Stairway to Everywhere
Sep 21, 2012 in Travel
I’d started this vacation expecting I’d be the good travel blogger I usually have been. Sixteen days later, apparently not! I spent a little while searching my soul for the… Read on…
Ljlub... ljublaj... ljubljana... ljublwhatnow?
Sep 12, 2012 in Travel
My wife’s eyes were apologetic as we drove into Ljubljana. As we’d planned this trip, she’d booked our stops in Slovenia, and I’d booked those in Croatia, and at our… Read on…
Istanbul, Not Guantanamo Bay; Been a Long Time Gone, Guantanamo Bay
Sep 8, 2012 in Travel
We touched down in Istanbul at about 6pm, which would’ve been fine to get into the old, touristy part of town — Sultanahmet — before sundown, except they lost my… Read on…
My Advice for Your Safari in Tanzania
Jan 21, 2012 in Travel
Let’s lead off with my first suggestion here: definitely 100% you should go on a safari, and I highly, highly recommend Tanzania for that safari. It’s a place where there… Read on…
And Now for Something Completely Different
Jan 15, 2012 in Travel
After our trip through the Selous, the driving about the Ruaha that came before it, and dusty Arusha, and the mud and jungle of Mahale, it was time to recover… Read on…
These Are My Teeth!
Jan 15, 2012 in Travel
We arrived at the Selous right ahead of a storm, just as we had at Ruaha. We could feel it too: as our unpressurized Caravan made its landing turn, hot,… Read on…
The Most Into Poo I've Ever Been in My Life
Jan 11, 2012 in Travel
I never expected I would care about dung beetles, or that I would even see them on this safari: but, apparently, get a bunch of scarab beetles rolling around and… Read on…
Arusha, I Can't Quit You
Dec 31, 2011 in Travel
I’m writing this blog entry on my third flight out of Arusha — we keep leaving, but we can’t seem to stay away. Even after yesterday, after we drove out… Read on…
Look at That, it's Raining in the Congo
Dec 22, 2011 in Travel
Lake Tanganyika is the second-longest freshwater lake in the world, and contains 17% of the world’s fresh water — or so it said in the brochure in our resort, the… Read on…
30 Hours
Dec 17, 2011 in Travel
Habati from Africa! At least, I think that’s the word. It’s kind of hard to tell details like “what’s the language” and “where am I?” and “what time is it?”… Read on…
How to Survive a Timeshare Presentation
Sep 6, 2010 in Travel
Somehow, years ago, we were lucky enough to get on a list of people who should have timeshares pitched to them. That got us a trip to Hawaii. So we… Read on…
The Worst Cabbie in Los Angeles
Aug 14, 2010 in Travel
LA is a car city. Nobody walks in LA; everybody drives. You would think this would lead to having cabbies who know their way around town. But you would think… Read on…
France Addendum: The Loire Valley (Or, Ain't No Party Like an Amboise Party 'Cause an Amboise Party Gots King)
Aug 8, 2010 in Travel
It’s important to stress that the town we stayed in while we were in the Loire, Amboise, was a party place. Specifically, the King — whose family was from around… Read on…
A Tale of Two Flights
Jul 25, 2010 in Travel
I realized that the flight would be different when nobody responded to the call button that my wife pushed shortly after take-off. In fact, it took five hours for a… Read on…
France, Part 6: Porquerolles
Jul 22, 2010 in Travel
It seems like every vacation Mrs. DJ L’il Bit and I have taken has had its own specialty drink — not just a featured beverage, but something that we never… Read on…
France, Part 5: the Loire and Burgundy
Jul 16, 2010 in Travel
Now, a France vacation, it’s a dream vacation, that’s for sure; romance, food, culture, and all that. The only problem I’ve had is paying with credit cards. It’s not that… Read on…
France, Part 4: Paris - Sunset's at 10:45pm
Jul 8, 2010 in Travel
It’s really true, sunset is at nearly 11, which goes a long way to explaining why I haven’t blogged lately — It’s hard to come home, edit photos, and write… Read on…
France, Day 3: Paris - Not the Louvre
Jul 4, 2010 in Travel
If you’re planning a Paris trip, it’s worth noting that this whole free first Sunday of the Month at the Louvre thing is not such a good idea. We showed… Read on…
Allez à Paris!
Jul 2, 2010 in Travel
The hardest blog entry for a trip is always the first one: there’s not much to write about, as travel is boring (if you’re doing it right); and then there’s… Read on…
Pavlov's Resort
Nov 1, 2009 in Travel
The hardest part of coming home isn’t the end of the adventure, or the not being alone together, or driving on the right side of the road; it’s the lack of drums. At Lalati, drums tell you about everything. Happy hour? The drums will call you. Dinner? Drums! Time to go on the group snorkeling trip? You guessed it, drums. I keep on forgetting to have lunch because there’s no drums to tell me it’s lunch time, and I spend all afternoon looking forward to the 5pm happy hour drums, yet they don’t come. Read on…
Bula'd
Oct 31, 2009 in Travel
Fiji, obviously, was an incredible, happy, relaxing getaway. We both came away refreshed, and eight days of just enjoying ourselves in complete indulgence was the perfect conclusion to our honeymoon. But, I have to admit, it was a little odd quite how intimate I got with the staff at Lalati Resort. I mean, practically as intimate as I was with my brand new wife. Read on…
Own Private Idaho Island
Oct 29, 2009 in Photos, Travel
Counting down to the end of our honeymoon, we had to do something incredible to close out such an outstanding vacation. Fortunately, Lalati offered just such a package, and at the outrageously low price typical of the venue — a day away at a private, secluded beach, with picnic lunch, booze, and two one-hour massages per person. Frankly, we’d been looking forward to this high point since we started to research the resort, and getting out there and getting it done was essential; being blocked by high winds on Thursday, when we’d planned to go out, only increased our determination. Friday, we finally made it, paddling our kayaks with more than a little dispatch as we worked our way to the beach even before the motorboat would have arrived to take us there. Read on…
Bula from Fiji!
Oct 22, 2009 in Photos, Travel
Coke is made with real sugar in both New Zealand and Fiji, which, if you know me well, you know is a big priority. But there are other good things about Fiji, too. Specifically: the relaxing. And: the activities related to relaxing. And then: the activities that burn off any excess energy so that I can get back to relaxing.
The flip side of all this is that I’m not having much of that delicious sugar-sweetened Coke here, since, well, who needs caffeine to get in the way of that all-important relaxing? Oh, and I do apologize for the lateness of this entry, but blogging and photo editing was getting in the way of the relaxing. And, if you had the view from your veranda that I have from mine, you’d want to focus on the relaxing too. Read on…
An Ending Fit For a Queen
Oct 18, 2009 in Photos, Travel
So this is it… the last morning in New Zealand. Not too many tears; this afternoon we head for Fiji. We ended with four nights — our longest stop yet — in Queenstown, the premier tourist destination in New Zealand and largest city in the area. We arrived with an equal mix of exhaustion and determination to avail ourselves of the adrenalin-fueled sports the area’s famous for. Plus food, wine, fun. Read on…
Sailing Doubtful Sound
Oct 14, 2009 in Photos, Travel
Everyone says that you need to spend time on New Zealand’s famous sounds, Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound (both of which are, in fact, fjords rather than sounds). Doubtful Sound is the more remote, difficult, and vast destination; of course, we had to go there. Of course, that meant more driving. But, fortunately, at the end of this drive was a boat, taking us through an overnight cruise far, far away from pretty much anything else in this world. Read on…
Three Days in Wanaka; Or, Finally Three Days Somewhere
Oct 13, 2009 in Photos, Travel
While the drive to Wanaka was long, and rainy, and, worse than both, unexpectedly so, such that it sapped our energy, the fact is that Wanaka might be our favorite place in New Zealand so far. Wanaka is the red-headed stepchild of the nearby, and much more famous, Queenstown. Both towns are on a beautiful lake, both have a gold-mining history, both offer great outdoor options nearby, but Queenstown is much larger. I’m not sure about Queenstown yet, but Wanaka was beautiful, cute, filled with friendly people and good meals, and a great time all around. Read on…
Crossing New Zealand, to Punakaki and the Franz Josef Glacier
Oct 12, 2009 in Photos, Travel
We left Christchurch driving in the opposite direction of Kaikoura, not that we were sad to do so with the rain and cold coming down from the north. Originally, the plan was to take the legendarily spectacular TranzAlpine train to cross the Southern Alps, but they’re doing track maintenance while we’re in the country, so we drove the route instead — and I can hardly imagine that it was much less spectacular. Our destination was an overnight stop at Punakaki, home of the famous Pancake Rocks, and another overnighter at the Franz Josef Glacier. Read on…
Exceedingly Non-Comprehensive Honeymoon Update, Without Photos
Oct 12, 2009 in Travel
One of the few things more amazing than the beauty of New Zealand’s West Coast may be the slow, expensive Internet we’ve found there so far. Thus the lack of updates. Well, that and the million things we’ve been doing on that West Coast. Read on…
The Triple Pain in My Ass
Fresh off the heels of an incredible stay in Kaikoura, we headed back to Christchurch for another stay at the Hotel So, plus the chance to enjoy the city’s sights a bit. Soon we’ll be gadding about the country, doing all sorts of damn-fool things, so our last day in Christchurch has been a bit of a relaxing time for us — sleep in, have a nice breakfast, see the sights. And it’s a good thing it’s a nice, mellow day, because we barely made it here. Read on…
The Part of the Honeymoon That You Hate Me For
Based on past experience, we knew that we needed to relax, catch our breath, and get a few nights’ solid sleep before we could really appreciate our honeymoon. Also based on past experience, we knew that we wouldn’t allow ourselves to make such passive choices unless there was really very little else to do and we were also in a brilliant place. That’s why we planned ourselves a nice splurge for the beginning of our honeymoon. We got out of Christchurch for a couple of days, drove north to Kaikoura, and stayed outside of town at a quiet lodge instead of our usual downtown hotel will small, reasonably-priced rooms. Specifically, we stayed in a treehouse at the Hapuku Lodge. Go ahead, click on that link, we might as well get the you hating me started so that we can be on the same page. Read on…
Honeymoon; Or, 11 Hours With Nothing I Have To Make Sure Happens
I’ve been bad about blogging. Very, very bad. For about the last year. I know, I’m sorry, please come back gentle readers; I plan to post a lot more now. You see, at first I didn’t feel like I had much of anything to say; then my inspiration came back, but it was joined by a new business and, most of all, by being engaged. And, if you want to find an excuse to give up all your hobbies and free time, let me tell you, getting married is it. DJ L’il Bit — now, I guess, Mrs. DJ L’il Bit! — and I spent a quick 18 weeks planning two weddings, and then we got married, and now we’re on our honeymoon, and finally I have time to say something in. So, let me say: ha-ha, I’m in New Zealand and you’re not! Read on…
More Cruise? Yes Please!
Feb 28, 2009 in Photos, Travel
Sorry I’ve been so bad at posting lately — between a new job and a new project (watch for it to launch in a few weeks to a couple of months!) I haven’t had the time I should to get on the ol’ Juniorbird.com. Which is also my way of saying that I may not post so much for the next few months either. Of course, the corrollary is that, the more you do, the more you do, so you may see more from me here.1 But I do have something for you, something special from the cruise. Read on…
If They Could See Me Now
Feb 21, 2009 in Photos, Reviews, Travel
I like vacations. I’d actually kind of forgotten about that, but I like them. So I’ve tried to take more lately. Cruises had popped up on our radar a few months ago; prices have been dropping dramatically as cruise lines have desperately tried to keep bookings up. Looking around for things to do for Valentine’s Day, a 4-night Carnival cruise to Catalina and Ensenada was actually so cheap as to be competitive with a nice dinner out. So I bought my honey one. Read on…
How to Get Your Stuff Back From TSA Lost-and-Found in Los Angeles
Aug 17, 2008 in Travel
A couple of weeks ago I traveled to Dallas, and, due to some confusion1 managed to leave my keys at security. Life with only the backup set of keys is, how shall we say, not worth living moderately inconvenient. Getting my keys back was easy enough once I figured out what to do, but it’s not obvious. Here’s how to get your stuff back from the TSA.2 Read on…
In Which I Fall Behind on My Posting 'Cause I'm Relaxing on the Beach, Suckas
I’m sorry I haven’t written! But I’ve been so, well, relaxed, and busy doing relaxing things. For instance, sleeping in. And sleeping on the beach. And sleeping next to the pool. And drinking almost every rum-based drink known to man. But I did take some pictures in between, because I care. Or, because I did wonderful things and want to make you jealous. To wit: Read on…
Flyin'
May 29, 2008 in Photos, Travel
From the busy, crazy Honolulu — at least, if you ask the locals, it’s a high-stress, high-traffic place — we flew on one of those little jets made by dirty Canucks, to sunny and slower Kauai. The “garden isle” of
Read on…
Progress
May 28, 2008 in Travel
Today, we tore right through our to-do list, just like two good type As. To wit: Get morning coffee Get most outrageously indulgent-looking pastry at bakery (it was basically a… Read on…
Will You Need a Blue Sky Holiday?
May 27, 2008 in Photos, Travel
Today was a very relaxing day; which was good, because we both needed it. Normally, I plan out my vacations ahead of time — learn what sites I want to see at each stop, plan out the day to make sure I hit my itinerary, and make sure my list is completed each day. But this has been a less-planned trip, and we’re trying to relax. This is what happens when two type As relax. To wit, today’s complete schedule: Read on…
The Secret Word is "Vacation"
May 26, 2008 in Photos, Travel
As promised, I am in fact on vacation. The AIG and I are on a trip to Hawaii; badly needed, since this will make something like two vacations since 2000 for each of us. Perhaps I should’ve brought a book on how to relax? Read on…
On Gluttony
Right now, lying on my back on my bed in my hotel room, my bloated stomach in the air, I fear I must be channeling Nero Wolfe. Well, insofar as I’m overindulging, not insofar as I’m solving crimes. And I must also say that I am killing the orchids I have, so maybe I’m not that much like Nero Wolfe. Except that I’m currently approaching hemispherical in profile, thanks to my most recent, outrageously large, dinner. Read on…
Best of Southeast Asia
If you’re like the friends I instant message with — and who isn’t, these days — then you took one look at my Southeast Asia vacation photos and said “hey, there are more than 400 photos here! Aren’t any of them good?” The answer, of course, is “sorry, no!” But, despite that unfortunate fact, I’ve collected this “best of” list so that you can pretend to have looked at my photos, and compliment me on them, while not actually having to wade (heh) through them! And away we go! Read on…
Finally, Photos!
Jul 29, 2006 in Photos, Travel
I’ve finally managed to upload my photos from my Southeast Asia trip. It’s amazing, I actually had all of them edited by the time I got back to the US, it’s just that I needed a couple of days to upload them to Smugmug. Anyway, check them out — I’ve got photos… Read on…
Hey Look, There's A Swift Boat!
Jul 21, 2006 in Travel
I was going to the worst place in the world and I didn’t even know it yet. Weeks away and hundreds of miles up a river that snaked through the war like a main circuit cable - plugged straight into Kurtz.
No wait, sorry, wrong trip up the Mekong. Mine was actually kind of nice. No “terminate with extreme prejudice” or anything, although, you should be aware, this entry does not exist, nor will it ever exist.
After Saigon, my next stop was Cambodia — specifically, its capital, Phnom Penh, and the famous ruins at Angkor Wat. Now, I could fly up there, which was both quick and inexpensive (thank you Vietnam Airlines, Air Asia, and Bangkok Air!), but what fun would that be? No, I decided to take a tour up the Mekong river, seeing the sights and the local minority peoples and drinking with other English-speaking tourists. Yes, it promised to be a bang-up time. Read on…
Don't Know How Lucky You Are
Jul 20, 2006 in Travel
I’m back! That’s right, I survived four hours of flying from Bangkok to Taipei — including an unexpected and free upgrade to business class — followed by a five-hour layover in Taipei, capped off with an eleven hour flight home (it was supposed to be twelve, but I guess we caught a tailwind, which was good since it took an hour for my bag to come off the plane). Read on…
So That's Why the Sky In All My Photos is a Flat White
Jul 18, 2006 in Travel
I’m back in Bangkok, picking up a few last gifts before I get on a plane home tomorrow (if you’re reading this entry, it’s probably too late to put in a request for a tchotchke or a small Thai slave). But it’s not the tourist goods that I’m thinking about now, it’s the evil-looking gray cloud that grabbed my attention as I flew to Bangkok from Chiang Mai. Read on…
The Thai Pac-Man Goes...*
Jul 17, 2006 in Travel
Chiang Mai is a small city in Northern Thailand, but Thais seem to think of it like their second city. I came here because it’s in the hills, and I thought I’d like a little cool weather to end my vacation. The weather has been quite reasonable for this area, although of course with the humidity of the jungle. Yesterday, I tromped about town — it only takes a half hour to walk from one end of the old walled city to the other — visitng as many of the city’s old and beautiful wats, or Buddhist temples, as possible. Read on…
Return to the Land of the Controlled Intersections
Jul 15, 2006 in Travel
I’m back in Thailand, whose traffic had scared me a bit, it’s true, and I’m still surprised to see the oncoming traffic on my right, not my left, but the fact is that there are lights at the intersections here, and everyone’s instrument cluster works (how does the entire population of Vietnam get along without a single working gas gauge or dipstick?) so I must be back in civilization! We’ll see later when I take a moto ride with a friend who I’ve unexpectedly discovered is living in Chiang Mai. Read on…
Best Food Ever
Jul 12, 2006 in Travel
Until today, I had, in all honesty, been disappointed by the food I’d had in Cambodia. Khmer cuisine was supposed to be the undiscovered jewel, but it had seemed bland compared to Thai cuisine, which was spicier, or Vietnamese cuisine, which was more flavorful. And then I got a cookie on the street, and had dinner at what is purported to be Mick Jagger’s favorite place in Siem Reap. That Mick, he’s a smart man. Oh, and I also saw that wonder of the world, Angkor Wat, etc. etc. etc. Read on…
Miss Saigon Traffic Accident
Jul 11, 2006 in Travel
I know I owe you all a few entries from the week I missed back there earlier on my trip, so here’s part one of two: Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City, also known as “the expensive place in Vietnam.” Which is to say, sure, I’d go back in a minute. Read on…
Phnom Penh: the Dark and the Light
Jul 10, 2006 in Travel
For an introduction to Cambodia, I’m not sure how I could have done better than today. I saw the bad in the city — the Killing Fields, the infamous prison of Tuol Sleng — and paired it with the good — the Royal Palace, atmospheric traditional music at Wat Phnom — finally ending things by eating grilled meat and drinking rice wine with moto drivers on a dirt field in the middle of the city. Read on…
Along the Perfume River
Jul 3, 2006 in Travel
I’ve been out of the country for more than two weeks now — in fact, I passed the halfway mark on my trip yesterday — and I was starting to worry that I would soon need a relaxing day off. That was before I took a boat ride down Hué’s Perfume river and visited the tombs of the Nguyen emperors. Let me tell you, those emperors knew how to pick a spot for their mausoleums! Read on…
Country Town Hué
Jul 2, 2006 in Travel
I’ll admit that my first impression of Hué was “hicksville” — after all, I arrived on Saturday and found the kids all hanging out at the gas station, leaning on their motos, while the sidewalk seems to peter out a few blocks past the main drag, in a few places; and, of course, there’s no in-room internet in the mid-priced hotels, like there was in Hanoi. Read on…
Foiled by Weather!
Jun 30, 2006 in Travel
So, if you’ve been following the weather in Southeast Asia — and, let’s face it, who doesn’t these days? — then you’ve probaby noticed that there was a typhoon in the South China Sea that turned and made its way over to North Vietnam, right where I am. Weather, on a vacation? Who’d’ve thunk it! So right now I’m sitting in my hotel room blogging, thanks to Typhoon Domeng. That means, and you get to learn all about my Typhoon-adjusted travels. Read on…
All Around Hanoi
Jun 28, 2006 in Travel
The lack of Engrish t-shirts in Vietnam is making it hard for me to find funny blog titles, but I do think I hit some sort of Hanoi trifecta today: I saw Uncle Ho’s mausoleum, the Army museum, and had dessert with a hooker. It doesn’t get much better than that! Except for — and I will admit this freely, because sometimes giving bad things a name makes them less bad — it is preposterously hot here.
Read on…
Check Out My Enormous Dong
Jun 26, 2006 in Travel
Hanoi is ridiculously beautiful, although there are a few problems. One is that the street my hotel is on shares a name with two other streets, just the tones vary between the three names. So I tried to meet up w/some people a friend knows who live here, and I texted my address, but since I coudn’t include the accents that specify the tones, they had to track down which of the streets I live on. But we met up, and went out. The other unfortunateness is the Vietnamese currency, named the Dong. Not only is its name a silly schoolyard bad word, but it’s also in cartoon-large bill sizes. The smallest is 1000 dong, and, at 15,000 to the dollar, that’s not much. So I took out just a little money but I have a massive roll in my pocket: Read on…
To Susan on the West Coast Waiting
Jun 25, 2006 in Travel
Today I flew from Bangkok to Hanoi. Coming down from the clouds, Vietnam stretching before me — it was kind of a Charlie Sheen in Platoon moment. But, after an afternoon here, I know I love it. Read on…
Jesus Died For Your Sins Punk Bitch Sucker*
Jun 24, 2006 in Travel
I may perhaps have exaggerated the bad news in the last entry. At any rate, it’s pretty much all been sunshine since. First of all, I finally got to have a tuk-tuk ride. Second, I had really good food (which is what Thailand is known for, after all). Third, I saw great places. Fourth, my back is almost all better. Fifth, I figured out how to get rid of the ubiqutous touts that pester tourists everywhere. And, finally, I’m headed for Hanoi tomorrow!
Read on…
No Tuk-Tuk!
Jun 22, 2006 in Travel
Today started with a wardrobe malfunction, included a language malfunction, included boats and mostly-naked broads, and ended with a back malfunction. Assuming I can get out of bed tomorrow, I’ll count it as a very good day. Read on…
The B Word
Jun 21, 2006 in Travel
Day One in Bangkok started with a torrential downpour; thenceforth, humidity held just below the level required to create spontaneous cloudbursts, although the sky was happy to host intimidating clouds all day long. Perhaps because of this humidity, and the heat — in the 90s — I saw almost no other westerners as I walked around Banglamphu and the region around Khao San road. Read on…
Southeast Asia: Half the Fun is Getting There!
Jun 20, 2006 in Travel
Today was fascinating, not least because it was twenty-eight hours long and also included all of tomorrow. For a day that was almost entirely spent on an airplane, I got a fair dose of excitement. Read on…
Off I Go, Into the Wild Blue-Green Yonder
Jun 18, 2006 in Travel
So in about four hours I will leap out into the unknown and get on one of China Air’s widebodies, headed for Southeast Asia (via Taiwan, with a seven-hour layover — yecch). I’m filled with that mix of excitement and dread that always comes before a big trip, with part of me deeply enthused and the other part wishing for a good night’s sleep in my comfy bed. Seriously, I’m incredibly looking forward to this trip — and glad that I was able to make it an environmentally-sounder “green” trip. Read on…
The Itinerary
Jun 11, 2006 in Travel
The rumors are true, I am in fact headed out of town soon. For those of you who are following along at home, here’s the details: Read on…
Please Return Your Seat-backs and Tray Tables to Their Fully-Upright Position Right Now, Bitch!
Jun 2, 2006 in Travel
Travel, of course, brings out the best in other people. Some of our most notable fellow travelers are the people who recline their seats all the way even though they’re seated in Economy Class. I’d like to pass on a big shout-out to all those worthies, because they’re super-special. Yes, you. You! You’re super-special. Yes you are! Read on…
Oh Yeah, I Went To Costa Rica Over The Holidays
Jan 20, 2006 in Travel
I landed in Costa Rica on Christmas Day. One of my 2005 New Year’s Resolutions was to travel more, and part of that turned into a holiday trip down South, with friends from Marshall. After hours of flight over water, we wheeled over mountains rising directly from the beach and swooped low over small farming fields and jungle. Read on…
Things That Seem Weird Now That I'm Back Home From Costa Rica
Jan 4, 2006 in Travel
Sure, it’s nice to be home, but one side effect of leaving the country is a smidge of culture shock when you return. I mean, I just got home and am finding the following quite odd: Read on…
Costa Rica-Bound
Dec 24, 2005 in Travel
Tomorrow, excessively early, I’m off to Costa Rica for a bit more than a week’s vacation. I’ll be traveling to the Pacific Coast towns of Playa Tamarindo and Montezuma, maybe… Read on…
The Wonder Of Coach Class
Dec 20, 2005 in Travel
It’s fairly well-known that I’m weird, but this common knowledge doesn’t necessarily extend to the realization that I actually prefer flying coach. Despite my bad knee, despite my long legs, despite my penchant for horribly overpacked carry-ons, I like being squeezed in like a sardine. Why? Well, it’s the company. You meet the most interesting people in coach. Read on…
Arizona Photos
Sep 17, 2005 in Photos, Travel
So, Arizona may have been hot and generally mediocre, but it was, from time to time, pretty. Since I don’t feel like using my words, here’s a few photos for your entertainment. Read on…
Bonus Alexandria Pics From The Baltimore Trip
As I mentioned, when attempting to fly home from Baltimore I instead found myself stuck in a hotel in Alexandria. Well, what better to do at a time like that… Read on…
Baltimore Inner Harbor Pictures
Aug 31, 2005 in Travel
I know you all would like some actual textual content, but I don’t have time tonight — which means you’re stuck with more photos of Baltimore. Fortunately for you, there’s only two more galleries left. Until I get my photos from Tucson back, that is. Anway, until then, enjoy the nautical attractions of Baltimore’s lovely downtown Inner Harbor. Read on…
Baltimore City Pictures
Aug 30, 2005 in Photos, Travel
Tired of my travel photos yet? Not me! Here is the first of four sets of pictures from my trip to Baltimore. These are just general pictures of the city… Read on…
Mexico City Templo Mayor Pictures
Aug 29, 2005 in Travel
This is it — the very last set of photos from Mexico City. I has a great trip there, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the photos at least 10% as much as I enjoyed taking them. What follows is photos of the ruins of the ancient Aztec Templo Mayor, the center of life in old Tenochtitlan. If you haven’t figured out by now that clicking zooms, then I have no idea what to do with you. Read on…
Mexico City Cathedral
Aug 27, 2005 in Photos, Travel
While, someday soon, we may actually have textual content, for the moment I’m not in the mood. So, more pics from Mexico City. Don’t worry; there’s only one gallery of these left (and four from my trip to Baltimore). If you click on these photos, Smugmug will offer you many added features. Read on…
Mexico City Ninos Heroes Photos
Aug 23, 2005 in Photos, Travel
One of Mexico’s most famous recent monuments (that is, excepting the Aztec and Maya ruins) is the Ninos Heroes in the Bosque de Chapultepec. It’s a very proud monument for such a sad story. I’ve done my best to take proud, nationalist photos of it, despite being from the nation that inspired the cadets’ jetteé. Read on…
Mexico City Castillo de Chapultepec Photos
Aug 20, 2005 in Photos, Travel
In Mexico City’s Bosque de Chapultepec you’ll find the Castillo de Chapultepec, home of many of Mexico’s governments, including the initial Revolutionary government, Emperor Maximilian, and most of the Governors-General. It’s a bizarre hodgepodge of various styles of architecture, with components obviously built by experienced military men with an eye for a defensive position, and components built imitating the styles of the grand French chateaux. The Castillo has a great view of the whole city and is definitely where I’ll make my home, when I’m king. Read on…
Mexico City Bosque de Chapultepec Photos
Aug 19, 2005 in Photos, Travel
The Bosque, or forest, is a large area, around a hill, that has stood green since the time of the Aztecs, and which held the rulers of Mexico City from the time of the Conquistadors to well after the Revolution. Here are a few pictures I took on my recent trip to el D.F. As usual, click to enlarge, etc. Read on…
Rio Beaches PRIME Photos
Aug 17, 2005 in B-School, Photos, Travel
I’ve had all of these galleries of photos from South America, but the number one question I get is: “what about those beach babes in thongs on Copacabana and Ipanema in Rio?” Well, this is the entry in which I finally answer that question. Read on…
Churches on Rio PRIME
Aug 14, 2005 in Travel
For some reason, I’m always inspired to put all of my photos of churches in one album. Certainly, churches make for great photos. Well, here’s the ones I took in Rio. Oh, and for some balance there’s two pictures from a street that was filled with hookers. Not that I took any pictures of the hookers. Just of the street on which the hookers sat. Frankly, Rio hookers scared me. There’s probably a future blog entry on that. Read on…
Fort Copacabana Rio PRIME Photos
Aug 13, 2005 in B-School, Photos, Travel
As promised, pictures of the impressive Fort Copacabana in the Rio Harbor. Click to zoom. Read on…
Corcovado In Rio PRIME Pictures
Aug 9, 2005 in B-School, Photos, Travel
One of Rio’s most famous landmarks is the large statue of Christ on the Corcovado mountain. This was one of the banner stops on my second day in Rio. Click to zoom, etc. Read on…
Pao de Azucar at Rio de Janeiro PRIME
Aug 6, 2005 in B-School, Photos, Travel
Pao de Azucar, or Sugarloaf Mountain, is one of Rio’s major attractions. In our first day of sun, we climbed up the mountain and took in our first sights of the city. Click to buy mousepads from Smugmug, etc. Read on…
Churrasco in São Paulo PRIME Pictures
Aug 6, 2005 in B-School, Photos, Travel
Brazil is famous for its Churrasco — all-you-can-eat barbecued meats served tableside by waitrons bearing skewers of the food and sabers to cut out the portions. I especially recommend the chicken hearts; drink with copious guaraná. (Click to enlarge photos.) Read on…
São Paulo Churches PRIME Pictures
Aug 3, 2005 in B-School, Photos, Travel
São Paulo has some lovely churches in it. As mentioned here, these include a lovely old cathedral and and old cemetery, both in the middle of the downtown commercial district. Read on…
São Paulo PRIME Pictures
Aug 2, 2005 in Travel
As I promised, pictures of São Paulo are finally here. Enjoy! (And click to zoom or order prints of the pretty ones.) Read on…
More Santiago PRIME Pictures
Aug 1, 2005 in B-School, Photos, Travel
These are from the Cerro Santa Lucia, which I wrote about with (hopefully) some minimal skill here. As usual, click to enlarge! Read on…
Santiago PRIME Pictures
Jul 30, 2005 in B-School, Photos, Travel
As long promised, my pictures from PRIME. Presented without commentary, because I already provided a lot of that (which you can read here and here and here if you want). Read on…
Charm City
Jul 17, 2005 in Travel
Since I’ve apparently traveled about everywhere else this summer, I thought I’d try going back home to Baltimore. Yes, the one in Maryland. Not to be confused with Boston or with Bangor (I’ve had it confused with both). What better city to introduce someone you care about than Charm City? Read on…
The People With The Bags
Jul 14, 2005 in Travel
I’ve been traveling a lot lately, and there’s a certain set of my fellow travelers who stand out. It’s not the people with kids, or the businessmen in their suits, or the harried wives dragging along irresponsible husbands who have no idea how to manage any complex task in their lives apart from golf, it’s not even the four rows of people behind me on an earlier flight who were obviously related because all four generations of these blondes had exactly the same hairstyle. No, it’s the people with the bags, those two large wheel-on bags that the rest of us check and that they, somehow, have the gumption to try to squeeze into the overhead compartments. Read on…
Camino Real Hotel Mexico City
Jul 11, 2005 in Photos, Travel
Strangely enough, one of my more popular entries (insofar as it seems to turn up in my top-visited pages in my logs) is my photo entry on Houston’s Hotel Derek. In the spirit of that entry, here’s my experience at Mexico City’s Hotel Camino Real, the stylish hotel I stayed at in Mexico City. Read on…
Gluttony al Pastor
Jul 3, 2005 in Travel
Today I ate eight tacos al pastor. With yesterday’s two tortas, that makes this an all-Mexican street food (and tourism)weekend, which is a good weekend in my book. I just wish the fruit sellers hadn’t closed up shop yesterday before I could get some of that good-looking, fresh mango with chile powder. Read on…
Getting Back Up To Speed
Jun 30, 2005 in Travel
When I was in Brazil, I frequently was stuck sitting in the front seat of cabs. For some strange reason, even though the cabs were tiny, even though all of them had some major instrument out of service (speedometer, fuel, or, in one case a functional-but-not-useful generic turn indicator that flashed a two-headed arrow whenever the driver signalled), even though the cabs were all driven at a high rate of speed, even though the cabs followed too close, didn’t attend to the lanes painted on the road, and even though the cabs just blew through red lights after dark, I never was particularly scared. And, yes, I took the cabs before I got drinking too. But, today, taking a cab from the Mexico City airport to my hotel. I was scared out of my gourd. Clutching the hanging front-seat seatbelt for dear life. Staring at my feet so that I didn’t have to look out the window at my onrushing doom. Read on…
Garotas Brasileras
Jun 18, 2005 in Travel
Ever since I got back from PRIME, people have complimented me on my sagacity in traveling to Brazil. “Wow,” they say, “weren’t those Brazilian chicks hot?” And all I can do is sigh, because, no, Brazilian women aren’t really more attractive than American women. Read on…
PRIME: Eu Falo um Poco de Português
Jun 2, 2005 in B-School, Travel
I’m very happy that I took the time to learn a little bit of Portuguese before traveling to Brazil. Having the ability to understand, and to communicate with, many of the people I met there really improved my trip. Of course, it also got me stuck riding in the front of cabs and talking to cabbies, so it wasn’t all upside. Read on…
PRIME: Chile vs. Brazil Deathmatch
May 31, 2005 in B-School, Travel
We got to see two countries. Both were pretty cool! But which should I go back to (or, maybe, go back to first)? Let’s figure this out for once and for all with this one-on-one deathmatch between these two South American countries. Read on…
PRIME Brazil: Fort Copacabana
May 27, 2005 in B-School, Travel
So there was this flu-like thing that was making its way slowly through the whole PRIME group; I got it two weeks ago. Fortunately it only lasted a day and a half (as compared to up to a week for other people), but, as soon as I felt better, I went out for churrascaria and several caipirhinas, and that was pushing it too hard; the flu turned into a stomach thing that laid me up for most of another day. So, today I took it easy, walking down Copacabana beach to the beautiful Fort Copacabana. Read on…
PRIME Brazil: The Sights of Rio
May 25, 2005 in B-School, Travel
Vacation at last. After a week of PRIME activities, a day of travel, and, admittedly, a day by myself in São Paulo, it’s finally time to really get free and have fun! Read on…
PRIME Brazil: Samba!
May 25, 2005 in B-School, Travel
With fortune on our side, some members of my little group in Rio made friends with some locals, and said locals invited us out for dinner and dancing at a Samba club. And I have discovered why Brazillians are so skinny: Samba! Read on…
PRIME Brazil: São Paulo -- Chicken Hearts, Being "That Guy", Pinacoteca, and Leaving São Paulo
May 23, 2005 in B-School, Travel
I’ve been a bad blogger! But I’ve been a busy traveler. So here’s the update for the last three days of São Paulo, including one day of PRIME class; one day of walking around the city; and, of course, travelling to Rio de Janeiro, from whence I am posting. Read on…
PRIME Brazil: Leavin' 'Em Speechless
May 19, 2005 in B-School, Travel
“I have no questions. I have nothing to add.” That’s what you want to hear from the CEO of a major cable TV company after you’ve presented to him, and that’s what my PRIME consulting team got from the president of Brazillian cable leader NET Serviços. Two days in Brazil, four fun and interesting site visits, some good food, and a funny tour guide — plus that positive response — how can you do better? Read on…
Santiago PRIME, Day 3
May 16, 2005 in B-School, Travel
Today I made a mistake. We went to the Vinos Concha y Toro vineyard, and I thought we’d be there just for meetings and speeches; instead, we got a tour of the whole complex. And me not with my camera! So there will be no photos of Concha y Toro. Nor will there be — and I doubt you’ll be unhappy about this — any photos of the teams presenting to Bice Bank or Banco Santander Santiago. (Yes, we are here to give real actual consulting presentations!) Read on…
Santiago PRIME, Day 2
May 15, 2005 in B-School, Travel
Santiago is very European town; it could pass for a French or Spanish city, with parts of historical beauty and parts of awful ’80s architecture and parts of deteriorating ’50s concrete buildings. The people are also very European, with only, apparently, the road workers and cooks showing much Indian ethnic background. This makes for a very different feel than most of Latin America — especially Mexico, to which I’m somewhat used — and it means that Santiago mostly lacks the “exotic” women I typically go for. Also, it’s not that I’m all that, but I’m kind of used to the Mexican women checking me out. In fact, I’ve been hit on even in front of the Wonderful Girlfriend. Maybe it’s the camera around my neck, or the little memo pad in which I take notes, or the not-in-style clothes, but the women in Santiago won’t even make eye contact. Apart from that, this town is a ton of fun. Read on…
Bienvenidos á PRIME Chile!
May 14, 2005 in B-School, Travel
Welcome to day #1 of my PRIME trip. It’s 8:30pm and it’s almost time for dinner in Santiago, Chile. Read on…