purpgold718

re: New ICE tactic: blocking off entire streets and going door to door

Posted by purpgold718 on 1/12/26 at 9:45 am to Good Times

quote:
What is very disturbing, are the dates for their removal that were not carried out by previous administrations.

Such as the first Trump admin, given the timeline of a lot of these. But I fully expect you faggy little pussies to conveniently gloss over that - eat shite

Edit:

- violent/repeat offenders should go
- people that are actually not in the US legally shouldn’t have access to public assistance, if they are granted legal status and given access is another matter altogether

-2

re: Is This True About The Deep State?

Posted by purpgold718 on 1/11/26 at 10:26 am to EphesianArmor

quote:
To believe Donald Trump is not under complete control of this corrupt system of the shadow elites and "independently" steering America into "greatness" is patently naive and delusional. He is merely the Elite's puppet enriching and expending its empire. He is one of them.

Insert GIF of Leonardo DiCaprio clapping.

This is right on the money, as is the below take on the past three election outcomes

re: iS aNy oF tHiS TrU3 aBoUt TrUmP!!!???

Posted by purpgold718 on 1/11/26 at 7:55 am to John somers

quote:
And even some men fantasize about him

re: For Anybody Here Who Thinks the ICE Agent Acted Wrongly, Tell Me What He Should've Done

Posted by purpgold718 on 1/9/26 at 5:28 pm to KCT

re: Is Dublin a dangerous city?

Posted by purpgold718 on 7/29/25 at 5:30 pm to Zappas Stache

Ironically, something loosely akin to the fear mongered demographic of this thread.

That said, to that regard - in general fears of what the OP worries about in Europe come from sensationalist and exaggerated news sources.

Lived in Europe nearly 15 years, 11 of those in Amsterdam which by many accounts in “overun”.

I won’t pretend it hasn’t slowly gotten to feel a bit less safe over that span; that would be a disingenuous claim - nonetheless, I still feel a lot safer here than most parts of the US, for sure any of the same level of urbanization and for sure all of Louisiana - I’ll walk around most parts of the city at all hours of day/night without too much worry (dare anyone to say that about BR). Lastly , this marginally decreased sense of safety is certainly not all attributable to the demographics you might think (drunk and drugged up Eastern block types do a number on the city at times).

And furthermore, as stated elsewhere in this thread, in Dublin it’s indeed the local grown pasty Paddy types in Adidas track suits and murses you should be wary of rather than your “immigrant” types…

re: Is Dublin a dangerous city?

Posted by purpgold718 on 7/29/25 at 4:41 am to Teddy Ruxpin

The newest terror unleashed on the citizenry of Amsterdam is the beloved “fat bikes” (fat tire/frame electric bikes than can run high-speed with only throttle/no pedaling) - which are basically silent but deadly electric mopeds - often manned by a predictable demographic that only adds more malice and nuisance to an already dangerous two-wheeler…

re: Anywhere in the world, what is the best place to go at the end of May/early June

Posted by purpgold718 on 7/22/25 at 3:17 pm to Nole Man

Just circling back to circle jerk Slovenia again.

Sitting here scrolling through all the pics and vids of our time there, daydreaming about going back.

It might’ve bit me harder than Greece & Portgual (which are recent favored mistresses to my OG loves Spain & Italy) - indeed the hearty, yet also refined cuisine, the trendy avant-garde wine scene (they’re on to of the orange wine game if that’s your bag), the charming cities err city and towns, the stunning nature - mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, caves and gorges galore.

The crossroads and venn-diagram of cultural influences - Austro-Hungarian, Alpine, Slavic, Balkan, Italian, Yugoslavian - how this is reflected on the lovely people…

re: Anywhere in the world, what is the best place to go at the end of May/early June

Posted by purpgold718 on 7/21/25 at 9:21 am to Nole Man

Just go back from Slovenia, it was epic and easily earned a slot among the elite revered pantheon of my favorite countries trodden, to-date.

That said, I think it’s probably a bit better second half of June - the Alpine climate has had just that much longer to warm up.

End May/early June is perfect for Southern Europe - Greek islands, Portugal, Southern Spain, Sicily et al, IMHO - most countries on either side of the pond are still in school, spring foliage is still in bloom, the weather is warm-to-hot, but not unbearable and the sea chilly but refreshing and those in tourism/hospitality are at their freshest and most eager as the peak season approaches, rather than overworked and over it on the other shoulder season (mid September onwards).

re: Southern Italy Advice

Posted by purpgold718 on 6/19/25 at 12:12 pm to VABuckeye

quote:
Great post until this. Southern Italian food is tomato laden. The further north you go the less the tomato is used and the more refined the food becomes. Much superior and varied food in the north of Italy.

While my connections to Italy lie in the north of the country, and while I vouch for the culinary standards of the north to both Southern Italians and non-Italians alike; I think it’s not so simple as you state and there’s much more nuance.

Suffice to say the food is also at least equally excellent in the north, and indeed Bologna IMHO is the culinary capital of the country. Though as someone with connections to a “regione” north of Emiglia-Romagna, I consider E-M to be as much central Italy as the north as it to me has as much or more in common with Toscana than the Veneto for example; though many firmly established definitions of the North-South dichotomy would disagree (and I’m fine with that, my perception remains wholly unchanged).

Edit: expanding on my controversial classification, I think the regions of E-M and Lazio and the transitionary borders of “Central Italy” with E-M being practically the north (and all but officially considered so) and Lazio being practically the South (less unanimously considered as such, though the Romans often refer to themselves as Southerners).

re: Just returned from Spain / Portugal

Posted by purpgold718 on 6/19/25 at 8:34 am to CidCock

What is it your looking for out of this trip?

Beaches? Historical cities? Good food? Mountainous/foresty nature?

And how long can you spare for the trip?

I think it’s great you’ve seen so many places per trip, but as if often recommended taking a bit more time per stop (minimum 2 full days for smaller spots and minimum 4 full days for more time consuming stops), more often than not - will make the experience much more relaxing, enjoyable and rewarding.

I mentioned Lake Garda in another post ITT, I just came back from there and I think it really has a lot to offer, I think it’s a great place to base yourself out of for a solid 4-7 full days.

If you want an extended itinerary to work with taking some of your mentioned stops in mind - i.e. Slovenia (where I’m headed to myself for the first time in 2 week’s time) you could do something like:

- Fly into Venice (1 night/full day)
- Head to Lake Garda and stay yourself there for 4+ days, my advice would be to base yourself in either Garda town or Malceisine - from there you can enjoy the lake shore beachy vibes, visit other charming lakeside towns (Limone sul Garda; Riva del Garda; Sirmione); visit surrounding wine regions (Valpolicella, Soave, Franciacorta, Bardolino); day-trip to Verona; take the kiddos to the lake’s amusement or waterparks - Garda Land & Caneva World
- Head to Slovenia - on the way stop in Trieste (day trip); head to Piran on the Slovenian coast for a day/night enjoy the Slovenian seaside and the city’s well-preserved Venetian architecture.
- from Piran stop at the Škocjan caves and Predjama castle before settling in Ljubljana, Lake Bohinj or Bled areas, enjoy the nature and scenery of the Triglav national park before headed to Ljubljana for a day or two and flying out of there.

The other alternative I propose would he the same post-Garda (Trieste + Slovenia) but instead start in Pula & Rovinj in Croatia and allocate time to see a little bit more of Slovenia.

Both of these itineraries easily fill up 2 whole weeks if done at a semi-leisurely pace

re: Just returned from Spain / Portugal

Posted by purpgold718 on 6/18/25 at 9:12 am to LSUShock

All of Southern Europe is where it’s at - Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain aka the PIGS.

Spain is admittedly my favorite of the bunch but I was just in Italy after several years of not visiting and it definitely holds its own.

To OP, consider Lake Garda area which is where I was, stunning clear blue waters, epic dramatic mountain vistas, and dotted with insanely charming towns and villages (Malcèsine, Riva del Garda, Limone sul Garda), and some of the country’s best wine country (Valpolicella, Franciacorta, Soave) and most beautiful cities (e.g. Verona) a stone’s throw away, oh there’s an amusement park and water park on the southeastern part of the lake.

re: Iran positioning missiles to target U.S. bases - NYT

Posted by purpgold718 on 6/17/25 at 4:06 pm to Tigerdew

Am I really witnessing the camel’s back-breaking straw here?!

I lurk this board as a barometer of the ethos of MAGA and this is most I’ve seen this board in doubt about Trump.

There’s clearly some lifers, till-the-bitter-end loyalists types in the fray here, but this is fascinating.

And it’s only mildly laced with schadenfreude in all honesty. I am genuinely worried and disdain for Trump notwithstanding hope for cooler heads to prevail and a third world war to be avoided (even if a shred of credit or a neutrally approving nod has to be given to Trump), but alas these jooz seem hellbent on dragging us into one, like Gollum sinking into the depths of damnation…

re: Your favorite city in Germany sans Berlin...beautiful /historical/romantic

Posted by purpgold718 on 6/16/25 at 2:55 pm to Dry Prong Wildcat

Echoing mentions of Garmisch-Partenkirchen & Heidelberg

re: Greek Island Before Cruise from Athens

Posted by purpgold718 on 6/6/25 at 4:34 pm to AbitaFan08

Tbh I almost hesitated to add that shout out, greetings fellow Paxiophile

re: Greek Island Before Cruise from Athens

Posted by purpgold718 on 6/6/25 at 12:59 pm to 62zip

quote:
I will go on record right now and predict that you will really like Corfu.

I just got back from Corfu not too long ago, lovely island.

Curious why you said this though (I’m not OP)?

Anyway, I can also highly recommend the small neighboring island of Paxos (not to be confused with Paros, which neighbors Naxos in the Aegean Sea) - absolute gem of an island, I think I even preferred it to Naxos & Milos, which I also loved.

re: Black guy visited Nashville for 1st time and my thoughts

Posted by purpgold718 on 5/27/25 at 12:30 pm to PelicanState87

Wow, my dumbass was reading through this thread thinking it was the Travel board (where I usually hide out on TD these days for reasons that follow) and the excessive political and racial nature of the comments was really jarring for being that board, only to click “return to board” and realize it was the OT (lightbulb aha moment, this is not where I parked my car) and then it made sense, followed by the remark that this place is no Politard board (dodges incoming bricks) but Travel board is simply GOAT’d on TD for most civil board, god bless that board!

O-T Lounge

re: advice on a Europe itinerary (show tour)

Posted by purpgold718 on 5/14/25 at 2:55 pm to LemmyLives

If you have to fly look at London City airport, it’s quite central compared other…five? …in the city

Edit: BA or KLM for a nicer experience, otherwise check Transavia and Easyjet (both still better than Ryanair) for a more budget option - which with the short flying time between London & AMS probably wouldn’t be too painful

re: Gummy Users

Posted by purpgold718 on 5/2/25 at 2:50 am to Mandtgr47

If you buy those “Delta 9” (not 8) gummies the THC is extracted using industrial grade hemp which through a loophole law created in 2018 is federally legal (but keep in original packaging for these), barring that indeed NV is a recreational legal state so just pick up there

re: Big Summer Family Trips - Where is Everyone Going?

Posted by purpgold718 on 5/2/25 at 2:47 am to RummelTiger

Me and the missus have:

- Copenhagen, this weekend - sitting on Schiphol tarmac to fly that way now. While it’s not officially summer Amsterdam has been sunny and in the upper 70s-80s all week so it has begun here.
- mid-May, Greece for 10 days - Corfu & Paxos
- early June, Veneto region of Northern Italy - Venice, Vicenza Verona and Lake Garda for 10 days
- late June or early July - Slovenia - Ljbujana and Lake Bled, this trip still TBC and we might add on Rovinj, Croatia and/or Trieste, Italy (probably also 10ish days)
- mid-September thru early October Japan - Tokyo, Azu Islands, Miyazaki prefecture and Nikko (2 weeks)
- Depending on what we do with the still to be booked Slovenia trip, I/we might try to sneak one more cheeky trip in there as well.

re: Barcelona, Milan, Bellagio - a few trip notes

Posted by purpgold718 on 4/25/25 at 8:54 pm to dirtsandwich

- in Barcelona the city beach (Barceloneta) is decent enough but you absolutely have to have somebody watching your shite when you’re in the water or it can get snatched up real quick - (barring that a waterproof bag to take your most valuable items with you also works).

If you have enough time for a day trip (or overnighter even) check out the beaches or “calas” (coves) of the Costa Brava to the north. Tossa de Mar is a close enough spot and a crowd pleaser with it’s medieval fortification old town atop a hill and crystal blue water lapped calas.

If you have more time and want more refined vibes head a bit further to Cadaques.

For food try El Cañete in Raval if you can get a table you won’t regret it.