Boston and Washington Spring 2016 - Boys, Blades and Balls! - Day 2 (Dublin to Boston)

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Gill H

Both hotels look great.

Mmm ... cheese shop...

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Lol, to find Poot - just cherchez le fromage!


He was horrified to see how expensive his favourites were in America. His "best ever cheese" (Délice de Pommard) -

- which costs 5 Euros in France - was $19 in Boston


Have you ever had this cheese? It's my favourite French cheese, too. The variety with the mustard seeds is too for words...

[RachelM]

Both hotels look lovely. It must have been great to catch up with your mum.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by RachelM

Both hotels look lovely. It must have been great to catch up with your mum.

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We were lucky to find another hotel in walking distance!

I talk to my mother on the phone fairly often - but it's not the same as seeing her in person (Aww...) - it was great to spend so much girly time together.

Thanks for checking in -

[collybird]

We haven't flown Business with United before but it looks similar to BA, I much prefer their seat configurations as opposed to Virgin's. Virgin's is so isolating, which I suppose is the whole point as many 'business' travellers fly alone. No fun when you're not travelling solo though.

Well done Boston for bargain transport prices! London's are embarrassing by comparison.

I love that the boys' hotel was the former Police HQ, that is very cool.

How did the concierge react to Poot's query about the cheese shop!? That made me laugh, bless him.

[Goldia]

Finally made it to the end of your epic travel days. Stansted to Dublin to New York to Boston does take some dedication I think.

I agree with Collybird the refurbished police hotel does seem rather interesting and it looked cute from the photo of the entrance.

Off to find the first proper day now...

[Guest]

Originally Posted by collybird

We haven't flown Business with United before but it looks similar to BA, I much prefer their seat configurations as opposed to Virgin's. Virgin's is so isolating, which I suppose is the whole point as many 'business' travellers fly alone. No fun when you're not travelling solo though.

Well done Boston for bargain transport prices! London's are embarrassing by comparison.

I love that the boys' hotel was the former Police HQ, that is very cool.

How did the concierge react to Poot's query about the cheese shop!? That made me laugh, bless him.

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Yes, I'm sure you're right. What percent of business travellers are flying alone? Eighty? More? So VA's configuration really suits them. But travelling with a kid - or a sweetheart - I really like the little "cozy pairs" on BA. It's almost like one big bed. Aww...


And bless you for agreeing with me re: transport costs. Here in London - even with my F&F railcard - off-peak tickets for Poot and me cost £14 per day. DM very rarely uses public transport - she was insufficiently impressed.

Boston has another cool "used to be" hotel - The Liberty - which used to be a gaol! I would like to stay there one day, too.

But The Loews hotels are so great with kids - that concierge whipped out a map of Cambridge and started drawing a line from the station to the shop quick as a wink. I appreciated that she didn't "check" with me - she just treated Poot as another guest of the hotel. Well done, Loews. For the most part, I try to stay away from chains - but that one's a good 'un, I reckon.

And well done you - for finding something to comment on - on what was definitely the most boring post in this trippie!

Originally Posted by Goldia

Finally made it to the end of your epic travel days. Stansted to Dublin to New York to Boston does take some dedication I think.

I agree with Collybird the refurbished police hotel does seem rather interesting and it looked cute from the photo of the entrance.

Off to find the first proper day now...

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Sorry, Abby - I know this one's a bit of a bore. I think if I were writing this now - I would have combined Days 1 and 2. But this was my first effort!

I think the next day will be *slightly* more interesting - get ready for meteorites and ice skating. Oh, and find out how R.C. almost put Poot in the hospital with anaphylactic shock!

[collybird]

Originally Posted by GopherLass

Yes, I'm sure you're right. What percent of business travellers are flying alone? Eighty? More? So VA's configuration really suits them. But travelling with a kid - or a sweetheart - I really like the little "cozy pairs" on BA. It's almost like one big bed. Aww...


And bless you for agreeing with me re: transport costs. Here in London - even with my F&F railcard - off-peak tickets for Poot and me cost £14 per day. DM very rarely uses public transport - she was insufficiently impressed.

Boston has another cool "used to be" hotel - The Liberty - which used to be a gaol! I would like to stay there one day, too.

But The Loews hotels are so great with kids - that concierge whipped out a map of Cambridge and started drawing a line from the station to the shop quick as a wink. I appreciated that she didn't "check" with me - she just treated Poot as another guest of the hotel. Well done, Loews. For the most part, I try to stay away from chains - but that one's a good 'un, I reckon.

And well done you - for finding something to comment on - on what was definitely the most boring post in this trippie!




Sorry, Abby - I know this one's a bit of a bore. I think if I were writing this now - I would have combined Days 1 and 2. But this was my first effort!

I think the next day will be *slightly* more interesting - get ready for meteorites and ice skating. Oh, and find out how R.C. almost put Poot in the hospital with anaphylactic shock!

See more...

The last time we were in London I was baffled that a Zone 1-2 Travelcard was the same price as 1-6. Usually we like to walk places on holiday but we were staying at Liverpool Street so quite a trek for the touristy stuff.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by collybird

The last time we were in London I was baffled that a Zone 1-2 Travelcard was the same price as 1-6. Usually we like to walk places on holiday but we were staying at Liverpool Street so quite a trek for the touristy stuff.

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Lol...I wish I could understand the byzantine pricing structure of London transport!

I used to go from Cockfosters Underground Station (£7 for Poot and me), but since they've eliminated half the parking - we now must go from Potters Bar RAIL station (£14).

Praise the Lord I don't have to commute to London every day. My neighbour's season ticket is £3,000.


But in the GOOD NEWS column - Poot and I just bought a pack of the Disney Couples pins...and I got:

...for my '70s collection. SO pleased!

I also got this one:

I know you have a princess collection - PM me if you'd like me to send it to you. No offense taken if you don't fancy it - Poot will use it as a trader.

[collybird]

Originally Posted by GopherLass

Lol...I wish I could understand the byzantine pricing structure of London transport!

I used to go from Cockfosters Underground Station (£7 for Poot and me), but since they've eliminated half the parking - we now must go from Potters Bar RAIL station (£14).

Praise the Lord I don't have to commute to London every day. My neighbour's season ticket is £3,000.


But in the GOOD NEWS column - Poot and I just bought a pack of the Disney Couples pins...and I got:

...for my '70s collection. SO pleased!

I also got this one:

I know you have a princess collection - PM me if you'd like me to send it to you. No offense taken if you don't fancy it - Poot will use it as a trader.

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April that is such a kind offer, Cinderella is actually one of my favourites, but please keep it for Poot as a trader. I like that he has plenty non-scrappers for people to pick from when he trades, I'm sure the CMs see quite a repetitive bunch of pins sometime!

I love that set because it is so quirky and strays from the norm. Tiana and Naveen as frogs are favourites. Do you know if it's still on sale in the parks? We started out with the Mickey Head Icons set, only need a few more, so we have to pick out our next set. I'm leaning towards the Nesting Dolls set.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by collybird

April that is such a kind offer, Cinderella is actually one of my favourites, but please keep it for Poot as a trader. I like that he has plenty non-scrappers for people to pick from when he trades, I'm sure the CMs see quite a repetitive bunch of pins sometime!

I love that set because it is so quirky and strays from the norm. Tiana and Naveen as frogs are favourites. Do you know if it's still on sale in the parks? We started out with the Mickey Head Icons set, only need a few more, so we have to pick out our next set. I'm leaning towards the Nesting Dolls set.

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Ooh, double digits for you!


Poot does enjoy having a couple of "girly" pins to trade with lady CMs - who (as you say) are usually quite keen to see something they actually like! Last year we took over a bunch of the shoe pins (much to Poot's dismay) - because I got them at 50% off - and they were big hits.

We love the couples set, too. This was our draw:

Poot (unsurprisingly) laid claim to the frogs - and I took Duchess/O'Malley & Robin/Marian for my '70s collection. The other two will be traders - again, unless you want Ariel. PM me if you do.

We DEFINITELY saw lots of the couples sets back in October - but our set I bought later on ebay. I would *guess* they're still in the parks - it was really interesting to me how the pin stock differed from resort to resort and park to park. We visited MANY of the resorts looking for pins - it was interesting to see that the pins at AoA were COMPLETELY different (as an example) from those just across the lake at Pop Century.

I LOVE the nesting dolls set - Poot traded for a few of those for me last year - and I bought a set from ebay, too.

I have:

...and these duplicates:

When I complete this set I'm going to frame it - the pins are so pretty. Let me know if you do start collecting this set - you're
welcome to have my doubles.


The next set Poot wants to collect is "World of Evil" - as there's a King Candy pin...