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Table of Content for trips:

More pages: April 2023 December 2022 December 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 June 2018 May 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 June 2012 April 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 June 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010 May 2010 January 2010 September 2009 August 2009 June 2009 January 2009 December 2008 August 2008 February 2008 January 2008 October 2007 July 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 August 2006 July 2006 April 2006 March 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 April 2005 December 2004 October 2004 July 2004 June 2004 January 2004 January 2003 January 2001 August 1997





2023/04/16 A few hours in Solvang
π 2023-04-16 01:01 in Ntrips, Trips
Arrived a bit late on a sunday due to a solid overcast that hung around longer than planned, and eventually arrived in town close to 14:00. I was a bit worried that it wouldn't be enough since many things closed at 17:00, and a few at 18:00, but by being efficient, it was just enough.

Started with the old spanish mission just outside of town:






Then it was time to visit town, which is indeed best done on foot. It's a nice little danish town that a few immigrants decided to make it their home and it grew from there:








lots of stores and overpriced tourist stuff:










And a few museums:




Including the motorcycle museum


After being done with town, went to the fun Ostrige Museum a few miles down the road:


See more images for A few hours in Solvang
2023/04/14 Couple of days in Paso Robles
π 2023-04-14 01:01 in Ntrips, Trips
As part of a flying trip to Oceano, Paso Robles, and Solvang, after flying to Oceano Sand Dunes, Paso Robles was next.

It had been a while since I last went, happy to have been back:



There was a bit of time left in the day after arriving from Oceano, so going to downtown to check out a few local stores and galleries, made sense:







then time for an early dinner
then time for an early dinner

After dinner, it was almost time for sunset and to go check out Field of Lights/Sensorio




The next day, got up early-ish to drive to Hearst Castle


After making sure that Hearst Castle wasn't going to take the whole day, got back in time to visit Paso Robles, starting with the Pioneer Museum, which was much better than expected:










they also had a old oil pump
they also had a old oil pump

After the museum, there was time left over to visit downtown which had an art festival that weekend:








The plan was to go visit Franklin Hot Springs next, but honstly when I arrived, it looked pretty ghetto, so I aborted that plan :)



The next morning, plan was to go to Solvang early, but both areas were solid overcast, delaying the flight. In the end it was a mixed blessing because I had some extra time to visit both museums on field:

  • Estrella Warbird Museum

  • Woodland Auto Display

  • And then that was it for Paso Robles. Honestly there didn't seem to be much else to do if you're not into wine tasting :)
    'till next time.

    See more images for Couple of days in Paso Robles
    2022/12/21 Another Paris Xmas With Some Sightseeing
    π 2022-12-21 01:01 in Ntrips, Paris, Trips
    First night, I went to Odeon with my dad to see an interesting play. It was sold out and I didn't have tickets, but I was able to get one from someone who had a spare when I got there and got to see the play:




    fun restaurant across the street with tables in ski gondola cabins
    fun restaurant across the street with tables in ski gondola cabins

    The next evening, I spent a bit of time in Paris and walked around to see the lights and Xmas houses before seeing a show that was a cross between circus and a play:







    A few days later, went to Paris again to meet some school friends for lunch:

    plenty of random nice churches, popped in a few on the way
    plenty of random nice churches, popped in a few on the way

    small cars are always fun :)
    small cars are always fun :)

    Great to see Rani, Laurent and Franck
    Great to see Rani, Laurent and Franck


    went back out to see a few lights
    went back out to see a few lights



    cool Xmas houses, always fun to see
    cool Xmas houses, always fun to see



    The next day, I went out during the day for more sightseeing staring with the center of Paris:











    Then, going back to the Panthéon felt like a good idea, especially since it was going to rain. The building has fascinating history. Sure enough, there was a long line to get in too and no online tickets for that day. I had to get creative again to get in:






    the underground crypt is quite interesting and houses lots of famous people
    the underground crypt is quite interesting and houses lots of famous people

    Marie Curie is properly recognized for the brilliant scientist she was
    Marie Curie is properly recognized for the brilliant scientist she was




    Back to the 1st arrondissement to enjoy lights and Xmas houses:

    yummy but ridiculously overpriced nougat
    yummy but ridiculously overpriced nougat


    lime scooters despite hard to find or park legally, came in handy
    lime scooters despite hard to find or park legally, came in handy

    Another lime ride to the Jardin des Plantes for the night illuminations (click for pictures):


    The next day, given the somewhat ok weather, it felt like a good idea to go to Sacré Coeur:

    one of the 2 above ground subway lines
    one of the 2 above ground subway lines


    all the locks removed around the seine river are now ending up here?
    all the locks removed around the seine river are now ending up here?

    after 'a few' stairs :)
    after 'a few' stairs :)











    funny that the streets around are still open to cars somehow
    funny that the streets around are still open to cars somehow




    I tried a drawing for the first time
    I tried a drawing for the first time

    Interesting smile-smirk :)
    Interesting smile-smirk :)


    Back to 1er arrondissement, the seed and plant store is always fun to see:



    Conciergerie was next, lots of history in that building that used to be a jail during the kings and french revolution. It also contains documents from the first republic (yes, France has 5 republics and constitutions, so that it's in better shape than the US whose constitution is hard to update for current times):


    very cool sand structures
    very cool sand structures

    the video guide was interesting and showed views of how the place used to be
    the video guide was interesting and showed views of how the place used to be




    Sainte Chapelle is a beautiful churh but very hard to get into due to its location in the palace of Justice
    Sainte Chapelle is a beautiful churh but very hard to get into due to its location in the palace of Justice

    Then a quick trip to les jardins du louvre et l'arc de triomphe du carousel:




    The nearby festivities had the big ferris wheel with great views, and another Xmas fair:

    arrived just in time for sunset
    arrived just in time for sunset

    nice views
    nice views











    I went with the seared foie gras burger :)
    I went with the seared foie gras burger :)

    more overpriced nougat
    more overpriced nougat

    yes, I went for a bumper car ride, those don't suck and have proper power
    yes, I went for a bumper car ride, those don't suck and have proper power





    L'obelisque was not very far, so it was a good next stop leading to Champs Elysées:









    It was fun to climb l'arc de triomphe again:









    l'arche de la défense in the background
    l'arche de la défense in the background

    The next day was friday, which has late hours at the Louvre, so good day to visit (click for details). This was indeed an open to close until 21:30:




    After that was Dec 31st with dinner plans that evening, so it was a good day to see Versailles:



    while changing RER, you have to cross the seine on foot, and the orthodox church happened to be open
    while changing RER, you have to cross the seine on foot, and the orthodox church happened to be open

    first time I got in, in so many years, although it doesn't look like much inside :)
    first time I got in, in so many years, although it doesn't look like much inside :)


    The rest of the day was spent at Versailles (click me for more):


    After NYE dinner with my dad, I figured it would be fun to do NYE in the middle of Paris, something I hadn't done in 22 years, but the dinner ran late and by the time I got to the subway it was packed and it was clear it would be impossible to get to Effeil tower, so I aborted and got out around République:


    I was able to find the last lime bike available and barely get it by reserving it with my phone before someone else was able to snatch it, and biked like crazy to get to Obelisque just in time, literally down to the minute. A bit too close for comfort, but it worked out:




    plaee was packed of course, champs elysées was actually shut down because it was full
    plaee was packed of course, champs elysées was actually shut down because it was full



    I then tried to complete my plan to get to Effeil tower, which was done by lime bike again since the whole city was gridlocked. Even biking was hard due to the number of pedestrians everywhere and all streets blocked with cars all stuck. But I made it:


    The following day was a good day to see les grands magasins boulevard hausman and Google:











    Thankfully it was a nice day for a change, good time to go to the eiffel tower:




    I tried Batobus, not the best viewing but easy to get on and off
    I tried Batobus, not the best viewing but easy to get on and off











    After getting off the boat, a semi random walk to see some sights:

    another random church on the way
    another random church on the way





    This interesting bit is the biggest piece of the wall that used to be around Paris:


    And ending at Place des Voges with interesting art as always:














    And that was the end of a good trip:


    The flight home was nice until we failed to land in SFO due to terrible weather:



    so we had to land in Sacramento
    so we had to land in Sacramento

    after a multiple hour stop in Sacramento, finally landed in SFO
    after a multiple hour stop in Sacramento, finally landed in SFO

    I got 2 flights for the price of one:

  • https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AFR84/history/20230104/0940Z/LFPG/KSMF
  • https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AFR84/history/20230105/0112Z/KSMF/KSFO
  • But once in SFO, the torrential rain had not stopped and caused a landslide on hwy 280 with fallen trees in the middle of the freeway, so it took a while to get home:



    More pages: April 2023 December 2022 December 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 June 2018 May 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 June 2012 April 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 June 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010 May 2010 January 2010 September 2009 August 2009 June 2009 January 2009 December 2008 August 2008 February 2008 January 2008 October 2007 July 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 August 2006 July 2006 April 2006 March 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 April 2005 December 2004 October 2004 July 2004 June 2004 January 2004 January 2003 January 2001 August 1997

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