Category: TRAVEL (Page 34 of 45)

My wife and I admittedly have some relationship baggage, with our 17-year union being a second marriage for each of us. We also have grown children from these first attempts to “get it right.” This, on occasion, leads to awkward family get-together’s at weddings, funerals, and events. Fortunately, we all live thousands of miles apart. Two weddings this year will certainly test our patience. Also, as a result of these previous marriages, our travel experiences have taken us in different directions. When we go to a spot that one or the other of us have already been, we call it a “redo.” I’m just glad we “got it right” this second time around and have learned from our mistakes.

Speaking of baggage and travel, we’ve had to invest in two new pieces of luggage this year. On our recent trip to Phoenix and Tucson, the handle on my rugged and fashionable Hartmann suitcase refused to retract. The same thing happened a year ago on another of our pieces. To be fair, we’ve owned them for a long time and they’ve gotten a lot of use. Replacement was the only option, especially after I had to cut it out of the casing. It fought me the whole way, reminiscent of the Samsonite commercials with the ape jumping up and down on their luggage to prove its durability. Our baggage turned out to be very durable, but suffered instead from mechanical malfunction. Two new suitcases are a big investment in travel and not necessarily part of the retirement budget. Just another “redo” in our lives!

I also had to “redo” our upcoming travel plans to Chicago. I was in a hurry to schedule, trying to take advantage of a sale that “ended at midnight.” I also attempted to do it my Alaska Mobile App, and apparently didn’t read the small print. We were on a connecting flight through Seattle that had us sitting in the airport for six hours, meaning that our arrival time in Chicago was just before midnight. With the “redo,” we now have direct flights and cheaper fares, but not on Alaska. In addition, I used Orbitz today to book my birthday flight to Steamboat, Colorado in August. Previous attempts to book were proving to be frustratingly costly. Sometimes, it’s better to wait a few days and “redo” your attempt under less pressure! As “chief booking agent,” I hope I don’t have to “redo” any of our other travel plans.

In addition to these other retirement hassles, I’m working with my wife to “redo” our will. This has turned out to be a lot more work than I initially thought. Our attorney must be drowning in the secretarial pool or trying to do it himself, because the typos are plentiful and the “seek and find” function is giving us new names and relationships. He’ll now have to “redo” the changes I had “redone” on this previous document “redo.” My “redo” wife has already lost patience with the attorney and me, her “redo” husband. This is all for the benefit of our heirs, and I hope we have many travel adventures before they cash in on the inheritance. I’m confident that in the end the thick document far outweighs the money we have left.

Thank goodness for Chicago. Otherwise, this past week’s measurement standards for travel accomplishment would be woefully disappointing. The 1,000 Places to See Before You Die calendar once again showed we’ve “Got A Lot O’ Living to Do.” (See Post #835). Maybe I need to find an easier version because if this was B-I-N-G-O I would have a lot of open spaces to fill, especially on the “G” line. We haven’t yet traveled to Tanzania, Cuba, Spain, the Falkland Islands, or Kyrgyzstan. Only a couple of these are even on our Bucket List, but it clearly shows how many must-see sights there are in this world.

I haven’t played B-I-N-G-O in years, but it’s been discussed as a potential retirement “sport.” Maybe we’ll play on a cruise ship or at a Marriott resort? I certainly wouldn’t want to challenge our Tucson friends to a game of travel B-I-N-G-O. Their world map looks like a pin cushion and they have more pins on order. In looking at the extent of their worldliness, I notice that a large majority of their travel is confined to a 30 degree longitudinal band that starts just below the Tropic of Cancer and extends around the globe. They did, however, just get back from Australia and New Zealand, two more places in the Southern Hemisphere we haven’t yet explored. They’ve already covered Europe like a glove, while next is Scandinavia and then Ireland. We simply can’t keep up with them or the calendar. We would need some “free spaces” on the travel B-I-N-G-O card to even remain competitive.

In a few weeks we’ll go to Thailand, a new exotic land to experience. It’s just above the equator. They, of course, have already been there several times. The only occasion we have ventured south of the equator was our trip to Tahiti and Bora Bora. As a consolation, we did discover that they have not been to the Northwest, including our Portland home. Before that, we’ll meet them in New York City and compare notes once again. They also want us to join them in Steamboat this summer. These mainland destinations don’t give any of us any more pins to place on the map, but there are trails to hike and new Broadway Shows to see. In the meantime, we’ll go back to Maui for another breathtaking dose of beauty.

This year’s travel card starts strong with a “pin-worthy” adventure but only sputters by the time the last letters are called. Bangkok will be our “B” in B-I-N-G-O. Our home state of Indiana would be the “I.” An “N” for New York City and “O” for Chicago’s O’Hare would almost get us a winner. The “G” however would have to be nearby Gresham, Oregon, hardly a desirable travel destination. Greece was on last year’s card, along with
Hawaii’s Big Island, Illinois, Napa Valley, and Oregon’s Crater Lake. Next year, it’s Super Bowl, Maybe Idaho? New York never gets old, Giza, and Orlando. B-I-N-G-O.

I’ve always been fascinated with the story of John Dillinger – Hoosier Boy gone bad. It’s fascinating how criminals like Al Capone and John Dillinger have somehow become heroic legends. It was interesting to see “Dillinger Days” promoted during our recent visit to Tucson, Arizona, celebrating the 85th anniversary of his capture there and the 25th anniversary of the event. He and his gang were arrested after leaving a generous tip with a fireman who helped them carry their loot-filled luggage from a fire at the downtown Hotel Congress. He was Public Enemy #1, and the $12 token of their appreciation raised suspicion. It was after all the equivalent of over $200 in today’s money market. Dillinger was surprised by his notoriety, having traveled to this sunny location well off the beaten path from his prominently Midwest crime sprees. “I’ll be damned” was his reaction to the arrest.

He was soon extradited by airplane to his home state of Indiana, but escaped from a Crown Point prison while awaiting trial armed with a hand-fashioned wooden handgun. He had a non-violent reputation, using tricks like this to earn public support. Dillinger robbed banks, very unpopular in the Great Depression – not people. As a result, he was not seen as a threat by the average citizen and became a celebrity. They wanted to believe that her would never hurt anyone who was not shooting at him. He dressed well, was polite, never used foul language, drove fancy, high-powered automobiles, had a sharp wit, and eluded capture to ultimately be as much admired as Robin Hood. Also, his life style at a time of widespread poverty was enviably exciting to many, although he spent nine years in prison.

Dillinger was an Indianapolis, Indiana native who grew up in the town of Mooresville. Although, as a fellow Hoosier, I’m familiar with his legendary antics, I was not aware of his connection to Tucson. On our way to the airport, we stopped for breakfast with a college friend who mentioned that the Congress Hotel was just down the street and pointed out the historical sign:

“The venerable Hotel Congress, designed by well-known architect, Roy Place, is the last surviving historical hotel in downtown Tuscon. This three-story landmark was built in 1919 with exposed masonry construction and marble details. The hotel, south of the railroad depot, was convenient to railroad passengers arriving in Tucson. The elegant lobby and dining room provided a degree of refinement for winter visitors on their western adventure. A January 1934 fire destroyed the original third floor and inadvertently resulted in the capture of John Dillinger and his gang several days later. The Hotel Congress and the Rialto Theatre defined the east end of the commercial district on Congress Street.”

John Dillinger died of five gunshot wounds on July 22, 1934 at age 31, outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago, tricked for reward money by “the woman in red.” This was only 6 months after his arrest in Tuscon. In the meantime, he had returned to his father’s Indiana farm and was given a warm Hoosier welcome, a picnic, and posed for a picture in a three-piece suit, with no one anxious to arrest him. Three months after his death, one of his most famous gang members, George “Baby Face” Nelson was also killed by federal agents. He was not a Hoosier…but another boy gone bad!

As a side note, other known Hoosier Bad Boys from Dillinger’s gang included Homer “Virgil” Van Meter from Ft. Wayne, Indiana and Harry “Pete” Pierpont born in Muncie, Indiana. In a series of bank robberies from September of 1933 to July of 1934, the gang killed 10 men and wounded 7 more. Also, during three jail escape attempts, a sheriff was killed and two guards were injured. Still want to make him a Hoosier hero?

I started my day today as a travel agent, booking trips to New York and Seattle. Somehow, it never goes smoothly, despite all the convenient ways to book on-line. I went through the entire Amtrak mobile process with ease, but pushing the purchase button failed. I double-checked all boxes to make sure everything was filled out properly. I kept pushing the purchase button but nothing happened, yet I had the unsettling feeling I was double and triple booking the fare. When I tried to exit, it asked if I wanted to abandon the purchase, and there was no indication of a credit card purchase through my bank. I had no choice but to do it the old-fashioned way – call. Naturally, there was a twenty minute wait, allowing my frustrations to build-up inside me.

It’s an interesting retirement phenomenon that you have all the time in the world and yet become more and more impatient with incompetence and delays. I had to go through the whole tedious reservation process again on the phone, and finally got my tickets in order. Thankfully, I was able to avoid “Retirement Rage.” The Marriott (or should I now say Bonvoy) on-line reservation system worked perfectly and I had a room in minutes to make up for the Amtrak glitches. My blood stopped boiling and a potential temper tantrum was thankfully averted. No need to hit anyone with my cane.

The risk that companies make in not making things convenient for their elderly customers is contending with “Retirement Rage.” No one gets angrier than a tired, old codger, used to getting their way. There’s a certain sense of entitlement that comes with retirement. It’s an attitude of “I don’t want to…I don’t have to…you can’t make me! We’re like spoiled brats waiting to be catered to and convinced that we’ve paid our dues in full. Try arguing with that!

No one wants to put a retiree on edge, and nothing accomplishes this more than newfangled technology that doesn’t work. A “grumpy old man” is one thing but “retirement rage” should be avoided at all cost. Don’t force us into the modern era of computers and leave us with nothing but a machine to take out our frustrations upon. This leads to throwing things and sets the stage for an ugly conversation with a customer service representative, if you can ever actually get through to one. Fortunately, the Amtrak representative was armed with just enough empathy and cooperation to avoid the “Wrath of Mike.” Look out, Alaska Airlines, I’ll be logging on to you next!

We’re on the last leg of this year’s Arizona Adventure, waiting to catch a flight back to Portland. The desert was not as I expected with temps in the low 30’s and frequent rain showers. The higher elevation around Tucson quickly took my breath away and made the morning runs uncomfortable. In any direction I looked, it was a different shade of brown, but at least the skies stayed bright blue, even with near freezing temperatures.

I first heard the word “casita” while visiting friends in Scottsdale, to describe their pool house. I didn’t realize that in Spanish it translates to “little house.” A “little house” to me is a doll house for humans. Another friend had a addition off his home that he also called the “casita,” apparently a popular and sophisticated term in Arizona. “Casita on the Prairie” immediately came to mind, or maybe “Desert Dormer?” In the Midwest we referred to it as a shed. However, these AZ “casitas” were a bit more elaborate, with a kitchen and bath, designed to privately accommodate a houseguest. “Mother-In-Law Quarters” or “bungalo” also are used in other parts of the country, so is “camper in the backyard.”

Maybe I can now refer to our crawl space under the house as a “casita?” It does have a private entrance and ceiling heights up to 14 feet depending on the steep hill angle it’s built on. It’s funny how you can live for 67 years and never hear a term that suddenly becomes a daily reference. We also saw a herd of wild Javelinas or Skunk Pigs hunting in our friend’s backyard where there should have probably been a “casita.” They don’t have one because of HOA restrictions on “out buildings.” You can’t even have a “Javelina Casita” or dog house in their neighborhood. Sorry for the continued silliness but “there’s no place like a casita!”

In a few hours, I’ll be complaining about the rain and the dampness rather than the dryness. My working wife at least gets an extra day off in honor of the Presidents. We’ll be reunited with the dogs and our own bed. This was not a particularly expensive trip thanks to the Marriott Vacation Club, Alaska Miles, a work tie-in, and good friends to provide shuttle service, room, & board. We bought some meals and souvenirs, plus paid cash for a pet sitter, so our expenses were far below $1000/day. 8 days for my wife and six days for me will probably add up to less than $3500. That’s practically free for us!

Dessert in the Desert is deserved, but rain is not. Don’t they call it a desert because it’s supposed to be dry? This is the second year in a row that we’ve left the Portland rain for Arid-Zona in hopes of sunny, dry relief. Instead, the rain seems to follow us here. It’s disappointing! Fortunately, most of our plans for the day were indoor oriented, including lunch at the spectacular home of a former boss. His oldest son, who lives in the area, ended up in the Emergency Room, so those dining plans quickly changed to the Country Club and a ride in his Maserati. We did enjoy touring the glass palace he built, filled with unique artwork, looking over Camelback Mountain. He then left us to spend some time with his ailing son.

Uber and shuttle rides kept us out of the rain in getting from place to place. My wife enjoyed her Valentine spa time and we had a great dinner at Ocean Prime. The Girl Scout Thin Mint chocolate dessert was an outstanding finale. Almost as good as the Roy’s famous chocolate souffle the night before. These “Desert Desserts” made our dining out experiences special, and provided a play-on-words to write about today. What favorite desserts would you take along if you knew you’d be stuck on a deserted, desert island? I would have to include OREOs, smores, and chocolate chip cookies.

Just as I was beginning to fret about another untimely, cloudy, wet desert morning, the sun suddenly popped out and the gray skies disappeared. It looks like it will be a blue-sky-day, but unfortunately we’ll be in a car traveling with friends to Tucson and not at the pool. We’ll probably stop for lunch and more dessert before dinner and dessert again tonight. This morning’s run helped burn off a few of the calories, but we may have overdone it a bit on desserts here in the desert. Please pass the Reese’s Cups!

As I make the long drive to the airport, I continue to go over my travel checklist. What did I forget to pack? Do I have my wallet? Check. Phone? Check. Coat? Check. It’s a constant nagging by “the voice of travel blunders” inside my head. Prescriptions? Check. Passport? Check. When I finally find a parking spot it screams a warning to put the keys in a secure place. On the shuttle bus, there’s once again that feeling of forgetfulness, and another quick run through the necessities. Watch? Check. Underwear? Check. Toiletries? Check. I wouldn’t have time to go back and get them anyway, but the voice insists on accounting for any missing items.

I’m usually in a rushed mood by the time I get to security. Why did I even bother to dress this morning? My pants keep falling down. Where’s my luggage? Oh, I already checked it. Do I have the power cord for my laptop? Forgot that last time. Where did I put the car keys? Will my boarding pass scan properly? Where’s my wallet? Finally, I get things back in order and start to relax. So far…so good. Check.

One more final check before I board. Will someone be in my seat? How many times will I need to get up to use the bathroom? Why did I drink that Diet Coke. Do I have an outlet to recharge? Is my phone still in my pocket? Will there be delays? Is my car rental reservation handy and my hotel booking in order? What could go wrong?

This is the stress of travel as opposed to the calm routine of being a stay-at-homebody. However, I’m always grateful for the change of pace from slow to fast. Travel keeps your mind sharp and requires careful organization. The anticipation of what you are about to experience and the challenges of getting there never get old. At 30,000 feet you finally let out a sigh of relief, unless you’re one to worry about the pilot’s job. For me, by the time I’m finally strapped into my seat, the voice finally stops, and the realization hits me that I’ve done everything possible in my control.

Upon landing, I always hit the ground running, anxious to get settled in my room, and hoping there are no baggage problems or transportation snafus. Travel is never easy and the key is to somehow avoid the nightmares that you hear about. You have to take the attitude that problems are part of the overall experience and often become the most talked-about. Oh yeah I saw the Pyramids, but you won’t believe what happened on the way there.

This trip to Phoenix & Tucson will go by in a flash, and soon I’ll be back in my retirement home routine, waiting and planning for the next great adventure. I’ll be exhausted from all the things the “inner voice” reminds me to double and triple check, but another item will be crossed off the bucket list. I do understand why some people don’t like to travel, but that’s just not for restless old me. Check.