Oh, off the National Geographic Sea Bird, moored just outside this coffee shop.
That’s a tourist adventure that anyone with enough dinero can join.
Category: travel
the trouble with Mexico
If you head on over to my hiking site, you’ll find my trip report hiking Tecolote Beach, Baja.
Looks a paradise, don’t you think?
Even seagulls holiday on Tecolote.
The weather and beaches are excellent. But for several years now I’ve been recommending against travel to Mexico. I’d definitely not be here this year … if Canadian dentists weren’t so over-priced.
Why?
Cost is high. Most things in Baja now cost more than they do in Canada or the States. But not much of that money goes to wages. The rich are getting richer on your tourist dollar.
Quality is low. This beach looks nice. But it’s full of starving dogs.
When they die, nobody here bothers to bury the corpse.
The litter problem is actually better than when I first started coming to Mexico. But locals still litter frequently.
Mexico is right now in a rotten stage of development. It’s certainly not a developing nation, where you might forgive some injustice and growing pains.
But it’s not enough of a developed nation that you can trust food, water or services. (Happily I’ve yet to be shortchanged this trip, though. Nor hassled by cops.)
I recommend Guatamala and Nicaragua as excellent alternatives.
Shewchuks in Jamaica, Mon
Thank God I’m not there. The swimming pool looks crowded.
Rockin’ discussing the length of Jerky with some of the cooks.
What are you trying to say, Kate?
shop for flights on Hipmunk
The ultrahip Hipmunk.com has revolutionized how to find the best airfares online.
I’d planned to fly WestJet home to Canada from Baja. … But they don’t fly that route on the day I must return to the Great White North.
Here’s my results from a fast and easy search on Hipmunk:
I took the top choice as selected by “agony”, a combination of lowest price, fewest stops, and shortest duration.
The damage: $250.66USD (including taxes & $25 luggage charge) with connection in Phoenix
WestJet non-stop on the way down was $300.
I can see no downside to this new approach in comparison shopping. (Be aware that some airlines are not listed in this or any other fare comparison site, notably Southwest.)
Bookmark hipmunk.com
mmrgakshcmhrghhrm
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.
en route to La Paz, Baja
It’s time to finish my dental work.
Getting away from crappy Canadian weather is a bonus for which I’m grateful.
I’m flying WestJet direct to San José del Cabo.
Greece in 2017
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.
Put it on your calendar.
food in Korea
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.
I was told that these soups often included “whatever was leftover in the kitchen”.
I was hiking during harvest season for what we call “Mandarin oranges”.
Other big crops here include carrots and turnips.
Many of the other foreign guests left Korea saying the food was the highlight. If only I was more of a foodie.
😦
Blythe in Paris
At the Eiffel Tower.
A fellow gymnastics blogger, Blythe is teaching English in France for the second year.
my Airport Security Theatre blog
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.
