Forum Settings
       
« Previous 1 2
Reply To Thread

Foreign TravelFollow

#1 Aug 04 2013 at 3:24 AM Rating: Good
Worst. Title. Ever!
*****
17,302 posts
I'm on my second trip out of the country today, arrived in Italy this morning. But the strange thing was there was no customs, no immigration paperwork, nothing. My only other flight out of the country was to Mexico and I had to fill out a two page form about where I was going, what I was doing, how long I was staying... Here in Italy there was a line that said "All Passports" and the police officer took my passport, stamped it, and waved me on. I expected to have to go through customs afterward, but instead I passed through the door and it was the exit of the airport...

Now I'm kind of afraid I missed something and am hanging out at the Hotel on the lake illegally...

Edited, Aug 4th 2013 5:25am by TirithRR
____________________________
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
#2 Aug 04 2013 at 3:27 AM Rating: Good
Gave Up The D
Avatar
*****
12,281 posts
TirithRR wrote:
I'm on my second trip out of the country today, arrived in Italy this morning. But the strange thing was there was no customs, no immigration paperwork, nothing. My only other flight out of the country was to Mexico and I had to fill out a two page form about where I was going, what I was doing, how long I was staying... Here in Italy there was a line that said "All Passports" and the police officer took my passport, stamped it, and waved me on. I expected to have to go through customs afterward, but instead I passed through the door and it was the exit of the airport...

Now I'm kind of afraid I missed something and am hanging out at the Hotel on the lake illegally...

Edited, Aug 4th 2013 5:25am by TirithRR


Call your embassy to make sure, that way you're on record in case Italy tries to arrest you and ransom you back to the government.
____________________________
Shaowstrike (Retired - FFXI)
91PUP/BLM 86SMN/BST 76DRK
Cooking/Fishing 100


"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
— James D. Nicoll
#3 Aug 04 2013 at 3:35 AM Rating: Good
Worst. Title. Ever!
*****
17,302 posts
Looks like it's not required in Italy.

Makes things a lot smoother.
____________________________
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
#4 Aug 04 2013 at 5:16 AM Rating: Good
******
27,272 posts
Pretty sure it's like that for most of the EU. As long as they know you've arrived in the country it's all ok.



So have fun in Italy and what are you going to do/see?
#5 Aug 04 2013 at 6:44 AM Rating: Good
Worst. Title. Ever!
*****
17,302 posts
It's work related. Visiting customer facilities. Right now I've just been creeping relaxing on the hotel deck as ladies just happen to be enjoying the warm weather on the lake.
____________________________
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
#6 Aug 04 2013 at 7:17 AM Rating: Good
Worst. Title. Ever!
*****
17,302 posts
Ok, finally got into my room (earliest we could check in was 2pm, and we arrived at 10am...)

Something I've never seen before in a hotel... not only does the card unlock the door, but it also enables power to the room. I have to put my card into a slot on the wall, or else nothing has power. Kind of makes sense, and ensures that when the person leaves the room they turn off all their lights and devices. But I've never seen them in the US.

Also, there is a bidet...

And on the flight over, I got to watch a few movies I hadn't seen yet. Iron Man 3 and Oblivion. I enjoyed both of them, but was disappointed that the airline edited out a portion of Iron Man 3. Rhodes is being tortured by Killian, so he'd get out of the suit and Killian can have it. As soon as Rhodes bursts out of the suit and starts kicking ***, Killian starts to go supernova, and then the movie cuts ahead to when Killian injects Pepper with something to stop her reaction, and War Machine (now apparently controlled by Killian) arrives in front of Killian and deposits the President. I can only assume that the scenes in between involve the attack on the President's plane (shown in the TV spots), which is probably why the airline removed it. But in doing so they cut out how Stark and Rhodes escaped, and how Killian was able to use War Machine and kidnap the President.

Oblivion was better than I expected.

Edited, Aug 4th 2013 9:28am by TirithRR
____________________________
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
#7 Aug 04 2013 at 8:35 AM Rating: Good
**
482 posts
Must be a stateside thing. I've been living overseas for the last 20 years, and every hotel I've had to stay in all throughout Asia uses the door card for the room power. Also, bathrooms are nicer for the most part.
____________________________
Jophiel wrote:
Pack your own lunch and bring nothing but Pixie Stix and Pop Rocks and get your liberty on.
#8 Aug 04 2013 at 10:52 AM Rating: Good
@#%^
*****
15,953 posts
You worry too much.
____________________________
"I have lost my way
But I hear a tale
About a heaven in Alberta
Where they've got all hell for a basement"

#9 Aug 04 2013 at 2:23 PM Rating: Good
******
27,272 posts
TirithRR wrote:
It's work related. Visiting customer facilities. Right now I've just been creeping relaxing on the hotel deck as ladies just happen to be enjoying the warm weather on the lake.
Surely there's time to do some sight seeing?
#10 Aug 04 2013 at 10:17 PM Rating: Excellent
GBATE!! Never saw it coming
Avatar
****
9,957 posts
His Excellency Aethien wrote:
TirithRR wrote:
It's work related. Visiting customer facilities. Right now I've just been creeping relaxing on the hotel deck as ladies just happen to be enjoying the warm weather on the lake.
Surely there's time to do some sight seeing?
Want to borrow my glasses?Smiley: laugh
____________________________
remorajunbao wrote:
One day I'm going to fly to Canada and open the curtains in your office.

#11 Aug 04 2013 at 11:21 PM Rating: Good
******
27,272 posts
I meant as in doing touristy stuff rather than looking at boobs and butts.
#12 Aug 05 2013 at 7:36 AM Rating: Good
*******
50,767 posts
His Excellency Aethien wrote:
I meant as in doing touristy stuff rather than looking at boobs and butts.
Checking out the local fauna is part of the touristy stuff.
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
#13 Aug 05 2013 at 8:24 AM Rating: Good
******
27,272 posts
Eh, probably not that different from the boobs and butts found at home. I'd rather go see some history and taste some genuine Italian food. Maybe go suit and/or shoe shopping since you're in Italy anyway.
#14 Aug 05 2013 at 9:56 AM Rating: Good
Skelly Poker Since 2008
*****
16,781 posts
There is SO much history in Italy. I'd love to see it and taste it and smell it. Italians even make decent wine.

I'm sorely under-traveled. Smiley: frown
____________________________
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
#15 Aug 05 2013 at 1:21 PM Rating: Good
Worst. Title. Ever!
*****
17,302 posts
His Excellency Aethien wrote:
Eh, probably not that different from the boobs and butts found at home.


Well, in western Michigan, there isn't much.

His Excellency Aethien wrote:
I'd rather go see some history and taste some genuine Italian food. Maybe go suit and/or shoe shopping since you're in Italy anyway.


I'm not interested in suits or shoe shopping.

Today during lunch, we went to an old church, Sancturio Madonna della Stella, in Brescia. Apparently Pope Paul VI was born in Brescia, he had a statue outside the church, was featured inside on some of the stained glass. It was up on a pretty high hill, overlooking the city. The hotel overlooks a lake and has a decent view of quite a few peaks in the Prealps.

Had some good food, Italian pizza, pastas, seafood. Apparently it's common for Italians to have an hour and a half lunch break. And we are strange for only ordering one thing for lunch, not ordering dessert, and not drinking coffee afterward, confusing the heck out of the waiter who apparently didn't believe us when we told him we were done eating. They also eat very late (speaking relative to the US). Many places not opening until 8pm, we are usually the first to show up, and most people don't come until 9pm or so. First day it was 5pm, and we asked the bartender when the restaurant opened and he said 8pm, kind of took us by surprise.

The first night we went nearly the whole deal. Pasta dish, followed by meat/fish dish, followed by dessert. Had a lobster pasta, baked char stuffed with something, not sure what, and a mint panna cotta. Second night it was just too much and went with a pizza. Will probably have try some wine tomorrow when we go out with a few of the customers, they'll know what's what.

Maybe I'll try to see this Abbey of St. Nicolas before I leave. Tomorrow I'm heading toward Venice. Don't think I'll actually be going to Venice, just in the general direction, to visit a customer. Driving in the area is crazy. Small streets, small cars. Many two way streets actually only big enough for one very small car. We've been having the customers drive us around, and just go to places within walking distance from the hotel.

Crazy hot though, for being farther north than my home town, it's almost 100F here all day long. A bit higher than usual for the area, but still not much. Those mountains to the north must stop the cool northern air or something.
____________________________
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
#16 Aug 05 2013 at 1:33 PM Rating: Good
*******
50,767 posts
TirithRR wrote:
And we are strange for only ordering one thing for lunch, not ordering dessert, and not drinking coffee afterward, confusing the heck out of the waiter who apparently didn't believe us when we told him we were done eating.
My grandmother would have smacked you with a wooden spoon. Smiley: laugh
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
#17 Aug 05 2013 at 4:57 PM Rating: Good
*****
13,251 posts
How'd you make out with the 3DS charger situation?
#18 Aug 05 2013 at 11:41 PM Rating: Good
Worst. Title. Ever!
*****
17,302 posts
It works, but I don't make as much use of it as I had planned. The main reason I wanted it was to make sure I had my stuff charged for the plane ride, but they've got free personal movies and music, so I don't have to worry about playing many games. Probably going to watch Bourne Legacy, Jack Reacher, and/or the new Oz movie on the ride home.
____________________________
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
#19 Aug 06 2013 at 4:24 AM Rating: Good
******
27,272 posts
TirithRR wrote:
Driving in the area is crazy. Small streets, small cars. Many two way streets actually only big enough for one very small car. We've been having the customers drive us around, and just go to places within walking distance from the hotel.
A side effect of most towns and cities being built well before cars existed. There's one guy in my neighborhood who has an American pickup truck (can't remember which one) and it's just comically large.
#20 Aug 06 2013 at 7:12 AM Rating: Excellent
*******
50,767 posts
TirithRR wrote:
It works, but I don't make as much use of it as I had planned. The main reason I wanted it was to make sure I had my stuff charged for the plane ride, but they've got free personal movies and music, so I don't have to worry about playing many games. Probably going to watch Bourne Legacy, Jack Reacher, and/or the new Oz movie on the ride home.
You suck. Last time I got deployed they showed Saving Private Ryan on the ride over. Because the thing people going to a warzone want to see is another group of soldiers slowly being picked off one at a time during their mission.
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
#21 Aug 06 2013 at 7:31 AM Rating: Good
******
27,272 posts
lolgaxe wrote:
TirithRR wrote:
It works, but I don't make as much use of it as I had planned. The main reason I wanted it was to make sure I had my stuff charged for the plane ride, but they've got free personal movies and music, so I don't have to worry about playing many games. Probably going to watch Bourne Legacy, Jack Reacher, and/or the new Oz movie on the ride home.
You suck. Last time I got deployed they showed Saving Private Ryan on the ride over. Because the thing people going to a warzone want to see is another group of soldiers slowly being picked off one at a time during their mission.
I wonder who thought that was a good idea...
#22 Aug 06 2013 at 9:35 AM Rating: Good
Worst. Title. Ever!
*****
17,302 posts
His Excellency Aethien wrote:
TirithRR wrote:
Driving in the area is crazy. Small streets, small cars. Many two way streets actually only big enough for one very small car. We've been having the customers drive us around, and just go to places within walking distance from the hotel.
A side effect of most towns and cities being built well before cars existed. There's one guy in my neighborhood who has an American pickup truck (can't remember which one) and it's just comically large.


Ya, everyone's driving around in little Fiats and Smart cars. We've been using a BMW 5 series. Even it seems a bit big at times. I cannot imagine how your neighbor is driving around some of these places in an American pickup. Must be a smaller one, not an 8 foot bed with a full cab. (of course, I don't know exactly where you are...)

I was told that there are some people driving Hummers in this area, but I haven't seen them.

I almost made it to Venice today, but turns out the customer was just to the north, in Montebelluna. It's crazy warm though. 37-40C all day. Seems that everyone has left the area for their August vacations, so after Sunday, there hasn't been much to look at in terms of women.

I have no idea what is in much of what I am eating. <Food Item> made in the style of <City/Region>. I guess as long as it tastes good that's all that matters.
____________________________
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
#23 Aug 06 2013 at 10:35 AM Rating: Good
Ghost in the Machine
Avatar
******
36,443 posts
His Excellency Aethien wrote:
Eh, probably not that different from the boobs and butts found at home.


Oh, grasshopper... so innocent in the ways of the world.
____________________________
Please "talk up" if your comprehension white-shifts. I will use simple-happy language-words to help you understand.
#24 Aug 06 2013 at 10:39 AM Rating: Good
Gave Up The D
Avatar
*****
12,281 posts
lolgaxe wrote:
TirithRR wrote:
It works, but I don't make as much use of it as I had planned. The main reason I wanted it was to make sure I had my stuff charged for the plane ride, but they've got free personal movies and music, so I don't have to worry about playing many games. Probably going to watch Bourne Legacy, Jack Reacher, and/or the new Oz movie on the ride home.
You suck. Last time I got deployed they showed Saving Private Ryan on the ride over. Because the thing people going to a warzone want to see is another group of soldiers slowly being picked off one at a time during their mission.


They thought it would make a good training guide: "How Not To @#%^ Up" by Tom Hanks.

Edited, Aug 6th 2013 12:39pm by Shaowstrike
____________________________
Shaowstrike (Retired - FFXI)
91PUP/BLM 86SMN/BST 76DRK
Cooking/Fishing 100


"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
— James D. Nicoll
#25 Aug 06 2013 at 11:13 AM Rating: Good
******
27,272 posts
TirithRR wrote:
His Excellency Aethien wrote:
TirithRR wrote:
Driving in the area is crazy. Small streets, small cars. Many two way streets actually only big enough for one very small car. We've been having the customers drive us around, and just go to places within walking distance from the hotel.
A side effect of most towns and cities being built well before cars existed. There's one guy in my neighborhood who has an American pickup truck (can't remember which one) and it's just comically large.
Ya, everyone's driving around in little Fiats and Smart cars. We've been using a BMW 5 series. Even it seems a bit big at times. I cannot imagine how your neighbor is driving around some of these places in an American pickup. Must be a smaller one, not an 8 foot bed with a full cab. (of course, I don't know exactly where you are...)

I was told that there are some people driving Hummers in this area, but I haven't seen them.

I almost made it to Venice today, but turns out the customer was just to the north, in Montebelluna. It's crazy warm though. 37-40C all day. Seems that everyone has left the area for their August vacations, so after Sunday, there hasn't been much to look at in terms of women.

I have no idea what is in much of what I am eating. <Food Item> made in the style of <City/Region>. I guess as long as it tastes good that's all that matters.
Yeah I have no idea how he drives that thing even if it's not as narrow here as it is in old Italian towns, it's still much bigger than the average parking spot...

Also, the crazy heat is why they have such long lunch breaks, it's way too hot to work during the hottest part of the day so people have a long lunch or they take a nap.
#26 Aug 06 2013 at 7:17 PM Rating: Excellent
**
493 posts
« Previous 1 2
Reply To Thread

Colors Smileys Quote OriginalQuote Checked Help

 

Recent Visitors: 185 All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (185)