Search found 55 matches

by Exuberent
Fri Dec 30, 2022 5:00 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Time to thank those that keep this Forum going.
Replies: 27
Views: 8506

Re: Time to thank those that keep this Forum going.

Done, thank you for the timely reminder dwickenh, and thank you to all bogleheads for your help through the years.
by Exuberent
Thu Sep 01, 2022 11:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Azores Islands
Replies: 5
Views: 859

Re: Azores Islands

Three of us were in the Azores for almost two weeks in August - we returned home two weeks ago. A week of horseback riding on the north coast of Faial, two nights on Pico to climb Mt. Pico and the rest of the time on Sao Miguel hiking Lagoa do Fogo, Sete Cidades and walking around Ponta Delgada. Weather moved in and out but nothing that prevented us from doing any activities (although it got a bit touch and go on Mt. Pico for a bit). Great food and wine, very relaxed time there.
by Exuberent
Fri Dec 31, 2021 5:07 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Hohoho... tis the season to support this site
Replies: 74
Views: 7801

Re: Hohoho... tis the season to support this site

Done. Thank you for the reminder ApeAttack.
by Exuberent
Sat Dec 26, 2020 2:50 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Time to give to this website
Replies: 91
Views: 13487

Re: Time to give to this website

Done, thank you for the reminder and thank you to all of you who keep this site going.
by Exuberent
Mon Sep 10, 2018 11:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Go to Istanbul next week. Any suggestions
Replies: 50
Views: 5008

Re: Go to Istanbul next week. Any suggestions

Have a drink at the Pera Palace - www.perapalace.com. It is steeped in World War I spy atmosphere.

And if you are a fan of the author Orhan Pamuk, be sure to visit the Museum of Innocence en.masumiyetmuzesi.org, located in a interesting neighborhood for walking. Consider visiting even if you have never read his books (like me).

Enjoy!
by Exuberent
Wed Aug 01, 2018 2:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do You Purchase "Medical Evacuation Insurance" When You Travel?
Replies: 185
Views: 17206

Re: Do You Purchase "Medical Evacuation Insurance" When You Travel?

I am 65 years of age. DW and I have an annual policy with Bupa. A lot of trips we take require evacuation insurance, particularly horse back rides in remote locations. Until we started taking trips where the insurance was required we never gave it a thought.
by Exuberent
Sun Jan 22, 2017 5:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066600

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Thanks to stumblebum for the recommendation of "Little Dieter Needs to Fly". Watched it today - excellent.
by Exuberent
Sat Dec 10, 2016 4:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: travel to Istanbul
Replies: 41
Views: 4674

Re: travel to Istanbul

If you are a fan of Roman ruins you might consider an overnight tour to Ephesus. Check the weather in the Cappadocia region for late December - flights there from Istanbul are quite cheap and it is a fairly short flight - two full days in that area would be a good side trip from Istanbul.
by Exuberent
Sat Dec 10, 2016 7:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: travel to Istanbul
Replies: 41
Views: 4674

Re: travel to Istanbul

My DW and I spent 4 days in Istanbul, 3 days in Cappadocia, 3 days in Izmir and 3 days in Azerbaijan about 6 weeks ago. We had a wonderful time, felt and were completely safe. In Istanbul we used the trams and metro system whenever possible. We were traveling with my sister and brother-in-law while in Turkey. Both had never been to Turkey and were very happy to have ignored their misgivings. There were no long lines anywhere and we were upgraded in some hotels (in Cappadocia to a suite because of the shortage of tourists). Besides the classic sites already named, consider taking some long walks thru some of the older neighborhoods that are now gentrifying such as Balat and Curcuma - plenty of things to see. The Great Palace Mosaic Museum ha...
by Exuberent
Fri Nov 18, 2016 8:38 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7638
Views: 1712815

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Just finished reading A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Really, really good.
by Exuberent
Thu May 14, 2015 6:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Day trips from Berlin?
Replies: 32
Views: 11313

Re: Day trips from Berlin?

I second all the Potsdam recommendations - my wife and I did that via Fat Tire Bike Tours' Gardens and Palaces of Potsdam. I would absolutely recommend it. From their website it looks like they do the tour Fridays and Saturdays (among other days).
by Exuberent
Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What to see in Istanbul
Replies: 35
Views: 4318

Re: What to see in Istanbul

Please be sure to see the Basilica Cistern when you are in Istanbul.
by Exuberent
Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066600

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

Watched The Name of the Rose last night - an oldie but goodie featuring Sean Connery.
by Exuberent
Fri Jan 02, 2015 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Documentaries to recommend?
Replies: 158
Views: 30061

Re: Documentaries to recommend?

Post by gardemanger » Sat Nov 29, 2014 8:49 am
"One of my all-time favorite documentaries is a Chilean movie called "Nostalgia for the Light." It's set in the Atacama Desert, which is home both to an observatory probing the mysteries of the universe and to bereaved mothers combing the desert for traces of the "disappeared" from the Pinochet regime. The connections between these two searches are movingly painted."

gardemanger, thanks for recommending this - DW and I watched it last night - outstanding. We will actually be in Chile in March (although not near Atacama).
by Exuberent
Thu Jan 01, 2015 4:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11037
Views: 2066600

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

'71 - British soldier is separated from his unit while on patrol in Belfast - tense and well done.
by Exuberent
Thu Jan 01, 2015 4:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7638
Views: 1712815

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

Just finished "The Beautiful Struggle" - subtitled a father, two sons , and an unlikely road to manhood by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Really enjoyed it. Just started reading his article "The Case for Reparations" that was recently published in The Atlantic magazine. Mr. Coates will be discussing the article at The American Library in Paris later this month - hopefully I will be able to attend.
by Exuberent
Thu Dec 25, 2014 4:59 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI
Replies: 7638
Views: 1712815

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part VI

We Are Not Ourselves, a novel by Matthew Thomas.
A really good read - I looked forward to having time each day to read more.
by Exuberent
Mon Dec 15, 2014 10:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Seeking advice for NYC family trip.
Replies: 6
Views: 786

Re: Seeking advice for NYC family trip.

You might also consider parking in downtown Jersey City if you prefer not to drive in Manhattan and then taking the PATH train into NYC.
by Exuberent
Fri Oct 24, 2014 5:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Athens and London, what to do and where to stay?
Replies: 36
Views: 4007

Re: Athens and London, what to do and where to stay?

In London, I suggest going on as many walks as possible with London Walks - http://www.walks.com/. They really give you a behind the scenes look at the city and the guides are superb in my experience. They also do day trips - I have been on their day trip to the Cotswolds and really enjoyed it. I'd love to go back to the Cotswolds for a week but the day trip was a great introduction. They do day trips to Bath and Stonehenge on occasion too.
by Exuberent
Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Which bed should I buy?
Replies: 21
Views: 4843

Re: Which bed should I buy?

They might be a bit above your budget now but we bought a Shifman mattress and boxspring http://www.shifmanmattresses.com over 20 years ago and it is still like new - we flip it every month and sleep like logs. We had some extra money at the time and it was well spent.
by Exuberent
Fri Jun 27, 2014 7:53 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V
Replies: 3372
Views: 1561107

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson. Fiction about the experiences of a young man in recent times in North Korea. A work of fiction but based on a good amount of research by the author. An interesting and enjoyable read.
by Exuberent
Fri Jun 20, 2014 6:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Suggestions for 1-2 Days in NYC?
Replies: 51
Views: 8487

Re: Suggestions for 1-2 Days in NYC?

Take a round-trip ride on the Staten Island ferry. You get a great view of the Statue of Liberty as part of the trip.
by Exuberent
Wed May 14, 2014 8:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: what had biggest impact on your financial success?
Replies: 57
Views: 7110

Re: what had biggest impact on your financial success?

First, maxing out IRA and 401K contributions - basically putting money where I couldn't touch it.
And, finding bogleheads.org, listening to the good advice given and self-managing our money.
by Exuberent
Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [Traveling to] Croatia
Replies: 44
Views: 14895

Re: Croatia

I would absolutely recommend Mostar - my wife and I drove there for a day trip will visiting Croatia - we toured the city with Alma, the guide mentioned here - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel ... tar-bosnia and now I see that it is possible to get picked up from and driven back to Dubrovnik. Our time with Alma was a highlight of our two week trip in the area.
by Exuberent
Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:35 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Bonds - Throw it all on the table!
Replies: 499
Views: 92676

Re: Bonds - Throw it all on the table!!!

Married - average age of husband and wife is 55

We invest in two ETFs for fixed income - BND (Vanguard Total Bond Market) and TIP (ishares Barclays TIPS Bond Fund)
All fixed income is in our IRAs
BND is 62% of our fixed income - TIP is 38%
We are 45% in Bonds (average age minus 10%)
No plans to add more funds or consolidate.
by Exuberent
Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Monaco vacation without busting budget
Replies: 36
Views: 4052

Re: Monaco vacation without busting budget

I agree with others - stay in Nice and take the train over to Monaco for the late afternoon / evening and take the train back that same evening.
by Exuberent
Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:29 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What's your usual retirement day like ?
Replies: 205
Views: 55021

Re: What's your usual retirement day like ?

VictoriaF wrote:
Exuberent wrote:An hour or so of internet / email, then an hour of French lessons (using a text book and the radio)
Your location is "France," and still you are using books and radio for learning French?

Victoria
What happened initially was that it was very easy to fall in with the English speaking ex-pat community for social / volunteering activities hence not much conversational practice - I am trying to remedy that now by speaking French as much as possible (just about always) when I am out but I am still having problems with listening comprehension - I get the gist of the conversation but miss some details. I'll get there.
by Exuberent
Wed Feb 06, 2013 1:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What's your usual retirement day like ?
Replies: 205
Views: 55021

Re: What's your usual retirement day like ?

Week days I wake up at 6 AM when my wife is getting ready to go to work, have breakfast with my wife then get dressed and head over to a nearby thoroughbred racing stable by 7:30 AM where I help muck out the stalls until about 11:30 AM - then I usually either get a riding lesson from one of the exercise riders in a enclosed ring up the street or ride out in the forest on a stable horse if any of exercise riders or the trainer wants some company when they take thoroughbreds out into the forest for some R & R. Then it is a 10 minute walk back home for some (more) exercise and stretching, a shower and lunch. An hour or so of internet / email, then an hour of French lessons (using a text book and the radio) and then time to think about what...
by Exuberent
Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:42 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V
Replies: 3372
Views: 1561107

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V

Just finished "Super Sad True Love Story" by Gary Shteyngart - had to push through it at some slow moments with some encouragement from my wife but thoroughly enjoyed it in retrospect.

Just started "Jerusalem" by Simon Sebag Montefiore - we have a walking trip in Israel and the West Bank planned for April that finishes in Jerusalem.
by Exuberent
Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:29 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: hijacker (PWM) - READ THIS
Replies: 130
Views: 15815

Re: hijacker (PWM) - READ THIS

I would be happy to contribute.
by Exuberent
Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:29 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Has anyone here had a good experience with Smith Barney?
Replies: 39
Views: 4121

Re: Has anyone here had a good experience with Smith Barney?

Hello pointyhead,
In 2008 I was in a similar situation as you but with a different financial adviser at a different firm. Livesoft and PiperWarrior gave me the best financial advice I ever received.
Once you make the decision to move ahead (and please let Vanguard handle the transfer) you will sleep much easier and that gnawing in your stomach will subside. Meeting with your SB person wastes your time and theirs. It you want to be cordial - call Vanguard and have them do the transfer. Today would be the perfect time to do it. Best of luck to you.
by Exuberent
Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where do we bogleheads Splurge?!
Replies: 138
Views: 14510

Re: Where do we bogleheads Splurge?!

Travel with my wife.
Thoroughbred race horses (50% lease in one, 50% and 25% ownership respectively in two others). Gets me up and out in the morning to help out at the racing yard and last October at the ripe age of 50 and change I got to ride a thoroughbred at the training grounds in company with some other thoroughbreds and their riders out for morning work. I was like a kid in a candy shop. And I do know the saying - want to make a small fortune in racing? - start with a big fortune.
by Exuberent
Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:39 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Pat is coming home !
Replies: 115
Views: 15812

Re: Pat is coming home !

Hello Taylor, Hello Pat,
That is wonderful news for us to hear.
Enjoy!
Mark and Cynthia
by Exuberent
Thu Mar 01, 2012 12:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V
Replies: 3372
Views: 1561107

Re: What Book Are You Currently Reading? Part V

Just finished "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel. Enjoyed it.
Just started "The Lemon Tree" by Sandy Tolan. Subtitle is "An Arab, a Jew, and the heart of the Middle East". 100 pages in and looking forward to discussing it at my wife's next book club meeting.
by Exuberent
Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: If you had to live somewhere beside USA, where would it be?
Replies: 106
Views: 9098

Re: If you had to live somewhere beside USA, where would it

My wife and I have lived in France now for five years. We have been living in Maisons-Laffitte for seven months at present and hope to stay. We enjoy the people, the food and the pace of life. And it is a great location for short trips to the rest of Europe and beyond.
by Exuberent
Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:00 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/2010)
Replies: 1507
Views: 401915

Re: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/201

Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me by Javier Marias
Halfway through and enjoying it.
by Exuberent
Tue Jun 07, 2011 7:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6151

From my wife (and I concur): You could fly into Nice or even Marseille.....most of the stereotypical beautiful villages in Provence are further west than Nice. Nice is magnificent, however, and just driving from Nice westward is lovely. Driving in Provence is a pleasure, and going along the coast from Nice is nice. You could end in Avignon and take the easy TGV back to Paris from there. Some really memorable markets were Vaison-La-Romaine, Lourmarin, Apt and L'isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Here is a list of Provencal market days http://www.provencelive.com/practical/daily/market/market.html All of those towns are charming enough to stay in. Depending on where you stay the hotels will nearly always recommend good places for dinner. Also check the &quo...
by Exuberent
Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Trip to Europe in September
Replies: 36
Views: 6151

My wife and I have lived in France for over 4 years now (originally from New Jersey) - all of that time except for the last week in Paris (now 20 minutes away by train). The Paris / Provence trip sounds great and a good time of year to go. (That is the first trip we did to France many years ago using Rick Steves' books (we still use him when we can). Loire Valley and the chateaux are pretty spectacular too. We have found the French to be very polite and helpful but like everyone else they have their habits / norms. Please - when you walk in a shop or sit down in a restaurant make the first word you say bonjour and when you leave merci, avoir. Waiters here do not work for tips so you will not find one saying Hi my name is Pierre and I'll be ...
by Exuberent
Thu May 26, 2011 3:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: My parents best advice ?
Replies: 65
Views: 8125

Travel light.

The more things you own, the more they own you.

You couldn't afford that house if you got it as a gift.
by Exuberent
Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Favorite Board Game?
Replies: 66
Views: 8714

I grew up with the early Avalon Hill games but I would have to say SPI's Wellington's Victory was my favorite - also a PBM game (now that is dating me) called World Conquest run by Bill Rapp / Prime Time Simulations - been a while.
by Exuberent
Mon Apr 18, 2011 3:29 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tough Decision: Move or Stay???
Replies: 18
Views: 3670

Stay where you are. Concentrate on finalizing the divorce. That is the one thing that will really allow you to get on with your life.
by Exuberent
Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/2010)
Replies: 1507
Views: 401915

Lustrum - Robert Harris (2nd in a trilogy about Cicero)

Lord of Misrule - Jaimy Gordon (glimpse of life at a backwoods racetrack)
by Exuberent
Sun Mar 13, 2011 4:09 am
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What is YOUR bond/equity ratio compared to your age/horizon?
Replies: 80
Views: 15474

Me 58 wife 45 60 stocks / 40 bonds still working, no pensions ahead.
by Exuberent
Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Would you consider traveling abroad?
Replies: 67
Views: 8212

I plan to go horseback riding in Albania in June and my wife and I plan to go horseback riding in Georgia in August. We were in Syria about a year and a half ago and were thrilled to see how happy and welcoming people were when they found out we were American. On the same trip we also visited Lebanon and Jordan - there are wonderful people everywhere if you take the time to look. I think one of the pleasures of traveling whether in the US or internationally is that meeting people face to face usually goes a long way to breaking down the stereotypes.
by Exuberent
Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Other Forums Do Bogleheads Frequent?
Replies: 39
Views: 7952

www.gallopfrance.com

I'm in France and have a goal to become the "exercise rider of last resort"
for Madame Rarick.
by Exuberent
Mon Feb 21, 2011 4:39 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: If you had a choice, would you still live in the USA?
Replies: 153
Views: 17520

My wife and I are US citizens and moved to France 4 years ago. We were very happy to live in the US and are very happy to be living in France now.

Just an addition for the poster above - we have found the health care here to be very good, public transportation top notch and there is mandatory vacation time for employees (and you are expected to take it from what I can see - none of this - what do you mean you want to take two weeks off in a row?).
by Exuberent
Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: About to buy a suit, any deals right now?
Replies: 25
Views: 4309

I always used to wear my suit pants out on the inner thigh area - solved it by paying a bit extra to have lining put in in that area - really helpful for me because I am not that comfortable wearing a heavier wool so always wore summer weight wool.
by Exuberent
Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:42 am
Forum: Non-US Investing
Topic: Investing from France
Replies: 44
Views: 9402

Hello Phantom,
Are you working in France? If so, are you being paid in euros or dollars? If you are receiving a paycheck is it being deposited in a US bank or a French one?
by Exuberent
Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:18 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Non frugal vice
Replies: 107
Views: 16254

Non Frugal Vice

Race Horses - my wife and I moved to France several years ago and I started helping out at the yard of Gina Rarick, the only American woman licensed to train thoroughbreds in France. Since then I have bought ownership / leased interest in several race horses trained by Mme. Rarick. Statistically not the road to riches but what fun. Still shedding weight in quest to become the "exercise rider of last resort" for the stable.
by Exuberent
Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:49 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? PART III (12/11/2009)
Replies: 424
Views: 84395

Yankee Doodle Dandy - The Life and Times of Tod Sloan by John Dizikes

I had no idea that Tod Sloan revolutionized the sport of horse racing, that George Cohan wrote a play about him and that Ernest Hemingway may have used the story of Tod Sloan's life as the subject of one of his stories.