http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/LexTraveler/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from LexTraveler en-us Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:26:59 +0000 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:26:59 +0000 Well here I am back in the windy city again...that's right Chicago Now I happen to really like Chicago perhaps because I had such a great first visit here though alas I was not blogging then and perhaps just because it's a city that sits well with me for unknown reasons. Because generally when I'm here I don't get to see much of it. Like the last time when I came just for lunch. Bu http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-451292.html Even though only about 24 hours has passed since my last entry it feels like we have packed an entire week's worth of activities into that time Just before I left my room last night for the welcome reception my dad texted me to say that there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Darn. We could have had the dinner outside after all but we agreed that we felt pressured by the hotel to avoid the slim po http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/Attica/Athens/blog-439733.html Yesterday afternoon we met with our Greek host ostensibly for only a few minutes in the lobby but it was a meeting that turned into lunch at a small cafetype place just across from the hotel in Constitution Square. I hadn't brought my sunglasses with me and it was a very bright and sunny day reflecting so brilliantly off of the marble steps that I almost couldn't keep my eyes open. We sat a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/Attica/Athens/blog-439376.html Jet lag does funny things to you. Wait scratch that. Sleep deprivation does funny things to you. After a week where I only got one night of decent sleep it was time to battle the dreaded jet lag. Actually I shouldn't say dreaded. As long as I have the luxury of an extra day to sleep I don't mind jet lag. It resets my sleep cycles helps me to return to a normal sleeping schedule when I re http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/Attica/Athens/blog-438934.html Welcome race fans What a gorgeous day here in Las Vegas and finally we had the chance to go outside and enjoy it After a very productive business session this morning we headed out into the desert for the Las Vegas Motor Speedway where we would be having lunch and taking on the Richard Petty driving experience. I finally got to see a little bit of the strip on the trip out at least from t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-347626.html Over the past few days I've been trying to figure out how I feel about Vegas. Mostly I'm just curious because it's a rather fascinating place. Everything here is so opulent so over the top. My hotel suite has two big rooms and two bathrooms. Everywhere we eat the portions are enormous. You can get anything you want right here in the hotel which even has a wedding chapel and a tattoo pa http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-347376.html I was hoping to find out that the rumors I'd heard about fine dining in Vegas were true and so far so good Tonight we had dinner at Michael Mina's Stripsteak in Mandalay Bay. It was relatively quiet in there when we arrived but got progressively more crowded as the evening wore on. We were seated at a small table with very comfortable chairs which told me that they hoped diners would li http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-346786.html I've finally made it to Vegas for the first time to see if what happens here does actually stay here. I wonder if you're not planning to do anything debaucherous if that actually counts. We'll seeI flew out yesterday from Newark and was fortunate to get a whole row to myself on the plane this was especially exciting because I was exhausted and fighting a migraine but it did make me realize http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-346631.html The mark of any good conference is the feeling at the end of the Gala Dinner that no one is quite ready to leave. We certainly had that feeling this evening But I get ahead of myself...This morning dawned way too early again after last night's evening dine around. It might not have been so bad if I wasn't running both the morning session and one of the breakouts But it ended up being very http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-323264.html Friday morning dawned much too early for me after an enjoyable evening at Casina Valadier but the business session was productive and successful so it was worth it. After a quick change it was time to head to lunch at Caffe delle Arti. Originally the plan was to eat outside but with bad weather threatening and showers earlier in the morning our hosts make some quick phone calls to move us http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-323961.html So I will be very surprised if I haven't put on five pounds by the end of this conference because of all the good food We have yet to do any touring so tomorrow I will actually have a blog about the Coliseum and the Forum yay. But today was still all about the food. For lunch we went to Obika a local mozzarella bar which is opening locations around the world. I expected there to be a l http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-322520.html I think I may explode before this trip is over from all the delicious food This afternoon's lunch was at Bar Ciampini on the Via Sistini just up from our hotel a preview for Saturday's lunch there. We planned to try the same menu we will be having on Saturday which was delicious. I also anticipate it will be too heavy because I was full after three courses and there will be fourWe began http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-322103.html I have finally returned to Roma and this time for more than a day The weather is beautiful and I am excited to see the various sites that we have planned for this week. But first about my journey...It all started with the bad news a few weeks ago that Alitalia had declared bankruptcy. I hoped that this wouldn't affect the flight and it didn't though I could see a little why they had decla http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-321903.html How cool is it that I'm in the airport and able to log on to the internet for free PS and write my final blog from California Man I love technology. Hopefully the battery on my laptop won't die nowNormally on travel day I don't have much to report but since I am taking the red eye tonight and have about two and a half hours before my flight I was in and around San Francisco for most http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-298617.html Although I did not greet this morning as leisurely as yesterday morning this hotel must be agreeing with me. For the second day in a row I woke up before my alarm could just be the time difference only to realize that I must have stayed asleep in the very position that slumber had found me. I literally slept like a log a heavy one unmoving until the sun slunk into the corners of the room http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-298235.html Holy cow what a busy day So where to start Well I'll start with this gorgeous hotel that I'm staying in the Four Seasons San Francisco. After arriving slightly later than intended last night thanks to all the wacky storms lately which held up my flight on the runway I made it to the hotel much more quickly than I expected. When I arrived it reminded me of shopping at Lord Taylor http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-297811.html At last the conference is over and for the first time in almost four years I feel sad to leave this group I really enjoyed myself this conference and felt much more relaxed than I have in the past. Although I am so ridiculously tired that I almost fell asleep during this morning's session I did have a nice relaxing afternoon though with one short side trip out to the Old Town to get a ma http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-277336.html Ah another night of less than five hours of sleep I think this trip is slowly killing me Today marked the official start of the business proceedings for the conference. The morning session went well and was only slightly delayed. Then we were off to Petrinske Terasy restaurant a terrace restaurant situated in the middle of the Petrin Hill with a truly stunning view of the city of Prague http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-277056.html This morning again dawned too early and soon I was off to our Board Meeting at the offices of our host firm. Following the meeting I just about made it back to the hotel in time to rush upstairs change and head out to the tour of the Jewish Ghetto. Known today as Josefov after Joseph II the Holy Roman Emperor who emancipated Jews in 1871 it is completely surrounded by the Old Town. Jews a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/Prague/blog-276608.html Today was such a whirlwind I don't know where to start This morning dawned WAY too early for my jetlagged body but I got up and out by 845 to head to Cesky Krumlov. A small city in the South Bohemian yes I said SOUTH Region of the Czech Republic it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site best known for its fine architecture and art of the historic old town as well as Cesky Krumlov Castle. So http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Czech-Republic/South-Bohemian-Region/Cesky-Krumlov/blog-276350.html