Trip report - no poker content
So I haven't played poker or worked for the last 4 weeks as I decided to take the girlfriend (Sinta) on holidays to London, Paris and around Italy. I even managed to get engaged :shock: whilst over there......
It was a great trip except for the driving part. Don't ever drive in Italy. It's especially hard for me as I'm on both the opposite side of the car and the road but those Italians are crazy mother fuckers. There is only one speed - flat out, and I think tailgating is their national hobby. They really don't understand what the white lines in the middle of the road mean as many a time I came around a tight, blind corner and there was a car half way on my side of the road. Judging marginal gaps (and I'm mean within inches) with all these factors in play isn't my idea of fun. :evil:
Here are some random pics.
Below: The gorgeous Cinque Terra in Italy. Five small villages perched on the water/cliffs edge. At times it seemed like every old American from Florida decided to holiday there but on the whole it was an awesome place.
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Below: I have quite a few friends in London so I had to pop in there for a couple of days. I could probably move there and earn some excellent money but fuck it - I like the sun! (Note - it is rare to have so few clouds in the sky and I must have got lucky)
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Below: Ahhhh Paris....You could go crazy in Paris if you wanted to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous (or Gabe) but for me I took it pretty easy and really enjoyed the sights and sounds.
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Below: Venice was fantastic and one of the highlights of my trip. Sinta loved it and we stayed in a pretty ballin' hotel. Jumped on a gondola for a romantic cruise through the canals but deicded it was too cheesey to propose so put the ring back in my pocket for another time. Venice really shines at night and the restaurants and live classical music being played in San Marco square was pretty darn cool.
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Below: We stayed at an amazing Villa in Tuscany and this shot was taken in the window of the old Monestry that is now our villa. The garden shot is where I proposed and Sinta happily accepted. I managed to smuggle the ring out of Australia without Sinta knowing so it was a nice surprise. The restaurant at this Villa produced some of the best food I have ever tasted. It wasn't cheap but man it was good!
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Below: Rome. Trevi Fountain, the Pathenon, the Colusseum etc.. All pretty cool places when you think about how old everything is and the exquisite workmanship.
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Below: One of the many celings in one of the many churches we visited. This one is particulary impressive as it is enormous and uses the 3d effect (the celing is flat) very well. If you were an art buff you could get lost in Rome for months.
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Well that's about it. I'll crack open a few tables sometime next week and make sure I can stil beat 25nl (haha) but for now I think I'll sit here and relax. It's good to be home and if I've missed any big news on the boards let me know.
