I travel a lot.
Currently I’m buying coverage from my bank – TD Canada Trust.
I can take multiple trips / year up to 30 days at a time. Cost is about CAD $200. It jumps over $400 for maximum 60 day trips.
For my policy you must be under age-65 and have no serious pre-conditions.
Cancellation / trip interruption is NO LONGER covered. Everything else looks good.
If it wasn’t for wonderful outdoors adventure, I’d have no reason to travel to Argentina.
It’s a hassle.
Once the 5th richest nation by GDP / person, today Argentina is #55.
It’s a huge, rich, fertile land … yet government mismanagement continues to ruin the economy.
Inflation for 2017 was 24.8%. Almost every financial transaction here is a hassle due to that instability. ATM machines don’t work consistently. Supplementary fees are added unexpectedly. Tourist are frustrated that credit cards aren’t accepted. Chile and Uruguay are far easier.
Despite the world’s current BOOM economy, here’s a recent headline.
As I travel I’m always interested to see how trash is removed / recycled.
Huaraz, Peru was one of the best I’ve seen.
For a huge city, Buenos Aires seems to do a good job. The trash guys and their trucks are efficient and quick.
Their job is made easier by the cartoneros, which literally means “cardboard people”.
These are mostly young, fit, motivated guys who dash around city streets late evening sorting through dumpsters with metal hooks collecting cardboard for recycling. (Along with other valuables, I assume.)
It seems very competitive. There are a couple of cartoneros working each street.
I lost a dental bridge while hiking Aconcagua base camp.
Searching online one clinic looked best in Argentina. They cater to foreign visitors. Their English language page is welcoming.
On the other hand, DAS didn’t not reply to my online inquiry. In fact only 2 of about 10 dentists responded.
I walked in the door unexpected at 10am on a Monday morning. I walked out at 2pm Monday afternoon with a rush order for my replacement bridge to be installed same week.
How long would this have taken in Canada? How many appointments?
I returned Thursday to check the fit. And determine colour.
Friday it was to be installed … but the enamel was not thick enough to be carved down to the correct size.
Rats. 🤨
Rather than 5 days total the procedure would take 12 days. I’d been warned about this possibility at the start.
So … with 6 days free I decided to take the ferry over to Uruguay for Carnival.
In the States, Bridges cost $700 to $1,500 / tooth. They last between 10 – 20 years. I’m hoping this one will see me out.
This brother and sister team of dentists get rave reviews from foreigners. I’d recommend them, as well. Everyone in the office is good looking. I felt like I was on some Dental Reality TV program.
After 5 nights in Uruguay I returned for the final fitting. It worked!
Cost is higher than in Mexico. Lower than in Canada or the U.S.
My guess is that a Canadian dentist would have strongly advised implants.
Click PLAY or watch a promo on YouTube.
Season 3 is still getting great reviews.
Though I loved the previous seasons … I’ve had enough.
The first half of season 3 was confusing and muddled. The actors are excellent … so I blame the script writers. They didn’t seem to know where they were going with Phase 2.
Season 3 improves through to the dramatic finale. But it’s not enough for this viewer.
The only actor I like more in season 3 than previous was Tyrell Wellick played by Martin Wallström. So weird. So believable.
Mr. Robot has received critical acclaim and has been nominated for and won multiple awards.
But I’m not the only viewer fading on the series.
Season 4 has been green lit.
Come to think of it I was working on the internet in Mason’s (basement) World Headquarters 1999.
Why is Bezos the world’s richest man now … and not me? 🙂
Note his desk was made out of a door to showcase how frugality was at the inception of Amazon.com.
Amazon’s Bezos to give $33M for 1,000 Dreamer scholarships
In your face, Trump. 🙂
New Year’s Eve we made some resolutions. And some predictions.
I predicted 2018 will be worse than 2017. Mainly due to Trump.
There’s a good chance the GOP will lose the Senate in mid-term. And a slight chance they will lose Congress.
That will make Toddler President even crazier. Threat of impeachment would be likely. A prison sentence best case scenario.
It’s highly likely a threatened egomaniac would declare war. In his deluded mind it wouldn’t matter who he declares war upon.
On the upside, synchronized economic growth is predicted to continue. 4.0% GDP growth for the new year, up from a 3.7% projection for 2017.
