[Mr.SugarSkulls]

My idea of a vacation is staying home aka staycation.

Work forces me to travel too much (you should see my frequent flyer miles) to the point where I can't stand flying anywhere for vacation.

So I stay home, sleep, work out.

Repeat. It's a beautiful life.

[M_Six]

Time away from work is the killer for us. We don't really get time off. We just compress our normal workloads on each end of the vacation and work like dogs for the week before and the week after. A game of "get ahead" then "catch up." We were away for a week last month and I had to handle a file server crisis during an afternoon break at our B&B that was supposed to be relaxing. Having remote access to servers and networks only means you are on an electronic leash.

That said, I do get 28 vacation days per year, so time off is available even though it can be hard to use. We're looking at another UK trip next September (2016). I'd love to take a big European vacation every year, but I think that will have to wait for retirement.

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by M_Six

We just compress our normal workloads on each end of the vacation and work like dogs for the week before and the week after. A game of "get ahead" then "catch up."

After 18 years, I recently quit my job for another. I was off a couple weeks ago just before starting the new job...you have no idea how great the feeling, knowing that there wasn't a pile of work waiting for me.

Of course, I just dropped from 27 days vacation to 15

[ArthurL]

Heading to Peru with the GF for about 2 weeks mid-August. Will be flying into Cuzco first to trek up to Machu Pichu for 3-4 days then staying in Cuzco for a 1 day or 2 then flying over to Lima for a few days.

Let me know if you guys have been! Would love some suggestions/advice.

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by ArthurL

Heading to Peru with the GF for about 2 weeks mid-August. Will be flying into Cuzco first to trek up to Machu Pichu for 3-4 days then staying in Cuzco for a 1 day or 2 then flying over to Lima for a few days.

Let me know if you guys have been! Would love some suggestions/advice.

Went there last year. You'll need to take a bus from Cusco to the train...takes about an hour. The train ride to the town is about 2 hours...if you have any issues with car sickness - get a forward facing seat on the train, many folks were having issues (my wife included...but not me).

From the town, you have the ability to walk up the mountain or take the bus. If you plan on doing Wayna Picchu (highly recommend), take the bus and get up there early....they only let so many in.

Be sure to visit the back side of the Machu Picchu as well...some really cool sites from there.

Main market in Cusco


I was there on bit of a cloudy day...


I highly recommend going to Puno (Lake Titicaca) first. It will help you with some of the altitude sickness (as you will go right to 12K feet) and then go down to Cusco. It will make you walk at Machu much better...but just a though. Here's a pic I took there.



Let me know if you have any specific questions...I'll help where I can.

[bimmette]

Just went to Bermuda. It was amazing. Love the British history and culture, nice people, safe environment and gorgeous beaches! Total paradise!
(Pics from my iphone)

[Mr Tonka]

Never would have guessed Bermuda. Didn't know you couldn't drive there, hmm. Looks awesome though!



Last hike of the trip took us down to these falls. Too bad i left my ND filter in the car. Wasn't about to hike out and back to get it. PS and RAW format helped make it a decent shot.

[bimmette]

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

Never would have guessed Bermuda. Didn't know you couldn't drive there, hmm. Looks awesome though!



Last hike of the trip took us down to these falls. Too bad i left my ND filter in the car. Wasn't about to hike out and back to get it. PS and RAW format helped make it a decent shot.

Your pics are amazing!

Yup, only one car is allowed per family in Bermuda and no rentals are allowed for visitors. Crazy, huh?!

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by bimmette

Your pics are amazing!

Yup, only one car is allowed per family in Bermuda and no rentals are allowed for visitors. Crazy, huh?!

Thank you.

Are there taxis, or do they issue all visitors bikes?

[bimmette]

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

Thank you.

Are there taxis, or do they issue all visitors bikes?

Taxis. Tourists can rent scooters but my friend didn't want to

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by bimmette

Taxis. Tourists can rent scooters but my friend didn't want to

Wat!?! Scooters are the BEST island transpiration there is! You need to have a heart to heart with that friend of yours.

[bimmette]

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

Wat!?! Scooters are the BEST island transpiration there is! You need to have a heart to heart with that friend of yours.

I know, I know

[omgitsjoe]

Originally Posted by bimmette

Just went to Bermuda. It was amazing. Love the British history and culture, nice people, safe environment and gorgeous beaches! Total paradise!
(Pics from my iphone)

So that's where you were !?! Looks like such a beautiful island and so so relaxing !!

Hoping to go there soon !!

[Mr Tonka]

Just got back from 8 days in Maine. It's a cool place, first time there and didn't realize it offered so much.

We spent 3 nights in Saco/Biddeford just south of Portland and the rest of the time in Bar Harbor.

In Saco, we stayed at the Pepper Mill Campus which is a complex made up of an old textile mill facility that has been converted to lofts, apartments, and retail spaces. Pretty cool place actually. We rented a very nice, well appointed studio apartment for less than a comparable hotel nightly rate.

Here are some pics...

The obligatory view from the room.


Part of the campus.


The pier at Old Orchard Beach


Looking down on Bar Harbor and the Porcupine islands


Looking westward from Penobscot Mtn


Sunset from Cadillac Mtn


Bass Harbor Light House

[canukgtp]

Lots of nice pics...some of those Caribbean islands look fantastic, got to go see some of them...with a new baby and building a house the travel budget has gone to zero lately haha last trip out of the country was Mexico...I'm overdue for some adventure!

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by canukgtp

Lots of nice pics...some of those Caribbean islands look fantastic, got to go see some of them...with a new baby and building a house the travel budget has gone to zero lately haha last trip out of the country was Mexico...I'm overdue for some adventure!

Thanks.

We kept thinking the same thing about the islands. It was like being in FL with hills. Well, hills and 55 degree North Atlantic water which made the offshore breeze nice and cool.

We ran into several Canadians while there, i'd venture to say maybe 15% of the people there were from Canada. Heck, it's close enough. If i were as close as you are, i'd be there every summer for sure.

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

The obligatory view from the room.

Um, where's the obligatory pic of the wife?

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

Um, where's the obligatory pic of the wife?

Pondering life as i snapped away.





Just barely caught her as she whizzed by after throwing down 56 miles at 22mph on her bike.





Trying to cause trouble at Bubble Rock.

[canukgtp]

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

Thanks.

We kept thinking the same thing about the islands. It was like being in FL with hills. Well, hills and 55 degree North Atlantic water which made the offshore breeze nice and cool.

We ran into several Canadians while there, i'd venture to say maybe 15% of the people there were from Canada. Heck, it's close enough. If i were as close as you are, i'd be there every summer for sure.

Yeah we've been in the Caribbean every winter for year, usually flipping between Cuba and Mexico though...short 4-5 hr flight to go thaw out in Feb is great!

[RickFLM4]

Recently returned from a trip to Asheville, NC. Very dog-friendly town including many, many restaurants. A few pics, a couple of which I posted in pic of the day thread:

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by canukgtp

Yeah we've been in the Caribbean every winter for year, usually flipping between Cuba and Mexico though...short 4-5 hr flight to go thaw out in Feb is great!

I thought you were kidding around about the Caribbean island comment about my pics. Those islands are off the coast of Maine. Probably a few hours drive from you.

[MisterSkiMask]

I have not been on a proper vacation in......well my honeymoon was in 2007....I need a vacation.

I've had a couple long weekends, but I have not taken 5 days off in a row over 8 years.

Edit, it actually 4 days, the best I've done was to leave on a wednesday after work and back on Monday, and that was one time, to visit my wifes extended family.