Again in Huntsville... as you drive along the highway, you suddenly see rockets! Very neat. They have a space shuttle, several rockets, an SR-71, and look to be building an Apollo mission museum.
This is a collection of the odd things found in the world... there's no shortage, but this is just a small collection.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Terminal Hotel
In Huntsville, there's a hotel. People go there and check in... but NEVER check out!
It's the Terminal Hotel! Read the shocking new novel by Stephen King!
It's the Terminal Hotel! Read the shocking new novel by Stephen King!
George Forman Grilling... well, something
I saw this display at Linen's and Things and thought it looked a bit odd. I'm not exactly sure what he's grilling... or pointing to. You make up your own mind!
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Italy Day 7 - Rome to Florence (28 April 2007)
** HISTORICAL POST** Been sitting in draft for months...
The day started by sleeping in a little. We had breakfast at the lounge overlooking the city. We took the shuttle to the metro station at Piazza Barbarini them took the metro to Roma Termini. We ended up making a reservation on the Eurostar train for €15 each. The ride to Florence was quick and comfortable. Once we arrived, we walked from the station across town to the hotel. When we found it (Hotel Bavaria) we discovered that we had to climb up 2 long flights of stairs to reach the lobby, them another flight to the room. We later counted about 90 steps from the street to the room. After we stopped sweating, we headed back out to see some of Florence. We made our way around the famous duomo and up to the Galeria de Academia where the famous sculpture of David stands in all his glory. The rest of the gallery has some interesting icons and a collection of plaster works used as models for other works of art. We walked back toward the hotel and had dinner at a restaurant near the duomo. The food was okay, but nothing special.
The day started by sleeping in a little. We had breakfast at the lounge overlooking the city. We took the shuttle to the metro station at Piazza Barbarini them took the metro to Roma Termini. We ended up making a reservation on the Eurostar train for €15 each. The ride to Florence was quick and comfortable. Once we arrived, we walked from the station across town to the hotel. When we found it (Hotel Bavaria) we discovered that we had to climb up 2 long flights of stairs to reach the lobby, them another flight to the room. We later counted about 90 steps from the street to the room. After we stopped sweating, we headed back out to see some of Florence. We made our way around the famous duomo and up to the Galeria de Academia where the famous sculpture of David stands in all his glory. The rest of the gallery has some interesting icons and a collection of plaster works used as models for other works of art. We walked back toward the hotel and had dinner at a restaurant near the duomo. The food was okay, but nothing special.
Italy Day 6 - More Rome (27 April 2007)
** HISTORICAL POST** Been sitting in draft for months...
Another day started in the luxury of the Hilton. After a light breakfast, we set out on "mission impossible"... to see the rest of Rome in one day. There was a plan and some amount of will power. We started by having the shuttle drop us at piazza del Popolo. We saw two amazing churches and then headed south. We visited several monuments and went back to Trevi fountain. From there, it was off to the Pantheon. Just south of there is the piazza of Minerva with another amazing church. The next stop on the tour was Piazza Novana where we had lunch. It is not recommended since the quality isn't the best and the prices are higher than other areas. After lunch, we headed to campo de Fiori, a fruit market. While there, we picked up a fake Prada bag for €10. Our tour continued to teatro marcello and then to Campidoglio. We then walked to the church built on the site where St. Peter was imprisoned. The hole in the ground is right next to the roman forum. As we meandered through the forum, we were hit with another brief rain shower. We finished seeing the forum and made a lap around the colosseum. We then walked a half mile to the piazza bocca with the large stone mouth were romans were said to deposit complaints about each other. From there, we took a high speed walk (with a few wrong turns) to the hard rock cafe for dinner. After dinner, we took a very slow walk back down to the shuttle stop. According to the pedometer, we walked 26837 steps. That translates to about 10 miles or more! It's time for a foot massage!! So far on this this, we've walked an estimated 43 miles. Once back at the hotel, we did a load of laundry in the sink. No wonder man invented washing machines! Drying clothes with a hair dryer is also quite the adventure.
Another day started in the luxury of the Hilton. After a light breakfast, we set out on "mission impossible"... to see the rest of Rome in one day. There was a plan and some amount of will power. We started by having the shuttle drop us at piazza del Popolo. We saw two amazing churches and then headed south. We visited several monuments and went back to Trevi fountain. From there, it was off to the Pantheon. Just south of there is the piazza of Minerva with another amazing church. The next stop on the tour was Piazza Novana where we had lunch. It is not recommended since the quality isn't the best and the prices are higher than other areas. After lunch, we headed to campo de Fiori, a fruit market. While there, we picked up a fake Prada bag for €10. Our tour continued to teatro marcello and then to Campidoglio. We then walked to the church built on the site where St. Peter was imprisoned. The hole in the ground is right next to the roman forum. As we meandered through the forum, we were hit with another brief rain shower. We finished seeing the forum and made a lap around the colosseum. We then walked a half mile to the piazza bocca with the large stone mouth were romans were said to deposit complaints about each other. From there, we took a high speed walk (with a few wrong turns) to the hard rock cafe for dinner. After dinner, we took a very slow walk back down to the shuttle stop. According to the pedometer, we walked 26837 steps. That translates to about 10 miles or more! It's time for a foot massage!! So far on this this, we've walked an estimated 43 miles. Once back at the hotel, we did a load of laundry in the sink. No wonder man invented washing machines! Drying clothes with a hair dryer is also quite the adventure.
Italy Day 5 - Rome (26 April 2007)
** HISTORICAL POST** Been sitting in draft for months...
This day did not begin with a train ride! Instead, we had a relaxing breakfast in the Hilton lounge overlooking the Vatican. After breakfast, we caught the shuttle to town. We had to walk a few blocks (about 8) to the Vatican. When we arrived, the line was around the corner and down the street. Surprisingly, it only took an hour to get in. We spent about 5 hours wandering through the museums and saw the Sistine chapel. All very neat. When we left, it started raining again. We walked around to St Peters square and went into the basilica. Truly amazing! The scale is almost impossible to grasp. As a surprise, we walked some more. We walked to Castle Sant Angelo. On the way, we stopped for a giant gelato. At the castle we saw people selling fake prada bags by the hundreds. We made our way to piazza cavour then across the river to the spanish steps. After a short break to rest our feet, we wandered into a restaurant for some pizza for dinner. As we left, we heard some loud thunder. We walked quickly to the hotel shuttle. Just as we got to the piazza, it started to pour down rain. We hid under an eave until the shuttle arrived. Once back at the hotel, we headed for the lounge for some wine and desserts. Athena tried some Campari soda and decided that it was nasty. After some chocolate, it was time to sleep.
This day did not begin with a train ride! Instead, we had a relaxing breakfast in the Hilton lounge overlooking the Vatican. After breakfast, we caught the shuttle to town. We had to walk a few blocks (about 8) to the Vatican. When we arrived, the line was around the corner and down the street. Surprisingly, it only took an hour to get in. We spent about 5 hours wandering through the museums and saw the Sistine chapel. All very neat. When we left, it started raining again. We walked around to St Peters square and went into the basilica. Truly amazing! The scale is almost impossible to grasp. As a surprise, we walked some more. We walked to Castle Sant Angelo. On the way, we stopped for a giant gelato. At the castle we saw people selling fake prada bags by the hundreds. We made our way to piazza cavour then across the river to the spanish steps. After a short break to rest our feet, we wandered into a restaurant for some pizza for dinner. As we left, we heard some loud thunder. We walked quickly to the hotel shuttle. Just as we got to the piazza, it started to pour down rain. We hid under an eave until the shuttle arrived. Once back at the hotel, we headed for the lounge for some wine and desserts. Athena tried some Campari soda and decided that it was nasty. After some chocolate, it was time to sleep.
Italy Day 4 - Naples to Rome (25 April 2007)
** HISTORICAL POST** Been sitting in draft for months...
Another day, another train. We checked out of the hotel and made a vow never to return to Naples. We negotiated our train ride and finally got on. We sat with a woman from Seattle who was traveling Europe for two months. We arrived into Rome and made our way to the metro. A short ride to the Cipro stop and then a taxi got us to the Hilton, paradise compared to Naples. The room was at least three times bigger! We also had access to the executive lounge filled with goodies all day long! After a beverage, we set out to see Rome. The shuttle took up from the hotel to piazza Barberini. We made our way to the colosseum through numerous old buildings, ruins, and archeological sites. The line into the colosseum was very short and only took a few minutes to get tickets. We spent about an hour "documenting" the site. As we were leaving, it started to rain. We walked toward the Palatine and bought an umbrella. It rained the entire hour we were in the Palatine. We exited to the forum and walked to Trevi fountain. We grabbed some pizza, that was not good, and walked to the shuttle for the hotel. Once back, we headed for the lounge for some tasty snacks and desserts. We ended the day in a sugar coma.
Another day, another train. We checked out of the hotel and made a vow never to return to Naples. We negotiated our train ride and finally got on. We sat with a woman from Seattle who was traveling Europe for two months. We arrived into Rome and made our way to the metro. A short ride to the Cipro stop and then a taxi got us to the Hilton, paradise compared to Naples. The room was at least three times bigger! We also had access to the executive lounge filled with goodies all day long! After a beverage, we set out to see Rome. The shuttle took up from the hotel to piazza Barberini. We made our way to the colosseum through numerous old buildings, ruins, and archeological sites. The line into the colosseum was very short and only took a few minutes to get tickets. We spent about an hour "documenting" the site. As we were leaving, it started to rain. We walked toward the Palatine and bought an umbrella. It rained the entire hour we were in the Palatine. We exited to the forum and walked to Trevi fountain. We grabbed some pizza, that was not good, and walked to the shuttle for the hotel. Once back, we headed for the lounge for some tasty snacks and desserts. We ended the day in a sugar coma.
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