I’m doing preliminary research on a family vacation to Costa Rica. Probably going to go next winter.

Saw and read an old thread on here from 15 years ago, but any more recent recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Going to be in Santa Fe this July for a memorial and will probably rent a car and spend the week there. I know there's an old Santa Fe thread somewhere from way back. Anyway - bookstores, restaurants, music/comic shops, weird shit, outdoorsy spots and night life - whatever - recommendations would be much appreciated. Never been.

goatbreather wrote: Sun Apr 16, 2023 9:35 pm Going to be in Santa Fe this July for a memorial and will probably rent a car and spend the week there. I know there's an old Santa Fe thread somewhere from way back. Anyway - bookstores, restaurants, music/comic shops, weird shit, outdoorsy spots and night life - whatever - recommendations would be much appreciated. Never been.

I absolutely love Santa Fe. Would like to move near/around there at some point. I'll go through my pics and notes and supply what I know. Also have a good friend who lived there with his dad for a couple years during the pandy and he loved it as well.

The OG Meow Wolf is there, which is fun.

We’re thinking of spending a weekend in June in Milwaukee, as we’ve passed through it many times but have never actually spent time there. The main activity would be hitting antique/vintage shops. It would be me plus the wife and kids.

Any neighborhoods particularly good for that kind of stuff? What about general things to see? Where would be a good neighborhood for staying?

Our first journey after 3 years! we took the TGV to Paris and the another TGV to Saint-Malo, stayed there for a night and then took the ferry to Saint Helier, Jersey, where we stayed for 4 days. did coast path hiking every day. then we took the ferry to Saint Peter Port, Guernsey where we stayed for another 3 days. we also did a 1 day trip to Sark. we had an absolutely beautiful week!!
both islands have a great public transport system, there’s no need to rent a car, busses will get you everywhere!

Jersey:



Guernsey:



Sark:

andyman wrote: Mon May 22, 2023 6:13 am That's really stunning. Where did you stay - campsites or..?

Hotels, shower and breakfast included…….

If any of you will be around any of these places during any of these times, let me know and I'll be more than happy to try to say hi:

- Week of June 19: Seoul, Korea
- Last week of July and/or first week of August: Seoul, Korea
- Week of Sept. 11: Stuttgart, Germany
- Sometime likely in Oct.: Fremont, California
- Pretty much any other time: northwest exurbs of Chicago

I also hope to make an appearance at the PRFBBQ, but it's looking more and more like I'll only be able to attend on the evening of July 6 and/or July 7 (Thursday or Friday).

Heading to Greece next week. I’ll be in Mykonos (most of my free time is already filled up there) and Athens. Anyone have any recos, especially in Athens. I think we are staying sorta near The Acropolis.

[dbl post, pls disregard]

tommy wrote: Heading to Greece next week. I’ll be in Mykonos (most of my free time is already filled up there) and Athens. Anyone have any recos, especially in Athens. I think we are staying sorta near The Acropolis.

As of two years ago, Atlantikos in Psirri served simple, quality seafood at gentle prices. It's popular and very tourist-friendly but not exclusively touristy.

Volvi, outside Varvakeios Market on Evripidou, is a window for better-than-normal souvlaki and meatballs made w/(for once) good ingredients. The market itself is worth a look as well (the surrounding area is wonderful for herbs, spices, tea, beans, grains, and soap to take home), and the old-school famous lunch restaurant in there w/the tripe soup is also solid.

For a hell of a dinner and outstanding wine (w/an emphasis on natural and/or traditional producers), spend a little money and go to Materia Prima in Koukaki. Greek food w/international influences and an avant-garde edge w/o being corny or needlessly fancy.

You probably know that Greeks eat late, so dinner before 9pm looks a little odd outside of tourist joints.

Athens is big, gritty, smoggy, and a huge mix of Greek and immigrant cultures, so it's often more hectic and urban than one might expect. But I totally love the place. Classical monuments mixed in w/that stuff is very cool. Hike around the Anafiotika quarter, just behind the Acropolis, if you're an active sort, and admire the old houses. Exarchia is the historic bohemian neighborhood, although it looked a little spent a few years ago b/c of hard-drug spillover from adjacent areas and the closure of so many clubs, record stores, and shops. Might be a little livelier now w/the pandemic in the rearview, dunno? Do watch your pockets on the metro, especially coming from the airport.