Category: TRAVEL (Page 30 of 45)

I was greeted this morning with a picture of Santorini on the 1000 Places to See Before I Die Calendar and memories of our Venice to Athens cruise last year. It has been a good travel year between birthdays, even though not all of my goals were completely fulfilled. We got back to Austin for the first time since we left five years ago. I took also took my wife to Napa and The French Laundry to fulfill one of her bucket list items. In fact, I was in California a record 5 times this past year, including I.U. soccer in Santa Barbara, the Santa Monica Pier, and Disneyland in Santa Ana. Ho…Ho…Ho. In the Great Northwest, we covered Seattle, Vancouver, Victoria, Mt. Hood, Bend, McMinnville, Cannon Beach, and Walla Walla. We also spent several nights in Phoenix and Tuscon over Valentine’s week. On a wider scale, it was adventures in Bangkok, Phuket, and Maui. 

We passed through Chicago six times on our way to and from Indiana this year, including a game at Wrigley Field and dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab, our Windy City favorite. I met four half-sisters in Scipio, Indiana, after discovering the identity of my birth father. Unfortunately, we also had to attend the funeral of my wife’s mother, who died a month before her 98th birthday. It will be our last trip to Indianapolis for a while, that has been a four-times-a-year tradition throughout our marriage. As a result, we’ll be celebrating Christmas somewhere else this year. My birthday year ends with a trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado and the next year starts with a wedding in San Francisco, followed shortly after by Broadway’s Moulin Rouge in New York City. Coast-to-Coast…Pacific to Atlantic.

We’re typically on the go, as I end an unusual 45-day stretch of being a home body. We have big plans for the year 2020, including Cairo, one of this week’s pictorial destinations, and a cruise down the Nile River. We will probably not get to some of these other worldly sites on “The Calendar,” like Vietnam, Japan, Isle Royal National Park, Sicily, India, Laos, and New Zealand, but perhaps another year “before I die.” I do know we’ll be in California visiting the newlyweds on several occasions, and Florida multiple times to see my family and friends. This of course will include a few days at Walt Disney World.

I would like to do a car or train adventure through some of the National Parks once we sell our house. I’d like to see Yosemite, Glacier, Arches, Craters of the Moon, and more of the Grand Canyon. I’d also like to re-visit some of my childhood memories of Yellowstone, The Black Hills, and the Wild West. I should really be taking advantage of my lifetime National Parks pass, even though I’ve never been much of an outdoors-man. I also need to get to Alaska and Maine, the two last states to cross-off my list, and want to spend some time exploring the area around Albuquerque, outside of airports. Maybe the hot air balloon festival?  

I never got to Marfa or Big Bend while we lived in Texas, or The Keys when I had a Florida home. This is why we’ve made every effort to cover the Northwest while we’re here. We’ve talked of a week in Palm Springs and renewing our wedding vows in Vegas. Maybe a rental near Lake Tahoe and another drive down Highway 1? There are so many places to see and re-visit before I die, that I don’t really need a calendar to remind me of how little of this world I’ve actually seen. It’s time to pack those bags and make more plans. 

It’s Leadership Friday, highlighted by a lunch meeting at Buffalo Wild Wings. I’m still recovering from a golf outing that started the week. My forearms remain sore from some bad swings, while the rest of my body feels sluggish. This morning’s run was the slowest I’ve ever experienced, nearly a minute a mile off my normal pace. I could feel the extra five pounds I’m carrying thanks in part to excess carbohydrates. I had been pretty good about sticking to the “white diet,” avoiding favorite foods like pasta, bread, and rice. However, beer puts on the pounds faster than anything, and there will be more today at lunch. 

I may have some regrets about not being back in my hometown of Elkhart, Indiana at our 50-year high school class reunion. I’m already seeing some pictures on Facebook, as old friends gather to celebrate. I had paid for tickets thinking that we’d be back in the area for my mother-in-law’s 98th birthday. She passed away earlier this year, so it didn’t make sense to make the 2,000-mile-plus trip for just a party. Besides, my wife would not have enjoyed it, and my voice would have suffered in the loud atmosphere. Instead, it will be “Movie Night” here in Portland, as we return to one of our favorite activities. It’s been over a month since we’ve been to the theater between travel and other commitments. A good movie on Saturday night is always a sign of a return to normalcy. 

The 1000 Places to See before I Die continues to stare me in the face each day, daring me to leave the comfort of home for places unseen. This week’s pictures of personally unexplored travel destinations included Delphi, Greece; Bear Glacier Lake, Alaska; Salvador Da Bahia, Brazil; game animals of Africa; Palawan, Philippines; Dettifoss Waterfall in Iceland; The Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland; Northern Territory, Australia; and Temples of Khajuraho, India. There were only two days of familiar places like Windsor Castle and Monet’s Garden that I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. We take our first summertime excursion to Steamboat, Colorado in a few weeks. It will be strange to see it in bloom rather than covered in ice and snow. I’m looking forward to hitting the road again. 

Looking ahead, a wedding in San Francisco quickly follows our return from Colorado. My wife, and mother of the bride, is excited for this special Labor Day weekend. Her other daughter ties the knot nine weeks later here in Portland. My wife is also making plans for business trips to L.A.; Washington, D.C; and New York City. I will soon decide whether or not to accompany her. In October, I fly into Tampa to spend some time with my son and his family between weddings, while my wife entertains her best friends from Indiana who are visiting. At the end of the year, the two of us would also like to take a drive down the Florida Gulf Coast to explore retirement property. Our Portland condo goes on the market next week as part of our long-range scheme to travel the world. As the “Places To See” calendar suggests, I’m dying to travel…before I do!

Back when I first learned to drive, “Crusin'” was what we did in the evenings – up and down Main Street from the A&W Root Beer stand to the Post Office. It was back and forth – forth and back, hoping to meet the girl of my dreams. In the words of Huey Lewis and the News,  “You’re gonna fly away, glad you’re goin’ my way. I love it when we’re cruisin’ together. Music is played for love, cruisin’ is made for love. I love it when we’re cruisin’ together.” I rarely get in the car any more for entertainment purposes, and have moved on to a different form of “Crusin'”

I was admittedly bored yesterday with little to say and a “blank page” to show for my daily post. I’m in the midst of a 45-day stretch at home after the decision not to travel with my wife to L.A. I missed having her around in the evening and it made each day feel especially lonely. As a result, I felt that all my friends and companions had travel plans without me, while I was home stuck with the dogs. Normally, home where I like to be, but there were definite pangs of retirement restlessness. Out of frustration, I booked an ocean cruise for two years from now. It felt good. 

The first time I ever stepped on a cruise ship was a Valentine’s weekend Carnival trip from Galveston, Texas to Cozumel. I was always afraid I would get seasick, so it was a trial run. Next was a Viking River Boat cruise of France and then an ocean cruise from Venice to Athens. I found each boating adventure to be free from the hassles of car rentals and hotel changes that are normally associated with travel. I enjoyed waking up at a new location every day and running on the deck or on foreign soil. I’m looking forward to our Nile River cruise next October and seeing the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

The cruise I booked yesterday was impromptu and the longest excursion away from home I’ve ever planned. It starts with 2 days in Barcelona, Spain and concludes with 2 days in Oslo, Norway, two yet to be explored countries on my growing list of conquests. For 15 days in-between, Viking will take us down the Trade Routes of the Middle Ages, exploring Amsterdam, Bergen, Paris, and Porto. We’ll circle Spain and make stops in England, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Norway. It will take my total country visitations to over 30, a long way from my overall goal of 100. (See Post #467). There are currently 195 total with 54 in Africa alone and 44 in Europe. I have a lot of “Crusin'” to do and maybe a few safaris. 

It’s not like collecting Coca-Cola Tour The World bottle-caps like I did as a kid. I had my game folder with 100 locations to find, as I searched sticky vending machine collection boxes to fill the missing spaces. This was a lot cheaper way to see the world than traveling to each one via planes, trains, and automobiles. I’m playing a new form of travel game in retirement that is similar to spotting licence plates. Fortunately, I’ve already covered most of the U.S., except Alaska and Maine, so that quest is nearly complete. My life has now taken me from Main Street to Crusin’ The World with my wife. “I Love It When We’re Crusin’ Together.”

The other day my wife called me, “Grumpy Pants.” In the Urban Dictionary it’s defined as “one who is always being grumpy & gets upset at everything.” It’s also a children’s book by Claire Messer that contains this overview: Have you ever had a grumpy day and not known why? Penguin is having a grumpy day like that. No matter what he does, he just can’t shake it! Sometimes the only thing left to do is wash the grumpy day away and start over. I figure it’s a step up from my other nickname, “Eeyore,” and definitely better than “Mr. Happy,” what my former boss was known to be called by his wife.

Each and every time I’m getting ready to travel I admittedly have my “Grumpy Pants” on. It’s hard to explain considering the excitement that I’m also feeling. However, until I get settled on the plane or get my road bearings, I’m often in a snit. Getting out of bed, squeezing in a run, dealing with the dogs, and packing my bag are all part of the pre-travel hassles. As a home body, it’s as if I’m fighting to remain in the carefree cocoon of my living room. I always feel like I’m forgetting something and anxious about traffic hold-ups, security hang-ups, and inflexible flight schedules. It seems like if you’re detained  for any reason, the airline is always on time, and if you arrive early, the plane is delayed. It’s a wonder that I even leave the house. 

I have yet to regret a trip somewhere, but it’s always good to get back home and reflect on the adventure. It’s also not as if I wish for the end and always seem to experience some sadness when it’s over. The “Grumpy Pants” come on when there’s stress involved and travel is many times filled with it. Vacation time was always better than working when I’d put on those pants every week day. My wife had hers on as she left for the office this morning. By calling me “Mr. Grumpy Pants,” she gave me a way to “call her out” when she’s not in a great mood either. “Mrs. Grumpy Pants” is now my retaliation. She even smiled when I called her that the other day. Touche. 

Speaking of travel, I consulted the 1000 Places to See Before You Die calendar this morning, as we’re now over half way into the year. Scenes from Ireland; Vietnam; Australia; Tanzania; Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania; Morocco; Switzerland; Oxfordshire, England; Sri Lanka; Singapore; Brazil; Israel; Alberta, Canada; and Norway were all places that I’ve yet to visit. There were also some settings where Mr. Grumpy Pants has been like the Gateway Arch, St. Louis; Sanibel Island, Florida; Rome, Italy; and Paris, France. Sadly, the photo from Paris was of Notre-Dame in celebration of Bastille Day. During the French Revolution it was looted, desanctified, and used as a grain warehouse. I’m glad I got to see it several times before the fire, and it will someday be restored to its former glory. Currently, I’m in a 40 day stretch of no “planes, trains, or rented automobiles.” Mr. Grumpy Pants will stick to his pajamas. 

I’ve been referring to Vancouver as Canada ‘Couve to distinguish it from Vancouver, Washington. They call it “The ‘Couve,” to give it more of a “cool neighborhood” image in attracting people from Portland. (See Post #979). The locals here in Canada call their town of over 650,000 people, “Van City,” not to be confused with a Credit Union here of the same name. It’s in fact the fifth-most densely populated city with over 250,000 residents in North America behind New York City, Guadalajara, and San Francisco with a Metro of over 2.5 million residents.  The city takes its name from Captain George Vancouver, who explored the inner harbor of Burrard Inlet in 1792 and gave various places British names. It’s original settlement was called “Gastown” that we explored yesterday. It is distinguished by brick streets, gas lights, and the famous steam clock that whistles a version of Westminster Chime every 15 minutes. It’s adjacent to where the cruise ships come in. Port Metro Vancouver is the third-largest port by tonnage in the Americas (recently displacing New York City), 27th in the world. “Van City” is all about water. 

We entered Van City by ferry, have crossed its many bridges, and will dine tonight on the waterfront at a table for 200. Outstanding In The Field will actually take place on the shoreline rather than at a farm. I’m guessing that seafood will dominate the menu as famous Vancouverite Chef David Hawksworth will oversee the preparation. We’ll dine on the very inlet where Captain Vancouver first set eyes on the area 227 years ago. Hopefully, the rain will hold off. About 46 inches of precipitation falls annually here compared with about 43 inches in supposedly rainy Portland. As has been the case every day, there was some moisture in the air on our morning walk/run as we navigated the trail along the waterfront. A rock statue of Inukshuk, signifying safety, hope, and friendship is the centerpiece of the park. We all became familiar with the symbol during the 2010 Winter Olympics here in Van City. 

It’s raining in Vancouver, B.C., as we try to make plans for our only free day. We’re trying to avoid getting in the car, but the dogs limit what we can do and where we can go. For example, we’d probably take the Hop-On-Hop-Off or Trolley Tour of the city but they are not allowed. The high rise Residence Inn that we’re staying in does not have any grassy areas within a half-mile but claims to be dog-friendly. Taking them outside involves key cards, crowded elevators, and busy sidewalks. Last night, we found a leash-less dog park in an adjacent neighborhood with some restored Victorian homes and crosswalks painted with rainbow stripes. We picked up Chinese-to-go and ate in the room. 

I did manage to get-in my run this morning, but somehow got separated from my wife and the dogs crossing over the Burrard Street Bridge from The West End neighborhood where our hotel is located to Kitsilano and back. My wife got stuck with both dogs and the stroller. Tomorrow is the start of Carnaval de Sol, the biggest Latin festival in the Pacific Northwest, adding to the diverse activities happening in the Canadian ‘Couve.  We’d like to stroll through the Gastown District, check-out the steam clock, see the Sam Key structure, the world’s shallowest commercial building, and experience Fly Over Canada.  Right now we’re waiting for the skies to clear, so I had an opportunity to write a few words. I think the dogs are grateful for the rest.

Our room has a massive outdoor patio overlooking a construction project next door. We did not get the King Sky Suite that they originally had reserved for us because of the dogs. They claimed that they had no record of the dogs, even though I had noted them clearly on my reservation request. As a result, there was a bit of a hassle checking-in, although they made every polite effort to accommodate this change. We did get stuck with two Queens rather than the King, but the dogs were happy to have their own bed. They also waved the $75 pet charge to make up for the oversight. The room is small but quiet even despite the construction and lower floor location. My wife is content with the tub and is currently taking a nap. She needed this weekend escape to get her mind off a difficult work week.

Tomorrow evening is our Outstanding In The Field (OITF) event that has been moved from Spanish Banks Beach to New Brighton Park and Beach. The change is apparently politically motivated involving the use of First Nations Lands. Dinner is prepared by a local supplier in partnership with a chef and winery, as arranged at numerous sites throughout the world each year since 1999. This will be our seventh OITF event, starting back in October 2012 at Green Gate in Austin. The following year we joined them at Urban Roots before we moved to Portland and missed a year. Big Table Farms in Portland hosted our 2015 and 2016 events, while Jacobson Salt in Netarts, Oregon arranged our 2017 dinner by the bay. Last year, we chose the Portland Archery Summit site as opposed to the Sauvie Island option. We’re indeed looking forward to our first OITF long-table dinner outside of U.S. soil. The dogs unfortunately will have to wait in the car. We’ll take turns bringing them some scraps between courses. It’s the best we can do for them as we dine on the shores of Burrard Inlet in the Canadian ‘Couve.