Free Internet - USA ?

[Conquest10]

today tried some of the famous Giordano's stuffed pizza

That's it right there. You got to try some deep dish when in Chicago. But yeah like ZAPPER said see if you can get some Italian Beef.

I love waiting for the bus right there on 63rd and Cicero and just watching the planes come in. They fly right over only about 25-30 feet over the intersection.

[p_l]

For some reason I am thinking that there is a gizmo that you can buy that will tell you when you are in range of a hot spot without actually having to fire uo your laptop to search. Might be handy.

You mean like one of these?

[ZAPPER]

For some reason I am thinking that there is a gizmo that you can buy that will tell you when you are in range of a hot spot without actually having to fire uo your laptop to search. Might be handy.

You mean like one of these?

Make one that will tell the difference between open and secure networks and sell it for $10 and I will buy two!

And I thought that my 2 Gig USB drive was cool!


Actually I have been lucky on the last few jobsites and have found great connections without all of that sign in and registration BS. But a move in location of as little as 15' has meant the difference in no signal and full strength. Go figure. (Below grade concrete and steel construction) I kind of hate setting up in public or common areas and generally need to be close to Mr. Electricity. Miserable battery life on my ThinkPad. I am thinking about bobbing the cord on my charger and getting a retractable reel type to replace it. Enough of the winding and unwinding of the cord already!

[jimmalenko]

Now in Madison, Wisconsin for tonight. Did a tour of the Miller Brewery and visited Harley Davidson HQ while passing through Milwaukee. On to Sioux Falls tomorrow.

Toronto (has a population of 5,113,149. Toronto is known to be the most multicultural city in the world, with the United Nations designating Toronto as the "most ethnically-diverse city" five times in a row) is larger than Chicago (pop. 3 million)

TBH Toronto was ........ meh

So are you shooting any footage or taking pics like a good tourist?

Absolutely. Got heaps of pics and videoed the Niagara Falls helicopter flight.

[MJA]

how much did this trip cost you

[MOVIEGEEK]

Sioux Falls tomorrow.

Make sure to stop by the Black Hills area,the scenery is nice and Custer is a fun town.

[ZAPPER]

Well, did you order a Harley?

[edDV]

When you get to Cody, Wyoming check out the Buffalo Bill Historical Center if you have the time.
http://www.bbhc.org/home/index.cfm

Buffalo Bill Museum
Plains Indian Museum
Draper Museum of Natural History
Whitney Gallery of Western Art
Cody Firearms Museum

All under one roof.

From that direction, Cody makes a great staging point before moving into Yellowstone National Park. Buy your provisions there.

[jimmalenko]

how much did this trip cost you

All up for myself and my wife it cost about $15K AUD for all flights, transfers and hotels for 32 days.

Did I forget to mention that this is our honeymoon ?


Anyhoo, here's our base trip:
http://us.contiki.com/tours/11-grand-northern

To this we added 3 days prior in New York, 2 days extra in Los Angeles after and then 3 days in Hawaii after that.

[ZAPPER]

First time in the US?

Just curious, culture shock? What do you think of the place so far? What about any of the people you have met? I know that it is kind of a wirlwind tour and it doesn't seem like you have a whole bunch of time to settle in anywhere. Personally I like my vacations to be a little slower paced, but they never are. I hope that maybe when you get to Hawaii you will have some time to just "Veg out", but even there, there is too much to do. I know that I am not personally hosting you, but it just seems weird to be thought of as a vacation destination.

At any rate I hope you get a sunburn and go home tired! I guess that's better than waking up with a hang over and a new tattoo!

[gadgetguy]

Wait, you're on your honeymoon and you're wasting your time here? Maybe I'm too old and my memory is fuzzy but I seem to recall far better ways to spend my time when I was on my honeymoon...

[MJA]

not bad at all. but for 15k I can remodel my basement.lol

I may try this next year .I like to go to Spain ,or Turkey

[SingSing]

I am fortunate enough to be travelling across the US for the next 30 days and I'm trying to find a pain-free method for connecting to the net solely for the purpose of retrieving emails and perhaps a little surfing.

Does you cell phone work with any U.S. Service ? Does folks E-mail to your Cell-Phone too ?

[jimmalenko]

First time in the US?

Yes. First time outside Australia even.

Just curious, culture shock? What do you think of the place so far? What about any of the people you have met?

Not altogether too different from home, except everything is bigger and "better". By and large the people have been fantastic and I guess the main thing I will take back is that people are so proud of their heritage and their town. The only exception was New York, where the people just seemed to be so self-absorbed and consideration for anyone but themselves was wishful thinking.

I know that it is kind of a wirlwind tour and it doesn't seem like you have a whole bunch of time to settle in anywhere. Personally I like my vacations to be a little slower paced, but they never are. I hope that maybe when you get to Hawaii you will have some time to just "Veg out", but even there, there is too much to do.

Normally we like to go to 1 or 2 places and see everything there but the deal we got was perfect as far as cramming so many tourist areas in in a short time. I daresay that next time we'll take 3-6 months and do the lot, but we were both on short timeframes as far as holidays from work goes.

Does you cell phone work with any U.S. Service ? Does folks E-mail to your Cell-Phone too ?

Cingular and T-Mobile are "sister" carriers as is Rogers Wireless when in Canada. So the reception has been pretty good. And yes, I have been getting emails on my phone (I have a BlackBerry 8700g).

Maybe I'm too old and my memory is fuzzy...

Maybe...

Nah, I'd feel naked without you guys

[MJA]

back from the trip ?pic,report please

[budz]

jimmalenko are you on Oahu yet? If you are how do you like our humid weather with the vog hanging in the air? It's hazy from that volcanic ash that blows in from the Big Island (Hawaii).
We usually have nice tradewinds but there's a cold front causing the humid conditions along with the vog (volcanic ash) hanging in the air. Hopefully on Wednesday we'll have some tradewinds back to blow that vog away!

[jimmalenko]

In West Yellowstone ATM. Go to Salt Lake City tomorrow. Kanab the next day for 2 days, Las Vegas for 2 days, then LA for 3 days, then Hawaii for 3 days.

We've taken heaps of photos and video and no doubt we'll make some sort of slideshow or feature film

[redwudz]

I think you will like Vegas. 'The adult Disneyland'. Ask the hotel desk clerk about a coupon book. Great discounts on shows that way. Lot's to do and see there besides gambling. Wander around Caesar's Palace shopping mall.

[jimmalenko]

I think you will like Vegas. 'The adult Disneyland'. Ask the hotel desk clerk about a coupon book. Great discounts on shows that way. Lot's to do and see there besides gambling. Wander around Caesar's Palace shopping mall.

We're doing a helicopter flight out of Vegas over and in the Grand Canyon. We even have lunch at the bottom of the canyon. Not cheap but once in a lifetime opportunity.

[Conquest10]

no doubt we'll make some sort of slideshow or feature film

hmmmm... you gonna share with it with the board?

[jimmalenko]

no doubt we'll make some sort of slideshow or feature film

hmmmm... you gonna share with it with the board?

The G-Rated version - of course.

After all, we are on our honeymoon

[SingSing]

Hmm, I am still digging for that "Are you addicted to the web?" Poll.

To add an item that polls "do you surf while on honeymoon ?"

[jimmalenko]

In LA now.

Did Universal Studios and an LA City Tour yesterday and today. Off to Hawaii tomorrow !

[edDV]

Welcome to the Golden State !

[budz]

In LA now.

Did Universal Studios and an LA City Tour yesterday and today. Off to Hawaii tomorrow !

Whoas! You're arriving here in Hawaii and I'm leaving for California on Thursday. Enjoy your stay in Waikiki. If you get a chance have lunch or dinner at Cheesecake Factory, their portions are huge and the food is great!

[jimmalenko]

If you get a chance have lunch or dinner at Cheesecake Factory, their portions are huge and the food is great!

A couple of members of our touring party went to the cheesecake factory in Chicago and said the same thing. We've found the serving sizes to be huge pretty much everywhere we've been. You guys like your food !

[MJA]

If you get a chance have lunch or dinner at Cheesecake Factory, their portions are huge and the food is great!

A couple of members of our touring party went to the cheesecake factory in Chicago and said the same thing. We've found the serving sizes to be huge pretty much everywhere we've been. You guys like your food !

thats why we have an OBESITY CRISIS in the US .disgusting

[TheFamilyMan]

Just 2 days in Los Angeles? You'll all need to come back to see the nothern (i.e. better) half of California some day. Best Wishes!

[jimmalenko]

Yeah, we were a little disappointed that we didn't get up to San Fran but that's the way the cookie crumbled unfortunately. Too many places, not enough time ...

thats why we have an OBESITY CRISIS in the US .disgusting

Not to get political or offend anyone, but yeah ..... that's pretty much the conclusion we came to too ...

... although it's a bit of a case of the pot calling the couldron black as I am led to believe that Australia is 2nd on the list.


Anyhoo ...


In Hawaii now. Waikiki is a happening spot. The streets are beautiful at night and the whole place is swarming with people. The staff at our hotel bend over backwards to help and it seems like a really nice part of the world.

Although on a bad note I can only half-close my suitcase as the cretins at LAX jemmied open the locks. On the way over to the mainland a month back they broke off a wheel and on the way out today they bent the chassis of the suitcase so that only one side locks

[budz]

Yeah, we were a little disappointed that we didn't get up to San Fran but that's the way the cookie crumbled unfortunately. Too many places, not enough time ...

thats why we have an OBESITY CRISIS in the US .disgusting

Not to get political or offend anyone, but yeah ..... that's pretty much the conclusion we came to too ...

... although it's a bit of a case of the pot calling the couldron black as I am led to believe that Australia is 2nd on the list.


Anyhoo ...


In Hawaii now. Waikiki is a happening spot. The streets are beautiful at night and the whole place is swarming with people. The staff at our hotel bend over backwards to help and it seems like a really nice part of the world.

Although on a bad note I can only half-close my suitcase as the cretins at LAX jemmied open the locks. On the way over to the mainland a month back they broke off a wheel and on the way out today they bent the chassis of the suitcase so that only one side locks

I'm in San Francisco right now with the fog and nice cold chilly air!
Jimmalenko were you able to go to Pearl Harbor to see the Arizona Memorial? I betcha went to The Polynesian Cultural Center. Glad to hear you liked Waikiki! Hawaii people are very friendly and helpful which is part of the Aloha spirit. Have a great time in Waikiki!