Category: food

uShaka Marine World

On By Rick McIn food, product endorsements, travel1 Comment

uShaka Marine World is a … theme park which was opened in 30 April 2004 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It comprises 4 sections: uShaka Sea World, uShaka Wet ‘n Wild, uShaka Beach, and uShaka Village Walk. …

… the 5th largest aquarium in the world … designed around 5 shipwrecks, with its entrance through the above ground “Phantom Ship” …

Click PLAY or watch a promo YouTube.

Though I rarely enter any body of water larger or colder than a jacuzzi, for uShaka I made an exception trying everything but the HIGHEST slide.

Highlights for me were the Aquarium, Dolphin show and the buffet restaurant in the converted ship.

Rick Durban aqarium

tripadvisor reviews

farewell Port Townsend

On By Rick McIn cycling, food, friends, gymnastics, travel, TVLeave a comment

I was back once again in Port Townsend, WA just after Christmas. Stayed a couple of weeks. 🙂

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This time Carrie, James and I were videotaping Games & Activities for Tumbl Trak, based on a script I wrote 14yrs ago.

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James has moved to Port Townsend from freezing Michigan — for 3 months, at least.

He’s living in Doug and Diana’s new guest house dubbed “The Lodge“.

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The weather was far better than most anywhere else in North America. But it did rain.

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Actually, I spent more time on Doug’s Cycleops 200 Pro Indoor Cycle trainer than on that guest bike. Watching episodes of House of Cards.

Good food. Good fun. Good conversation.

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James is a member of the Wall Street Journal Wine Club. He gets a select collection every 3 months.

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January in Port Townsend is a time of Tumbl Trak brainstorming for the new year. We’ve hatched plans.

more photos

the LODGE at Port Townsend

On By Rick McIn food, friends, gymnasticsLeave a comment

Doug & Diana have so many guests visit them in Port Townsend, WA, they finally bought a second house. James moved in for 3 months!

The LODGE will be hosting many meetings & social events, as well. My second night in town we enjoyed a big dinner.

Salty provided smoked salmon.

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Chris made two giant lasagnas.

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Matt & Becca brought their NEW baby. 🙂

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mmmm …

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cancel cable TV

On By Rick McIn food, TVLeave a comment

For your health.

child TVThere were three main reasons I hopped on the cord cutting bandwagon:

I got old.
I had a kid.
Netflix.

The kid thing was huge. We don’t let our three-year-old watch a lot of TV, but when we do it’s through No. 3 — Netflix. There’s a great selection of kid-friendly content and no commercials yelling at him in between breaks in the action. …

GigaOm – A lifelong cable hoarder cuts the cord and it’s a relief… kinda

my Portuguese meal

On By Rick McIn food, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

I stayed one night at Gallery Hostel in Porto, certainly the prettiest hostel I’ve ever seen.

It’s an active Art Gallery.

Click PLAY or watch a Promo video on YouTube.

Found it via TripAdvisor.com, the site I’ve been using over the past couple of years in preference to Lonely Planet.

The most luxurious dorm accommodation anywhere?

Cost was $30 / night including a wonderful breakfast. (Eggs cooked to order.)

Even better was the optional evening meal, $13.50 including all the local Douro wine you could drink. 🙂

It’s prepared by a couple of guys working at the hostel. They are keen to teach any of the visitors interested how to cook local dishes.

cooks

The economy in Portugal is still lousy. Their friends looking for opportunity go to Brazil or other former Portuguese colonies.

These tapas were my favourite. Ground sausage. Cheese. Jam.

tapas

dessert

see more photos

I had several other excellent meals in Porto. Twice the Francesinha:

Porto sandwich

literally Frenchy, or more accurately little French (female) – is the most famous popular native snack food in Porto. It is a kind of sandwich with several meats covered with cheese and a special sauce made with beer and other ingredients.

Maybe 9000 cal a plate!