Summer 2003 vacation thread

[ghost of miles]

And now for something completely different... in the spirit of Catesta's thread on the BNBB last year, where will you and your loved or unloved ones be going to get away from it all in 2003?

My wife and I are hitting the Saugatuck/Douglas area in Michigan again, just for a few days. We're both too busy to do more than that; next year we hope to hit Johnny E.'s stomping grounds in the Pacific Northwest.

[vibes]

I've only got one thing planned so far: The Iowa City Jazz Festival. I've never been to a jazz concert, so I'm pretty excited. Andrew Hill, one of my favorite jazz artists, will be playing on the last day of the festival. My wife will be out of town that weekend, so I'll be going solo. Should be fun!

[catesta]

I'm off to San Diego in the middle of June with some friends.

We rented a beach house for a week. B)

We had a deep sea fishing trip planned for a day, but we have since talked the Captain into just cruising the coast for chicks instead.

[catesta]

By the way, everyone and anyone is invited. (except Monkeyboy)

[Joe G]

And now for something completely different... in the spirit of Catesta's thread on the BNBB last year, where will you and your loved or unloved ones be going to get away from it all in 2003?

My wife and I are hitting the Saugatuck/Douglas area in Michigan again, just for a few days. We're both too busy to do more than that; next year we hope to hit Johnny E.'s stomping grounds in the Pacific Northwest.

You wouldn't happen to be going there in the last week of June would you? Organissimo is touring not too far from there at that time...

[Chuck Nessa]

AND, we live about 40 miles north. What are your dates?

We are visiting family next week and driving to the Grand Canyon in the first half of July.

[ghost of miles]

We're going to be up there Thursday, June 5-Sunday, June 8. Bummer... I would love to see Organissimo in person.

[Guest Mnytime]

Well you could say I have been on one very long vacation since my illness.

Last year though I took my gal to Ireland (where her ancestors are from) & Spain for a month. Got major bonus pts for that trip.

The year before it was Turkey & Egypt. Though going to Egypt for my family and I can be a pain in the ass for reasons I won't bore you with.

Before that it was St. Thomas. She had just discovered Sonny Rollins and her favorite recording was Saxophone Colossus (still is her favorite). Thought it was an inspired choice. It was my first time there and we had a great time.

Before that France & England.

This year no trip.

[chris olivarez]

It might be a stay at home vacation for me this year or I might go to LA to visit my sister though that might take some doing I love my sister but I hate LA or I might go to San Francisco or spend a few days in Telluride attending the Blues and Brew fest.Considering that my last vacation was spent in a hospital anything would be an improvement-even LA.

[Joe G]

AND, we live about 40 miles north. What are your dates?

We are visiting family next week and driving to the Grand Canyon in the first half of July.

I don't have the itinerary, but the dates are June 26 thru the 30th. I think we play in Traverse City, Reed City, uh...ask Randy, he knows!

We'll post that soon, either on the forum or the schedule page, or both.

[J Larsen]

I'm leaving for Jamaica Friday morning. I'll be there for a little over a week. I'm pretty excited, as I haven't been outside of Manhattan in about a year (not even to go to Brooklyn!). If you've been there before and have any suggestions of places to see, please let me know!

[Jazzmoose]

By the way, everyone and anyone is invited. (except Monkeyboy)

You bastard. I'm calling the FBI!

All we have planned right now is a trip to Montery (with the obligatory aquarium stop) the week of Memorial Day, and then on June 8, it's "Jazz on the Hill" at the College of San Mateo. Hopefully there will be further developments...

[connoisseur series500]

I'm leaving for Jamaica Friday morning. I'll be there for a little over a week. I'm pretty excited, as I haven't been outside of Manhattan in about a year (not even to go to Brooklyn!). If you've been there before and have any suggestions of places to see, please let me know!

Negril beach is nice; and Doctor's Cove. Dunn's River Falls is famous. Check out Rose Hall for an example of an old plantation. Kingston is probably too dangerous to visit unless your girlfriend has good connections. Definitely check out the interior and get away from the all-inclusives.

Pretty sad about Jamaica: many Americans go to these All-Inclusives and are sheltered from the Jamaican people. Now why on Earth would you want to go visit a place without seeing the people? Doesn't make sense.

[connoisseur series500]

Booo! Although I have travelled widely in my life, I no longer go on vacations. I drag my poor wife and child to my chess tournaments and they shop and goof around while I slug it out over the chessboard.

What the hell: it's a cheap vacation. Can't afford anything else right now.

[J Larsen]

Thanks conn500. I'm sure her parents have a lot planned out for us, but it's always nice having a second opinion . I think we'll definately spend some time in Kingston. Evidently her father knows almost everyone in Jamaica (or at least a direct relative of almost everyone). He certainly seems to know nearly everyone in NYC - whenever I walk down the street with him it seems like we get stopped at least once per block!

[JohnJ]

I live in Tokyo, and while my wife is in Osaka with her family, I will visit a friend in Pattaya, Thailand for a few days in August. We will both probably vist my family in England in October.

[Ed S]

In just over a month, I'll be spending 5 days at the Montréal Jazz Festival. If my count is correct, it'll be the 11th trip to the festival since 1991. I love that city and festival

In August, I'm taking my boys camping up in Algonquin Park in Ontario. Beautiful wilderness.

I think I'm going to try to get a week long trip to somewhere in Europe as well. My guess is that they'll be some heavy discounting based on the falling dollar and the fact that most Americans will probably stay home this year. UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal - I'm going to be watching for some deals. If not, we'll do some 3-4 day trips to Cleveland or Pittsburg. You know - museums, ballgames, amusement parks that sort of thing.

[connoisseur series500]

while my wife is in Osaka with her family, I will visit a friend in Pattaya, Thailand for a few days in August.

Hmmm, a friend?

(p.s. don't take this in a bad way; I am trying to be humorous.)

[connoisseur series500]

Thanks conn500. I'm sure her parents have a lot planned out for us, but it's always nice having a second opinion . I think we'll definately spend some time in Kingston. Evidently her father knows almost everyone in Jamaica (or at least a direct relative of almost everyone). He certainly seems to know nearly everyone in NYC - whenever I walk down the street with him it seems like we get stopped at least once per block!

Have a nice trip, J. Larsen. In fact, I'm sure you will.

Jamaicans are wonderful people. They don't have much, but they are warm in every way.

"One Love"

[JohnJ]

Connoisseur Series 500, I fully understand. I recall that you lived in Thailand and your scepticism is obviously quite justified. It is however an American male friend who lives in Songkhla that I will be meeting. I will admit though, we always have a lot of fun there (hard not to).

[J Larsen]

I think I'm going to try to get a week long trip to somewhere in Europe as well. My guess is that they'll be some heavy discounting based on the falling dollar and the fact that most Americans will probably stay home this year. UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal - I'm going to be watching for some deals.

Let me know if you find any. A good friend is getting married in Antwerp 8/2 and I haven't been able to find a ticket to Brussels, Paris, London, Antwerp, or Frankfurt for under $680 that week. And those $680 tickets are really bad flights.

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

My guess is that they'll be some heavy discounting based on the falling dollar and the fact that most Americans will probably stay home this year.

Geez, I dunno..........I can't seem to find tix to Munich for less than $800. I must be looking in the wrong places (ripmeoff.com) ?

[J Larsen]

Yep. For that matter, I paid quite a lot more than I expected for our tix to Jamaica, and we shopped around a lot. They were about $250 more EACH than last year at this time.

[JohnS]

No summer break planned this year, just a short trip to Bruges (a short trip via the channel tunnel from the UK) in June and later,hopefully, Phoenix in the Autumn. Really looking forward to visiting Arizona again.

[Aggie87]

JohnS -

Are you going to Brugge (sp?) Belgium? I'm sure you'll enjoy it! We visited there about 6-7 weeks ago, and I must say it's a very beautiful town! The weather then wasn't the best, but that didn't deter us from exploring all over the old town. It was too cold for a boat ride through the canals, unfortunately.

And I was able to snag my copy of John Patton's "Got a Good Thing Goin'" there as well, just before it was officially released, I believe. Unfortunately I don't recall the name of the store, but they had a nice little jazz section...