EsteeBestee's recent activity
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
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Comment on Tildes Gardening Group: Week 13/4/26 in ~hobbies
EsteeBestee Link ParentI should correct myself: I do have a sprinkler system from the previous owner in part of the back yard. I’ll have to find that, but I honestly don’t care that much about using it, so if I...I should correct myself: I do have a sprinkler system from the previous owner in part of the back yard. I’ll have to find that, but I honestly don’t care that much about using it, so if I accidentally dig through it, oh well.
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Comment on Tildes Gardening Group: Week 13/4/26 in ~hobbies
EsteeBestee LinkUtilities finished checking my yard and my backyard is actually 100% clear, so I can dig wherever I want! My hostas started coming back in again in the front. For the back, the plan is still to...Utilities finished checking my yard and my backyard is actually 100% clear, so I can dig wherever I want!
My hostas started coming back in again in the front. For the back, the plan is still to dig out a 15x10 foot space or so and start a pollinator garden. I’ll also be planting a couple of trees. I want to make sure to get the trees in this year at least.
I did make plans for an expensive vacation, so we’ll see if I get to the rest or not.
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentYeah, I know the Netherlands has a lot more to offer, but I do only have about 3 days there. I've been recommended to take the train to Utrecht and explore that for a day, so I might. I was...Yeah, I know the Netherlands has a lot more to offer, but I do only have about 3 days there. I've been recommended to take the train to Utrecht and explore that for a day, so I might. I was considering overlapping my trip with the Dutch GP at Zandvoort as well, but I needed to go on this vacation sooner than August.
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentGood to know about the scammy ATM’s. It sounds like I should just search out a local bank to get cash if I need any (possibly in Germany).Good to know about the scammy ATM’s. It sounds like I should just search out a local bank to get cash if I need any (possibly in Germany).
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentThanks for the advice! My phone plan does give me international data and texting included! I have been looking up the various transit systems I’ll be using and downloading apps. That’s good to...Thanks for the advice! My phone plan does give me international data and texting included!
I have been looking up the various transit systems I’ll be using and downloading apps. That’s good to know about the tourism offices!
I do photography, so I will be taking some pictures of my own, but yeah, I will try not to be glued to my camera and actually experience things with my eyes.
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentYeah, I agree with you. I will just need to do some more research on the transit options closer to my travel date and plan it well. I think I can make it all happen, but if I have to cut...Yeah, I agree with you. I will just need to do some more research on the transit options closer to my travel date and plan it well. I think I can make it all happen, but if I have to cut something, I’ll cut out a day from the Bergen portion. I was having a frantic night last night and freaking out about all the planning needed, but I planned out the second half of my trip and feel a lot better that half the work is done now.
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentI’ll be in Amsterdam in mid June, so too late for that, but I’m sure I’ll still see some spectacular gardens!I’ll be in Amsterdam in mid June, so too late for that, but I’m sure I’ll still see some spectacular gardens!
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentThanks for the advice! I actually have a waist pack I’ll be wearing because it will fit my passport, wallet, phone, and a water bottle and be secure. I don’t want to carry a backpack with me 100%...Thanks for the advice! I actually have a waist pack I’ll be wearing because it will fit my passport, wallet, phone, and a water bottle and be secure. I don’t want to carry a backpack with me 100% of the time, so it works out nicely, even if I’ll look like a dork, ha.
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentI don’t do the American small talk thing. I’d say I’m closer to European directness than American boisterousness. Thanks for the recommendation to hop on a train and get outside of Amsterdam even...I don’t do the American small talk thing. I’d say I’m closer to European directness than American boisterousness. Thanks for the recommendation to hop on a train and get outside of Amsterdam even for a half day or something.
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentThanks for the recommendations! To be clear on my rental, I did rent a ring ready car from Nurblife. It’s just a mk7 golf with better brakes and tires, but much better than a random rental car. I...Thanks for the recommendations! To be clear on my rental, I did rent a ring ready car from Nurblife. It’s just a mk7 golf with better brakes and tires, but much better than a random rental car. I would love to drive a track prepped car, but I likely won’t fit in the small bucket seats being used, so I had to pick something with stock seats. My friend did the same last month, though, and had a great time.
I’ll have to check out the Porsche museum for sure!
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentI agree that the train will be convenient and cheaper and I definitely won’t drive in cities. I need a rental car to get to the Nürburgring reliably, at least. There are some specific castles I...I agree that the train will be convenient and cheaper and I definitely won’t drive in cities. I need a rental car to get to the Nürburgring reliably, at least. There are some specific castles I want to see that seem to be inconvenient to reach via mass transit, which is why I’m planning on keeping the car for a couple more days (and so I can drive on the unrestricted parts of the autobahn, I am a car person). That said, the rental + fuel is expensive so we’ll see if I change my mind on that and just take the train.
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentWell, if this even comes up, it’s very easy for me to be honest about my opinion on US politics and I think most Europeans or other travelers would be pleased with my answer :)Well, if this even comes up, it’s very easy for me to be honest about my opinion on US politics and I think most Europeans or other travelers would be pleased with my answer :)
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee (edited )Link ParentUgh... So renting a car might be too expensive for me to do and it looks like the train line to Trondheim and Steinkjer is interrupted from landslides or something. There are replacement busses,...Ugh... So renting a car might be too expensive for me to do and it looks like the train line to Trondheim and Steinkjer is interrupted from landslides or something. There are replacement busses, but we'll see if those are running on the dates I would need them to. I can always fly to Trondheim instead or cut out the Steinkjer portion (the replacement busses add time), but I do want to have a train ride on this trip. I'll hope that the routes can be fixed. Either that or I could consider cutting the Trondheim/Steinkjer leg and doing the train to Bergen from Oslo. I don't necessarily want to cut out the Trondheim leg, but I might have to make a compromise somewhere.
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentThank god. I hate tipping culture in the US. Pay your damn employees! A few restaurants in Minneapolis have started going tip-free.Thank god. I hate tipping culture in the US. Pay your damn employees! A few restaurants in Minneapolis have started going tip-free.
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentYeah, I really want to talk to other people and see what they're doing on their own adventures. I'm 33, so I think I fall nicely into both the younger crowd and middle aged crowd.Yeah, I really want to talk to other people and see what they're doing on their own adventures. I'm 33, so I think I fall nicely into both the younger crowd and middle aged crowd.
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentI expect not, but I've been meaning to get a MN flag patch anyways. There is, maybe unsurprisingly given the state of the US, a culture war over our new flag, actually. Of course Trumpers think...I expect not, but I've been meaning to get a MN flag patch anyways. There is, maybe unsurprisingly given the state of the US, a culture war over our new flag, actually. Of course Trumpers think it's a woke somalian flag, ugh. We even had a city pass a bill so that that city will go back to using the old flag...
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentYeah, that's pretty rough. I get special gas for my Miata in the US and even that is "only" about $5.00 USD per gallon (non oxy premium). I can easily take a train to Steinkjer, but it looks like...Yeah, that's pretty rough. I get special gas for my Miata in the US and even that is "only" about $5.00 USD per gallon (non oxy premium). I can easily take a train to Steinkjer, but it looks like rental cars are expensive in Norway to begin with. Picking one up in Trondheim instead of Oslo doubles the price. If I pick one up in Oslo instead of taking the train to Steinkjer, I'm looking at at least $500 over 3-4 days. I do have EV's as an option, though I heard (maybe it's not true) from a travel video that Norway's EV infrastructure can be confusing to tourists.
In any case, getting to Steinkjer via transit isn't an issue, but then getting to Alesund, Bergen, or Stavanger is more of the issue if I don't have a car. All of them have transit options from Trondheim, but it's much longer than driving. I can make that work, it just leaves me with one less day to explore, I think.
I'll have to plan it out and keep my eyes on deals. I think the worst case scenario is that I don't drive in Norway, spend only about an extra 8 hours in the country doing transit instead (but save a ton of money), and I'll still see some fantastic sights even if I'm not driving up a mountain, myself. I think either way I can visit Trondheim, Steinkjer, and Bergen (or Stavanger) as planned.
I know that I could stick to Oslo, Bergen, and Stavanger and get plenty out of my week in Norway, but I think I'd feel like I missed out if I don't go to Trondheim and Steinkjer.
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentGood to know on museums being booked out in advance so that I know I should start looking now if there are any specific ones I want to make sure to go to!Good to know on museums being booked out in advance so that I know I should start looking now if there are any specific ones I want to make sure to go to!
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Comment on I’m traveling internationally for the first time and could use tips! in ~travel
EsteeBestee Link ParentThat's good advice! I'm planning to drive in Germany because I can rent something like a BMW 3 series or 4 series coupe and it would just be a vibe to cruise around in that. But we'll see what the...That's good advice! I'm planning to drive in Germany because I can rent something like a BMW 3 series or 4 series coupe and it would just be a vibe to cruise around in that. But we'll see what the cost is, because that's going to be like 100-150 USD a day just for the rental. It may be a good option if I want to see a number of small towns and castles and stuff, but if I do get a rental, I plan on dropping it off as soon as I get to Berlin, rather than needing it the rest of my trip.
I do want to experience as much public transit as possible. I loved the transit options in NYC and Chicago when I visited those places, so I'll be blown away by the parts of Europe I'm going to. I just also want to do some driving as I love cars :)
Thanks for all the castle advice! I have yet to plan that leg of the trip past “I’m driving across Germany and want to see them”, so I’ll check which ones I need reservations to see or reservations for a tour!
Good callout on getting euro coins. I guess idk how I’d even do that over there, go to an atm to get bills and then exchange them at a bank?