Category: travel

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On By Rick McIn dead to me, health & fitness, travel, travel MexicoLeave a comment

I’ve never been more powerless and vulnerable than when lying on the dentist’s chair.

But having had so much practice over the years, I believe I’ve gotten quite skilled at being a compliant patient.

Today I had 3 of the 4 corners of my mouth frozen prepping for the installation of permanent bridges. My dentista popped the question: … while we’re here, do you want to fix the 4th corner?

… Why not.

I’m very happy with Dr. Lorenia Estrada, my lady dentist from La Paz, Baja. (I’ve written of my Stockholm syndrome for her before.)

One new thought came to mind on the death bed this time. I believe women make better dentists than men, on average.

They are more empathetic and gentle.

Male dentists are dead to me from here on in.

My cost for all the dental work I’ve had done in La Paz is about $4800.

Greece in 2017

On By Rick McIn friends, travelLeave a comment

Mary (a few years back) suggested that our group of University friends get together in Greece for a reunion … when we turned age-30.

Why didn’t that happen, Mary?

… As I recall, we thought that the one of us who became a multi-millionaire would fund the reunion.

Let’s reschedule for age-60.

I’m thinking Santorini.

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Kitten of Santorini (Greece) 3

Put it on your calendar.

food in Korea

On By Rick McIn food, travel1 Comment

I wrote this before that nation went on highest alert, the brink of war.

Let’s hope cooler heads prevail over there.

_______ original post:

On my recent junket to Jeju Island, Korea, I enjoyed a lot of good food.

Sadly I don’t know what most of it was. Multiple, multiple courses, most with fish or seafood.

Route 3 - Jeju Olle, Korea

I was told that these soups often included “whatever was leftover in the kitchen”.

food in Korea

I was hiking during harvest season for what we call “Mandarin oranges”.

Route 4-5 - Jeju Olle, Korea

Other big crops here include carrots and turnips.

Route 1 - Jeju Olle, Korea

Route 2 - Jeju Olle, Korea

Many of the other foreign guests left Korea saying the food was the highlight. If only I was more of a foodie.
😦

more photos

my Airport Security Theatre blog

On By Rick McIn blogs, product complaints, travelLeave a comment

A few years ago I thought blogs would completely change the world by transparency. By stating truth to power. By shouting down the corrupt and evil.

That hasn’t happened. Yet.

But we have to do something to stop the insanity at airports.

Be one of the first to see my new Airport Security Theatre blog.

Goodnight Hostel, Lisbon, Portugal

On By Rick McIn product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

Shout out for the Goodnight Hostel.

Excellent in every way, especially the central location. I paid $16.23 / night for a dorm bed, pancake breakfast included, in October.

Staff is warmly welcoming, perhaps more than any other hostel I’ve seen. There’s been a flood of new hostels open in Lisbon, one of the must visit cities of Europe.

There are many small touches I like, including this reminder to keep the volume down while socializing.

Walls Have Ears

arrived Jeju, Korea

On By Rick McIn hiking, travelLeave a comment

Haevichi Resort on Jeju island is pretty posh. One of the finer hotels that’s ever allowed me to check in.

I’m an invited guest of the first World Trails Conference and Walking festival held over the next 3 days. I’ll stay another 6 days to do some hiking.

We’re sharing the resort with the ladies of the European Golf Masters Tournament this weekend.

city of the future, Lisbon

On By Rick McIn photos, product endorsements, things getting better, travel1 Comment

I visited impressive and sprawling “Parque das Nações” (Park of the Nations), a city of the future built atop the Expo ’98 site.

"Parque das Nações" (Park of the Nations), Lisbon, Portugal

"Parque das Nações" (Park of the Nations), Lisbon, Portugal

"Parque das Nações" (Park of the Nations), Lisbon, Portugal

"Parque das Nações" (Park of the Nations), Lisbon, Portugal

"Parque das Nações" (Park of the Nations), Lisbon, Portugal

It reminded me of all the “City of the Future” magazine articles (see more examples) I saw when I was a kid. This conception, for example, from 1964.

Thanks Paulo Barata, a new friend, gymnastics lecturer at the University here, for showing me this modern highlight of an ancient city. We had typical Portuguese lunch: cod, cod, wine, port, pastry, coffee.

(via Gymnastics Coaching)

Rick at 53

On By Rick McIn philosophy, travel2 Comments

Disappointed in the accommodation available in Porto, Portugal, I decided to hop on an overnight bus to Lisbon, as an alternative.

World Heritage listed Porto is gorgeous, though. My favourite locale (wandering the town waiting on the midnight bus) was the Douro river waterfront at night.

I slept a few hours on the bus, then got dumped at some distant depot. It was 2hrs before the Metro started running, so I ended up on my birthday morning sitting hidden in a construction site listening to a Johnny Cash biography on my iPod.

It had been raining since I got to Portugal. All my clothes wet and/or mildewed.

IMG_2505.JPG

At this point you might guess I’d start quoting the Cash requiem Hurt, … but I’ve actually had a fantastic birthday. I’m elated.

The Portuguese sun finally arrived. Bright and white. I’m hanging out in the best hostel in town mostly with Calgarians. (Everyone here but me is an intense alternative music fanatic.)

I jet my carbon footprint to Korea on the 5th, my first junket. I’m there as a guest hiking expert.

Oh, … and I’m just about to buy myself a wonderful gift, an MBA.

Happy Birthday.