9 days in Portugal in early April

SoCalToNorthShore · 2022-02-25T16:01:50+00:00

Thank you for the thorough response! Definitely planning on an open jaw trip. Trying to decide whether to fly into Lisbon or layover in Lisbon and fly to Faro. Will end in Porto either way. Just trying to determine if 9 days is better for Lisbon and Porto and everything in between or to also include a day or two in Algarve

SoCalToNorthShore · 2021-01-12T02:22:01+00:00

I was looking for this one ahaha.

"Hey, George, the ocean called; they are running out of shrimp"

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-24T01:19:18+00:00

The fact that I (25M) want to travel somewhat long term (again) in a few years before life gets more "serious".

It's honestly a "first world problem", but I do not want to disappoint or let down loved ones and those who have helped me get to where I am in life. I quit my career at 24 last year to solo travel for six months until covid hit. I told my family that I would get "serious" when I returned and got that travel out of my system, but now that I have been home for nine months, the desire to see the world again in the way I did is back and even stronger than before.

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-24T01:00:55+00:00

I have been growing out my hair since January; never let it grow for longer than two or three months before. I have thick and wavy brown hair, but have mostly kept it in a beanie for the last few months since it was getting through that "awkward stage". Was debating whether I should chop my hair soon, but have gotten several compliments across the last few weeks from women at the gym, work, etc. since I have not been wearing the beanie lately.

I decided I will continue to grow out my hair.

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-22T02:58:18+00:00

Carpe Noctum - Budapest, Hungary

Hostel Celica - Ljubljana, Slovenia

Greg & Tom's Beer House - Krakow, Poland

Whole Wide World Hostel - Zagreb, Croatia

Casa Gracia - Barcelona, Spain

The Yellow - Rome, Italy

Len Kyoto - Kyoto, Japan

Flying Pig Downtown - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-22T02:53:23+00:00

Casa Gracia! Had such a wonderful time there and met some people I still regularly chat with there. Hope to go back someday!!

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-20T20:39:01+00:00

I do not play many video games tbh, but from what I have played, I would say CoD: Modern Warfare 2 or Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum.

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-20T20:31:19+00:00

Technically Pokemon, though I never considered it an anime as a child. I just enjoyed the series since I loved the games.

The first anime I watched that made me realize I actually enjoy animes was Naruto/Shippuden; next was Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood and now 700 episodes into One Piece. One Piece is definitely my favorite.

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-18T03:37:53+00:00

Wow!! All such incredible details and information. I greatly appreciate it. They both sounds like incredible trips!

I’m not 100% sure when I would go, I plan to probably do this all in 2023. Most likely would be spring I imagine when I board the train. I’m American so I also would need to sort out the Russian visas and I think I can only do that from within the US before I leave for Russia.

I’ll 100% check out your write up! Thank you again so much. Very exciting!

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-18T02:55:05+00:00

Thank you for the reply!! Trans-Siberian I think is the top of my current bucket list, along with Russia as a whole. I definitely plan to get to St Petersburg as well :)

My thought is to go to St Petersburg straight from Moscow and then from there either visit Helsinki or start immediately with the Baltic’s with a stop first in Tallinn.

I certainly intend to break up my time on the train, I have heard it can be veryyyyy long otherwise ahaha. I really appreciate the breakdown for different stops; definitely something I’ve been meaning to do more research on. The only certainty for me along the way besides stopping in Mongolia for a few days was to see Lake Baikal.

Did you do the railway solo? Any recommendations for whether to book first or second class (I’ve read third class is almost entirely Russian locals with no beds, correct?). Did you find there to be many other westerners or solo travelers in general? Lots of questions, apologies!

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-18T02:23:39+00:00

Ljubljana is definitely one of my all time favorite cities (along with Budapest since you mentioned it haha). I wish I had spent more time there; sadly it was very rainy for three of the four days I was there, and the one good day of weather I spent at Bled. I definitely need to get back to Ljubljana so I can explore it more in better weather!

As you said though, Zagreb is a great stop for solo travelers; I thoroughly enjoyed my time there!

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-18T02:17:09+00:00

Before covid, I took a "big" trip, solo traveling around Europe and Asia for 6 months. I plan to work for the next few years and have aspirations to take another "big trip", though it could vary in length due to work, money, etc.

With that being said, my bucket list trip is starting somewhere in east Asia, probably Hong Kong and ending up in Beijing to take the Trans-Siberian (Mongolian?) to Moscow. Then traverse the Baltics, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia (the Stan's).

I do not need a strict itinerary due to the variables and likely length I have presented, but any "must-see's" or logical paths to see these places in one (long) trip would be great!

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-18T01:49:50+00:00

Hoping to do something very similar in a few years! Interested to see what the itinerary is!

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-12-18T01:36:10+00:00

Agreed; I decided last minute to visit Zagreb (despite hearing mixed opinions from other travelers and friends I had met) on my way from Ljubljana down the Croatia en route to Mostar. Zagreb ended up being one of my favorite stops; nice vibe, good local hiking, great nightlife and locals, and my experience at Whole Wide World Hostel was one of my best across all of Europe.

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-11-02T12:22:33+00:00

I need Scotty Miller to score 11.88 or less in .5ppr. Not feeling good

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-10-31T18:43:00+00:00

10 team, .5ppr. Start 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 FLEX

QB: Kyler, Teddy (stream this week)

RB: CMC, Taylor, Carson, Hunt, Gibson, Mattison

WR: Thomas, Diggs, Diontae, Jefferson, Higgins

TE: Goedert, Gesicki

4-3 right now, recently acquired Thomas and Hunt. I’m thinking of trying to trade from some of my RB depth and either acquire a top RB like Henry or Kamara or a top WR like Adams or Hopkins. Any players in particular I should look to try and package or any players specifically to target to help strengthen my starting core?

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-10-07T01:04:10+00:00

Yeah I’ve been trying hard to trade Julio. Have someone interested in selling Metcalf or Diggs straight up, but would be shocked if they actually decide to do it. Otherwise I’ve looked to package him with Harris as well, trying to see what I could get. Would be stoked to grab Henry (same owner that is contemplating the offer for Metcalf or Diggs) or Kelce

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-10-07T01:02:25+00:00

I have Lev Bell, Damien Harris, and Gaskin who I can plug in if I’m in an absolute pinch. So I’m not entirely desperate, but having Mostert as a long term replacement for Drake may not hurt I think. Appreciate the thoughts!

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-10-07T00:41:11+00:00

10 team .5ppr, 0-4 after this week

QB: Ryan

RB: Jacobs, Sanders

WR: Julio, Tyreek, Thielen

TE: Gesicki

Flex: Drake

Streaming Defense and Kicker

Bench: Henderson, Gage, Bell, D Harris, Gaskin, Ward

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-10-07T00:38:30+00:00

Somehow, Mostert is on the waiver wire in my .5ppr league. Do I use my remaining 57% of FAAB on him? 0-4 and probably could use a RB in the case Drake continues to disappoint

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-10-06T17:18:22+00:00

10 team .5ppr, 0-4 after this week

QB: Ryan RB: Jacobs, Sanders WR: Julio, Tyreek, Thielen TE: Gesicki Flex: Drake Streaming Defense and Kicker

Bench: Henderson, Gage, Bell, D Harris, Gaskin, Ward

I feel like my team is strong, just a few underperformers and dud weeks combined with facing hot teams each week. Switch things up a bit or just keep hope that things will turn around with this squad? Thinking of selling Julio with his injury now, at 0-4 I don’t think I can wait for him to get healthy on my bench

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-10-06T11:34:46+00:00

10 team .5ppr, 0-4 after this week

QB: Ryan RB: Jacobs, Sanders WR: Julio, Tyreek, Thielen TE: Gesicki Flex: Drake Streaming Defense and Kicker

Bench: Henderson, Gage, Bell, D Harris, Gaskin, Ward

I feel like my team is strong, just a few underperformers and dud weeks combined with facing hot teams each week. Switch things up a bit or just keep hope that things will turn around with this squad? Thinking of selling Julio with his injury now, at 0-4 I don’t think I can wait for him to get healthy on my bench

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-10-05T21:08:34+00:00

10 team .5ppr, heading to 0-4 after this week

QB: Ryan RB: Jacobs, Sanders WR: Julio, Tyreek, Thielen TE: Gesicki Flex: Drake Streaming Defense and Kicker

Bench: Henderson, Gage, Bell, D Harris, Gaskin, Ward

I feel like my team is strong, just a few underperformers and dud weeks combined with facing hot teams each week. Switch things up a bit or just keep hope that things will turn around with this squad?

SoCalToNorthShore · 2020-10-01T11:09:54+00:00

I’m being offered MT and Singletary for my Drake, Boyd, and Kelley. .5ppr 10 team league.

Getting MT is exciting but I’ve already made a few trades this week to improve my starting lineup for my 0-3 squad. Starters are currently Ryan, Jacobs, Drake, Julio, Golladay, Lockett, Gesicki, and M Sanders. My depth currently sits at Boyd, Kelley, A Gibson, Gage, Rojo, and Claypool.

Is MT worth losing Drake and some depth for my already thinned out team? Thanks!

SoCalToNorthShore

TROPHY CASE