Take a Vacation

[BigPiney]

I am sad.

it comes with the cancel culture we are seeing everywhere.

[Northwestcoug]

Another big change is that we cancelled Italy.

I am sad.

[Pelado]

So we've plotted out our itinerary. It's much more moving around than what we'd like, primarily because of trying to work our way across Normandy to Mont Saint Michel. We're trying to get a taste of both urban and rural in each of the three countries we'll be visiting.

4 nights in London
2 nights in Benson UK (with day trip to the Cotswolds, maybe more)
Chunnel train from London to Paris
2 nights in Rouen
1 night in Bayeux
1 night in Mont Saint Michel
3 nights in Paris
Fly to Florence
3 nights in Florence
3 nights near San Gimignano, Italy (with day trips to Siena, Volterra, maybe more)
Fly back home with an overnight in Zurich

I've made some changes to the itinerary, in part because new award travel became available, and in part to reduce the travel time and associated wear/tear.

Instead of taking Southwest for Boise -> Denver -> Chicago and then United to London from Chicago (via Boston), I was able to get on United from Boise -> Chicago -> Boston -> London for the same MileagePlus miles as it was going to take from Chicago. That should mean a much smoother travel experience with the added benefit of saving al the Rapid Rewards points I had originally used on the Southwest flights.

Another big change is that we cancelled Italy. We'll have to go there on our next trip to Europe. Instead, we'll now go from Mont Saint Michel to the following:

3 nights in Amboise
4-5 nights in Paris
Fly home from CDG via Zurich to Chicago (then Southwest through Denver back to Boise)

I'm planning to modify that flight home to go all the way to Boise on United as soon as business class award space opens up enough - probably in two or three weeks.

I might also modify the flights to London again - especially if space opens up on the Boise -> Denver -> London route. That's faster and has the potential for business class for both segments. On the current plan, I'm slumming it in Economy for both domestic flights.

I think the only thing I still need to book is accommodations in Paris. Everything is so small and pricey! None of the Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners are offering any good deals (Hyatt, Marriott, IHG). The AirBnB options are underwhelming and - as far as I know - don't allow me to utilize my reward points.

I'm having difficulty finding anything remotely inexpensive that will appease my wife. Maybe I'm just a cheapskate.

[Commando]

I was backpacking S America like 20 years ago(!) and I was in Quito, Ecuador and kept seeing the same two dudes in different parts of the city center I was milling around in waiting for a bus. One of the Dudes (40-ish, wearing a cable knit sweater) bumped into me a couple times and apologized a little too profusely, so I commented to my friend- "hey I think these assholes are trying to pickpocket us." He was stunned and had no idea what I was talking about. At the time, I kept my wallet and passport in my front pocket of my shorts with a safety pin keeping it shut, and sure enough-- I felt a finger in my pocket and turned around and it was that dude. I cursed him out on the street like a psycho, pushed him to the ground, and kicked him in the ass as hard as I could as he was getting up to flee. I thought about grabbing a belt from a nearby merchant and whipping him in the eyeball, but I thought I don't need to get arrested in South America for no reason. I later asked a cop on the street if I could have done that and gotten away with it and I guess that reaction would have been more than welcome for law enforcement in Quito...

[Commando]

Interesting timing. I went down a Reddit wormhole this past weekend while I was killing time at youth conference. Somehow I stumbled into a thread about the Romani, which quickly spiraled into a discussion about how much anyone who has any significant interaction with them absolutely hates them. Of course, a bunch of people who have never encountered the Romani were calling those people racists, and those people were pushing back and saying, essentially "i'm not racist, but if disliking all the Romani because of my interactions with them makes me racist, fine, I'm a racist." Fascinating.

lol I had a Roma client for a bit. Sketchy dude that I absolutely hated representing for the little time that I did.

[BigPiney]

My favorite of their tactics is when they toss a baby at you. You catch the baby, of course, and then they are in your pockets because, well, you're holding a baby.

Ugh I hated seeing the drugged babies of the women begging.

[falafel]

Interesting timing. I went down a Reddit wormhole this past weekend while I was killing time at youth conference. Somehow I stumbled into a thread about the Romani, which quickly spiraled into a discussion about how much anyone who has any significant interaction with them absolutely hates them. Of course, a bunch of people who have never encountered the Romani were calling those people racists, and those people were pushing back and saying, essentially "i'm not racist, but if disliking all the Romani because of my interactions with them makes me racist, fine, I'm a racist." Fascinating.

My favorite of their tactics is when they toss a baby at you. You catch the baby, of course, and then they are in your pockets because, well, you're holding a baby.

[BigPiney]

Interesting timing. I went down a Reddit wormhole this past weekend while I was killing time at youth conference. Somehow I stumbled into a thread about the Romani, which quickly spiraled into a discussion about how much anyone who has any significant interaction with them absolutely hates them. Of course, a bunch of people who have never encountered the Romani were calling those people racists, and those people were pushing back and saying, essentially "i'm not racist, but if disliking all the Romani because of my interactions with them makes me racist, fine, I'm a racist." Fascinating.

I met a number of them in France and some were fun to talk to. The ones in Rome drove me crazy and I can see why many people hate them.

[Donuthole]

I do the front pocket thing too. I know the Roma are good, but no way in hell is anyone good enough to get into my front pocket without me knowing. I have a brother who was busking in Madrid and got his iPhone stolen by Roma. He said it was super smooth but something registered with him that made him check for his phone and it was gone. He remembered the guy who made him think the touch was weird and he ran after him. He grabbed him and demanded his phone back and the guy acted like my brother was crazy and started yelling out that he was being assaulted. My brother said he just knew it was him so he doubled down, pushed him up against a wall and told him he was going to beat the shit out of him and take the phone and get the police involved or he could just give it back sans ass kicking and cops. Believe it or not the guy handed it back.

Interesting timing. I went down a Reddit wormhole this past weekend while I was killing time at youth conference. Somehow I stumbled into a thread about the Romani, which quickly spiraled into a discussion about how much anyone who has any significant interaction with them absolutely hates them. Of course, a bunch of people who have never encountered the Romani were calling those people racists, and those people were pushing back and saying, essentially "i'm not racist, but if disliking all the Romani because of my interactions with them makes me racist, fine, I'm a racist." Fascinating.

[Pelado]

Thanks, everyone. I ordered a neck wallet thing. And I got pants with zippered front pockets. And my wife got a money belt.

[Bo Diddley]

Ditto on pickpockets being a problem but they are easily deterred by what many have said here. I use a small one strap backpack that I never leave alone and is always wrapped around me, even when I sit to eat. In crowded places I bring it I front of me. My wallet is in my front pocket and same with my phone.

The best advice is to ignore everyone that approaches you and don’t be afraid to be rude to them. One guy grabbed my arm in France last summer and I told him to let go or I’d smack him. I then whipped my arm other around and pushed him to the ground. I think he was surprised but I didn’t care. In Rome I had a guy throw a bracelet to me and try to get me to catch it. I just let it hit my chest and it fell to the ground and I just stood there. He wasn’t trying to pickpocket me but he knew if I caught it there’s a higher chance I’d buy it. I just ignored him.

Yeah, that's definitely a red line for me. Sounds like he was asking for a wrist lock. But pushing him to the ground works too.

And definitely agree on being rude. I employ a serious RBF as needed that usually does the trick.

[Moliere]

Ditto on pickpockets being a problem but they are easily deterred by what many have said here. I use a small one strap backpack that I never leave alone and is always wrapped around me, even when I sit to eat. In crowded places I bring it I front of me. My wallet is in my front pocket and same with my phone.

The best advice is to ignore everyone that approaches you and don’t be afraid to be rude to them. One guy grabbed my arm in France last summer and I told him to let go or I’d smack him. I then whipped my arm other around and pushed him to the ground. I think he was surprised but I didn’t care. In Rome I had a guy throw a bracelet to me and try to get me to catch it. I just let it hit my chest and it fell to the ground and I just stood there. He wasn’t trying to pickpocket me but he knew if I caught it there’s a higher chance I’d buy it. I just ignored him.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I have also used one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WBMQ89C...&pd_rd_plhdr=t

[BigPiney]

We do the pouches that hang from your neck and are under your shirt. Never had a problem.

I have used one of these:. Shacke Hidden Travel Belt Wallet w/RFID Blocker (Black with Black Strap) https://a.co/d/64aWijI
very secure with a belt. And in very sketchy areas, or crowded metro, I'll wear it inside the pants.

[Jeff Lebowski]

We do the pouches that hang from your neck and are under your shirt. Never had a problem.