6:18:57 GMT
Morocco could be interesting. At least it is a country where a lot of low cost airlines converge.
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Post by bjd on Jan 14, 2020 6:53:00 GMT
I haven't chipped in here yet because I probably have to go to Canada this year and am trying to organize another city trip with a friend. But if an Anyport get-together is somewhere "reasonable" for me, not in high season, then I would consider it.
However, I will not go to Morocco. Sorry Bixa, but I really don't want to go to places where there is permanent hassle of people trying to sell you something, guide you around, barter for everything.
You did see the minimum stay in your luxury place in Tangier is 14 nights, didn't you?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 14, 2020 7:16:51 GMT
Well yeah ~ but once we attained the good life, obviously we should wallow in it for a couple of weeks. Also ~ once a person was in Canada, North America, that person might as well make it on down to Mexico, North Amereica.
I didn't know that about the airlines in Morocco, Kerouac. What is calling to me is the idea of taking the train from one end of the country to the other.
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Post by bjd on Jan 14, 2020 7:39:36 GMT
Are you sure there are trains from one end of Morocco to another? I should think there are more buses than trains.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jan 14, 2020 7:50:42 GMT
Morocco now even has the TGV. And I took the Marrakesh Express with my parents between Casablanca and Marrakesh.
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Post by questa on Jan 14, 2020 8:16:04 GMT
The train is the 'Marrakesh Express" (at least the train all the tourists want to ride)I skipped it because it was a night train and the bus was better. There is not the harassment that you get in Asia. These guys offered their goods but moved on when you declined.In the big square in M'kesh was a guy holding a harmless python draped over his shoulder. A couple of pushy sellers had annoyed my companion so I went back to snake and borrowed it for a few minutes.Held it tail and neck and approached sellers.They took off in a flash and snake-man laughed and declined payment.We were left alone to get on with our browsing gorgeous things.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 14, 2020 9:40:21 GMT
Thanks!
Now I’ve got that bloody song stuck in my head...
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Post by questa on Jan 14, 2020 11:00:36 GMT
Haven't heard much from K2 for a while.The railway people told us there was no guarantee that the M Ex will be running that night. Do you plan to fly in to Casablanca train to Mkesh, then palace in Tangier for 14 days.?
Cor Blimey...I'd better hit the streets now!'
re are some arid land plants in the garden grave of Yves St Laurent bold glorious colours...in M,Kesh If the mob harrass you I will look after you and buzz them off. BJD XXXX When is Ramadan this year
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