tassojunior

$240 RT, DC to Bogota in Feb.

The Russian consulate here in DC is a throwback to 1960. They still had typewriters clicking when I was there 3 years ago and mid-century furniture that would bring a fortune in an antiques auction. What finally threw me off was needing to prove my paternal grandfather's nationality. Ridiculous.

"Sir" conserves letters.

But air communications are all in English. Let's not interject French/Quebecois there or half the pilots will be putting down others' accents as they crash planes. My French teacher was a Quebecer to the dismay of everyone I spoke to in Paris. They said calling Quebecois French was like calling Poutine French cuisine. For a year studying there everyone made me shift to English instead of "that" accent.

I've always stayed in Kensington because it's the richest area, I like the Gloucester Tube station which goes to Heathrow and Piccadilly both and is on the Circle line to boot. Rates are well under half West End or Mayfair. I'm thinking of splurging on the Indigo or new W on Leicester Square this trip even though I may skip the theaters this time because of the UK surge. A cheaper alternative in the center is Bloomsbury next to the British Museum. Most of the new cheaper tourist hotels are across the Thames with a nice view of London but that is a fairly wide river.

https://www.find-travel-test-provider.service.gov.uk/providers The 1st two have super cheap (1 Lb) administered tests at the Moxy and Ibis hotels at Heathrow. Ill probably do the Terminal 3 ExpressTest for 35L instead for speed. Finding one in the center or getting to Heathrow very early return flight day will be harder. Needless incompetent PITA for vaccinated people.

They're talking of 3-D virtual reality programs where you can not just see photos of dead loved ones but hold their hands, relive important events with them, look in their eyes, etc. I image certain experiences will be be preserved too like sky-diving etc. I'm conflicted as many of my friends live way too much in memories. But, I admit, they enjoy it. Maybe, at the twilight, it's all you have. Of course, as with most new tech, the first use will be porno. I'll buy. But I'd also like recorded events I experienced in sex. Damn, there's a lot of those I'd like to repeat. A lot. At the end start the drip and turn on the VR of my first date with B..

Weren't there thousands of Australians not allowed to come home for a long while?

unless a positive strikes. then you're not allowed out of quarantine in the UK nor are you allowed to return to the US until negative. and i bet the hotel will treat you "special" until they get you out. i just realized the 2 day test has to be booked before leaving to get on the plane AND now you have to test overseas 3 days before returning to the US to get on the plane home. I'm triple vaccinated and had a negative PCR test yesterday so, Yup I'm mad. Flight to UK this saturday 11/12 and this is my week's work.

In all the similar places in Brazil you pay separately for the room always. At Thermas in BCN you can use a cubicle for free but a room costs a rental. People who have been to those would assume this is a hire fee+ room fee arrangement too. It needs to be more clear or they will lose customers who assume the total is 170. They should say massuer and room 130.

Straight ???? He's DC based. https://twitter.com/JohnBronco87

I guess it's a question of balancing a normal life with precautions. I have all three shots and wear masks in stores. I'm wondering now about my trip to London, not so much for the surge there (which is declining a bit) as the risk of getting stranded with a positive test. My Kaiser covers me worldwide but still.....

$134 roundtrip Miami to Medellin New Viva Airline

Rooms to rent for you and your Guest 1 hour – £ 40.00

When you open the list of (covid test lol) providers, most are about 1 pound. Seems you could meet the requirement to get in with a paid test. Would be wonderful if they gave them at the airport. It does scare me that Delta's answer to "what if you test positive" is "You don't fly". hoo-boy would i hate to be in that situation. And many people have long-term symptomless covid and don't know it.

I'm probably still going in a week but I'll curtail hiring and tube travel to what's necessary. Delta just emailed me that the UK requires a test within 2 days of arrival from US????

He needs to make clear in the new website that the 130 includes the room and the 40 is for just room and no masseur. That could cost them a lot of business.

hmmmm. it's now 130L for the guy and 40L for the room..........$240 US total.

Any update on VG? Open? I'm deciding whether to get a hotel close for a day or two of my trip.

Singapore KrisFlyer is a bargain for United or Star Alliance biz flights to the US. With J demand shrinking because of lockdowns, Premium Select is the new "thing". Airlines are ripping out biz and 1st seats to install reclining wide-width domestic US 1st seats. I just got a RT DC to London on Delta for 32K (plus $200fee) and a pop-up offered me PS on the flight to London for an additional $250. I grabbed it. Delta seems to have the best of the new PSs with 1st class meals on china, free booze, 2 suitcases, and a dedicated flight attendant. Delta's famous for cheap upsells of Premium Select when booking.

I think in Paragonya the rate is 100 but in Zurich for outcalls the norm is 150. Both good by American standards.

That's certainly true of Delta Biz where their reward rates for Biz or First are eye-watering. But demand for business is way down now with the business world closed up and I see a lot of United Biz 60K's to Europe and American 57.5K's still around. I noticed United biz drops rapidly close-in. Airlines are largely replacing many of their biz seats with Premium Select seats now which are like old biz seats--much wider and 45-degree reclining with footrest, extra leg room and better food. I have to go to London next month and the only deal I found was Delta in steerage for 32K roundtrip. All Delta's specials are coach only. But off-peak in the very back of the plane I often can get 1 or 2 empty seats next to me to lay down if not sleep. Many friends rave about biz rewards on Singapore Airlines being very cheap, even on partners.

Last week read that Beyond Meat is now putting beet juice in their "meat" solely to simulate blood. I'm wondering about this pandering to appetite for blood as truly being vegan.

Never a fan of filet mignon but do like hangar. During the holidays Trader Joes usually has a big roast of heavily peppered hangar that is my guests' favorite, especially for sandwiches next day. I prefer unpeppered.