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flyer.
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July 27, 2012 at 10:23 AM #749045July 27, 2012 at 10:25 AM #749046
sdrealtor
ParticipantHow about if that lobster meal came with a nice Montrachet?
July 27, 2012 at 11:30 AM #749052Jazzman
Participant[quote=briansd1]
Jazzman, I hear you about being able to get good quality houses in France… But you’d be living in the French equivalent of Alabama (which is still much more desirable than the real Alabama, and without the distances you’d be closer to the big cities).[/quote]
Many years ago, I used to do the vendange (grape picking), and farmers and villages could be termed ‘rural’. But a visit a few years back, and this has changed. Gentrification is pretty much everywhere certainly for the prettier villages. Regions like Acquitaine is home to places like the Dordogne, with comparably well priced homes and is highly cultural. There are no big sprawling metropolises, but gently rolling countryside dotted with beautiful villages and towns. The term “rural” doesn’t apply in the US sense at all. The only place in Europe where time has apparently stood still is Romania, and of course we now cherish what we have lost.July 27, 2012 at 12:36 PM #749053briansd1
GuestJazzman, I understand what you’re saying… I was just being factitious.
You could live cheaply in the American “country” as well. But, I know… the French country and the American country just don’t compare.
I have a long lost relative who lives in Cognac, France. He has a great job and travels the world for Remi Martin. He earns Paris level money, but lives in the country in a beautiful stone mansion with a real wine cellar. For the same price, all you can get is a stick and stucco box in San Diego.
Cognac is the country however… the kids have left for college and neither of them want to return.
You can visit the Cognac estates over there. Kinda different from the Temecula wineries.
July 27, 2012 at 1:54 PM #749064Allan from Fallbrook
Participant[quote=briansd1]Jazzman, I understand what you’re saying… I was just being factitious.
You could live cheaply in the American “country” as well. But, I know… the French country and the American country just don’t compare.
I have a long lost relative who lives in Cognac, France. He has a great job and travels the world for Remi Martin. He earns Paris level money, but lives in the country in a beautiful stone mansion with a real wine cellar. For the same price, all you can get is a stick and stucco box in San Diego.
Cognac is the country however… the kids have left for college and neither of them want to return.
You can visit the Cognac estates over there. Kinda different from the Temecula wineries.[/quote]
Brian: Growing up in the SF/Bay Area, I was always under the impression that the Napa and Sonoma regions were comparable to France, in terms of both scenery and wine-making. Then I visited France (for the first time, when I was in the Army) and, wow, it was breathtaking.
Not to take anything from Napa or Sonoma, but it doesn’t compare in terms of history, culture or expertise. Reminds me of that Eddie Izzard joke about Europe: “You know, where the history comes from.”
I remember sitting at a small cafe in the Rhone Valley and meeting an old-timer that remembered World War I. Freakin’ World War I! Completely different world and, most important, completely different perspective. Americans do have that propensity to feel as though we’re the center of the universe and that’s why travel and acculturation are so important. Gotta see the world to understand it.
July 27, 2012 at 3:41 PM #749071flyer
ParticipantBrian,
Would love to try to help your relative out, but our kids have “banned” us from making referrals. They’ve told us they have enough friends from college driving them nuts with audition requests, but I wish your relative all of the best. Do encourage him to have a “backup” plan.
Really enjoyed your story about your relative in Cognac. Gotta love the French wine country.
July 27, 2012 at 4:27 PM #749081spdrun
ParticipantYou could live cheaply in the American “country” as well. But, I know… the French country and the American country just don’t compare.
I’d argue that an older American college town outside of a major metro area would come close. Cheap cost of living, relatively cheap property, fairly nice surroundings, interesting, bright people.
July 27, 2012 at 7:12 PM #749092CardiffBaseball
ParticipantNCC is insane. Just my dominant LL team had two D1 OLB/DEs, big huge guys with speed still. Plus a professional golfer who’s son hit 23 home runs. In fact the 4 counting my kid hit 50 home runs in LL. Crazy. Not that I was a big-time athlete but looking back I’d have gone further not being from the sticks in Ohio.
On two occasions we eliminated RSF LL in the playoffs, and one Trevor was there hanging out on the fence to watch his kid. Brett Boone, Black Jack McDowell, David Wells, and Kirk Mckaskil’s kid. Now you have Steve Finley’s kid doing well. You literally have no idea who might be moving in from the sports world it’s just a great place to live, and if you have some extra scratch why not? I used to follow Mo Williams on Twitter when he was a Cavalier and he was tweeting all the time about moving to SD. Steve Kerr comes to mind, from our old HS Rick Aguilera and Brian Sipe. Seau’s son was a beast too.
Our LL field was actually overshadowed by the YMCA skate facility as you surely know screaltor and when Shawn White was there you couldn’t get the kids to pay attention. We actually erected a giant net to help protect the skateboarders who were getting pelted with home run balls. Tony Hawk of course was over there sometimes, though I didn’t notice him anytime I was over there. An ex Brownie, Jerry Sherk liked to hang around in Cardiff.
However the number of kids who had parents that played high level NCAA athletics was just insane we just didn’t have that where I came from in Ohio. I remember this somewhat feeble older guy about 6’2″ who had kids apparently at a late age and I remember thinking man his son is so athletic, I wonder why. Turns out pops played volleyball back at Stanford it was just that he was more like 57 to my 38. One lady who coached LL her husband was this huge guy, who was an electrician but turns out he was the starting QB for one season at Illinois. Another kid in the LL his dad was a DE for the Rams another huge guy. I’ve never been around so many ex-athletes whether it be pro or D1 college.
July 28, 2012 at 11:23 AM #749123ParticipantAllan, you could be forgiven for thinking Marin county reminds you of parts of Europe, especially the English countryside. There’s even an English country pub there. Not everywhere in France is beautiful, but the contrast is with the very old towns and villages, many of which haven’t changed in centuries.
Recommended trips. If you head to the Cote D’Azure, and drive along the Grande Corniche, overlooking the Med and one of the most famous “village perche”, Eze it is truly breathtaking.
Take the freeways to Provence and the Gorge du Verdon, where the river is the same incredible blue as the sea at Nice. Throw off your clothes as dive in.
Head up into the Alpes Maritime where winding roads carve their way through the hard red rock, and eventually you arrive in Megeve, an Alpine town with old chalet farmhouses, now hotels that retain so much character.
France is the envy of Europe. Italy comes in a close second IMO. If you travel, don’t go on a tour. You will NOT see the real Europe.
July 28, 2012 at 11:56 AM #749125Participant[quote=Jazzman]Allan, you could be forgiven for thinking Marin county reminds you of parts of Europe, especially the English countryside. There’s even an English country pub there. Not everywhere in France is beautiful, but the contrast is with the very old towns and villages, many of which haven’t changed in centuries.
Recommended trips. If you head to the Cote D’Azure, and drive along the Grande Corniche, overlooking the Med and one of the most famous “village perche”, Eze it is truly breathtaking.
Take the freeways to Provence and the Gorge du Verdon, where the river is the same incredible blue as the sea at Nice. Throw off your clothes as dive in.
Head up into the Alpes Maritime where winding roads carve their way through the hard red rock, and eventually you arrive in Megeve, an Alpine town with old chalet farmhouses, now hotels that retain so much character.
France is the envy of Europe. Italy comes in a close second IMO. If you travel, don’t go on a tour. You will NOT see the real Europe.[/quote]
Jazzman: My first posting in the Army (1984) was in the Fulda Gap, near Frankfurt am Main and over that summer and fall, I saw a lot of Europe, especially France, Italy and Germany. Armed with a Eurail Pass and a ruck, I got all over the place, including the French and Italian Riviera and on one epic occasion, a “clothes-optional” beach in Greece.
I avoided the touristy places at all costs and I especially avoided any groups of American tourists (we used to call them “ugly Americans” for obvious reasons.) I would love to go back to Europe on something unrelated to business and tramp around all those small towns and villages again.
BTW, growing up in the SF/Bay Area, the joke was that BMW stood for “Basic Marin Wheels”. The view from Sausalito is amazing, as are the houses tucked up in the hills, but until Zuckerberg responds to my request to “gift” me $10MM, I’m going to have to wait to live there.
July 28, 2012 at 12:11 PM #749129ParticipantOnly in San Diego can your back up QB go down and all the coach has to do is walk down the street from his house to find a veteran back up with 9 years of NFL experience.
July 28, 2012 at 12:15 PM #749130bearishgurl
Participant[quote=Allan from Fallbrook] . . . BTW, growing up in the SF/Bay Area, the joke was that BMW stood for “Basic Marin Wheels”. The view from Sausalito is amazing, as are the houses tucked up in the hills, but until Zuckerberg responds to my request to “gift” me $10MM, I’m going to have to wait to live there.[/quote]
You and I both, Allan.
A couple of years back I drove the winding road from the 101 to Muir Beach and did drive-bys on some listed properties off that road. I love, love, LOVE the lush privacy of those properties and there are fixers to be had but I can’t do the road on a daily basis, due to my vertigo. I ESP can’t be a passenger! So having a peek view of Mt Tam from inside the redwoods, no matter how alluring, is not a good plan for me :={
The same goes for Mt Helix (LM), where all my fav mid-century ranches on 1/2++ AC lie. YIKES!!
July 28, 2012 at 1:52 PM #749139Participant[quote=bearishgurl][quote=Allan from Fallbrook] . . . BTW, growing up in the SF/Bay Area, the joke was that BMW stood for “Basic Marin Wheels”. The view from Sausalito is amazing, as are the houses tucked up in the hills, but until Zuckerberg responds to my request to “gift” me $10MM, I’m going to have to wait to live there.[/quote]
You and I both, Allan.
A couple of years back I drove the winding road from the 101 to Muir Beach and did drive-bys on some listed properties off that road. I love, love, LOVE the lush privacy of those properties and there are fixers to be had but I can’t do the road on a daily basis, due to my vertigo. I ESP can’t be a passenger! So having a peek view of Mt Tam from inside the redwoods, no matter how alluring, is not a good plan for me :={
The same goes for Mt Helix (LM), where all my fav mid-century ranches on 1/2++ AC lie. YIKES!![/quote]
BG: So I’d imagine that Muir Overlook is definitely no bueno, huh? Incredible view, but certainly vertiginous.
Have you ever seen/visited Seacliff in SF? Amazing views there, too, and you don’t have to deal with heights.
July 28, 2012 at 4:38 PM #749147ParticipantAll this talk of Europe, makes us long for it even more. We’re there every year, and can never wait to see our old friends.
July 28, 2012 at 5:19 PM #749148desmond
Participant[quote=sdrealtor]Only in San Diego can your back up QB go down and all the coach has to do is walk down the street from his house to find a veteran back up with 9 years of NFL experience.[/quote]
Your area in no more special than any other in Southern California. The whole place is full of athletes, former athletes etc.
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