Pic of Younger Me

  This is a visa pic of me when I was younger. Even then, I was nearly too old to do solo exploratory travel.

I am getting rid of photos, and thought to publish
this one once before I disappeared all copies.

Hot Water

There are those who seem to be able to get into hot water wherever they go.

In Uruguay, for example, one can head west from Montevideo on a comfortable bus and in a day get to the City of Salto in the State of Salto. Within easy striking distance from that city are a number of 'Termas,' pleasant and comfortable sites with facilities for hot water bathing. There are lots of pools. I understand that wells were sunk in holes of finding oil; hot water is what was found.

Do you know how close Montevideo is to Buenos Aires? The hot water one woman got into in B.A. caused here to have to explain to her husband why her relationship with her Tango instructor wasn't grounds for divorce.Do you know how much closer  yet the picturesque Uruguayan city of Colonia is to BA? Who could get into hot water on the ferryboat ride to Buenos Aires? If she doesn't care for hot water bathing you could promise her a tango in the home of the tango.

On the way to Salto I have found it rewarding to stop at the very Uruguayan city of Paysandu. Paysandu may not be the most Uruguayan town in Uruguay, but it will do. In my book Paysandu is a city, but compared to London or Buenos Aires it may seem a town. An overnight stay in Paysando is not expensive. You can get a great meal there with a passable wine for what you might pay for 'fast food' elsewhere. A simple, but adequate, room can also be had for a comparable price.

Just across the river from Salto is Argentina. Looking,one may find a casino there.

The three main 'termas' or bathing places are Salto Grande, Arapey, and Dayman. Take time to check them all out. If you have rented a car, that will be very easy. For me, accept on certain holiday weekends, Dayman is usually the plays of choice. Dayman is the one closest to Salto, the one with the most restaurants and hotels, and with plenty of pools. I get from my hotel to the public pools in my bathrobe, At Dayman the water temperature is high enough and the prices are low enough. If you have youngsters with you, there is a water-park in close driving distance

If you keep your eyes open you may see fine horse, a fine woman, a man who knows his mate, and kids can play 'futbol.'

In  the 'comment' section below, feel free to ask questions, offer corrections or added information, and to comment.

Shame

Why do I feel shame for having lost my ability to successfully carry out certain kinds of travel?
It looks as though foreign travel for me must be in tour groups or with helpful traveling companions.
Perhaps I could handle going directly to an from a well defined destination.
This is an area in which I seem to be growing old with less than my usual grace.

Dangerous Activity

I've been thinking. You can imagine what that might lead to.

A little fresh action might be good for me.

I have my limitations. I have many of the debilities of a man in his 70s. I have a tiny budget of only about $1600 a month.
Still, I could rustle up enough cash to fly about anywhere on earth: Morocco or Moldova, Norway or Nicaragua, Thailand or Tanzania. These destinations hold their attractions. Most of the flights sound painful and expensive.

I've traveled by sea freighter and as a non-tourist on a cruise ship. Those trips were good. However, the nature of that kind of trip has changed in recent decades.

It does seem that I do automatically tend to jump to thoughts  of trips and travel when I think of fresh action.
Well, all my life I've enjoyed exploration and discovery. Most of us need some novelty and variety and I seem to crave a bit more than do many. Travel does tend to provide abundant opportunity for exploration, discovery, novelty, and variety. Travel seemed a good fix for me in the past.

I'm just thinking out-loud. Gas is expensive, but I do owe a late model car that, at worst, gets better than 30 mph. I can still drive. I recently took a pretty long trip over much of the U.S.

I've been thinking that I'd like to try living in a city; perhaps right downtown in a city. I could drive to Quebec City and check it out. Learning French seems interesting. I wonder what it would cost to live in downtown Quebec City.

My mind isn't as sharp as it once was and my recall seems to shut down at occasional moments, but in general my mind seems good enough for exploratory travel.

I'm getting some ideas for activity that may well be pleasantly stimulating.

To be continued .......

Colombia

Who would be willing to help me enjoy, in economical comfort, any of the following great towns and cities of Colombia?

~ Barichara

~ Medellin

~ Bogota

~ Villa de Leyva

~ Cali

~ Jardin

~ Manizales

~ Santa Marta

~ Santa fe de Antioquia

Which of the following places above would be the most comfortable to live in? clean air? good people? quiet sleeping?

I believe that I'd also enjoy looking around Neiva, Baranquilla, Pereira, Bucaramunga, Cartagena, Pamplona, Armenia, Salento, Tunja, San Carlos, Fredonia, San Andres, and .....

By the above my old friends will be able to tell that I am getting ready for another of my solo exploratory trips. Most of them wouldn't say that I am getting too old for such trips. .

Beginning A New Year

Happy 2012!

I thought that this trip post was already on line! 

In bringing 2011 to a close, I visited friends and family. I doing so I touched on the following states: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and just a bit of Tennessee. It included my first look at Saint Louis in a long time.

It has been good to travel in the US again. It is a bit insulating to travel on our great interstates, and it is amazing to see great cargo trucks traveling 80 mph and more on them!

I left the Clute/Lake Jackson area on Texas highway 35 going southwest along the Gulf coast to Corpus Christi(body of Christ). I had just had a great visit with my long time friend Dr. D. From Corpus I traveled north westish up interstate 37 to state 72 near Three Rivers, Texas. I passed through Fowlerton and Los Angeles on the way to Cotulla on interstate 35.

Many Texans are learning differences between frac-water and fresh water. Frac-water is sometimes called brine there. Still I haven't been able to find one one Texan who can tell me the recipe for Frac-water. I also have not found out why used frac-water is hidden away beneath the earth and not reused.

From Cotulla I somehow jogged over to federal highway 83 and drove north on it to interstate 10. Found the drive up 83 particularly as, by the way, I did the drive down state 35.

I took interstate 10 to Fort Stockton on U.S. federal highway 285. Fort Stockton was, I believe, one of those places from which Civil War veterans shot Indians for the good of the Republic. For Lancaster, a bit farther east, was another of those places. I believe that both of those forts were built along what had been majore Indian trade routes. We may have once called that route The Old Chihuahua Trail, a name that that probably came to us from the Spanish.

Took 285 to Roswell New Mexico. The only possible aliens I saw around Roswell were some Middle East looking guys in skull caps. The had run out of gas and some good Samaritans were helping them. Tourists might be a better name than aliens.

Drove federal highway from Roswell to Las Cruces and found it a very pleasant drive. Among other pleasant sights, it took me through my first pines with snow of this winter.

Las Cruces has grown enormously; not all that growth has been for the better. From Las Cruces I took interstate through Tucson, Arizona to the junction with interstate 8. Took 8 to Yuma and into California to 86, 62 and home. I passed through some parts of Yuma I had not seen in a long time. I detected an amount of drug and gang activity that, for some reason, surprised me.  Still, I found the people kind and helpful, which surprised some people there.

It's good to be home. Joshua Tree and my little house here seem to have fared well in my absence.

Thank you to the people of each of the States I touched. Thank you too to Rex, Dennis, Gerry, Ron, Gloria, and Debra. A great 2012 to all, including the Maya.

Beginning a New Year

Happy 2012 all!


In bringing 2011 to a close, I visited friends and family. In doing so I touched on the following U.S. states: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri. Visited with my good friend Rex in Brandon, Mississippi and my long time friend Dr. Dennis in Lake Jackson, Texas.  Rex and Dennis both looked well and were great hosts. Had a wonderful visit with my sister Gerry, her husband Ron, and her daughters Gloria, and Debra. Gerry deserves thanks and hugs for making it a great Christmas for us all.


It has been good to travel in the U. S. again. The country looks good. It is a bit insulating to travel on our great interstate highways, but they are smooth going and it is amazing to see great cargo trucks rolling along at 70 t0 80 mph.  I did manage to get off those interstates often enough to look around a bit.


I left the Clute/Lack Jackson area on Texas state highway 35 going southwest along the Gulf coast to Corpus Christi (Body of Christ). From Corpus, I traveled north-westish up interstate 37 to state 72 near Three Rivers. On Texas state highways 72 and 97, I passed through Fowlerton and Los Angeles to Cotulla on interstate 35.


Many Texans are learning more than most of us about the differences between frack-water and fresh water. Frack-water is too often called brine. Still, I havent been able to find one Texan who can tell me the recipe for frack-water. I also have not found out why used frack-water is hidden away beneath the earth and not reused. Did find anyone who drank Frack-water to quench their thirst.


From Cotulla I somehow jogged over to federal highway 83 and drove north on it to interstate 10. Found the drive up 83 particularly pleasant and interesting as, by the way, I did the drive down state 35.


I took Interstate 10 to Fort Stockton on U.S. federal highway 285. Fort Stockton was, I believe, one of those places from which civil War veterans shot Indians for the good of the Republic. Fort Lancaster, a bit farther east, was another such place. I believe that both forts were on a major Indian trading route. We may have once called that route The Old Chihuahua Trail, which name we probably learned from the Spanish rather than from the Indians.


Took federal highway 285 to Roswell New Mexico. The only possible aliens I saw around Roswell were some Middle-East looking men in skull caps. They had run out of gas and were being helped by  good Samaritans.


Drove federal highway 70 from Roswell to Las Cruces and found it a very pleasant drive. Among other pleasant sights, it took me through my first pines with snow of this winter.


I stayed over-night in good accommodations many nights on this trip for less than $70 a night. Some accommodations were much less than $70 and some very good.


Las Cruces has grown enormously; not all of its growth has been for the better. From Las Cruces I took interstate 10 through Tucson, Arizona to the junction with interstate 8. Took 8 through Yuma into California to 86, 62 and home. In driving through some parts of Yuma I hadn't seen for a long time, I detected an amount of of drug and gang activity which, for some reason,surprised me.


It's good to be home. Joshua Tree and my little house seem to have fared well without me. Maybe, in Spring I'll head up to Washington state.

Peak Experience Six

In my previous P.E. post I was getting some satisfaction in an attractive antique shop.

The intelligent, soft-spoken lady with large brown eyes and full wavy hair quickly found the correct website for California Hot Springs. There she got a phone number for the Springs and dialed it on her gem-like cell phone. She talked, then I talked and she took notes, then she talked again.

We found that the closest city to the Hot Springs was Porterville a useful piece of information!

Porteville is a fair drive from Coarse Gold and it had taken me most of a day to get that in mind. I remembered that the spa had been far from most other facilities and that was confirmed. My helper suggested that I reserve a room and I declined. My helper got the number of a possible room source near the mineral spa, dialed it, and passed me the phone. I talked with a ill older woman who said that she was waiting for a call from her doctor. I didn't take the hint and chatted on. I found out that she wasn't accustomed to illness and just begun to feel serious symptoms that very day. She said that they were closed and that even the people who ran the restaurant were leaving for a couple of days out of town. She said that it was the first place on the right after leaving the spa and that if nothing else she would have a key left at the door of number eight upstairs. I t had begun to seem like a reservation!

At the Antique shop I was told to hit the road and that they had been waiting to eat. I'm sure I thanked them. I headed south and managed to get lost several times. If you make the trip I suggest that you take 99.

I arrive in Porterville I the late afternoon supposing that everyone would know were the Hot Springs are. They didn't. One kind store manager called his boss and home and had me ask him. The 'boss' gave me clear and accurate directions and suggested that I not call him at home at dinner time.

Following the directions of the man whose dinner I had interrupted for some distance south without entering the hills, I began to wonder if I had gone wrong. I pulled off at the last house in view and found a man about my age in the back yard with his great grandson and a number of animals. He told me to stay on the road and I would find it difficult to get lost.

The sun went down.

Peak Experience

I used to demand a peak experience from each trip and very often got it! It was costly, but worth the price to me. It usually meant going one step beyond the step beyond. I'd go beyond a 'reasonable' time limit, beyond the last dollar, beyond 'appropriate' energy and health limits, beyond cultural limits I could imagine; you get the idea.


I just returned from a little trip that was good without a peak experience. The weather was good. The change of pace and point of view was good. In general it was pleasing and interesting. Not all was perfect. I hit traffic heavier and more long lasting than I had ever seen. It extended from Lancaster to Ventura! I accidentally got on to the 210 freeway which took me into the dreaded hell of L.A. county. At one point I took a road paralleling the freeway and saw what thought was a 'park and ride' parking lot, but it was the freeway.


When I reached Ventura County I felt some home of seeing my long time friend, Lady B. I stopped and dialed her number on my new, but falling apart cell phone. I now know how to call out, but still don't know how to receive a call. I believe I got voice mail and left a brief message. I drove on and then stopped and dialed again and left  another brief message.


Getting into the traffic was my fault; it was my own fault. Not contacting Lady B was my fault, mu own fault. I had made no real arrangements to meet her except for a casual email which contained no dates or times.


I drove on to the town of Santa Maria. There was a lot of traffic on the way, but it was moving. When I got there I didn't recognize the place. I remember eating good barbecue there in the distant past. I also remembered that in the far distant past I had met a remarkable cat by the name of Piston there. Among certain Spanish speakers in California 'piston' means, if not 'drunkard,' then 'great drinker of alcohol.' This cat had no tail, but it was a real cat. It would sit on its square bottom, retract its claws, so that its little paws looked like it had on boxing gloves. Then, if one fought fairly, it would box with you.


I was tired and pulled into the first motel easy to reach from the road. The managers seemed to be from the Middle East, but not Arab. There were no hooks or coat hangers, so rather than throw my clothes on the floor, I put them on a chair. I went to bed and slept well

End of Driving Trip

I'm back without having a stroke. Great! I'm pleased to be home, but am 'up' for another trip.

I didn't go to Sacramento, Davis, or Ventura as I considered.

I did go up a narrow mountain road, trying for an interesting short-cut, to a point where-at snow-clearing equipment was stalled in drifts which seemed to have turned very icy. I turned back.

Continued to find comfortable, and attractive, motel rooms for under $60 a night.

The air in the Reno/Carson City area seems better than the air here in Joshua Tree where the air is good. I'm on a sort of smog free island here surrounded by a great sea of smog. The other such islands are usually high mountain communities.

On my little lot here I have already seen dove, road runner, chipmunk, iguana, cotton-tail and a little cockroach. I don't remember ever having seen a cockroach in the other four places I have owned here.

My brother Dorian was here while I was gone and has called. I am sorry I missed his visit. He was complimentary of the looks of this little place. He should see Camp Thunderbird.

Rex Called and seems well. Bridget called and seems to be doing a good job of passing through her ordeal.

My next driving trip may include fewer miles. I could go to California Hot Springs, which is not far from the town of Porterville. I have been to California Hot Springs, but not recently. The water there comes up through granite and arrives pure, hot, and crystal clear. I t has a low level of mineralization and is great drinking water.
From there I could try Miracle Hot Springs just below Lake Isabella. I've not been there.
I could go on to Tacopa Hot Springs not far from the community of Shoshone, just outside of Death Valley Nation Park. Tacopa is the only government sponsored public bathing facility at which nudity is mandatory. No bathing costume permitted. There is a division between the men's water and the women's. I could visit these three quite different spas and travel much less that I did this time.

Medellin Living - Colombia Lifestyle, Nightlife and Travel Blog

Medellin Living - Colombia Lifestyle, Nightlife and Travel Blog

Pisa, Medellin ha cambiado.

Take a look at the capital of Antioquia, Colombia.

Driving Trip

Made it to Las Vegas and on to Reno.
The air was bad past Las Vegas about as far as Beatty. It was smoggy all the way. I was saddened to see so much of the atmosphere of the Mojave degraded. Taking this trip has lead me to more fully realize that I live on an 'island' of pretty good air surrounded by more than 100 mile radius of smog. I think that the only exceptions to that great sea of smog, besides my little 'home island' are some high mountain communities. Beatty must be nearly 100 miles north of Vegas and it wasn't until I reached Beatty that I began to note clear air.

I think that I have already posted that I paid about $100 for a room in Tonopah. I didn't need to pay that price, but I a place like Tonopah its sometimes a good idea to choose the best place in town. It is fairly easy along this route to find quite comfortable places to sleep for less than fifty or sixty dollars a night. I spotted some nice casino rooms offered for $29.

Being in the Tonopah area kindled enough memories to fill two posts twice as interesting as this one. Maybe I'll tell one or two of those stories later.

It is great to be in a region of pure air and beautiful skies again. It's great to see the mountains, plains and hills in clear definition. The shapely clouds in a deep blue sky are marvelous.

Americans

I have traveled a lot.

I enjoyed my travels. I was treated well everywhere.

I found that Americans were generally well liked, but that the America government was not.

I am not surprised that I am well liked. I'm a likable guy. For a time I was surprised that my government was not well liked.

As I traveled, I not only talked a lot, I also listened a lot, and learned to keep my eyes open. I began to learn. I began to understand that even though most people wanted to like the United States, they could not.

I remember being taught that one of the strengths of democracy was its stability. I saw my government supporting anti-democratic government everywhere. We supported those who trusted the people least and who were trusted least by the people. We supported killers, despots, dictators, and cruel exploiters. We supported those interested in the greatest good for the very special few.

My travels began in the days when Americans still referred to the government as 'we' and 'us.' I went to Embassies and Consulates and asked, "Why are we supporting these guys?" When they found that I was serious they explained that it was done in the name of stability! At first I asked, "What about my teachers?" "What about democracy?" I said that I talked to many people who wanted their own democratic government. I said that the people found it confusing that Americans supported their actual point of teaching that government how to suppress them. When I noted How I was being asked, "What people?" and "Which people?" I began to think that I was talking too much.

I began to make my observations a bit more discreetly. My earliest inquiries were mostly in Latin America. I continued observations in Europe, the East and wider.

The major change over these years is that Americans began to refer to their government as they and them.

Bromo In Our Mind

Bromo In Our Mind


Click on the link above and see an interesting view of our landscape.

Tony Wheeler

Tony Wheeler cilick on Tony to get to his interesting blog. You can go places from there

Travel information from lonely planet inside.

Then check out Sint Eustatius Island. They may call it Statia.

Goals

I note that a significant number of tweeters and bloggers speak of attention to goal setting.


I have developed some skill at setting goals, even though I practice them less often than I might.


My mother told me that what one thinks is a goal might not be one. She said that a goal, for her, had to be realistic and that she had to be pretty darn sure that she could accomplish it. She had to believe she could and would carry it through to completion. If she did not so believe it was not a goal for her. I have found her words to be helpful.


A present goal of mien is to begin a World History class at a local community college this month. This may not be a complete goal, but it does say what, where, and when about my intentions. Mom, I can do it.


The plan is to complete the class with an 'A,' but I may not. I may quit if I don't enjoy the teacher, the class organization, or whatever. I have not researched the class or the teacher. For me, entering the class begins a process of exploration and discovery.


Speaking of exploration and discovery, at the end of this class or before, I may set a goal for a bit more world exploration and discovery.
I may travel by sea; hopefully with companions or a companion. I am too old to enjoy walking the roads of Siberia carrying my suitcase. I expect my explorations to be slow with and it may take me well over a month to recognize a discovery.


If you know of anyone who might enjoy taking all or part of a 'trip' with me or who might enjoy having my company on a part of their travels or visits, please let me know.

Countries that can still be travelled on the cheap - travel tips and articles - Lonely Planet

Countries that can still be travelled on the cheap - travel tips and articles - Lonely Planet



I want to know of an excellent and cheap way to get to these places by sea from the US.