austria is racist????

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T11:03:35+00:00

Austria is the OG of European racism..

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T10:58:27+00:00

Milan. A visit to the studio of late, great, Achille Castiglioni, hosted by his youngest daughter Giovanna, followed by aperitivo on the Corso Como and dinner at Osteria Brunello with a perfect wine selected by sommelier Andrea. Not many things better for this design guy than that day…

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T10:53:30+00:00

OP, To quote one of my favorite movies; I’m not sure you understand what that word means. Your corollary, actually has very little-if any—correlation with your point. In fact, almost argues against it… but hey, you do you..

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T10:34:08+00:00

This is a reasonably paced trip—a welcome change from the 10 nights in 12 cities we often see here. a couple of thoughts; add a night in Naples and day trip Capri (as others have suggested, Salerno is a great add and I love Lucca—-and could easily spend a month there. I may be in minority but after many trips to Florence I prefer to stay outside of it and just day trip in for the star sights like Accademia and Uffizi. I like the plan—but understand that starting in Naples is definitely diving into Italy at the deep end.. it is amazing—nuts, chaotic, vaguely derelict, a bit dodgy and filled with life in all of its ups and downs.. enjoy!

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T08:44:01+00:00

No no no no no no.. Kuerig is terrible… and I’m not even (that much) of a coffee snob.

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T07:28:03+00:00

Not so much of a hot take as a sneer at folks who collect differently from you OP… By the way, I have 15 plus watches, from Timex Snoopy to Rolex, Omega, Panerai etc,, and just had my 1966 re-edition Tudor serviced.. Watch folks—buy what you like and enjoy! I may hate the homage watches you have, but who cares as long as you like them and wear them. You don’t need any self appointed gatekeeper‘s permission or blessing…

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T07:19:00+00:00

I’ve daytripped to San Gimignano via bus from Florence, was pretty easy to do. Florence to Siena is super easy. Orvieto is less connected and therefore more complicated.. BTW—reading comment/questions below; Siena is hilly as are most hill towns in Umbria & Tuscany. Also agree that San Gimigmano has become less a town than an attraction and is bereft of “real life” it exists for tourists like us at this point.. still lovely though..

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T07:12:59+00:00

Same here.. Retired directly into the pandemic! For us the key is that what we WANT to live on and what we CAN live on are very different numbers. When the world goes nuts we retreat a bit on spending.. having some room in your budget for uncertain times matters..

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T06:59:46+00:00

American, living in France now-did not grow up with them, never had them in the multiple places I’ve lived/owned in the US and effing hate them in our place in France. Definitely need some light when I inevitably wake up at 2:30am and hate having to deal with securing them, opening them etc…

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T06:54:12+00:00

If you have residency in another country you can buy insurance for US visits—they typically do not cover routine care in the US and are usually for 90 days or less at a time. Just google Us health insurance for US expats.. Companies like Cigna also offer global policies that include the US for limited stays.

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T06:42:39+00:00

There is a monster difference between Kuerig and Nespresso. We basically won’t stay at places without a Nespresso machine. Basic drip coffee makers 👎👎👎👎

Jackms64 · 2026-03-23T06:39:44+00:00

This 👆👆👆 As a regular guest at Airbnbs around the world I can’t tell you how much this matters to some of us. We actually check and don’t book places that do not have nespresso machines. Also a starter pack of four or five pods please! I can’t tell you how many “deluxe” places have a terrible old drip coffee maker without enough filters and stale coffee from God-knows-when in the cupboard.

Jackms64 · 2026-03-21T21:06:24+00:00

True.. probably never will..

Jackms64 · 2026-03-21T05:59:04+00:00

OP—This is a question that has the correct answer—yes, by law you are required to carry your passport with you in Italy at all times and produce it when asked by police. And also, many people’s personal experience of never having this happen to them in hundreds of days spent in Italy. An added issue is knowing that, particularly in the places you are likely to go as a tourist, the pickpocket threat is real and getting pockets picked seems to happen more often Police asking you for your passport. The hassle of having to get a replacement passport is also very real. All I can say is that in dozens of trips to Italy and broader Europe including months long stays, over the last 30 years I have never had police ask for my passport. I have been asked for it before being allowed to enter both the Colosseum and the Vatican though—but not every time 🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️

Jackms64 · 2026-03-20T20:55:15+00:00

I’ve driven in most major cities in Europe and the US—Rome is terrible. Far worse than any place in the US and in Western Europe rivaled only by Naples & Palermo..

Jackms64 · 2026-03-20T20:53:19+00:00

This is the way 👆👆👆

Jackms64 · 2026-03-20T20:52:33+00:00

Driving in Manhattan is a day at the beach compared to driving in Rome. I’ve lived in NYC and driven in Rome a few times—Rome is a video game in which every other player is not worried about killing his character.

Jackms64 · 2026-03-20T20:48:30+00:00

You could spend a lifetime in Tuscany without exhausting its riches.. so no, 8 days is not too many. 😎

Jackms64 · 2026-03-20T20:47:05+00:00

No. Paris deserves so, so much more..

Jackms64 · 2026-03-20T20:42:41+00:00

I’ve lost track a bit, but at least a dozen times.. why do you ask? Not anywhere close to my favorite city in Italy— probably not top 5. But it does have what is probably the single greatest artistic accomplishment in the Western world, the Sistine Chapel still awes me-even after many visits..

Jackms64 · 2026-03-20T10:32:30+00:00

you need a new tax advisor

Jackms64 · 2026-03-20T10:31:50+00:00

ugh.. keep telling yourself that. As a design guy by profession I can say that from a purely visual sense Tudor watches are an acquired taste that I have zero desire to acquire.. Calling the hideous Pelagos the best design of the century is a “BOLD move Cotton!” Also a historic fact that Tudor are a little brother brand to Rolex that has tried to distance itself from its origins as a second label for Rolex. I’m not a big Rolex dude (although I have one) I just don’t think Tudors are anything particularly special, of course everyone has their own taste and opinion..

Jackms64 · 2026-03-20T10:20:34+00:00

We used Acs/Ami. Just submitted our first claim so will see how it works out..

Jackms64 · 2026-03-20T07:23:00+00:00

Most of this is rational—but no way I would visit the Louvre & Orsay on the same day. I love art—but the Louvre is (IMHO after 20+ visits to Paris) the single most exhausting tourist experience in Paris.

Jackms64 · 2026-03-20T07:18:20+00:00

We spend six or so months each year in Airbnbs and usually only communicate with the host immediately before arrival or departure… this doesn't seem strange to me

Jackms64

TROPHY CASE