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I always appreciate the information on this forum so I try and give back.
Sorry this is long but it is also my own trip report to keep with my photo albums...
March 22- Had an unbelievable easy drive from Connecticut to JFK. Every time we have flown out of JFK we have sat for hours in traffic on the Van Wyck. My husband decided to try a new route and we breezed right in. This was the easiest beginning to one of our vacations ever. Check in at AA was wonderful. The agents could not have been nicer and when we told her our breeze in this time versus every previous trip in, she looked at us and asked, "Haven't you ever watched Seinfeld? They are always joking, 'Everything was going along just fine until we hit the Van Wyck!'" Too funny. Now we know.
The flight was practically empty. Both my husband and I ended up with our own row (one in front of the other) and our daughter and niece shared a row. The flight was just fine and the attendants were wonderful.
March 23-Arrived in Brussels on time at 6:40 AM. We headed to the train where we purchased 2 adult tickets to Bruge, with a change in Gent. I had pre-purchased my niece's (14) train ticket (Go Pass) before leaving home. We paid half price for it that way. The train ride was easy. Arrived in Bruge around 9:30. I called the owner of the home we had rented to let him know we were on our way. As we neared the exit of the station, we came upon a little food shop and quickly scanned the shelves in search of Chocomel. 12 Euros later there were four happy people, with very big smiles, topped off with brown mustaches! Out the door we went and grabbed a waiting taxi. 15 minutes later we were at the door of our new home for the next four days, "de Hoedenmaker." The owner was there waiting for us upon our arrival and greeted us warmly. Upon walking in, we were all thrilled. The pictures on line do not do it justice. It really is a lovely, warm, comfortable and functional home. It is located a ten minute walk from Markt, but in a quiet residential area. The home has two bedrooms (one with a queen, the other two twins that can be pushed together). There is also a loft accessed via the queen bedroom that was a twin trundle bed. There is a full bath upstairs and a very small half bath located downstairs. The kitchen had been fully remodeled and was wonderful. There was a cozy living room, free wifi, and a lovely little side courtyard. One of my favorite things was listening to the church bells ring on Sunday morning. I would stay here again in a New York minute!
After getting settled, my niece and I headed out to the Markt Square as we had seen the market was there when we drove in. My husband and daughter stayed behind to unwind a bit. Bruge really is everything you read about it, historic, romantic, fairytale-ish and yes touristy (but that did not detract from our trip). Unfortunately 10 minutes into our outing we came upon a horrible scene of an accident where a city worker had been killed. He was still lying under the street sweeping vehicle as we passed by. A heartbreaking sight, but one that reminds you of how precious life is and why it is so important to live life as though it is your last day...
As we passed by store front after store front with displays of delicious looking pastries and chocolates and bottles of beer I knew we had come to the right place for vacation. The market was wonderful. It is always one of my favorite things to do when on vacation. Again, there were pastries and breads, meats and sausages, cheeses and foi gras, flowers and plants and the seemingly out of place, chinese food stand (although it looked delicious). We happily wondered through, taking pictures and sampling some of the delicious items. My niece and I were both in Heaven! As our bellies were now aching for food, we headed back to the house to round up the other two so we could grab some food, and a beer of course. We walked back to the Markt, and against everything I had read chose to eat at one of the restaurants right there (De Carre) as we wanted to the view of the Belfry and my daughter wanted to watch the horse carriages go by. The food was OK but the service was bad.
This leads me to the two biggest issues we had while traveling...the water and the tip. I found it so very frustrating that the only water to be had was 7 Euro bottled water. We all drink a lot of water and so needless to say, this got rather expensive. The tip was another very frustrating part. Some restaurants, this one in particular, verbally told us that, "service is included but the tip is not." Other restaurants, which I shall mention shortly, never even afforded you the opportunity to add a tip as they stick with the feeling that the service is included.
We walked around some more and then feeling tired headed back to the house again where both kids fell fast asleep. My husband had already napped but I knew better so I grabbed the shopping bag and headed out to the local supermarket to pick up some supplies. The streets in Bruge are tricky, to say the least, and it is a very good thing I had a map. My niece and I had also noticed that the spire on top of the church that was located a block over had a rooster on it, which led us home more than once...
The owners had very kindly supplied coffee, cream, sugar, a few bottles of beer and some Chocomel but I wanted some more breakfast items and of course more beer and definitely more Cecemel (Chocomel's name in Belgium). I love the local supermarkets and this one was very clean and very well stocked. I already was feeling like a local, walking home with my groceries, through the winding cobblestone streets of Bruge...
I knew that by the time dinner time rolled around we would all be quite tired and hungry. The owners had told us about the restaurant, Tom's Diner, that was literally 37 steps from our front door, so decided to check it out. I walked in and asked if we could make a reservation. The hostess/waitress was very nice and said no problems just to come back at 6:30 and she would have a table for us. At 6:30 we walked into what felt like an old, quaint, cozy farmhouse. The food was very good, the ambience perfect, and the service excellent. This was one of the restaurants that upon receiving our bill, ran our credit card and handed the slip over to us to sign. There was absolutely no mention of a tip. We did however leave a few extra Euros and announced that we would be back the following night if they had a table.
37 steps later we were at the door, 12 more steps upstairs, and all four of us collapsed, having a wonderful night's sleep!
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Bruge-A fantastic four days!
I always appreciate the information on this forum so I try and give back.
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How was the weather? Good friends of ours went to Bruge in winter and said they actually preferred it, as there seemed to be very few tourists. So nice you could bring your niece, I'm sure she loved the trip. Looking forward to the next installment.
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And of course, the second it posts I realized I misspelled Bruges...twice!
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Dazed- Would you believe me if I said it was sunny and beautiful, high 50s, everyday but one and that day was overcast in the low 50s with a bit of wind, especially as you got out into the countryside. There were definitely tourists, enough that we mentioned that we would hate to see it in the height of tourist season.
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March 24- I woke up to a bright blue sky... the same as yesterday. The others in my party were dead to the world so I got up, had my morning glass of Cecemel and headed out (around 10 AM). I walked up along the canals and winded this way and that, taking in the sights, heading in the direction of Grote Markt. Every turn of the street brought me to another spot I couldn't resist but photograph. I kept putting my camera away, thinking I could blend in more as a local but to no avail. I was taking pictures every few hundred feet. I spent a few hours wandering the back streets of Bruges, finally making my way to the Markt once again, only to turn around and go back to get the rest of my family up. I know travel to Europe is difficult but we only had a few days and I was not about to let them all sleep their time there away.
I got back to the house, got them all moving and we headed back out. Of course they wanted to go along the same route I had just taken because I had sat and spoke about how charming it was...
We headed out at lunch time and by the time we had actually made it to where there were restaurants, we were all starving, especially those of them that had had no breakfast. We had made the decision to absolutely avoid the Markt again and decided to walk down Geldmunstraat. As we walked further, we grew hungrier, passing waffle stands, ice cream stores, patisseries, etc. We passed by this lovely looking restaurant (Cafe au Lait), that was seemingly almost empty inside and decided that was where we were going to eat. This was a great decision...our lunch was fantastic (Quiche Lorraine, waffles mit slag, cheese croquettes, croque monsieur), service was top notch and the prices were just right! It really was a lovely restaurant.
After lunch we continued down Geldmunstraat to t'Zand square. This area seemed to be where the young crowd hung out. The concert hall really stood out and was not so impressive. We continued on down through the park. It was warm enough now that we had to take our coats off. The park was filled with people playing sports, taking in the day, and getting away from the crowds. This was a lovely walk that we continued on along a canal towards Minnewater Park. Minnewater park is beautiful and definitely worth taking the time to stroll through.
On to the beguine...a not to be missed spot. This day the courtyard with it's white houses and red tiled roofs was lit up in yellow with thousands of daffodils in full bloom. Couple this with the electric blue sky; I could not have asked for better photo ops than that. Upon entering the church, you aren't blown away by the sheer beauty as you are in some of the other churches in Bruges, but you are hit with a sense of history in this church. We light a candle for my father, one of many that we will, but this one has the most meaning. Maybe because it is the first church we have entered back on the soil of his birth, maybe it's because of the history of this church or maybe it's simply because I am there with his two granddaughters (who he adored) and I know that he is there with us...
We continue now on a mission to find chocolates. We happen upon another lovely square where De Halve Maan Brewery is located. There is a Dumon Chocolatier there and we load up on chocolates-the woman was not so friendly but the chocolates were very good. We all agreed the lime and chili chocolate was the best. We sit at a restaurant, enjoy a beer outside while listening to the clopping of hooves of the many horse carriages passing by. We poke our heads in the brewery, it looks like a great place and then head out again.
The streets were getting thicker with tourists as we neared closer to the center of town. I noticed on my map that the Chocolate Line was near by and although we had already had quite a few I announced we would need to make another stop at yet a other chocolate store. Needless to say my girls were thrilled! The Chocolate Line was the best of the stores we tried. It reminded me of Joel Durand in St Remy, France.
Once back home and after a long day of walking, we decided to enjoy the 37 steps to Tom's for dinner again. The experience was wonderful again. Dessert that night (back at home) was a chocolate tasting. We sampled all the wild flavors. Our favorites turned out to be lemongrass, chili, lavender and for me sake. The mint, orange and raspberry all got high praise too as they tasted like fresh ingredients, not the fake flavorings many times used. I will note that while I know that bacon and chocolate has become quite the culinary fascination, in all of our opinions, it was downright awful!
It was another wonderful day!
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odie1, I am enjoying your trip report. Would you mind telling me what route you drove from Connecticut to JFK? We live in Trumbull, and for international flights JFK is our airport.
My husband and I have been to Brugge, but this June we are taking our son and his family. Tom's Diner is on my list. Would you mind posting the dinners your family enjoyed there?
Cafe au Lait located on Noordzandstraat,is also on my "short" list. Did you eat inside or outside on the terrace?
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Hello Odie - As you have raised the meal/ tipping issue I hope you don't mind if I break in and give my own experience. I was in Brugge about the same time (and BTW was very pleased with my hotel choice, the Loreto on Katelijnestraat, between the station and the Markt). Had one of the most pleasant dining experiences of my trip just along the street at De Postiljon restaurant (which has been around for 18 years apparently, but which I don't recall seeing mentioned in any of my guide books) - just three of its basic courses (which was what I was after - the lead dish at the place I originally had in mind turned out to be Australian steak, which I can have anytime) - a tasty chicory soup, a very nice Flemish stew (with plums), and a creme caramel, which together with a beer and the usual bread and I think a chocolate came to 22,45 euros - no suggestion of tipping and I was glad to round up to 25. The night before I also had a Flemish stew at the newly opened and very welcoming restaurant The Habit (opposite the The Hobbit which has been around quite a while I believe) in Kemelstraat, both of which were recommended for good basic meals and beer by a helpful young woman serving in an exquisite patisserie, Schaeverbeke, on Schaarstraat, slightly off the tourist track. A large plate of the stew and a beer, together with bread and a complimentary shrimp starter came to 19,35, again with no suggestion of a tip and I parted with 22.
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we took the throg's neck to Coss Island to Belt Parkway and we sailed right in. Did the same on our way home and no problems. I will never travel the Van Wyck again!
Tom's Diner meals-the Irish steak (which was the only disappointment as it was a bit tough but we have an amazing butcher in our little town so I am spoiled), salad of warm proscuttio in a balsamic glaze, my 8 year old had the carpaccio both nights with a side of frites and loved it, my niece had the meatloaf the first night and thought it delicious and she also had carpaccio and then split the pasta with my husband (who had gotten it the night before) and loved it. The portions are huge.
You will enjoy Cafe au Lait. We sat inside both days only because it was quiet and quaint.
No worries jumping in. I'm glad you enjoyed your meals and didn't have anyone pushing you to include a tip. I did notice that any of the locals, or native speakers, were not being pushed for a tip.
I am working on the next installment now....
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I love Brugge. I've spent a total of just over 3 weeks there and have loved every minute of it. I usually go during "off season" when the city is quieter.
I had dinner at Tom's Diner on Christmas Eve one year...it was a great experience. It's nice to hear that it's still a good place to visit! And Dumon is my favorite chocolate shop. I prefer the caramels...heavenly.
i_am_kane --
For breakfast one morning, I recommend Carpe Diem tea room near Minnewater.
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March 25-We woke up to another beautiful day and headed out. First stop... the Chocolate Museum. This is a rather interesting museum, if you like chocolate or even history. There was a lot of information there and we all thought very well displayed. It does involve quite a bit of reading, and for little ones it might not be as interesting. My daughter enjoyed the children's version of the signs that made reading fun. The short movie was very informative and the demonstration at the end was fascinating. Do not miss the Chocolate Obama, although they told us they do not know how long it will be around.
From there my niece said she would like to go and see the Basilica of the Holy Blood. She had excellent timing as there was a mass exodus happening upon our arrival. We went right in and basically walked right up to where the vial was on display. Each person was able to lay their hands on top of the glass container that the vial is in and say a prayer. Ten minutes after we walked in a bell rang, a lady came with a lockbox took the vial away and announced they were closing, but not before we could light another candle...
Lunch today was at a restaurant we happened upon, 't Eekhoetje. We sat outside in the courtyard, which was nice but the food and the service were not so good. The waffle especially was very mushy having been doused with fresh fruit (even though we asked for it on the side). The panini of the house was good, the cheese croquettes fine but nothing memorable and definitely not worth another visit.
Next stop was Gruuthuse. This was a bit of a disappointment. It was not exactly like it was described, I think maybe there were some displays missing, but the highlight was going into the family's private viewing area of the Church of Our Lady. This had a beautiful view looking down into the church. We all determined that that alone was worth it.
From here we walked around the back side of Gruuthuse, stopping in the Museum store. The grounds on the side here are not to be missed. They really are spectacular and there are some wonderful photo ops. We continued around to the front of the Church of Our Lady to see the Michelangelo. This church elicits that jaw dropping moment when you enter. The architecture and art pieces alone are a definite must see. Once again, we felt very lucky as there was really no one blocking the view of the Madonna and Child and we were able to take some terrific photographs of it. We did not pay to go back into the museum part of it but I am sure that would have been worth it. Another candle lit...
We headed across the street and contemplated a trip into the hospital museum but walked through to the courtyard in the rear. It was like walking into another world. The noise of the streets and the masses of people were no where to be seen or heard. We sat on a bench in the sun, relaxing and enjoying the magnificent surroundings; my daughter trying very hard to capture a picture of a lady bug. In the rush to not want to miss a thing, you often forget how enjoyable it is to stop and sit and just take in your experience.
My nephew was arriving by bus from Amsterdam so we decided to see if we could meet up with him at the train station. We still had about 45 minutes to kill so I suggested a snack of a waffle for the kids and a beer for the adults. We had seen signs for "Rail City" quite a few times over the last few days and again saw another one so we followed it around the corner. Much to our delight, there were three restaurants, with outside seating and the "Rail City." A miniature train set up that my daughter, and my husband, loved.
There was some miscommunication as to where to meet my nephew, and after a very long diversion on our part (all the way down to the other side of Minnewater park), we returned to the Train Station, which as it turns out is also the bus station but we got there later than his bus was due to arrive. My husband and niece quickly went ahead to the Markt to try and catch him there, in case he had received an email we had sent. My daughter and I were slower to walk and since we figured we were lacking in speed we would stop at the Chocolate Line again to refuel and to reward us for all the trekking we had done that day! Boy was it worth it...more of our favorites from the night before plus some new ones.
Back at the Markt there had been no sign of our nephew so we decided to return to the house as I had sent him the link. Rounding the corner of Hoedenmakerstraat, our doorway was empty. I had some concerns as to whether he would know where to go and since he did not have a cell phone, I had more concerns. But, I should have known that he had printed out the directions before he left. His bus was an hour late and he had been shooting photographs along the walk to the house. My box of chocolates quickly disappeared, along with a few beers, and back out we went for our dinner reservation at Park. By now it was getting dusk and the lighting was perfect for photographs. We walked along a way we had not been yet, past where the fish market is held and down to Astridpark.
Dinner at Park was wonderful, the coq au vin was especially delicious. The owner was very welcoming and sociable. The only complaint we would have had was once again, the bill came and the owner placed the machine in front of my husband and said, "Just follow the directions," and sure enough it came up to add a tip. Meanwhile, I had watched him bring the check to another couple, whom were locals or at least from the area and he did not do the same thing. He merely swiped the card and handed them the bill to sign. We did end up leaving an extra 10 Euros (on an almost $200 Euro bill) but I I didn't appreciate how it came about.
The walk home that night was magical. Entering both the Burg and Markt, there were maybe 10 people there, all of whom were shooting photos. We eagerly joined and managed to get a few nice shots but we were weary from the long day and didn't have the stamina to wait for the perfect moment.
Back home, once the young one was asleep, we popped in the movie "In Bruges," which my husband and I had watched before we left but it was fun to see all the places that we had been to over the last few days. It was a great way to end another spectacular day in Bruges!
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March 26-
We woke up to overcast skies, a bit of wind and chillier temperatures but none of us were complaining. We had planned ahead to do a bike ride with Quasimundo Bike Tours, through the countryside to Damme. We were scheduled to meet at the Burg at 1:00 so it was nice we had some time beforehand to head out again. Trying to rally three kids, so to speak, is not an easy task, and I hate to say we did not step foot out of the house until 10:30 but we actually didn't end up leaving until around 11:00 as I locked us out of the house...oops! Thank goodness I had a cell phone and the owners telephone number or else I have no idea what we would have done. The owners showed up five minutes after calling them. They were such wonderful people and again would recommend this home whole-heartedly!
We had so much enjoyed our lunch at Cafe au Lait that we decided to return there for lunch, even though it was in the complete opposite direction of where we were to meet but the waffles were that good! We were not disappointed and the staff could not have been nicer when we explained that we were on a bit of a time crunch. After another delicious meal of waffles with fruit, cheese croquettes, toasted ham and cheese sandwiches topped with eggs, we were ready for our ride. We decided that we needed some chocolate, you know to keep us fueled for the ride, and headed to the chocolate store right in the Burg. Unfortunately there was only one lady working and some customers who were so unbelievably indecisive that we couldn't wait any longer and left without it. I promised my daughter we would fuel her up in Damme. Jos, the owner of Quasimundo, showed up on time. It turned out there was only one other girl riding with us as the other people who had reserved a spot never showed...great for us, unfortunate for Jos. Se headed over to the warehouse and all quickly got fitted with a terrific bike and a helmet for our daughter.
I must admit, after walking around Bruges the previous days, I was apprehensive about riding on even one block of streets but it was perfectly fine. By now the weather had changed and had certainly become chillier and much, much windier. I had thought ahead and made sure that everyone had gloves with them for just such an occasion and was thankful I did as the kids used them.
First stop was the windmills. Jos was a fantastic guide with a terrific sense of humor. Later in the day, over a beer, he mentioned he had been a photojournalist in a previous life. He certainly knows his history which made for a very informative bike ride. Two years previous, we had been to Kinderdijk in Holland (also a UNESCO WHS) which was fantastic and difficult to top but it was interesting to see how these windmills are different. Once over the major roadway we rode along a tree lined canal. Jos said Napoleon had planted most of the trees along the canals as wind-breaks. We continued on past beautiful old farms whose green fields were being grazed by enormous Belgian draft horses. There were some spectacular properties along the ride.
We were riding head-on into a very stiff wind which made it difficult for our daughter to keep up, but in reality, I enjoyed the slower pace and didn't mind bringing up the rear! Upon entering Damme, Jos gave us a good history of this town and its importance as a port, long ago. He also had some nice visuals showing satellite views of the star-shaped fortification...most interesting. In the distance, high on a hill, looming over daffodil filled fields seemingly alive with the hopping of hundreds of cottontail rabbits, stood an enormous 12th century church, beckoning you to visit. The closer we rode, the more magnificent it became. By the time we entered the courtyard, we had all agreed that the ride was well worth it, even the extra effort we all had to put forth in the headwinds. The church and it's grounds were quite a vision, especially for those of us who enjoy photography.
Once in the center of Damme we stop at the city hall. This building is quite ornate and is certainly a testament to the wealth that was a part of this once thriving city, now a village, albeit a very quaint one. The ride was to continue on to the parallel canals but the wind grew stiffer the closer to the sea we got so I thought it best to have the rest of the crew continue on while my daughter and I would go to the pub to get us that much deserved treat... a crepe with chocolate and ice cream for her and an ice cold beer for me...Mmmmmm!
When the rest of the crew returned and confirmed that the wind had only grown much stronger, we were happy with our decision to forego it. They did say that the view was spectacular as you look all the way down the tree lined canal to see the steeple of The Church of Our Lady (back in Bruges) at it's terminus. The beers and crepes were enjoyed by all before hopping on the bikes for our return to Bruges. As we crossed the canal, you could see the paddleboat that is used for the trip between the two places. It looks like it could be a fun way to travel, if the weather is right. There also stands a lovely old windmill (more Dutch looking than the others) on a beautiful old farm.
The ride home was much easier. I don't know for sure whether that was owed to the wind at our backs or the stop for refueling but either way it was fun! I would highly recommend Quasimundo tours.
Knowing that my nephew is living the life of not only a starving student, but a starving ART student, and also knowing one of the things he misses the most from home is his favorite meal of ribs, I had reserved a table at In't Nieuw Museum so he could gorge himself on their all you can eat ribs...and gorge himself he did! I think even the owner, as well as a few diners seated near by, were impressed that such a lean boy could manage to eat as much as he did. We really enjoyed dinner here, although again we have had better steaks, but the atmosphere and the owners' friendliness, made the experience fun and relaxed. The Dame Blanche was fantastic, BTW!
Tomorrow we head to Brussels for the day and night.
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Thank you so much for this wonderful trip report! My husband and I will be in Brugge and Brussels later this month. I drink a lot of water and hope I don't have to pay 7 Euros per bottle!
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Marsh- I appreciate the acknowledgement of the trip report.
I did not find anywhere that you did not have to buy water. It certainly added to the expense.
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I truly enjoyed your trip report so far.
I'm so sorry that waiters made you leave a tip. They sure take advantage of (American) tourists. They will never do this with us, locals, because 'service' (=tip) is included. Once again, in Belgium a waiter has a normal salary. He does not have to live on tips. What we usually do is round up. When the bill is 88,50 euro for instance, we will round up to 90. Or not, if the service wasn't good. If we pay by CC, we leave a few euros on the table.
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@ Marsh: bottled water in supermarkets is not that expensive. Tap water is perfectly drinkable but they don't serve it in restaurants. I'm afraid 7 euro is a normal price for water in restaurants.
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odie1, thanks for the interesting (and timely) report. The four of us leave tomorrow for 9 days in The Netherlands and Belgium, and Brugge is on our list. Our youngest is 9; did your daughter enjoy Brugge?
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The worst of the waiters was still to come in Brussels where he actually returned to the table demanding whether the service was good or not because my husband had not left anything on the CC. Needless to say, we left nothing after that and hadn't planned on it as the service had been horrendous...
fourfortravel-my daughter absolutely loved Brugge. We travel a lot (5th trip to Europe for her) and each place we have been she has always found something that she really enjoyed about the location. She loved Holland when we were there as well-if you can make it to kinderdijk, it was spectacular!
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March 27-
We woke to another spectacular day...how lucky we have been. We knew that we needed to check out by 10:00 so we busied getting packed etc. This morning was a particular lovely morning so I opened the door to the courtyard while moving about the kitchen, little did I know that shortly thereafter, I was going to be treated to some of the beautiful church bells I had ever heard. They rang for a good ten minutes solid, and with the church right around the corner, it sounded as though I was standing in the belfry myself.
The two things that seem to be the must, that we did not do was the climb up the belfry at Markt and the boat ride. The belfry is under construction and you can only access half of it, and while I am sure that would have been worth it alone, my daughter was not so convinced about the climb. The boats were packed everyday, and while seeing it everything from a different perspective would have been interesting, it just didn't happen to fit in with our schedule.
We took the train to Belgium Central, as we were staying around the corner from there and it was an easy walk. After checking in we headed to the Grand Place (this was as breathtaking as the last time I had seen it-25 years ago-it just had a lot more people there). We headed from there to Manneken Pis-a must, especially for the kids. They all commented on how little it was. I think they were expecting Michelangelo's David. Now that would be a sight!
From there we headed to have lunch at Roue D'or. This was an great meal. The restaurant was packed, mostly with locals but the service was good and the food great.
My nephew saw a brochure for the Luc Tuymans Retrospective at BOZAR and was very much interested in seeing it. We headed up to that area. The museum was hot inside and while we all enjoy seeing art, we (with our daughter in tow) are always much quicker. We told our nephew to take his time and we would go across the street and wait in the park. This was a great stop for an ice cream cone and certainly an interesting place for people watching.
This was followed up with a quick stroll through the Galeries Saint-Hubert, a tour through the maze of mussel restaurants to Jeanneke Pis (Manneken's female counterpart) and back to the hotel for a few frothy ones.
Dinner that night was an absolute disaster at Chez Leon. The seating was upstairs, where it was HOT, there was a horrible selection of Belgian beers, the croquettes were literally inedible and to top it off, we watched table after table (who had been seated after us) receive their mussels while we sat and sweated. Other tables got up and walked out as well. After having already been waiting an hour, our mussels arrived, and while they were good, they were not great. BUT the worst part was when we paid the check and the waiter literally came back to the table demanding to know whether the service had been good or not. My husband, not wanting to get into it at that point, just said, "Everything was fine." The waiter turned around and left. Not the way to end our trip...
Train in the morning to the airport was a snap.
All in all it was a fabulous trip.
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Thanks so much for this wonderful report. We have four days in Brugge in June and will use many of your suggestions. A follow-up question on water in restaurants - our guide books have all said no one will serve you tap water - it's just not done. So this 7 euro water you speak of is bottled - like San Pelegrino or crummy Dasani or does it matter. What else is available if you don't drink alcohol? DH would want to sample a beer or two, but certainly not everyday and I don't drink at all. Coffee? Soda? Or just suck it up for 7 euros?
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Soda is available in every restaurant, but it's not cheap eather. Count 2 tot 2,50 euro for a small bottle of 25 cl.
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oliverandharry- I would say Myriam is correct on the soda. Fresh juice was available at around 5 Euros. The water was plain still water and in honesty, I think that Dasani tastes much better than whatever that was.
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Very enjoyable and informative report, odie1.
We're heading to Belgium this summer, so I've taken good notes of your highlights/lowlights.
In several of my guidebooks, Chez Leon has been mentioned as a very good/popular place for mussels; however, your comments have placed doubt on whether we'll now go there. Seems there are many other places to choose.
Happy travels!
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I've posted nearly countless times that if you want to enjoy Brussels' truly terrific cuisine, you've got to get away from the Grand'Place area. Go to the Chaussee de Waterloo in Ixelles and work your way up and down the restaurants on that street and the little streets around it. Excellent food in non-chain restaurants, few if any tourists, and moderate prices.
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swisshiker- I too had read that about Chez Leon which was why I had chosen it. Had also read about it on chowhound, trip advisor and such. The mussels were good, but I must say, I walked past countless other places where the mussels looked fabulous.
FoFoBT- I couldn't agree with you more but with our total time available in Brussels of about 6 hours and our need to remain close to the station for our nephew to catch his 7:00 train back to Amsterdam, it was, unfortunately, not an option for us. Our lunch spot was near Grand'Place and it was very good.
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Very enjoyable. Did you buy any lace?
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Thank you FoFoBT for your recommendation. We'll be staying at the NH Stephanie, so it looks like only a short 15-minute walk to the Chaussee de Waterloo environs. I'd certainly be more inclined to eat at the non-chain restaurants where the locals go. Very good tip!
Now I'm off to check out some of your other posts about Belgium. I can't believe that in all the trips we've made to Europe, this will be our first visit to Belgium. So it's exciting to read about all the wonderful things in store for us.
Happy travels!
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Thanks, odie, for reviving some lovely memories of this area! This is truly one of our favorite corners of the world and hope to go back again.
From, soogies, a Connecticut Yankee
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TDudette- I did not buy any lace, only a whole lot of chocolate This really is the first trip I did not come home with something local to the area.
soogies- Belgium is a wonderful area. If I ever return, I would like to go to the Ardennes and tour the area of the Battle of the Bulge. My father, a Dutch soldier at the time, fought with Patton's army there. His service was so appreciated it earned him his "pass" to America. I had originally wanted to do that for this trip, but it was too soon for me since my father's passing and even mentioning it as a possibility brought tears to my eyes. Bruges was the perfect trip-that fairytale place.
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SwissHiker, I've stayed at the NH Stephanie many times. I like it. As the street it's on slopes, I suggest you ask for a high floor room. If you're on a lower floor at the "high" end of the street, you won't be far off the ground. There's an Irish pub (ugh) across the street that can get quite noisy, another reason to ask for a high floor.
(I assume you mean that NH Hotel Stephanie that's on the rue Jean Stas, oddly the NH that is almost on top of the Place Stephanie is call the NH City Centre, go figure)
FWIW, to reach the better restaurants on the Chaussee de Waterloo, it's a good 20 minutes to half an hour from the NH Stephanie, unless you are a very fast walker. Better to catch the 92 tram at the Place Louise to the Ma Campagne stop which is right by Chaussee de Waterloo and start your exploring from there - Ma Campagne is also my preferred stop for visiting the Horta museum (house).
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FoFoBT, thanks again! I'll email the hotel requesting a high floor. With a 5-night stay, hopefully we'll get a better room selection than those staying only a night.
Good tip about the tram. I've noted it on my chart notes.
odie1 - " His service was so appreciated it earned him his "pass" to America. I had originally wanted to do that for this trip, but it was too soon for me since my father's passing and even mentioning it as a possibility brought tears to my eyes"
Wow, odie, just reading this brought tears to my eyes! We're sadly losing this generation of brave soldiers.
Happy travels!
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text:
[MLS TRANSACTIONS] Chivas USA added to its contingent of Mexican-American players when it acquired midfielder Gabriel
Farfan from the Philadelphia Union for its first 2014 SuperDraft pick and allocation money. The trade splits up MLS's lone twin brother act. Gabriel played with his brother, Michael, for the Union for the last three years.
The Farfans played their club ball at La Jolla Nomads, spent time in residency with the U.S. U-17s and started out together at Cal State Fullerton.
While Gabriel then entered Club America's minor league system, Michael transferred to the University of North Carolina before they were reunited with the Union.
Gabriel started 40 games in his first two seasons but only three in 2013. Michael started 44 games in 2011-12 and eight in 2013.
The deal is Chivas USA's second in the last week. It sent U.S. international Juan Agudelo to the New England Revolution for allocation.

subset: commoncrawl


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text:
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Larry King Live. I'm Larry King. But you already know that. You know it, Portland, Oregon. You know it, Bellevue, Washington. And you know it, Dunedin, Florida. You know that there's nobody quite as important as Larry King. And that's me. Larry King. I'll be taking your calls a little later on, and in the second segment, my guest will be Des Moines Rams owner Georgia Frontiere. But first let's get down to business on this edition of Larry King Live.
"Now that the Carolina Panthers have disposed of Los Angeles 34-14 in Super Bowl XXXV and become the new kings of the NFL jungle, let's take this moment in time--January 30, 2001--to review the current state of professional football. We'll be continuing the discussion tomorrow night in part two, but let's get started. Let's talk about Deion Sanders playing for his 27th team in nine seasons. About the New England Patriots' upcoming move to the Seychelle Islands. About Vince Evans starting next year for the London Jets at the age of 62.
"While we're at it, let's raise a glass to President Gingrich. Can't say we really liked the way he had Messrs. Dole and Clinton shipped off to the federal penitentiary under the new Christian Inadequacy laws, but a winner's still a winner, isn't he? Just like Panther quarterback Troy Aikman was on Sunday. I'm sure you watched every minute of the Inauguration as closely as you watched the Super Bowl--including those mass arrests in front of the Capitol. Pretty shocking stuff, wasn't it, West Islip, New York? But I bet that brand of freelance anarchist nonsense won't crop up again--not with Mr. Buchanan as our new Secretary of Internal Security. Don't just stop 'em; bop 'em, Pat. There. That's the ticket.
"You heard it here first, Bogaloosa, Louisiana. On Larry King Live.
"But we were talking football, weren't we? We were talking Super Bowl XXXV and the convincing manner in which those Carolina Panthers mauled the Los Angeles Broncos yesterday afternoon in Jack Murphy Stadium. Hello, Denver, Colorado. I'll wager that no one there shed a single tear when the Broncos lost their fifth Super Bowl. That move to Los Angeles is still sticking in your craw, isn't it? But for our viewers who don't follow the game closely--you good folks on Venus, for instance--a little review is in order. On Larry King Live.
"Okay. Let's go back to that all-important 1995 season. That was the year, of course, that controversial owner Al Davis moved the Los Angeles Raiders back to Oakland, California, and the Los Angeles Rams blew Tinseltown for St. Louis, Missouri. Hello, Houston, Texas. 1995 was also the season your long-suffering Oilers announced their move to Nashville, Tennessee, and when the people of Cleveland, Ohio, lost their beloved Browns to--hello--Baltimore, Maryland, which had earlier lost its club to Indianapolis, Indiana. And hello, Elyria, Ohio! You people went overboard, didn't you, by shooting Browns owner Art Modell as he passed through town en route to a displaced-owners' convention? Everybody said a good beating, maybe a couple of broken limbs, would have sufficed. But no.
"So where are you now, Elyria, Ohio? In the penitentiary with Bob Dole, that's where. Spooning up dinner from a cold tin cup. And watching Larry King Live.
"Hello, Aurora, Colorado. Among Larry King Live's 2.7 billion viewers all across this wonderful solar system of ours, you are the ones who remember best the day Broncos owner Pat Bowlen gave it up. Gave up his long battle to get the new Coors/Pat Bowlen Stadium and Slot Machine Emporium built on the plains east of Denver, then shipped the Broncos off to football-poor Los Angeles. The date? January 3, 1997. Bowlen's immediate provocation? The shocking failure of Colorado citizens to take second mortgages out on their homes and yield their first-born children over into indentured servitude so that Bowlen Stadium could be built.
"Hello, Craig, Colorado. You fans remember what Bowlen said at the time, don't you? `Broncos football is important to this community,' he said. `It's more than important--it's a matter of life and death. Broncos fans have bought every single, solitary seat in decrepit, decaying, uninhabitable Mile High Stadium for 37 seasons--that's 350 straight sellouts--but now that you cannot find it in your hearts to provide me with a new, 98,000-seat monument to myself, I'm taking the club to Los Angeles, where they have real NFL fans. The Broncos' seat tax didn't work. The halftime collection baskets didn't work. Those artificial traffic jams we created around Mile High Stadium by hiring all those senior citizens with walkers to block the streets--those didn't work, either. You people are just plain ungrateful. So I'm taking the team to Los Angeles, removing that snorting horse and big orange "D" from the helmet and starting all over again. In Southern California--where anything is possible. Including a return to the Super Bowl sometime before John Elway permanently forgets his own name because of all the sacks he's taken.'
"Well, this is Larry King Live, and I'm here to tell you that yesterday afternoon in Jack Murphy Stadium, Pat Bowlen got one of his wishes. After knocking off the heavily favored San Antonio Bengals in the AFC Championship game, the L.A. Broncos got their fifth try at a Super Bowl win, and Elway, the seventeen-year veteran with a cannon for an arm and a fresh pair of titanium RoboJoint A-3's implanted behind his knees only the night before, got his last shot at glory.
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"`Win or lose, I'll retire,' he said. So, after another Super Bowl breakdown by the Broncos' defense, resulting in 32 Carolina points in the third quarter, Elway is gone, and Aikman and the Carolina Panthers are world champions. Meanwhile, Ogallala, Nebraska, the state of professional football looks to be more unsettled than ever. The move of the San Francisco 49ers to Guam promises to make league scheduling more difficult than ever next year, and there still aren't enough motel rooms in the entire state of North Dakota to accommodate fans of the new Fargo Dolphins.
"And hello, Barrow, Alaska. This is Larry King Live. I know you have no little trouble filling the Nanook Dome with frenzied Packers fans every Sunday afternoon, but when nobody can get their cars started afterward, what's the city to do? Veteran commentator John Madden of NFL on MTV called the Larry King Live program last Thanksgiving to tell us his motor home was stranded out in the parking lot, and for all we know, he's still there. I just hope John's supply of turkey drumsticks holds up until the tow trucks can get through.
"All right. That's it for this segment of Larry King Live. Georgia Frontiere will be joining me in a moment to take your phone calls. That means you, Belgrade Lakes, Maine, and you, Budapest, Hungary. In the meantime, here's to the Carolina Panthers, the defeated but brave L.A. Broncos and the Mile High City's brand-new team for next season, the Denver Falcons. And their new head coach, Bill McCartney.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Larry King Live. Be sure to tune in again tomorrow night for part two of our post-Super Bowl look at the state of the National Football League. My guest will be NFL Commissioner O.J. Simpson, who has some very interesting things to say about what team is where, what time it actually arrived and how many bags the players really took to the airport. You won't want to miss it.


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Gabriel Sherman
About the Author
Gabriel Sherman is the national affairs editor at New York magazine and an NBC News contributor. His journalism has appeared in The New York Times, The New Republic, The New York Observer, and GQ, among other publications. He lives in New York City with his wife, Jennifer Stahl. This is his first book.
From the Hardcover edition.


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Mutant documentary: Intervention
The other night, not unlike Monday nights a-many in the past, I found myself glued to the television, sucked in by a vortex commonly known as Intervention, the television series. Have you watched it? It's a show about addiction. Beware, you're liable to become addicted. (And I don't feel very good about my problem, either, and I think I need help. Where's my TV show for that?) Watching, I couldn't help but think about a few colleagues I know in the NY documentary community who've begun to direct Intervention. Is this, could this be, is it anything near … documentary?
Well, documentary is a slippery term, as you know, already. Many filmmakers prefer "non fiction film." Or just plain and simple, "movies." The Intervention folk wouldn't dare – they call their thing … a television series. A reality television series. But they tell participants — the ones stumbling around on camera, high out of their minds on coke, meth, booze, herion, you name it – that they are "participating in a documentary about addiction." (It's not the only trick card these folks are played – instead of their final interview, they're inevitably driven to a hotel room where the family and interventionist await to cart them off to rehab. How any reasonable drug addict in America is dumb enough to participate in "a documentary about addiction" without knowing what's on the other side is a true mystery.)
Indeed, access is often unbelievable on this show, the same secret ingredient often at the crux of a good doc. Consider the episode on Monday night – two brothers, close in age, affluent, good looking, high as hell on herion. And … living in their parents' house (!!!) … dealing in the thousands of dollars daily … and Dad is in some sort of Shakespearian state of lunacy, claiming that allowing his sons to wallow in their addiction under the safety of his roof is true love. Meanwhile, the boys are half-lidding it around the house, slurring their speech and drooling into piles of dirty laundry. It's sickeningly fascinating to watch – and makes one feel as great as when you linger too long at a bloody car crash.
I started scrolling back on my education in documentary. Was it so different? The first time I saw Frederick Wiseman's TITTICUT FOLLIES, wherein a group of mentally handicapped patients put on a talent show and then someone gets his stomach pumped, I felt … dirty. Watching the Loud family (AN AMERICAN FAMILY) go through a divorce? Dirty. Edie Beale and Little Edie (GREY GARDENS) eating cat food for dinner? You got it. Filthy.
But I suppose that's part of the bargain. Being given the privilege of observing another life, including its horrific problems, is what allows us the empathy that allows us to expand one's mind beyond stereotype. Which is what documentary, er, I mean, non-fiction film, does best.
Is Intervention documentary? I don't think so. Maybe a sort of mutant documentary, one that gives viewers a half-doc experience and that gives filmmakers a decent paycheck. But given its structure (the same every week – horrific problem, flashback to innocent child, problem escalates, intervention, fly to rehab, end credits on what the hell happened after that), theme music, and absolute reliance on the rubber-necking element, it's still a television series.
You can view the entire episode on the brothers, if you can stand it, here:


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Back-end duo making Dodgers' relief dynamic
Back-end duo making Dodgers' relief dynamic
Closer Javy Guerra and setup man Kenley Jansen are a dominant duo. The only blips have been a pair of homers surrendered by Jansen to Cameron Maybin and Chase Headley of the Padres, Headley's blast costing Jansen a save that became one of his two wins.
Guerra has been close to perfect in his six outings, making good on all five of his save attempts by limiting opponents to only two hits and two walks in six scoreless innings.
Guerra, 26, and Jansen, 24, are relatively new to their jobs and resist being singled out. They will quickly point out that the bullpen is a unit, each member committed to his role. But these two guys have a history that is fairly unique, creating a tight bond.
"I used to pitch to Kenley in the Minors," Guerra said, recalling Jansen's early days as one of the biggest catchers in professional baseball. "Me and Kenley have always had a special relationship. I love the guy.
"He was good back there, defensively. And he had an arm. I think he had the ability to catch up here [in the Majors]."
Jansen, born and raised in Curacao of the former Netherlands Antilles, showcased his powerful, accurate arm catching for Team Netherlands in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. But his offensive performance showed why he was about to be transformed into a pitcher.
|"I'm still figuring things out. It's great having Javy around -- especially when I feel down a little. I talk to him, and he always has a way of making me feel good."
-- Kenley Jansen,
on Javy Guerra
A .229 hitter in five Minor League seasons with 15 homers in 953 at-bats, he was 1-for-13 in the Classic, his lone hit coming off Roy Oswalt of Team USA.
"He was a switch-hitter," Guerra said, when asked about Jansen's bat. "That wasn't the best part of his game."
At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Jansen was introduced to the mound in 2009 at Inland Empire of the California League. He could throw the ball through a wall, but the problem was locating the wall.
In 11 2/3 innings of high-Class A work, he walked 11 hitters while striking out 19. He was raw, to be sure, but the Dodgers saw enough potential in him to continue with the experiment.
In 2010, at 22, he exploded. Throwing strikes with natural movement on his four-seam fastball, Jansen moved from Inland Empire to Double-A Chattanooga to Dodger Stadium, making his Major League debut on July 24 against the Mets. He struck out Angel Pagan and David Wright and retired Carlos Beltran on an infield out.
Clearly, the Curacao kid was not intimidated by the big stage -- or two of the game's most dangerous hitters in Wright and Beltran.
To his surprise, Jansen beat his old buddy, Guerra, to Los Angeles. There was nothing meteoric about Javy's rise. The man from Denton, Texas, a fourth-round pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, labored for seven seasons in the Minors, the first four as a starter.
"He's been through a lot," Jansen said. "Javy had Tommy John surgery. He's had his ups and downs. A lot of players in his situation might not have made it. But he's so strong mentally. He doesn't let anything get to him."
Guerra's long-awaited Major League debut arrived on May 15, 2011. He held the D-backs scoreless, yielding one hit with a strikeout.
By midseason, Guerra had emerged as manager Don Mattingly's closer.
Using his deep repertoire -- fastball, curve, slider, changeup -- Guerra nailed down his first 10 saves and finished 21-for-23, his 91.3 success rate the sixth best in the Majors. It was also the sixth-best all-time for a rookie.
Jansen, meanwhile, was tossing up some crazy numbers setting up for Guerra. Going almost exclusively with his cutter, bearing in on left-handed hitters' hands and breaking away with late movement from righties, Jansen was leaving hitters dazed.
He rang up 96 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings, his 16.1 K's per nine innings the highest rate ever recorded. Opposing hitters batted .157 against him, third best in the Majors.
"We've got different styles," Jansen said. "I think it's good to have different looks in the bullpen. Javy throws hard [averaging 94 mph with his fastball, compared to 93.3 by Jansen]. I try to throw the four-seamer, but the ball naturally cuts at the last moment.
"I'm still figuring things out. It's great having Javy around -- especially when I feel down a little. I talk to him, and he always has a way of making me feel good."
Members of baseball's new math community evaluated the numbers of Guerra and Jansen over the winter and wondered why their roles aren't reversed.
Acknowledging that Guerra has done a solid job, they pointed to Jansen's strikeout percentage, bordering on the astonishing, and saw a closer.
The early 2012 returns suggest Mattingly knows what he's doing. Guerra has been lights out. Jansen's cutter, when it's on, is virtually unhittable. But when it drifts into a hitter's wheelhouse, it can travel a long way. Maybin and Headley are prime examples.
Certainly you'll hear no complaints from Jansen about his role. He knows he's an unfinished product, that Guerra is far more advanced.
"We both have respect for each other and are good friends," Jansen said. "I'm just getting started. He knows what he's doing. We're trying to be the best we can be. You've got to have a strong bullpen, and we have a lot of guys who can get the job done. Our bullpen is so deep.
"We've just got to keep working and get the job done. When it gets to the eighth or ninth inning, up by one, we've got to try to shut it down."
Jansen and Guerra. A dynamic team within a team.
Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text: We live in an area without a great selection of kosher food, so I'm not sure if such a product exists or not. The only kosher chicken broth I can buy here is Manashewitz and Rokeach, both of which are very salty and have MSG. I end up using the imagine fake chicken instead, but does anyone make a good quality prepared chicken broth?


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Pop Monkey Productions, the LA based production company set up by former FremantleMedia executives is expanding its reach with the opening of a UK office. Based initially at Advision TV Studios in Kent, the company will fund a number of unscripted and multiplatform pilots every year using their broadcast studio facilities. Pop Monkey will use this UK base to manage its expanding slate of development in the UK and Europe.
Co-founders and development execs, Chuck Thomas and Simone Thorogood will head up the UK office while the company will continue to be headquartered in LA under the direction of Syd Vinnedge and Hugh Wright.
The move follows Pop Monkey's push into original content and ownership of unscripted format rights. This comes after recently closing format deals with Sony Pictures Television (USA), TF1 Productions (France), Absolutely Independent (Netherlands) and ohm:tv (Germany). The company has also just signed a joint venture with Miditech in India, the local producer behind Indian Idol and Survivor.
In acquisition news, Pop Monkey has just picked up UK and US rights to "Guerilla Grill" (RTL Klub, Hungary), in addition to "Catch 21" (GSN, USA) and "In The Dark" (which has aired in more than 20 countries).
Find out more about Pop Monkey at www.popmonkeytv.com


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A proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Massachusetts will proceed through the
legislative process, having garnered an automatic negative recommendation following the judiciary committee's failure to act on the measure by Wednesday's deadline. The committee, which heard hours of testimony about the initiative earlier this week, did not take action before the senate clerk's office closed on Wednesday. Under the rules governing the constitutional convention, all proposed
amendments must be acted on by the relevant committee by the end of business on April 30. Any amendments that are not acted on then automatically appear on the docket at the constitutional convention with an "adverse recommendation." The house and senate could then accept that recommendation, reject it, or take no definitive action before adjourning.
Massachusetts's constitutional convention received harsh criticism from conservatives last year when it adjourned in July without taking action on a proposal to ban gay marriage.


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Stay and Play in the Spectacular Austrian Alps
Cross the Spectacular Austrian Alps off your Bucket List This Year! Experience the Magic of Postcard Perfect Snow-Capped Mountains as you Explore the Country's Only Year-Round Ski Region! Enjoy a Seven Day/Six Night Package for Two People at the Beautiful Gutshof Zillertal Hotel, Including Daily Buffet Breakfast, Afternoon Snacks, Daily Four Course Dinner, Daily Car and Mountain Bike Hire, a €400 Spa Voucher, €210 Minibar Voucher and More. Only $1,395 instead of $5,113
- Highlights
- Fine Print
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Experience the Magic of Austria in a 365 Day Ski Region
Indulge in a magical seven day/six night Austrian getaway for two adults to the famous Zillertal mountain region - Austria's only year-round ski region for only $1,395 instead of $5,113
Highly rated on TripAdvisor with a prestigious TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2015, the stylish Gutshof Zillertal is situated in a picturesque valley nestled amongst the stunning snow capped ranges of the Alps
No need to worry about getting your preferred dates. The Booking Guarantee means that if you try to make a booking within 14 days from purchase and can't get your preferred dates in the validity period, you can get a full refund
Put your feet up between adventures in either the Studio Penken, Studio Gruenberg, Studio Ahorn or Double Classic Room, all featuring stylish furnishings and amenities including a comfy double bed, sofa, private ensuite, coffee machine and HD TV (room choice is strictly subject to availability, so book early!)
Looking for a shorter stay? Two and four night packages are also available (see below for more information)
Daily buffet breakfasts for two adults where you can enjoy cooked and fresh Western and Austrian cuisine and a daily afternoon snack to keep you both going through the day
Daily four course dinners for two adults featuring an assortment of mains, appetisers, desserts and salads including traditional Tyrolean cuisine - try seasonal delicacies like grilled scampi and saffron noodles or stuffed zucchini with rosemary sauce
One x €400 EUR Spa Voucher (approx. AUD$596) for treatments like manicures, pedicures, massages and more in the elegant Figura Anti-Aging Centre
Car hire during your entire stay so you can explore the incredible region and a VIP return transfers from Munich International Airport to the "Park and Fly" office to pick up and drop off your holiday car
Two mountain bikes to use during your entire stay so you can see the beautiful mountain trails
One x €210 EUR minibar voucher (approx. AUD$313) to use towards in-room treats, plus a bottle of premium French wine and a plate of fresh fruit awaiting your arrival
Free Admission to the Swarovski Crystal Worlds for one guest, where you can experience the magical 14 Chambers of Wonders designed by André Heller, and the Crystal Dome surrounded by 590 mirrors - click here for more information
Keep in touch with free Wi-Fi and enjoy free access to the swimming pool, bio sauna, Finnish sauna, aroma showers and Turkish bath during your stay
Also enjoy luxurious extra touches like a cosmetic set, bathrobe, bathing shoes and a traditional Austrian music CD in your room
Enjoy skiing or snowboarding 365 days of the year with a 10% discount for Ski rentals, services and equipment in Zillertal at 'Ski Rentals & Ski Service' as well as a convenient free shuttle from the hotel to the ski lifts during peak season
There's plenty more to keep you busy, depending on the season have a go at horse riding, bungee jumping, tennis, hiking and much more
Two and Four Night Stay Options
If you don't have quite as much time, enjoy a three day/two night stay for two people for only $499 (valued at $1,873) or a five day/four night stay for two people for only $999 (valued at $3,424)
All inclusions are the same with the exception of a slight change to your spa and minibar vouchers - Stay two nights and receive a €100 EUR spa voucher (approx. AUD$150) and a €70 EUR minibar voucher (approx. AUD$100), and stay four nights and receive a €200 EUR spa voucher (approx. AUD$298) and a €140 EUR minibar voucher (approx. AUD$208)
What We Like
The way you probably imagine the Austrian Alps to be is exactly how Zillertal looks, with postcard perfect snow-capped mountains, a steam train chugging through the valley, lush farmland, skiing all year 'round and down-to-earth locals
Known as the most active valley in world, there's endless fun on offer in Zillertal and the rest of the Tyrol region. Aside from skiing, snowboarding and sledging, try bungee-jumping, horse-riding, tennis, mountain climbing, windsurfing, snow or summer hiking and more
You can also visit sites like the Zillertaler Gold Mine, the pretty town of Mayrhofen, spectacular Nature's Ice Palace, the Innsbruck Alpine Zoo, picturesque glasslike lakes, the historic Kufstein castle, and the unforgettable snowy White Lounge that's 2000 meters above sea level
To view all the terms and conditions relating to this deal, click on the 'Fine Print' tab above
Valid for travel until 30 May 2016
Blackout Dates: Not available for travel between 2 November 2015 to 26 November 2015 and from 27 December 2015 to 7 January 2016
High Season Surcharge of EUR€50 (approx. AUD$70) per room per night applies between 28 January 2016 to 31 March 2016, paid on arrival
Extra Charges also apply: Local tax of EUR€4.2 per person (approx. AUD$6) per night, payable directly on arrival; car cleaning charge of EUR€20 (approx. AUD$30) payable directly on arrival/departure; additional car insurance available for EUR€6 (approx. AUD$9) per day; a navigation system in each car for EUR€5 (approx. AUD$7), payable directly on arrival
Booking Guarantee: Make a booking within 14 days from the date of purchase and if you don't get your preferred dates within the validity period of the deal then we will give you a FULL refund. Please note that evidence of an attempted booking must be provided to our Support Team via email no more than 2 days after the 14 day period. At this point, we will escalate with management to try and secure your preferred dates and if they are still unavailable, a full refund will be payable
Strictly subject to availability and please book early to lock in your preferred dates. After the booking guarantee period, bookings for specific dates during the validity period will be accepted on a 'first in, best dressed' basis
Voucher is valid for two people
Maximum Room Capacity: The maximum room capacity is two adults and up to two kids
Please note it is not possible to have a second extra bed in any of the rooms. Children must share the same room and existing bedding with adults. See Child Policy for surcharges
Child Policy: Up to two children may stay for the following surcharges: 4-7 year olds for EUR€20 (approx. AUD$30) per child per night; 8-12 year olds for EUR€30 (approx. AUD$42) per child per night; 13-16 year olds for EUR€50 (approx. AUD$70) per child per night. Includes accommodation, breakfasts, dinners and airport transfers only
Baby Policy: Children under three years do not count towards room capacity, a baby cot can be provided free of cost (subject to availability)
Upgrades: Upgrades to family rooms are available for a surcharge (payable to directly to the hotel), please contact the resort on securing your booking for specific pricing. Family rooms are subject to availability
All room types are strictly subject to availability at time of booking
Ski and lift passes are not included and can be purchased from the front desk. Check www.mayrhofen.at/en for prices
Travel insurance is strongly recommended. We suggest purchasing travel insurance as soon as possible after purchasing this voucher
Value has been determined based on the hotel's published rack rates provided and the value of inclusions
All activities and services are subject to availability
All surcharges are payable directly to the hotel
Strictly no refunds for this voucher for amendments and change of date - fees are at the hotel's discretion/policy
Not valid in conjunction with any other offer or on existing reservations
Package cannot be split. Any unused portion of the package is non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for other services or cash
Offer only available for consecutive nightly stays
Voucher must be presented at check-in
Additional expenses such as (but not limited to) flights are not included with this voucher. Please note, a VISA may be required for travel for some guests
Your passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond your intended stay overseas
A visa may be required to the countries you are visiting and transiting. It is your responsibility to ensure you are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website at www.visasdirect.com.au/luxescapes to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes
Offer only available for consecutive nightly stays
Redemption instructions can be found on your voucher
How to get there
Fly to Munich International Airport - flights depart from most Australian capital cities via Qantas, Virgin Australia, Emirates, British Airways, Etihad Airways and more - then receive a VIP transfer to the 'Park and Fly' office to pick up your hire car.
Book your flight through us. Booking a flight is a quick, easy process. First, confirm your hotel booking dates. Then, you can call us on 1300 88 99 00 and speak to an expert Flight Consultant or visit the following link and fill out a Flight Contact Form:http://luxuryescapes.com/flight-contact-form We will be in touch within 24 business hours with a quote at the lowest rate possible, with no booking fee to you!
Gutshof Zillertal Hotel
Gutshof Zillertal Hotel
Stillupklamm 826, 6290 Mayrhofen, Austria
Our Booking Guarantee is our commitment to you to ensure that you get to travel when you want to travel and not when you have to travel.
And why do we offer this?
Well it's quite simple, we love to travel just as much as you do and we understand that it's hard to find dates to suit your work, family and personal commitments, so we guarantee you that if you can't get the dates you want we will give you a full refund. Yes, that's right...a 100% money back guarantee if you aren't able to book the dates that you want! It can't get much better than that!
How does it work?
It's very simple - make your booking request within 14 days of purchase and if you don't get your preferred dates (within the validity period) you will receive a FULL Refund. If you aren't able to get your preferred dates you'll get a refund directly back to your credit card (or PayPal account). Please note, if you get your preferred dates and later change your mind on when you want to travel, the Booking Guarantee will not apply to your request for a change of dates.
What do I need to do?
Simply make your booking with the hotel(s) by e-mail within 14 days of purchase and if you don't get your preferred dates simply contact our support team via email with evidence of your attempted booking - within 16 days from purchase to get a full refund.
Minimal effort for maximum peace of mind! Purchase with confidence and assurance.
Studio Penken and Studio Gruenberg
Inspired by the purity of the snow-covered peaks "Grunberg" and "Penken", these studios feature minimalist design, creating an atmosphere of modern luxury. The practical elegance of the interiors is topped by the remarkable view towards the valley beyond our gardens.
Set on the bottom floor, these studios provide easy access to the Gutshof garden, the swimming pool, and the reception area.
Double bed
Writing desk
Coffee machine
Bathroom (shower)
Hair dryer
WiFi Internet
HD Television
Studio Ahorn
Warm and inviting, the Studio Ahorn rooms of Gutshof Zillertal feature a blend of modern chic and classic design, offering true comfort in a luxurious and trendy interior. The masterfully chosen palette of pastels and purples creates an atmosphere of relaxation and intimacy.
Allow yourself to be enchanted by the coziness and allure of the lavish interior and let it become the perfect setting for your romantic vacation in the Alps of Tirol.
Double bed
Writing desk
Coffee machine
Bathroom (bathtub or shower)
Hair dryer
WiFi Internet
HD Television
Double Classic Room
Inspired by the purity of the snow-covered peaks of Tirol, this studio features minimalist design, creating an atmosphere of modern luxury. The practical elegance of the interior is topped by the remarkable view towards the valley beyond our gardens.
Set on the bottom floor, these studios provide easy access to the Gutshof garden, the swimming pool, and the reception area.
Double bed
Writing desk
Coffee machine
Bathroom (shower)
Hair dryer
WiFi Internet
HD Television
Hotel Facilities
Day Spa wellness facilities including swimming pool, sauna and relaxation area
Wine Cellar
Our family of four with teenage children stayed here for 8 nights and had a fabulous time here. The rooms were clean, warm and quiet, beds comfortable, staff very friendly and helpful. We purchased a voucher from Luxury Escapes, which had many inclusions - loan car (GPS, easy pick up/drop off from Munich airport, safe and big enough for 4 with heaps of luggage), spa voucher (great facilities, skilled staff and many treatment options), meals (breakfast, afternoon snack and dinner - all excellent) as well as a generous mini bar voucher (yes, really)! Easy access to ski areas and whilst there was no snow in the village, there was more than enough on the mountains for our skill level. Hard core black skiers might need to research a bit to see if they will be satisfied. Rented our skis from Ian Kilgour Sports 2000, opposite the gondola in Penken, excellent equipment, so good that I would have loved to buy the boots and skis I rented and my daughter wanted to buy her snowboard! Ask for a discount voucher at hotel reception. It was that good, we all agreed that we would come back."Trip Advisor
I cant forget these days .. it was a kind of dream ... the hotel located in the most beautiful spot on earth . it is just enough to breath the most fresh air ever or enjoy the best natural landscape ever ... the staff are very friendly ... hotel is very clean and neat .. strongly recommended"Trip Advisor
This hotel is superb and we would return here without a moments hesitation. From the great location to the excellent facilities to the fantastic food and friendly service we had absolutely no complaints. Having returned only this week form here we are really missing the wonderful breakfasts!!"Trip Advisor


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Former Zenwalkers Do Salix OS Fork
The end of May the Zenwalk team came to some disagreements with its project lead Jean-Philippe Guillemin and some other team members. The result is a new distro called Salix OS.
Disagreements are not uncommon, although when Zenwalk project lead Jean-Philippe Guillemin's move to oust the previously very active team member George Vlahavas caused a number of team members to walk, the disaffection led to an entirely new distro called Salix OS. It seems team members wanted to get it back closer to Slackware.
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Webpage is beautiful,
Webpage is beautiful, artwork as well. I just don't like the name. Salix or SalixOS. Bonzai would even have been better. I never liked Zenwalk name either. I also don't like how the menu says SalixOS. The Slackware developers don't slap Slackware name everywhere. I hope this team good luck with this project and hopefully some of the modifications they do will become official in xfce and other distros as well. One other thing I enjoyed seeing is the team page: http://www.salixos.org/wiki/index.php/Salix_OS:Team with real names and alias. Everyone looks so happy.
Zenwalk, a fork of
Zenwalk, a fork of Slackware, in turn gets a fork... there's some kind of poetic justice there.
I wonder if they'll support their community, or turn them back upstream?
Ubuntu is lame as a duck- not the metaphorical lame duck, but more like a real duck that hurt its leg, maybe by stepping on a land mine.
At least, Salix has the FULL source packages...
...something that Zenwalk didn't bother to offer!
And it works quite well for what it is, especially as they follow Slackware 13.0.
Distrowatch simply ignores them tho...
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text:
Morris Cohen, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who helped transform metallurgy into the modern discipline of materials science and engineering, has died in Swampscott, Mass. He was 93.
He'd had heart problems and died May 27 after a short illness, said his son, Joel.
Mr. Cohen, whose research into the structure of iron and steel contributed to the development of high-strength steels, helped establish the principles underlying the development of all synthetic materials, including metals, plastics, ceramics and even biomaterials, synthetic materials used to make medical implants.


text:
Hi all.
First of all, I had a little accident buying Kusmi the other day, so if anybody out there is fond of cinnamon flavoured black, I have a proposition for you. I shall post this on the boards as well. (Basically, I just grabbed a brown tin that looked exactly like the caramel… It was not caramel.)
Secondly, this tea is from aforementioned ill-fated Kusmi purchase and this one was not a mistake. It's one I've been wanting to try for ages. Actually ever since I had that fantastic vanilla Nilgiri that Chi of Tea had and I became really interested in finding my perfect vanilla tea. Well, my second favourite anyway, as I'm giving up hope of the Chi of Tea vanilla ever getting back in stock.
What I like in a vanilla flavoured black is clearly present vanilla, and preferably with some leather-y undernotes of something akin to coconut. And it must be SMOOooooooooth, with a captial SMOO. The Chi of Tea one had all of this. I have yet to find the same flavour profile, fulfilling all requirements elsewhere although I have found some very acceptable alternatives.
This one had the right sort of aroma of the dry leaf. Not super sweet and obviously vanilla-y to the point of near cloying syntheticness, but something more rough and wood-y and leather-y. After steeping the vanilla flavouring smells subdued and the Chinese base is coming very nicely through. It smells grain-y and I wonder if there is some Fujian black involved here. Since they don't say anything about it other than 'Chinese black' I'm assuming they're using some sort of standardised blend of several to ensure a consistent flavour. There's just something about it that smells rather Fujian-y.
Full marks on aroma, then.
The vanilla flavouring is extremely subtle. I'm getting a whole lot of 'black tea' and only a smidgen of vanilla. The funny thing is, in the Caramel from Kusmi, this subtleness is something I really like, but here I'm finding it vaguely disappointing. I mean, I don't want a vanilla flavoured tea to be only sweet, but I do want there to be some sweetness, and I really think this could have benefited from a tad more of that aspect.
It does have potential, though. This would be one of the few that I might bother experimenting more extensively with the parameters to see what happens. A full boil heat, for example, in spite of what Kusmi says, and shorter or longer steeping times and less and more leaf. I think the steeping time would be the best place to start. It tastes that way.
I'm giving it a relatively low score to start with, then we'll see later on if it can redeem itself under different conditions.


text:
All quotes by Napoleon Hill
(124 quotes found)
"First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination."
"Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you ready or not, to put this plan into action."
"Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday."
"The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It's the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun."
Contributed by: Dave Cohen


text:
Courtyard by Marriott Memphis Southaven
Select your stay dates to check availability
Courtyard by Marriott Memphis Southaven
About the hotel
Property Location
With a stay at Courtyard by Marriott Memphis Southaven in Southaven, you'll be close to Southaven Towne Center and Landers Center. This hotel is within the vicinity of Watazumi Slide and Snowden Grove Baseball.
Make yourself at home in one of the 83 air-conditioned guestrooms. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and complimentary newspapers, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities
Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities, including an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a fitness center. Additional amenities include complimentary wireless Internet access and gift shops/newsstands.
Enjoy a satisfying meal at a restaurant serving guests of Courtyard by Marriott Memphis Southaven.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include a business center, express check-out, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Free self parking is available onsite.
Hotel Facilities
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Indoor pool
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Free WiFi
- Express check-out
- Business center
- Fitness facilities
- Smoke-free property
- Total number of rooms - 83
- Laundry facilities
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Porter/bellhop
- Conference space
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Number of floors - 3
- Elevator/lift
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Spa tub
- Free self parking
Room Facilities
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Free newspaper
- Iron/ironing board
- Climate control
- Coffee/tea maker
- Premium bedding
- Hair dryer
- Cable TV service
- Air conditioning
- Free WiFi
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- Daily housekeeping
- Pay movies
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Desk
- Free toiletries
Hotel Policy
The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
- Fee for buffet breakfast: USD 7.95 per person (approximately)
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.Show all hotel policy Show less hotel policy


text:
Flu keeps Harper out of Nats' lineup vs. Giants
Flu keeps Harper out of Nats' lineup vs. Giants
WASHINGTON -- Left fielder Bryce Harper was scratched from the Nationals' starting lineup on Tuesday because he had the flu, according to manager Davey Johnson.
Trainer Lee Kuntz told Johnson that Harper spent most of the team's day off on Monday sleeping, adding that the 20-year-old couldn't eat much. However, Harper did feel well enough to participate in batting practice before Tuesday's series opener against the Giants.
Johnson said that he would have started a healthy Harper against Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner despite the fact that Harper is batting .172 against lefties this season.
"He's 3-for-9 with a home run [against Bumgarner]," Johnson said. "But we'll give him the day off."
Harper actually entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning against reliever Santiago Casilla, and was intentionally walked in his only at-bat.
Right fielder Jayson Werth, meanwhile, returned to the lineup Tuesday after leaving Sunday's game in the seventh inning with a right knee injury. Werth banged his knee while sliding home against the Phillies. He did not have an X-ray on the knee, and Johnson said that the injury was likely just a bruise.
"He looked like his cheerful old self today," Johnson said, smiling.
Tom Schad is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
NORTH LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Investigators said a man has confessed to planning on robbing and raping a woman after DNA led officers to name him a suspect in an October abduction attempt.
The Broward Sheriff's Office said Theodore Shirley, 19, was arrested this week in the Oct. 1 incident.
BSO said Shirley was the man who approached a 29-year-old woman as she walked out of the Elegant Beauty Supply Store at 7250 W. McNab Road, pulled a gun on her and forced her into her car. He put a gun in her mouth to keep her silent, then wrapped duct tape around her head, nose, mouth, arms and wrists and forced her into the back seat, according to investigators.
A witness saw what happened and called 911. Shirley was driving the car when a deputy tried to pull him over, BSO said, but then he stopped, got out and ran.
BSO said the victim slammed on the brakes before her car could crash into a Taco Bell restaurant.
Investigators used DNA found in the car, where they said Shirley left a stolen gun, a beanie, gloves and duct tape, to identify him as a suspect.
Shirley faces charges of kidnapping, carjacking with a firearm, burglary with assault or battery, armed burglary of a conveyance, attempted rape and grand theft of a firearm.
BSO said Shirley told detectives that he had planned to rape and rob the victim.
Copyright 2012 by Post Newsweek. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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At least 60 passengers were hurt being tossed about during a sharp turn by the Carnival Cruise Lines ship Ecstasy near Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
Ecstasy safely docked at its home port in Galveston on Thursday. Miami-based Carnival said minor damage was limited to some merchandise and unsecured objects.
Carnival said the maneuver Wednesday afternoon, resulting in the ship listing to the port side, was meant to avoid a large buoy that was adrift and mostly submerged.
Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer De La Cruz said says 60 guests suffered minor injuries. Nobody required an ambulance at the pier or hospitalization.
The Coast Guard has been notified.
Passenger Patrice Edwards told KHOU-TV that she and her husband were in bed when both ended up on the floor as "the whole boat just shifted."


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Protect-A-Bed Long Live Your Mattress Sweepstakes
CHICAGO – Protect-A-Bed, a leading provider of bedding protection products, is hosting the Long Live Your Mattress Sweepstakes at www.protectabed.com. One lucky sweepstakes winner will receive $30,000 in honor of the company's 30th anniversary. Ten 1st prize winners will receive complete bedding protection sets valued at nearly $500. The grand prize winner will also receive a bedding protection kit.
The sweepstakes begins Tuesday, Aug. 10 and runs through Oct. 31 and is open to all United States residents. No purchase is necessary and winners will be chosen after Nov. 1.
"We're here today because we've strived to provide the most innovative and effective bedding protection products in the industry, not to mention 30 years of support from our customers," said Protect-A-Bed CEO James Bell. "We want to thank our customers here in the United States with something big. And we know $30,000 will go a long way for our lucky winner."
The company's flagship product, the Premium Mattress Protector, was born in South Africa in 1980 and began building a strong presence in the United States in 2000 under the under the name of Protect-A-Bed. The company's products are listed as Class 1 Medical Devices with the Food and Drug Administration and have the Good Housekeeping Seal.
Protect-A-Bed products are sold through mattress shops, home furnishings stores, retail stores as well as hospitality and pest control distributors. A store locator can also be found on the on the Protect-A-Bed website. Mattress protection can aid in sleep hygiene, assist allergy sufferers and extend the useable life of a mattress.
Protect-A-Bed's mattress and box spring encasements feature the company's patented BugLock with Secure Seal and a three-sided zipper system. The encasements are being used in the pest control and hospitality industries to fight the bed bug epidemic across the United States.
Protect-A-Bed is based in Northbrook, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. To enter the Long Live Your Mattress Sweepstakes or to learn more about Protect-A-Bed and its products, visit www.protectabed.com.


text:
My Nonprofit Reviews
Review for Feed The Children, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK, USA
I have worked in partnership with Feed The Children for over 20 years. I am the CEO of Arkansas Rice Depot,, a statewide, faith-based free foodbank serving the state of Arkansas. When we are low on food, I call Feed The Children. When disasters such as tornadoes hit Arkansas and the need is greater than we can meet, I call Feed The Children. As a Christian organization, we believe in the power of prayer, and when we pray for food, and especially for specific foods, the answer to those prayers often comes in the form of an email or a phone call from Feed The Children, offering just want we need. Feed The Children has an application process and strict guidelines for the organizations they donate food to, so food donors can have assurance that their food won't be sold or misused, and financial donors can be assured that their donations are going to an organization where ethics matter.
More Feedback
How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Will you recommend this organization to others?
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?


text:
Packers to dominate national airwaves in 2011
As long as there is a season.
The NFL released its schedule Tuesday night - despite the NFL lockout that has dragged on for a month and a half - and the Packers figure prominently on the national scene, beginning with the opener Sept. 8 against the 2010 Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field. The Thursday night kickoff to open the NFL season is customary for the reigning Super Bowl champion.
It's also the first of four nighttime nationally televised games for the green and gold.
The others are at Atlanta Oct. 9, vs. Minnesota Nov. 14 and vs. Chicago Dec. 25.
Additionally, the Packers have a chance to capture a wider national audience with five kickoffs that start at 3:15 p.m.: at Chicago, vs. Denver, at Minnesota, at San Diego and at the New York Giants.
That leaves just six noon games in a 16-game schedule (three at home).
"You would prefer a noon game, just to get up early in the morning, eat breakfast and go to work," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said in statements that were released by the team. "There is nothing wrong with a 3:15 p.m. game. Playing under the lights, I know our players enjoy that too and it's good for our fans to see us playing on a national level."
The Packers play on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit, Christmas night at Lambeau Field against the Bears and on New Year's Day against Detroit. The Packers said they are the first team in NFL history to play on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's in the same season.
McCarthy said he didn't put much stock in being thrust in to the spotlight, saying he wasn't interested in "paper" championships, which this schedule might imply. The Packers are poised to make another championship run because of their depth and returning injured players, and the NFL clearly wants to capitalize on the team's quest to repeat as Super Bowl champion.
Green Bay is no stranger to a national audience anyway, as the Packers played in four primetime regular-season games in 2010 and three the year before. The abundance of 3:15 starts is the biggest change this year.
The first thing that jumped out to McCarthy on the schedule was the three-game stretch between Nov. 14-24 featuring Minnesota on Monday night, Tampa Bay on Sunday and then Detroit on the road on Thanksgiving Day. Detroit gave the Packers fits last year, coming within a field goal of winning at Lambeau and then stunning the Packers, 7-3, in Detroit when Aaron Rodgers went out with a concussion. Minnesota, though looking for a quarterback, is a rival that plays Green Bay hard no matter what.
"I like the schedule but there definitely is a stress point with Minnesota, Tampa Bay and Detroit," McCarthy said.
"Two of those are division games. We're working on them right now."
But perhaps the biggest mettle test for the Packers will be playing outside.
The Packers have loved playing in domes and on fast tracks, or in warm-weather cities, so much the last two years - even though it meant leaving Lambeau. They don't get a break in that department this year. At all.
As sleet and snow fell throughout Wisconsin all day Tuesday, it was a reminder that the weather can get brutal around here in November, and this is what the Packers have to look forward to when they come home from San Diego Nov. 6: five games at Lambeau in possibly bitter conditions. Then on the road, the Packers play in New York at the new Meadowlands Stadium and at Arrowhead against the Chiefs, where the wind and weather also can be a factor, especially in December.
The only dome game after the bye week is Turkey Day in the Motor City.
"I think that is awesome," McCarthy said. "I think that is a definite plus, to have three at home to end your season in December. I am fine with the five outdoor games. I know offensively, those guys always look to hopefully get a dome game down the stretch."
Thursday, Sept. 8 -- New Orleans, 7:30 p.m., NBC
Sunday, Sept. 18 -- At Carolina, noon, Fox
Sunday, Sept. 25 -- At Chicago, 3:15 p.m., Fox
Sunday, Oct. 2 -- Denver, 3:15 p.m., CBS
Sunday, Oct. 9 -- At Atlanta, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Sunday, Oct. 16 -- St. Louis, noon, Fox
Sunday, Oct. 23 -- at Minnesota, 3:15 p.m., Fox
Sunday, Oct. 30 -- Bye
Sunday, Nov. 6 -- At San Diego, 3:15 p.m., Fox
Monday, Nov. 14 -- Minnesota, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Sunday, Nov. 20 -- Tampa Bay, noon, Fox
Thursday, Nov. 24 -- At Detroit, 11:30 a.m., Fox
Sunday, Dec. 4 -- At New York Giants, 3:15 p.m., Fox
Sunday, Dec. 11 -- Oakland, noon, CBS
Sunday, Dec. 18 -- At Kansas City, noon, Fox
Sunday, Dec. 25 -- Chicago, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Sunday, Jan. 1 -- Detroit, noon, Fox
Last updated: 4:56 pm Thursday, December 13, 2012


text:
O. Perry Walker (New Orleans, Lou.) defensive back prospect Deron Wilson is one of the fastest rising prospects in the Southeast. This past week two more schools have stepped forward with written ...
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text:
Keystone XL pipeline gets big push from GOP
Published 4:00 am, Thursday, December 1, 2011
Washington --
Senate Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a plan designed to force the Obama administration to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days - or make the president explain why he is blocking the project.
The measure, spearheaded by Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky could put President Obama in a politically tough position just months before next year's election, by forcing him to decide between environmentalists who oppose the pipeline and some labor unions that say it would create much-needed jobs.
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Even with long-shot odds for passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate, the GOP proposal ramps up political pressure on the White House.
The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would link Canadian oil sands development in Alberta as well as projects in Eastern Montana with a key pipeline terminal at Cushing, Okla. From there, it would run to Gulf Coast refineries.
Nearly 40 Republican bill backers pitched their measure as a plan to rev up the nation's ailing economy while weaning the United States off Middle East oil. TransCanada Corp. has estimated that as many as 20,000 jobs could be tied to the construction and operation of its proposed pipeline, although other forecasts put the numbers much lower, around 3,000.
Last month, the State Department announced it would delay a final verdict on whether the $7 billion project is in the national interest until early 2013 in order to conduct an environmental analysis of an alternative route that would navigate the pipeline away from environmentally sensitive areas in Nebraska.
Because the move effectively postponed a final verdict until after the 2012 election, McConnell accused the Obama administration of making a politically motivated decision that jeopardized the economic boost that would be linked to construction and operation of the 1,700-mile pipeline.
"With all this talk about jobs, we know there's one major shovel-ready project ready to go - and that's Keystone," McConnell said at a news conference touting the bill. "If the administration would get out of the way, this project would create jobs immediately."
The legislation would require the State Department to issue a Keystone XL decision within 60 days, unless the president determines it is not in the national interest.
The measure also intends to protect the planned rerouting of the project around Nebraska's Sand Hills, by requiring the president to approve the state's proposed alternative path, even once a permit has been issued.
Environmentalists blasted the Republicans' measure. "The bill would require the administration to rubber stamp the project in 60 days with no further review along a route that hasn't even been determined yet," said Anthony Swift, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "There isn't even agreement on how significant the reroute will be; this bill would force the president to approve a route sight unseen."
Environmentalists contend that the pipeline would expand the marketplace and demand for oil sands crude that produces more greenhouse gas emissions over its entire life cycle - from production to combustion - than alternatives.
Supporters insist that even if the new bill bogs down, it is vital to highlight the importance of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.