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Showing posts from January, 2016

100 and Done! (Countries that is...)

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We are back! This last trip brought the total countries visited to 100! It is a crazy milestone. It is difficult, time-consuming and can be (IS) expensive. After I got back from Antarctica in 2007, I started thinking about it. After 2010 I was thinking about it more (as I moved from NY to Georgia) and in 2014 it had become a real goal. Between Angie and I we have been to 109 Countries. We are tied at 100 countries each. We have 9 countries different in our lists. For example, I have been to San Marino. She has not. She has been to Israel. I have not, yet. There has been some fun competition in this area. That's why we had to establish rules. 1.) Must be listed (as a country) with the US State Department 2.) Being in an airport doesn't count. You have to get through immigration somehow and not in a DMZ or a no-mans-land 3.) A passport stamp is not required. I have been to Canada, Paraguay, and Uruguay without getting my passport stamped. There are friendly borders in many places...
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I was in Tampa FL last week. It was cold. I thought I could never say that (Florida and cold), but I just did. It was cold in Atlanta as well. I woke up to a dusting of snow/frost in the back yard last weekend. The boat is in the water, but we aren't using it. The hot tub get use though. I have some additional responsibilities at work this year. It has excited me. Challenge is something I need. I am planning trips to Germany, Finland, California and NY. Angie is unexpectedly stranded in Paris this evening. She should be home tomorrow despite strikes, and semi-strikes that are ruining France. I have added a pic of my personal record-sighting number of people on a motorbike in South America. I count 9 people on the bike (trike).
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The only competition worthy of a wise man is with himself. -- Washington Allston I was in Brazil this past week. It feels so good to have basic communication skills.. so good. My efforts spent with Portuguese language were very worthwhile. It doesn't mean it wasn't awkward and embarrassing at times, but I am not illiterate nor deaf/mute. I had the opportunity to take a side trip to South Brazil and Uruguay (alone--solomente) and do some border penetration testing. These 4-axle double-decker buses in South America are just so cool. Jaguarao Brazil Bus station in Jaguarao Brazil Interesting story... Uruguay Traditional quick breakfast. Coffee with high percentage of hot milk added (Cafe de leite) and a large deep-fried meat dumpling (Pastel). It tastes better than it looks and it looks good. Rio Branco (White River) or Jaguarao river depending on your viewpoint.
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We are back from vacation. We took an extended time (for us) in Peru and Bolivia (10 days). It was very thrilling, interesting, intense, reinvigorating and exhausting. All at the same time. After flying to and from Lima, Peru we had 4 air segments (not including time in a 172), 4 bus trips, 2 train rides, 6 different hotels and numerous Uber and taxi rides. We spent time in the following Peru cities: Lima (Miraflores & Center), Nazca, Cuzco, Machu Picchu. Also we spent time in Bolivia in La Paz and Tiwanaku. We hired a Cessna 172 to take us over the Nazca lines, rode the Teleferico (cable cars) in La Paz and spent a lot of time at big-name pre-Inkan archaeological sites in Peru and Bolivia. Of note, we visited Tiwanaku, Puma Punku as well as Saksaywaman and Machu Picchu. The high altitude was a concern in the Andes. We took Diamox as a precaution, but there is a lot of mystery around what causes altitude sickness (besides altitude). So Diamox is no real assurance of protection. Eve...
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