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Author Topic: Tampa Nights  (Read 20225 times)
the sicilian
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« on: December 11, 2015, 03:07:19 PM »

Thought i'd write a short TR diary for this trip to Tampa to get those post scores up for blonde nation.. Smiley

After doing Vegas to death this year thought i'd have a change of scenary and come out to Tampa Florida for the Hard Rock Poker festival... Jeff Buffenbarger ( think his a blonde ) many of you im sure know told me about it and urged me to come out.

Well cmon havent had a holiday for two weeks might as well..

Jeff's one of the truly niceset guys i have ever met..and thanks to some nice scheduling we have tickets to see an NBA game between the Orlando magic and the Cleveland cavaliers today and Sunday the Tampa bucaneer NFL game v the New Orleans saints .

Now the scheduling is great because one im a massive NBA and NFL fan and two.. Le Bron James ( the best basketball player in the world for those that don't know ) plays for Cleveland.. Jeff and I have snaggled two courtside seats behind the cleveland bench and we will be within stalking distance of the king.. for anyone into NBA this is literally a dream come true..

Also my NFL team is NEW Orleans ( saw them when they came to wembly ) so to see them in the sunshine of Florida is once again a massive bonus..

So Poker has taken a back seat for the first part of the trip ....
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Eso Kral
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« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2015, 03:14:22 PM »

In first

Enjoy it Guns.
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TightEnd
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« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2015, 03:19:14 PM »

pics please from both sporting events

enjoy, should be great
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tikay
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« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2015, 03:23:13 PM »


Looking forward to this, Dean, and please give my best regards to Jeff.
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the sicilian
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« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2015, 03:34:00 PM »

As an aside just a quick TR of the trip out.. couple pointers included for people who may be a bit naive when it comes to visiting the states..

Flew BA, bizarely for the first time ever out of gatwick..used the tube and gatwick shuttle for the 2nd time this year and must say its a very efficent service ..door to door from hertfordshire in 90 mins...

I always book economy and upgrade at the airport..its a much cheaper way of doing it and ive never not upgraded even on a packed summer flight to Vegas..

BA seem to operate a 4 class system on the new 777-300 ..econ..prem econ..business and first... business has lay down beds and everything... so i thought i fancy that as it was nearly 10 hours to Tampa..

Weirdly i could not upgrade 2 classes.... perhaps because i was resplendant  in shorts and an Under Armour training top on a rainy London December day... maybe they thought i was insane and business class was no place for me.

So had to settle for Prem Economy..which was fine..seats had deece room and comfy.

For a day flight didnt feel there was too much attending by the BA staff.. and our dinner things were left uncleared for quite some time..tut tut BA.

Landed in Tampa about 7pm.. had pre-booked a little run around for while im here.. ok now some tips on renting cars in america and prob in general..

First off..they will try to sell you a shit load of stuff you dont need.. do not buy as follows:

pre-paid toll ... this is a rip off.. you would have to do some serious touring around to even come close to 10 dollars a day toll charges and they will come out with guff about some dont take cash and they will charge you 15 dollars for a 70 cent toll if you just go through a camera toll.. dont pay for it its nonsense

dont be coherced into a rental upgrade.. i booked a little ford focus..guy behind the desk looked at my big boy samsonite i brought on this trip and claimed i wouldnt get it in the car..he said my actual car was a KIA.. first run bad of trip.. i said id be ok and shove it in the back seat..

Got to my little KIA and the boot swallowed the case whole with room to spare... As to the car..just ugh..little red KIA..tears...

8pm in Tampa ..traffic is horrendous.. im booked into the Sheraton and manage to negotiate both the heavy traffic and the multitude of drivers freshly released from the Stig Insane Asylum ..

Room is pretty nice..had worse..had better..bed is fantastic though.. think my suitcase  is big enough to get it home.

Im ..ahem..not the tallest in the world but my room does seem to be fitted out for the jolly green giant.. i kid you not i have to stand on tip toe to see out of the spy hole and the safe is on the top shelf of the wardrobe ..ffs im gonna need a chair to see inside it Sad

Well Jeff picking me up soon for the pilcrimage to see the King..hopefully couple pics and tales how me and Le Bron James are now email buddies.. or restraining order buddies..could go either way Smiley
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TightEnd
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« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2015, 03:33:11 PM »

111-76 the Cavs then?
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tonytats
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« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2015, 08:20:30 AM »

Why would you only want a Kia sized car in the USA ?
Surely if you're doing a bit of driving around a bigger vehicle would offer a bit more protection in the event of an accident ?
Like a suburban ?
I had a small uk type car once - never again it felt intimidating with the size of SUVs and pickups on the road
Plus the amount of drivers using their phones
All the same have a great time over there
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Doobs
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« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2015, 09:47:00 AM »

Why would you only want a Kia sized car in the USA ?
Surely if you're doing a bit of driving around a bigger vehicle would offer a bit more protection in the event of an accident ?
Like a suburban ?
I had a small uk type car once - never again it felt intimidating with the size of SUVs and pickups on the road
Plus the amount of drivers using their phones
All the same have a great time over there

Had to look up what a Suburban was.  Surely you are going to crash one of those more?  How does it even stop?
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tonytats
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« Reply #8 on: December 13, 2015, 11:43:15 AM »

Why would you only want a Kia sized car in the USA ?
Surely if you're doing a bit of driving around a bigger vehicle would offer a bit more protection in the event of an accident ?
Like a suburban ?
I had a small uk type car once - never again it felt intimidating with the size of SUVs and pickups on the road
Plus the amount of drivers using their phones
All the same have a great time over there

Had to look up what a Suburban was.  Surely you are going to crash one of those more?  How does it even stop?

Not really doobs it depends what size vehicle you are used to driving over here ! - I've had pickups n 4x4 s for years now !
Plus they have modern gadgetry in ,like lane radar when you wonder out of lane an alarm in the form of a vibrating seat , warnings built in to the mirrors if a car is anywhere near you in the lane next door , with that size a good crumple zone front and rear in case of a tailgating accident
Plus petrol is only 2 bob a gallon
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« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2015, 12:26:04 AM »

subbed!
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the sicilian
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« Reply #10 on: December 14, 2015, 03:50:20 AM »

Why would you only want a Kia sized car in the USA ?
Surely if you're doing a bit of driving around a bigger vehicle would offer a bit more protection in the event of an accident ?
Like a suburban ?
I had a small uk type car once - never again it felt intimidating with the size of SUVs and pickups on the road
Plus the amount of drivers using their phones
All the same have a great time over there

How can you not love my awesome whip ?
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the sicilian
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« Reply #11 on: December 14, 2015, 04:34:59 AM »

So Friday rolls round and a visit to the Amway Centre in downtown Orlando. Fantastic tickets bring some perks... A private lounge ( well as private as you can get with 300 other privilaged punters  ) where you can eat and drink as much as you want .. from full meals to sweets,crisps and ice creme... beer,soft drinks, water..all free... for gods sake im trying to eat less.. so just some gorgeous Pork things and vegetables... some M&M's ... some ice creme.. oh for gods sake i give up.. i end stuffed to the gills..

Also have access to the players tunnel so there we are like dewy eyed kids all lined up for a glimpse of our heroes.. we jostle for position... but experience has taught me.. stand behind little kids who are at the front.. so simple... we are then informed by a very large and stearn security guard the players won't stop.. and they duly run by at a fair lick and all the pen holding camera wielding fans are left wanting except for a fist bump from Mo Williams ... 

The atmosphere is not as electric as I expeienced at a Grizzlies game previousley mainly due to the home team magic being pretty awful and the game ending as a blowout... but the sight of Le Bron et al in the flesh is a serious life box tick..the King is in second gear but we get flashes of brilliance and he is just awesome to watch...

We make our way home happy and heavier Sad
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the sicilian
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« Reply #12 on: December 14, 2015, 04:38:17 AM »

The King & Pals
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the sicilian
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« Reply #13 on: December 14, 2015, 05:18:19 AM »

saturday morning i get the hotel gym to myself as punishment for the previous nights food frenzy.

in the afternoon i'm due to go paddle boarding.. i mistakenly tell my girlfriend im going waterboarding and shes left wondering if the CIA are now running weekend starter courses.
Paddle boarding can best be described as canoeing whilst standing up.. you stand on a big surfboard and paddle.. easy eh? hmmmm 4 dips into a surprisinlgy cold sea dictates otherwise... but it is great fun and i soon get the hang of it and only one more nose dive is to be had.
My host tells me they often get dolphins come right into the shoreline... but not today..

Oh one tip when you go paddle boarding.. dont wear your expensive rayban sunglasses .... so if you happen to see a dolphin around the gulf of Mexico looking really cool can you ask him if i can have them back please
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the sicilian
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« Reply #14 on: December 14, 2015, 05:25:17 AM »

A picture of aforementioned paddle Boards loaded in Jeff's ridiculously massive truck.. so satisfying post picture and some truck porn in one go Smiley
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