We were in the middle of nowhere-Mexico, and yeah, armed patrols in the open beds of trucks. The little, relatively heavily American town of San Miguel de Allende, for a vacation-wedding. Americans’ vacation homes/retirement spot, I think. The bride’s family had a few already bought.
My thinking at the time was, how bad is the violent crime that this presence is required? Or, how much safer is it with this versus without this?
We see them from time to time in Rio.
They usually patrol the beach area or areas that are popular with tourists.
I was concerned at the beginning, but you get used to it.
Why not both!
I know several Canadians and Brits who live in San Miguel de Allende. They love it but I sense there is little socializing between the expats and the Mexicans.
Like a caste system. Cool. /s
August last year, we were in Paris during the Olympics. There were heavily-armed men and women wearing bullet-proof vest in every corner. There were also military men around and police on horses. You had to be careful walking around those horses. They weren’t exactly wearing “diapers”, IYKWIM.
“Sir, you dropped your phony horse poo.”
" What phony horse poo?"
Anyway, thank goodness, nothing bad happened while we were there.
RN!
We were at the Eiffel Tower fireworks thing on Bastille day once and the police definitely had a strong presence, many of them with rifles.
Other than a couple of folks who had a little too much to drink, no incidents.
In Palm Desert right now. 101 degrees at 7:46.
It is 69 degrees where I live.
So it does raise a discussion of the definition of a heat wave.
Sat by the pool under a cabana mostly.
Played some poker earlier.
If you are going to any of these European cities, dress appropriately.
You can’t legislate good taste!
Mrs. Hoffman and I were talking about going to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario in a couple weeks. It’ll probably be our last chance to get away anywhere for at least a couple months; we have a trip late October for one of the bonus kids, beyond that I have no clue when I’m going to have time clear from work to go anywhere for a weekend. Maybe Christmas, but even that I can’t guarantee at the moment and if it’s not then it won’t be until … I truly don’t know when in 2026, because I’m currently careening from one project to the next just trying to keep any of them from breaking down, and I don’t see that ending any time soon.
I’m not sure what all there is to do on the Ontario side, but then I got to thinking do I want to go over, spend a weekend, then risk running into someone on the trip back who makes it hell to get back in? And I decided no, no I really don’t want to. So, I think we’re going somewhere in the UP with the specifics to be decided last-minute.
Id really like to burn a week of PTO and go somewhere in October, although i lack a destination and my SO is short on days. I can leave my kids with my ex but my SO doesnt really have an option, so that makes difficult even something where we just get out of town and she stretches a few PTO days across the week and checks in for half days.
Hiking along the Appalachian trail maybe? Maybe around new river gorge or Knoxville. I was in GSMNP. I haven’t really done anything like that alone.. 12-15 miles on the trail feels like something that’s a better idea to do with a pal in case of injury, but maybe that’s irrational given I’ve done this plenty of times and most trails get some traffic. I could explore some state parks and trails nearer to home and have a bit of a staycation. I guess either way i need to get a week or two out on the calendar for this fall.
Me neither. No advantage in spending time in the Soo.
Sounds lovely. That was the first mountain hiking trip I ever did (May 1973). That was much further north than you: Presidential Range in New Hampshire. Have never done the southern bits: can you hike from hut to hut as in NH?
There are not as many spots on the southern stretches of the trail to do this. I think you can still do a multi-day hut to hut hike in the Shenandoah Valley, but not sure if there are others like that in the south. There are some huts/lodges along long trails in the south, but not many hut to hut hike distances available.
I have enjoyed some of the longer trails in Europe for this reason, as you can travel much lighter in a hut to hut hike.
I like hiking for hours but returning to a comfortable place to sleep afterwards. And a large meal to replace some of the 2000 calories lost during the day.
TBH, there are a handful of 8-12 mile hikes within a couple hour drive from home that could fill out a week and the colors should be just as nice as they would be in Appalacians. A lot less elevation though. One big difference hiking in the UK is since the tree line is so low, you have incredible views along the entire hike (if you can find a clear day). There is often a fairly limited view along the appalacians since they are tree covered up to the peak.
Taking a break from London and spending this coming weekend in Paris. Will be our first time there without kids in tow since the 1970s. Heat may inhibit some outdoor activities so there are a few art museums we will visit. Everything needs to be booked well in advance this summer.
Looking forward to the Eurostar each way. Wish we had similar services in Canada.
Nice. We are headed there in October for the little ones 6th birthday.
She found out that they have a Disneyland close to Paris and is now bugging us to take her.
Probably one for next year as from my research they are opening up a Frozen themed area in the park (one of her favourites) and my wife doesn’t think we have time do that this time around.
Had to smile at this. There was a busker at Granville Island in Vancouver who used to sing “Aux Champs-Élysées” about every 10 minutes during his act.