To the Suzhou saloonites

[Bugalugs]

Hi guys,

I am planning on heading to Suzhou on the 10th will anyone be around to show me some of the sights and delights, even though Wuxi is only 30 min away by train i have been too lazy to head to Suzhou b4 and am looking forward to having a look around.

If any one has any suggestions on what to see please let me know.

Thanks

[nolefan]

is that next weekend? I'm looking at being there too... december mini-saloon reunion?

[MyTurnNow]

You will both be welcomed and duly squired.
However, Nolefan should be aware that we strongly favor imports of more girls.

[nolefan]

no worries MTN.. i'm dragging juambimba along.. kicking and screaming and all...

[Bugalugs]

Thanks guys, am looking forward to seeing you soon.

Cant wait.

See ya there.

[Bugalugs]

Hey is it ok if i bring a girl friend or 2 with me MTN??

[Raoul Duke]

MTwho?
Bring 'em all, Bugs. 'Course, my heat ain't workin' so good. We may all have to huddle together for warmth...

[George61]

admin said:

MTwho?
Bring 'em all, Bugs. 'Course, my heat ain't workin' so good. We may all have to huddle together for warmth...

Even in summer he wants to huddle!!

[Raoul Duke]

Speaking of which, my current apartment is within a 10-minute walk of much of the best of the Suzhou sights. Uh, it's a bit nippy out there for the gardens and stuff. The Germans recommend heavy administration of schnapps, and they definitely know a thing or two about extreme cold.
I know this because I used to be married to one.

[nolefan]

kirstchvasser all around..

[George61]

admin said:

Speaking of which, my current apartment is within a 10-minute walk of much of the best of the Suzhou sights. Uh, it's a bit nippy out there for the gardens and stuff. The Germans recommend heavy administration of schnapps, and they definitely know a thing or two about extreme cold.
I know this because I used to be married to one.

You used to be married to a German???

[Raoul Duke]

Jawohl. It vas vun laffriotmachen.

[nolefan]

thanks for the offer, almighty leader!
however, the missus and myself will stick to the hospitality of Mario. When given the choice between the civet burger and the nutella pizza...... no contest there!!!

[Bugalugs]

Mm nutella pizza sounds great, but so does drinking copious amounts of alcohol, It will be a tough decision.

Do you guys no a good clean cheap place to stay over night i don't have classes on Monday and i don't want to have to leave Suzhou if I'm having a good time.

Xie Xie

[Raoul Duke]

Given the choice I'd stay with Mario, too. In fact, while you're here we should all meet for dinner at Mario's. We should also drink copious amounts of alcohol. And do other stuff.

So, Noles, I wasn't offering overnight accommodation. At least not to YOU. But if seeing Suzhou sights is in order, my place is a really good starting point.

Bugs, should cheap external lodging be necessary and desirable, there is a small galaxy of microhotels all around my place...and my place is very well-located. They seem to run around 100-150 RMB per night. We can get you into one if you'd like...

[nolefan]

<wiping off my brow>
the huddling together was directed at someone else?

Dinner at Mario's sounds good, a bunch of drinks sound good and I have been curious about this taco's place that Con mentioned a few times
We'll probably get there sunday morning and leave tueday evening... a nice little break from work

[Bugalugs]

Sounds great my plan will be either to arrive Sunday morning and leave either Monday night or Tuesday morning, depending on how many drinks sites i am able to handle.

Please be aware though that as an Australian i take my drinking very seriously.

At the moment it seems that i will have two friends accompanying me so external accommodation will probably be necessary.

Dinner at Mario's sounds like a great plan. Some thing i will certainly pencil in to my diary.

[Raoul Duke]

Don't worry...drinking is about the only thing we DO take seriously here. You'll be right at home.

You said you were bringing more girls, which raises the accomodation options considerably.

And Nolefan, if you really can't tell my writing from Con's, please do me a favor and shoot me now.

[Da Dan]

so....
We'll all meet Sunday for dinner at Mario's?
`cool......

the youth hostel on Shijuan jie isn't a bad option for fity a night if wanting cheap place to crash & shower... Sunday shouldn't be any problem getting a room.
not far from most things being discussed & also right next to the chicken farms, clothing boutiques & other things

[Raoul Duke]

Sounds like Sunday, if that's when Bugs will be here. Hope Juanbimba (and OK, Nolefan) are cool with that timing.
If I had to eat at Mario's on Saturday with Juanbimba and Nolefan, and again on Sunday with Bugalugs, I guess I could suffer through it. But it would be nice (and perhaps easier on my perpetually depleted wallet) to have us all together...

Bugs, any chance we can get you here Saturday night? I'd love to induct you into Raoul's Club Tequila (which is a nice way of saying I want to drink you into a state of total depravity), but we all have class Monday morning!

On the other hand, The Shamrock has all-you-can-drink for 100 RMB on Sunday evenings...

Maybe we could do both if ya come Saturday.

So, we have Bugalugs, Juanbimba, Nolefan, and Da Dan coming. Also hoping Eagle's Nest and the Missus will be here this weekend!
Aaaand of course our Suzhou crew, the Dong Gang, as usual.

Ought to be quite a weekend.

Jose Cuervo, or El Camino Real?
I prefer El Camino Real...tastes the same, is slightly cheaper, and has a slightly higher alcohol content.

[Raoul Duke]

PS- if any of the rest of you are in striking distance for this weekend, you're welcome to join us. Come on down.
Let me know!

[nolefan]

we're planning on leaving beijing on saturday which would put us in suzhou sunday morning. So sunday at Mario's sounds fine to me...

any chance of having Cabo Wabo or 1800 instead of jose or el camino??? ah.. never mind, as long as it is not the from the barrel where we pickle George, I'm fine with it

[nolefan]

is that all you can drink beer or is other stuff included??? a few long island ice teas would definitely be a good digestif after some gorgonzola gniocchi and nutella pizza

[Raoul Duke]

The all-you-can-drink stuff is almost everything they have...not just beer. Not completely sure Long Island Iced Teas are on the menu but I think so; if not there are lots of other choices. The special ends at 12 or 1am but gives way to 10-RMB shots. Needless to say, these evenings at the Shamrock are exercises in excess. Bring some onions to cook up with your liver. I try to make these a rare event.

It sounds like Sunday is the centerpiece. Maybe take in a sight if you'd like (even just a walk down Ping Jiang Lu), dinner at Mario's, finish the night at the Shamrock.

The Gorgonzola Gnocchi sound interesting. I can't get past the Rosetta Di Mamma- pasta stuffed with a delicately-spiced meat and cheese filling, drowning in Alfredo sauce with garlic, tomato, and chopped Italian ham, and buried in freshly-grated Parmesan. Table-pounding good.
God Bless Mario.

I'm just sorry all these nice fresh-faced kids are coming here in the midst of all these rumors of big chunks of hashish floating around town. Whatever will they think of our friendly, clean, and progressive little village?

[Da Dan]

maybees give Mario a call & let him know a group is coming, (a group with quite an appitite from ) set a price & have him just bring out food like he did last time we went there...

let him know that all of us are big net users & talk to lots a folks all over the place that someday will end up in Suzhou....


I'll prolly be there Sat.... we should plan a tour of sorts for Sunday day, Monday we'll be a wasted non-moving group