Category: travel

inspired by Lincoln

On By Rick McIn Art and beauty, ethics, government, human rights, travelLeave a comment

No President, not even Washington, inspires Americans more than honest Abe.

There are well over 15,000 books written about him.

Ford Theater bookstore

I visited the Lincoln Memorial twice. It’s very popular at dusk.

His statue could not be more impressive.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Gettysburg Address

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention were hosting an Out of the Darkness Walk here when I visited.

In 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his “I have a dream…” speech here.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal’.

Lincoln’s work is far from finished. He needs inspire many more for many generations to come.

Has the USA already peaked?

On By Rick McIn economics, government, human rights, things getting worse, travelLeave a comment

Some argue that the USA peaked in the 1990s.

Under Trump it certainly seems that the States now have far less world authority and moral influence. Americans consider their politicians corrupt and ineffective.

The Republican / Democrat split solidified by gerrymandering would seem to make gridlock inevitable.

But having toured Washington DC the past 3 days, I’m not so sure the USA is on permanent decline.

My favourite attraction on the mall was the Washington Monument.

Very inspiring.

It’s the world’s tallest stone structure and the world’s tallest obelisk.

George Washington is inspiring too:

If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.

My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.

Like the USA, the Washington Monument has problems. $2-3 million is needed to modernize the elevator.

Has the USA peaked? For some reason I think the best is yet to come.

The nation will have to rally around one leader and Party. A fiscally conservative Democrat. Or moderate Republican.

Dinosaurs like Jeff Sessions will need to go extinct for the nation to move forward. Trump is the worst American leader of all time. By far. The sooner his regime ends, the better.

Smithsonian National Zoo

On By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

My first stop in Washington DC was the animal prison.

Free for you and me. A lifetime sentence for the inmates.

The National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution

Of course zoos are good, too. This is part of a Cheetah Conservation program.

An estimated 7,500 to 10,000 cheetahs remain in the wild. The largest population, 2,500, is found in Namibia, with Southern Africa as the last remaining stronghold of roughly 4,500 adults.

Tigers are even more endangered. Today only an estimated 1,500 to 3,200 tigers exist in the wild (300 to 400 Sumatran tigers) and (fewer) than 200 in North American zoos.

Smithsonian National Zoo has been a leader researching Giant Panda reproduction.

Apes, monkeys and other small mammals were my favourites.

I’m one of the few humans who has seen a Red Panda in the wild. They are beautiful.

I was there on a Saturday. The zoo was packed with children. They love the elephants.

Lions are always entertaining. They truly know how to relax.

This American Alligator was even more relaxed. It looked like a statue.

I missed the Komodo dragon. The zoo is huge.

barely made it to Washington D.C.

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

I flew Air Canada 7608 from Toronto. My ticket was purchased on United because exactly the same seat cost less on United.

It’s a Code Share UA 8552S.

I booked on United online. Check the cryptic name on my ticket.

That’s the only email I got from United with my name on it. Air Canada sent me nothing.

Somehow — and I’m quite sure it was in the antiquated United Airlines computer system — my last name was still MCCHARLESRICH when I arrived at the airport.

It was flagged quickly by Air Canada. They don’t care about first or middle names, but the last name must be the same as is on the passport.

Air Canada check-in sent me to the United counter. But the United counter isn’t allowed to change last names on tickets. They sent me to a courtesy phone.

After 4 talks with United and 2 with Air Canada my boarding pass STILL said MCCHARLESRICH.

A flustered Air Canada senior staffer finally sent me off with it anyway quite sure I’d be stopped at U.S. customs.

That man was a pro. He looked over my paperwork carefully. And sent me on my way.

Have a good flight.

No doubt he’d seen United F-up that way before. Running some characters of the first name on to the last. It was obvious to any thinking person that there was no deception.

#respect for U.S. customs.

Lesson learned?

Do NOT fly @United. They suck.

related – 15 REASONS WHY FLYING UNITED AIRLINES SUCKS

Chile January 2018

On By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, kayaking, travelLeave a comment

If all goes well I’ll be headed for Patagonia via Chile in January. I was last there February 2015.

Goal will be hiking, cycling and kayaking during the South American summer.

Lonely Planet named Chile their #1 travel destination for 2018.

Click PLAY or watch a travel promo on YouTube.

Chile is far from perfect. Here are all the things I don’t like about the nation.

I may be spending more time on the Argentinian side this time.

farewell Montreal

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, travelLeave a comment

Three weeks in Montreal. World Gymnastics Championships 2017 and a week relaxing.

M Hostel gave me a deal. C$500 for 30 nights. It costs more than that for 14 nights at the usual rate. Two giant hot tubs on the roof.

Many mornings I ran old Montreal.

After my first stop of the day.

Slowest and least efficient Timmies in Canada, I’d say.

Mostly I wandered the downtown.

Mount Royal park is fantastic. I hadn’t been there for decades.

homeless downtown Montreal

On By Rick McIn anti-smoking, bad news, economics, ethics, government, travelLeave a comment

I spent a few weeks this year near the Berri-UQAM Metro station on Rue Sainte-Catherine, heart of downtown Montreal. There are a LOT of homeless people. It reminds me of a major American city in that way.

One survey (Douglas Mental Health University / 800+ volunteers) counted 3,016 homeless in the city. 10% aboriginal. 10% immigrants. Veterans 6%.

Other guesstimates have been 10 times as high.

I was there during warmer months. During winter these folks need to find someplace heated.

A harsh and boring life, seems to me. They all seem to have cigarettes. Somehow.

IMG_0114

Not sure what can be done to reduce the numbers. A guaranteed minimum income experiment — or new kinds of free housing — could be tried.