SonjaWinson

2 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Thanks Lola, will have a look. Thinking of Old Town but not opposed to the Promenade.

 

FSS, that Lisbon hotel is on my short list. Actually made a reservation there back in 2019 for our self-guided Portugal trip but ended up canceling. We changed the itinerary and didn't stay in Lisbon at all, so it wasn't needed. Thanks for the reinforcement! 

JP: Our favorite place to stay in Lisbon is Solar do Castelo, a small boutique hotel at the top of the hill next to Castelo Sao Jorge in Alfama. It can be a bit challenging to reach because some taxis are too big to make it all the way to the front door. If you are uncomfortable walking on steep cobblestone roads, the hotel has a golf cart that can take you up from and down to the castle gate. There are lots of small restaurants and fado clubs down the hill to occupy the night, and peacocks to wake you up early the next morning.

Karen

Bill, I felt exactly as you do. The nature of Zoji owners is that they really know and love their rice and as evidenced by the cash they eventually spend on a Zoji are prepared to spend to achieve what they subsequently discover is perfection.

 

I've conversed with many Zoji owners on line over the years and pretty much all of them considered themselves cooks of perfect rice before they were Zoji owners but were swayed into buying one by other enthusiastic owners. They then almost all seem to have realised that their previous rice wasn't near as good as from their new Zoji and then proselytise others into buying one. I have only ever heard of one person who didn't fit that. Many Chinese owners had previous cheapo rice cookers as the Chinese seem to like rice machines.

 

Zojis have fuzzy logic -so it sense and adjusts for each different prep - in them and you measure the rice and water hit the button for the type of rice and your preferred style and it does it all, and most importantly keeps it in perfect condition for hours and hours. Or if you do as I do when doing basmati and put some butter and pillau spices in the bottom and you get that wonderful charring of some grains that many prize and adore.

 

I think almost every owner I have met online felt they didn't really need one but wanted to find out what all the fuss was about and then understood perfectly once they had one. There is also a sub-culture within owners that insist that the Zojis made in the Japan factory is better than the one's from China, but that is a whole different debate.

 

Hope that explains.

I bought a Zoji solely because of the fuzzy logic claim....and I discovered over the years that many of my friends got hooked on Zoji, too, for the same reason. It seemed like a kind of in-joke for AI types. It may be marketing hype, but we are all extremely pleased with the output.

I hope the bar opens early tomorrow. It was -13 degrees F yesterday morning and just a bit warmer this morning when I drove to work. By mid-day tomorrow we may have more than a foot of snow to deal with. Curry sounds like the perfect antidote, but it's too late to get to the store to buy ingredients. Will you be serving any leftovers at the Cooler bar tomorrow?

K.

From somebody who's had almost a bottle of Champagne by herself at 6pm (my DH had the other one)... HAPPPPPY NEW YEAR Cooler friends!!

 

Jillyf, please join us in this thread. Lurking is good but sharing is much better. Cheers!!

Oh, oh...almost an entire bottle? Looks like I have some catching up to do.

Happy New Year, everyone! Best wishes for a wonderful 2018!

Karen

Boxing Day Greetings from a cold but sunny Wales.....hope everyone had a good Christmas Day...all the food looks delicious....especially Jeff 's beef...mouthwatering!

 

I did a 'Home Alone' day and thoroughly enjoyed not having to run around like a scalded cat with the pressure and stress of catering....my choice entirely and a good one....I'd insisted the kids go south to the in laws due to the father being terminally ill, although I had been invited l couldn't face the long journey down after the long flight home....I'd also politely declined three invites to join friends....to be sure they must think me a miserable old sod 😉

So...four paws and l enjoyed a lovely turkey dinner and will have the same today.....after the Moet!

 

On Christmas Eve l managed to bag my flights for next year to NY and Barbados at a bargain fare so thats my Christmas present to myself!

Over the next few months I'll be asking for suggestions for a NYC hotel as I'm flying in for a couple of days before boarding the Spirit....I've looked at the Pierre and the Mark but reviews are not good...Plaza and Waldorf l fear may be too touristy....so any ideas will be most welcome along with a good Limo company whom l can use durIng my stay for wherever l want to go......can you tell l love planning ahead!!

 

Happy Day

 

:)

Hi, Miss Sophia,

We like to stay at the Surrey Hotel, which is not at all touristy and has a wonderful restaurant (Cafe Boulud) and bar downstairs.

Karen

Jeff: That's a very different problem.

K.

Jeff:

It depends on the number of candies in the bag.

If there are two candies in the bag, the probability of getting one red and one black is 100%. The probability of getting two of the same color is 0.

If there is an infinite number of candies in the bag, the probability of getting two of the same color or getting one red candy and one black candy is 50% because after you take the first candy out of the bag, there are still (roughly) an equal number of candies of each color in the bag. The probability that the second candy will be just like the first or different from the first is therefore 50%.

Eat up and enjoy,

Karen

JP and Chris:

Wow! What an amazing experience!

Thank you so much for posting the pictures and commentary.

How will your Iceland expedition compete with this?

Karen

Karen,

 

If you wish to share the level of pristine vision I have of anything after "the witching hour", then you'll need to upgrade your refreshment from prosseco to armagnac ...... which seems to do the trick for me .....:D

 

By the way, why did you choose "Sonja"?

I thought it would be a good idea to use a pet's name. We never named the fish...so it was either Sonja, our wonderful Bouvier des Flandres, or Lover Boy, my equally wonderful 17h Holsteiner jumper. Somehow Sonja seemed better suited to me. Perhaps if I had gotten into the Armagnac before I signed up, I would have chosen differently. (Both names were given by the breeders on the registration papers, before you ask the next question.)

Good Evening Coolers.......late joining the party tonight ...been a tad under the weather today post flu shot....but think it's mind over matter...☺️

 

Jeffers....l don't know the difference between Apple or indeed Pears....but your and others input on the debate has been very enlightening....one learns something new all the time even if we don't quite get it.....so no apologies required whatsoever....

 

I've yet to listen to M's music offerings.......but promise to catch up.....

 

Warm welcome to Karen....do join in at the bar with the freedom to chat away......Jeff's cocktails can at times be very strong particularly during the wee small hours when slumber evades....''tis then that humour prevails .....;)

Thanks, MissSophia.....I am sticking to a glass of Prosecco this evening. I have been searching for an image of the chaotic pre-PC computer room I grew up with, to compare it with Jeff's pristine vision of computing. Film and processing were so expensive, I didn't take as many pictures as I should have, but I will continue to look. We used Digital machines for the most part, until we started building our own.

Good afternoon Coolers,

 

Cams, lovely of you to say, but I think an apology may well be in order from me to people in the bar and bored in that my recent musings in the origins of computers have been so boring that Coolers have become anaesthetised and lost the use of their posting digits and even possibly the will to live. If so, sorry ..... I will stop the self-indulgent reminiscences about all things PC. :)

 

Cams ... I didn't really understand your post about numbers and letters. Can you elucidate ?

 

Today was welsh lamb.

 

 

 

 

 

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Jeff: I enjoyed your musings about the origins of personal computers. I knew one of the creators of VisiCalc when I was an undergraduate. Your musings brought back lots of memories!

Karen

Hi, Jeff,

Lunch looks great!

I will look at the Heathrow Express option, along with the availability of a BA or DL lounge with shower so he can change on arrival. Less stress is what we are looking for!

Unfortunately, he has to squeeze the trip between two immovable commitments back at work---one on the day he leaves and one in the afternoon when he returns---so he is locked into the flight schedule with no time for sightseeing, except through a taxi window. His hosts have a dinner planned, but he doesn't have any information about when or where.

(The person in charge of making the travel arrangements appears to be on vacation, which is why I thought to ask you for suggestions---if no itinerary is forthcoming today, we'll make arrangements ourselves.)

Again, thanks for the help!

Karen

Sorry Karen ... should have answered. I don't want to give advice re hotels we haven't stayed in recently and as we now only stay at the IC on Park Lane which is perfectly adequate. People only advise on what they have experienced soisn't really a good way of comparing so I suggest a decent starting point is TA.

 

There is however a newish and inexpensive Premier Inn just around the corner at Blackfriars. Or almost next door is:

 

https://www.apexhotels.co.uk/apex-temple-court-hotel?rt=google|cpc|APTC01-Apex-TempleCourt-Brand-13052-53516|apex%20temple%20court%20hotel&gclid=Cj0KCQjwub7NBRDJARIsAP7wlT8HX0jVfpY-ggTc4DE811ievZRtva0Ea-w8cMtTVoCryTuKJqkXg94aApkjEALw_wcB

 

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186338-d2539103-Reviews-Apex_Temple_Court_Hotel-London_England.html

Hi, Jeff,

Thank you very much for the helpful information.

The Apex looks like a good choice, especially if he can get into the room early so he can change.

It's a really quick trip---he arrives early in the morning and flies back the next morning. Now I am thinking I should look into booking a hotel at Heathrow, which would make it easier to get to his flight the next morning.

I used to stay at the Hilton that's connected to Terminal 4 via the hamster tube quite a bit several years ago, but the flights that match his schedule arrive at Terminal 3 or Terminal 5 now, so that doesn't appear to be as convenient as it used to be.

Time is so tight the morning he arrives, it looks like Blacklane is the least-stressful way to get into London. Thanks for the link.

Karen

Hi, Jeff,

Although this is not exactly about Irma, it is sort of related to hurricane preparations. My husband and I were just wondering if we might experience residual effects of the hurricane in Boston, when he realized he is supposed to be in London next week and hasn't made any arrangements.

I wondered if I could tap into your knowledge of London and ask if you have recommendations for a reliable car service to take him from Heathrow to Fleet Street and for a good hotel near Peterborough Court?

Thanks,

Karen

Hi, mdpa,

Thank you very much for the information.

We've been thinking about doing the hike, but we were discouraged to read in various places that it normally takes four hours. Knowing you did it in half the time despite the sandals, is good news!

Karen

Hi, Mdpa,

Thank you for the great pictures and commentary! It really looks like you had a terrific time.

I am particularly interested in learning more about your hike to Oia. What time did you start and how long did it take to reach Oia?

Karen

I would like some advice please.

 

We are in Boston 10th October (DH has a conference) and then we are on a cruise, Boston - Montreal, on the opposition line, sorry.

I know SS does a similar itinerary so can someone tell me how cold it is likely to be? When we lived in Ontario way back in 1979/80 I seem to remember we had snow in October (quite the occasion because it was the first time we had seen snow - novelty soon wore off ;p) so do you think we will need heavy coats?

 

Also, at some stage on CC, I'm sure I read something about rules regarding wearing white pants and Memorial Day. Does this really apply or is it an urban myth? When is Memorial Day? I presume there will be a lot of Americans onboard so I don't want to offend anyone by wearing the wrong thing- down under we wear white pants all year round!

I know, in the scheme of things, this is not that important, but just want to be on the safe side.

Thanks

Hi, Joc,

I live in Boston. We may have warm days in early October, but it is often chilly. You will likely need a heavy sweater or a fleece jacket and a waterproof windbreaker, particularly in the morning and in the evening. You will not need a heavy coat in Boston, but you may need a few more layers or a heavy coat, a hat, and gloves by the time you reach Montreal.

Karen

Thanks Karen.

 

Unfortunately, Testiere will be closed the entire time we will be there.

 

Does the other, Trattoria da Ig****o, really have the **** in it's name? I'm having a hard time deciphering.:confused:

No asterisks, sorry about that; it looked fine when I previewed it. Try I g n a z i o, as in a man's name, without the spaces.

It is a nice place to escape crowds of tourists.

If you are looking for something quicker and less expensive than a multi-course dinner, like pizza or pasta, you might try Pizzeria da Gianni, on the Zattere. It's on a floating platform on the Guidecca Canal, where there is usually a nice breeze.

Also look at Il Refolo, a pizzeria in the campo behind San Giacomo dall'Orio. It's best to make a reservation in advance (ask your hotel concierge to call them for you), because it's quite popular for dinner.

Hi,

I just returned from Venice.

My favorite restaurants are Osteria alle Testiere and Trattoria da Ig****o. Both serve lots of fresh local seafood;Trattoria da Ig****o also offers meat and poultry dishes.

You need to book well in advance for Osteria alle Testiere, which is tiny, has seatings at 7:00pm and 9:30pm, and is in high demand. There is an email link on their web page.

Trattoria da Ig****o's web page has an email link, too, if you want to make a reservation. It's not needed for lunch, but you may need one if you want to have dinner at a particular time.

I think both of these restaurants, like many in Venice, close for vacation for part or all of August. I hope they are open on the day you are looking for.

Karen

Do you speak Italian, it will help!

 

 

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Yes, I do...or did. I am a bit rusty now until I've had a glass or two of Prosecco.

I did graduate work in Venice and picked up some Veneziano as well while I lived there.

Karen

Thanks Sonja. Sounds great.

I like the idea of a walled in garden.

We ate at some restaurant years ago on one of the islands and we finished so late we were essentially stranded there. We did have to pay an exorbitant amount to return to Venice. Luckily the couple we were with had a hotel concierge they could call for assistance because we were staying at a private apartment in cannaregio and had no phone!

Have you ever eaten at da la Marisa?

 

 

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I've never eaten at dalla Marisa, although it has been on my list of places to try for a long time now. Have you been there?

Karen

I knew there was a reason that Torcello was in my mind when I was rambling above earlier. For lunch before returning to the airport and flight back to Pisa, we visited this restaurant, which was exactly as you describe in being an enclosed Garden restaurant on a canal. It was certainly a very pleasant lunch on a Tuesday afternoon and worth considering. Posting mostly to see if Sonja knows this one and thoughts on it. (I had the La Terrazza favourite here!!)

 

 

 

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Hi,

I have eaten at this restaurant many years ago, and I remember being delighted by the experience.

It is a good alternative to Locanda Cipriani.

Karen

Hmmm. I am not sure why the last restaurant name didn't make it through. I g n a z i o

Eating lunch in the garden at Locanda Cipriani, particularly on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the summer when there are often more Venetians there than tourists, is one of my favorite things to do when I'm in Venice. If you go, try to arrive in Torcello early enough to see the mosaics at Santa Maria Assunta, which is just beyond Locanda Cipriani, as you walk from the vaporetto dock. If you are thinking about having dinner, you may need to hire a private boat to take you back to Venice; I think the last public boat may leave Torcello just about the time dinner service begins. (You will also need mosquito repellent if you plan to be there at dusk.) I will be there again in a few weeks, if there is anything in particular you want me to find out for you.

In terms of restaurants in Venice, I suggest Osteria alle Testiere. It is tiny, with only two seatings each night, and expensive; you may have to make a reservation (via email) several weeks in advance. The food and service are exceptional.

Trattoria da Ig****o, a family-run restaurant with tables in a walled-in garden, is another of my favorite places for lunch and dinner. The food, which is traditional Venetian, is fresh from the market and consistently good. You can send them email to reserve a table; I often just stop by early in the day to reserve a table for dinner.

Hi, Terry,

Thank you so much for letting us join you on your cruise. Your images are incredible!

I look forward to reading more of your impressions about the Spirit and about your post-cruise stay in France.

Karen

Hi, Terry,

Thank you for all the information about the Spirit. Not being a fan of small plates, I was unsure about trying Stars, but your images convinced me to make a reservation.

I wish Penny and you a very happy 45th Anniversary!

Karen