I’ve been in exotic lands many times on November 2nd.
This time it’s Antalya, Türkiye. My second visit.
I was here in 2017 for a week hiking on the Lycian Way.
Loved it. And I’m back for more.
I bought myself a 2nd airline ticket here — because I accidentally went to the WRONG Istanbul airport.
Oops.
Luckily domestic flights are inexpensive.
I was in Rotterdam for the World Gymnastics Championships.
Some random photos.
Weather consistently windy, grey, wet.
BEST moments were wandering early morning or late night through scenes which would make for a good urban dystopian film.
I stayed near the Central Station in Rotterdam.
One place I enjoyed a number of times was Rotterdam’s indoor Market Hall.
On my first trip to Netherlands age-17 I purchased clogs. And wore them for years after.
Statues are stupid. They should all be moved indoors.
I love cycling — but was intimidated by bike traffic in Rotterdam.
Netherlands has the highest bike ownership in the world, with over 24 million bicycles for a population of 18 million people, and cycling makes up roughly 27% of all daily trips nationwide.
Over 35,000 kilometers of segregated red-asphalt cycle paths, dedicated traffic lights, and continuous bike routes.
In 2011, I was nothing but impressed.
But in 2026 … I find the higher speed eBikes too dangerous.
Helmets are not required.
I saw people in the busy city texting while on an electric bike at 25km / hour or more.
For some years, cyclists represent the largest share of traffic fatalities (281 deaths), outpacing passenger car occupants (228 deaths).
At least 41% of those killed while cycling were riding an e-bike, and the sharpest increase in deaths occurred specifically among men aged 70 and older. I’m age-68.
Fatbikes ridden by young men seemed the biggest danger to me.
I first visited Bilbao in 2009 en route to the Picos de Europa hike.
I enjoyed it that time and was keen to return in 2026.
My cheap flight from London got me downtown after midnight. Beautiful. The streets empty.
Building this weird — form over function — museum worked for Bilbao. The small city was transformed into a major tourist destination.
This time I stayed 4 nights total, before and after a week on the Camino del Norte hike.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I stayed at 3 different excellent hostels. They all cater for pilgrims walking the Camino.
Bilbao is quite walkable with many pedestrian paths — though the attractions are quite widely spaced.
Salt fish in the main market.
It seems to me that Basque separatist movement, happily, is is now pursued strictly through legal, democratic politics via regional parties like the left-wing coalition EH Bildu and the more moderate, conservative Basque Nationalist Party (PNV). Violence killed more than 850 over the years.
The Museum of Fine Arts was FREE for a week while I was there. Quite good.
I picked up my Camino passport (Credential) at the Cathedral and caught a bus to the French border to start my week long hike back to Bilbao.
Definitely visit Bilbao, if you get the chance.
My one regret is running out of time to make the side trip to the coastal islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. I’d even made a graphic. 😀
Russia is #1 globally in land mass and resource value (~$75T+) BUT has an economy arguably smaller than Texas. And much smaller than California.
Why?
Putin spent his time building a $1 billion palace in Sochi — then had it torn down because he feared he’d be bombed when visiting. This is how a dictator-for-life can waste money.
Brazil is #5 globally in land mass, with the world’s largest arable land, massive freshwater, iron ore, and newly tapped offshore oil. Yet is typically in an economic mess. Soon to get worse as it’s likely another Bolsonaro will likely be elected.
I’d argue that Argentina is even more disappointing. But doesn’t have the same resources as Brazil.
Others often listed as underachieving economies are Venezuela, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Libya, and even South Africa.
By comparison, nations with few resources that have been economic tigers include Singapore, Norway, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, Japan.
With virtually zero domestic manufacturing, agriculture, or natural resources, and land masses smaller than most global cities, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands have created two of the wealthiest jurisdictions on earth by GDP per capita.
India is currently the world’s fastest-growing major economy showing immense domestic strength despite high global volatility. Prime Minister Narendra Modi might be a horrible human being, but transitioned from a $2 trillion nation in 2014 to a $4.15 trillion economy under his 12 years in power.
I had 3 nights in London between Scotland and Spain. ALWAYS enjoy my tourist time there.
The free museums are terrific.
I’ve long planned to book accommodation for a month (one day) and really explore this cosmopolitan capital properly.
Walking the river at night is my favourite activity.
Waymo vehicles (all-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs) have been actively mapping and testing on public roads with trained human safety specialists behind the wheel. Waiting on government approval to go driverless.
After getting washed out hiking Skye, I fled to the capital of the Scottish Highlands ➙ Inverness.
The tourist centre is small. I did two walking tours using the GPSmyCity app.
I stayed right beside Inverness Castle. Accommodation here is expensive in September. Highest I’ve paid in Europe so far in 2026.
Night outside the castle was my favourite spot.
Just across the river is the impressive St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
The best of the city walks is along the river to Ness Islands. Turns out this is where Nessie relaxes. 😀
Because of the climate, enduring things in Scotland are made of thick stone and metal. Stolid Scots learned the hard way.
A highlight for me and many is Scotland’s largest second-hand bookshop. Family-owned and run since 1979.
Beatles played Inverness as a back-up band 21 May, 1960.
Most food in the U.K. is too expensive for me. 50 – 100% higher cost than the same dish in Canada.
My go-to donairs are too expensive in 2026. Instead I ordered donair burgers at about half the price.
When I do spend money, it’s mostly for U.K. Indian food.
I headed out to a nearby hostel on Loch Ness when accommodation was booked out on a Saturday night.
Did some relaxing day hiking. Here are Divach Falls.
Two children were watching this slow worm.
I thought it was a snake. They explained it’s a non-venomous legless lizard. Also called a deaf adder, blindworm, or regionally, a long-cripple, steelworm, and hazelworm. I’d never heard of the creature.
Get a haircut, hippie. 😀
As I often do, booked an inexpensive early morning flight. Headed up to the small airport — BUT it’s locked during the night. Airport Information desk recommended I tent at the end of the last parking lot. Under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code you can tent almost anywhere for free.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Before heading up to the wild north, I indulged in the COSMO (Kramer) ALL YOU CAN EAT WORLD BUFFET RESTAURANT IN EDINBURGH.
Check the menu. Over 150 dishes: Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Italian, and a traditional British Carvery. Dessert was terrific, for a change at a buffet.
I became a fan of Indian buffets in Glasgow, years ago.
Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.
I knew nothing of nothing Cornish aside from Port Isaac, home to the Doc Martin TV series.
Actually, that comedy is a pretty good introduction to Cornwall. 😀
I’d return to Cornwall anytime. There’s so much to do and see.
Doc Martin coastal scenery. Charming British attractions.
My Ryanair flight landed me in Newquay. What a terrific tourist town!
I stayed 4 nights.
Turns out Newquay is the undisputed surf capital of the UK.
Surfers sometimes show up here and never leave.
Of course this was originally a medieval fishing hamlet.
By the 1800s, tin mining and china clay industries were important here.
After WW II, tourism boomed with the rise of guesthouses, holiday parks, and family beach vacation spots. Newquay was most known as a PARTY TOWN — before rebranding to attract more families.
I was here for hiking. Enjoying several walks a day up and down the coast.
In September, huge beaches still busy with surfers & tourists.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. I uploaded my video clips to the Vizard.ai web page. This is the edit it created including music. Not bad.
This attraction is photographed by all. Perched atop a 70-foot-high granite sea stack right in the middle of Towan Beach, a unique home is connected to the mainland cliffside by a dramatic 100-foot-long private suspension footbridge.
Though summer 2026 was warm and fairly dry with the climate change European heat wave, Newquay normally gets 150 – 200 rainy days a year. Plenty of overcast. BRIGHT colours are important in this kind of climate.
Best was sunset over the Atlantic.
I did find prices high in 2026. Many things 50 – 100% more expensive than in Canada. Few bargains.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I bumped into a competitor during the Trans-European Race from London to Istanbul August 2026.
He was one of 200 participants traveling using only public transport and walking — no flights.
Everyone chooses their own route. You WIN by getting to the finish fastest, while collecting as many points en route as possible. You get points for taking a photo of specific locations based on clues.
I believe each had to take a mandatory 12-hour stop somewhere along the line. You can’t go sleepless
My gent had hit every checkpoint but one. Yet was worried he wouldn’t make it to Istanbul by cutoff.
Only 91 of the 200 made it on time.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
