Come-on Guys Get A Clue

 

This year I went to COTA for my 8th Formula One race, all at different circuits. Every race is a different experience and all have been great except Austin. Let me list my concerns.

• My first experience was when I received my tickets for the 3 days. I am showing 3 examples, Spa, Singapore and COTA. Spa and Singapore were either heavy cardboard or plastic with a lanyard that you could wear around your neck. COTA's ticket looked more like a movie ticket. 
• Next experience was how to get to the circuit. We opted to go with the shuttle buses. The first day, Friday, we stood in line for 1.5 hours just to get our wrist bands and then had to wait in line to board the bus. The wait was bad enough but on the way to the circuit but our driver got lost twice. The first time she tried to drop us off at a high school that was miles away from the circuit. The second day was better since we already had our wrist bands but still took a long time to get there as traffic was terrible. No special bus lanes. On the 3rd day we left what we thought of as extra early so we could watch the pre-race activities. The line to get on the bus was worse than the first day. In all it took us 3 hours to get there and we missed all re-race activities. Getting back was worse because there was no organized lines to board the buses. Most of us tried to make a line but others walked to the front and cut in front. Getting back to Austin took us 4 hours. 
• Now for the circuit itself. Like I said this was my 8th race (Monaco, Italy, Singapore, Japan, Spa, Australia, Silverstone and COTA). F1 is the best sport to follow as the races are all around the world in the most beautiful places. People travel from all corners of the planet to go to these races. I think of it as a chance to showcase the country and city they are in. I have no complaints about the circuit itself. We had great seats in turn 19 and could see a lot of the track. My problem was with the overall experience. This is an American race. The only things that showed me we were in Texas and America was a stage playing music, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the Speed Racer Car. There was a display of Ferrari's but the last time I looked Ferrari was Italian. Why not have American performance cars? I think we have a few. There was a carnival but are you going to a race or a fair? There was plenty of food and drink with some BBQ. When I went to Silverstone and Australia they had exhibits showed off their military that were unique to their country. I'm just saying, COTA missed a great opportunity to showcase America to people that are visiting the USA for the first time.

All I'm saying is we are better than this. Whoever is doing the planning could do a lot better job. Go to Silverstone and see how they use shuttle buses, go to other races and see how their race, country and city are promoted. Read your feedback, this was the 10th anniversary and negative feedback has been there for years. 

Springtime in Napa

 Just spent 6 days in Napa. The weather couldn't have been better with temps in the 70's and crowds were low even on the weekend. We were able to hit up a lot of wineries and came home with 5 cases of wine. Wineries visited were @BlackStallion , @Chappellet , @SilveradoVineyards , @Prisioner , and @Caymus.

If you live in Northern California, and you have driven to Napa to tour the wineries on the fly in the past, be careful. Almost all wineries require reservations as capacity is limited. You may be disappointed if you don't have a reservation. However, if you plan ahead this might be the best time ever to go since the crowds are low and the weather is perfect. 

We also had some fantastic meals on our stay. I would recommend @ColesChopHouse , @BistroDonGiovanni , @BistroJeanty and @Boonfly. 

One more thing. The best English muffins in the world are at the @ModelBakery . If you are in Napa stop by and pick up a package to bring home. It is over by the @OxbowPublicMarket. 

End of Our Italy Vacation

We were flying out of Milan which is less than an hour from Lake Como. We had a very early flight so I booked rooms at the Holiday Inn at the airport for the night before. What that did was give us almost a full day in Lecco, a short drive to the airport to drop off the cars and a relaxing evening before getting up early the next day for our flight. All went as planned and we had a van take us to the airport for our flight.

We flew Brussels Airlines and Air Canada with stops in Brussels and Toronto. One thing I didn't expect was we cleared US immigration in Toronto so when we landed in San Francisco we were treated like a domestic flight and we were out of the airport in no time. I use off airport parking, Skypark, and by luck the shuttle was waiting for us at the curb as we left the terminal. It turned out to be the fastest I have been on the road from an international flight.

This was a great vacation of visiting family, seeing sites and tasting wine. Since it was my brothers first time to Italy it couldn't have gone better.

Here are random pictures from our trip.

Australian Grand Prix

Every year I try and go to a F1 race in a different city. This year I had the opportunity to attend the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne. We had flown into Sydney the prior day and getting up early, 4 am, wasn't easy but it was well worth it. Those of you familiar with F1 or have read my posts on other races, know it is an all day event. This year I was only able to attend race day.

I left Sydney at 7 am for a 1.5 hour flight to Sydney getting me there at 8:30 am. After a short 30 minute taxi ride I was in Albert Park a little after 9 am. Before the race I was able to see the displays of antique cars and race cars, new Bentley's and Land Rovers, the Australian Army displays, and sample the many different food items as well as drink options. The Army went all out with displays of armored vehicles, souped up cars and trucks, and a roving jazz band.

I only found this at the race. Need to get it in USA.

Also, there were many pre-races and events. One of my favorites was an air show put on by the Australian Air Force. I saw prop planes put on a show including a simulated dog fight. Then we watched a show with one modern jet. It was amazing what that jet could do. Last a fly over of a cargo plane at a very low altitude that we weren't expecting. All in all it was a fantastic show.

My seats were at the start/finish line with a view of the pit area. It was great for viewing the pre-race activities and start but after that my view was limited to a short part of the track. Next time I would sit further down at the first turns. Vettel and Ferrari won with Red Bull coming in a respectable 4th and 6th.

One thing I did that I would recommend, if time is short after the race. I took a taxi to the race and then reserved the same taxi after the race to meet me away from the track. That way I didn't have to wait in the taxi queue. Starting away from the track I also avoided a lot of the traffic and was able to get to the airport in plenty of time.

The Aussies put on an amazing event and you should put it on your list of races to attend.

Air and Space Museum, Washington Dulles

On my last trip to Washington I took a friend to the Air and Space Museum at Washington Dulles Airport. The building is very large and can exhibit aircraft that won't fit into the Air and Space Museum on Capitol Mall.

Some of the highlights were, Space Shuttle Discovery, Enola Gay (dropped first atomic bomb), SR-71 which set the record for cross country flight time the day they delivered it to the museum, an Air France Concorde, and a Space Lab replica.

I also enjoyed seeing the WWII exhibit which showed Japanese aircraft but the best for me was the experimental German planes, jets and rockets developed during WWII.

You will see military aircraft but you will also see private aircraft, gliders, and balloons. They even have the balloon or replica of it that participated in the highest altitude parachute jump. I also liked the experimental space program exhibit. One was a glider attached to the re-entry module that could glide to a safe landing on land instead of parachuting into the ocean.

I would take at least a half day walking the exhibits. There are free guided tours that I would also recommend. If you like, you can also go to the Imax theater. We watched a movie about the workings of an Air Craft Carrier in 3-D.

The Museum is only a couple miles from the airport. If you have a flight from Dulles and have the time go to the Museum before you depart.

Lolland, Denmark

My family lives on Lolland, an island in Denmark about an hour and a half from Copenhagen and accessible by E47. If you continue from Lolland on E47 you will take a ferry to Puttgarden, Germany. The ferry ride is about 45 minutes. I had been hearing that a bridge was in the works to connect Lolland and Germany but on this trip I learned that it is going to be a tunnel and work is ready to begin. Once the tunnel is complete it will be an easy route to get from Norway and Sweden through Denmark and to mainland Europe.

Lolland itself is a small island with mainly farm land with the sugar beet crop being the largest. There is a sugar processing plant in nearby Falster. The area is very slow paced with small cities and towns. Some of the best beaches are located in Lolland and Falster. Merielyst Strand and the beach at Lollandia are some of the best in Denmark. Where before there were shipyards for building ferries now those same yards are building the wind mills you see scattered throughout the countryside in Europe.

I love to get out of the big city, Copenhagen, and make the beautiful short drive to Lolland. Lolland is like going back in time where the pace is slower and the countryside reminds you of a day gone past. Especially during the sugar beet harvest season when the cars can get stuck behind a slow moving tractor pulling a wagon full of beets.

One of my favorite places to visit is Nysted, new town, and it's harbor. The massive Aalholm Castle (Aalholm Slot ), built ca. 1200, dominates the view from the harbor at Nysted. For over 1,000 years this stronghold has tried to protected the town's citizens. It is one of the oldest, preserved Middle Ages fortresses in Denmark. If I were to retire in Denmark my dream would be to live in one of the houses facing the harbor. In the harbor there is a monument from WWII for an American bomber that was shot down killing all on board.

My grandfather was born not far from Nysted in Herritslev and the house is still standing. I have some family in Nysted and Herritslev but the bulk are in the Holeby/Maribo area. I love visiting my relatives and having dinner. This time I took my cousin Sandy and Don and we had a huge dinner with as many relatives as we could get together. To me these family trips are the best part of the trip.

Lolland and Falster are not tourist destinations but there is still a lot to see from beautiful castles and manors to some of the best beaches in Denmark. If you have the time and want to relax I would definitely recommend see the area.  

Peles Castle Romania

King Carol I and Peles Castle

In my post about Bran Castle I mentioned the tour I took was 12 hours long and included two castles. I actually found Peles Castle to be more interesting and one of the best castle tours I have been on. Bucharest City Tours did a great job and for Peles Castle our tour guide gave us a private tour and we learned a lot more than if we had been on our own.

When Romania gained it's independence in the 1800's the Ottoman Empire would only accept a ruler of royal blood. Romania found a German prince willing to accept the role. King Carol I was Romania's first ruler and as it turned out was the most beloved Romanian king of all time. King Carol I found a beautiful piece of land in the Carpathian mountains that reminded him of his native Germany. On this site Peles Castle was built.

King Carol I wanted everything symmetrical so if you saw a spiral staircase on one side of a room there would be a false staircase on the other side. In every room he also had the four seasons displayed until the death of their daughter that happened in the winter. After that any new rooms were missing winter. The castle also was far advanced for it's time. There was electricity in every room, central heat which meant the fireplaces were mainly for show since they weren't needed, and a central vacuum system that is still being used.

As for the art in the castle, the ceilings had paintings and they installed mirrors so that you wouldn't have to look straight up to view. There are some pieces that look like they were painted but they are actually made up of different pieces of wood and the  different colors made the piece of art.

King Carol I was also a collector of weapons and he has one of the best collections anywhere in the world from Africa, Persia, Europe and Asia.

This is one of the most beautiful castles I have been in. With the Venetian Mirrors, artwork, woodwork, and technology it is a must see.

Peles Castle

Weapon Collection

Miniature Cannon

African Shield

King Carol's wife and daughter

No paint, all from different color of wood

Dining room

Venetian Mirror

Movie theatre