tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57933908407098413902024-03-17T20:00:56.359-07:00Roadboys TravelsThoughts and attitude from an architect on the road.Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.comBlogger560125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-46094093674831071742024-03-10T13:26:00.029-07:002024-03-12T21:47:11.022-07:00Flying from Phoenix / Strange Happenings in AA Points Redemptions<p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI1Wu0BZSd-oI-tlhn3FiXUbLNVJEDwKSMNDx1xYR-H1qlhUfcqf5PvklVZIqRtfE9OnA7VVlpn_S4wT4OZwbV0iwWziOMygrnDuSCN1nPkasvLmqNvt8H6VfNgpbDJRbMzgmBflXrWPrL8ojumZ8sZ5m5q_xHiqZqzmk8OjvATBZwalzuwWbak46-hUQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1189" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhI1Wu0BZSd-oI-tlhn3FiXUbLNVJEDwKSMNDx1xYR-H1qlhUfcqf5PvklVZIqRtfE9OnA7VVlpn_S4wT4OZwbV0iwWziOMygrnDuSCN1nPkasvLmqNvt8H6VfNgpbDJRbMzgmBflXrWPrL8ojumZ8sZ5m5q_xHiqZqzmk8OjvATBZwalzuwWbak46-hUQ=w400-h360" width="400" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>An American Airlines Plane Departs in the Shadow of Camelback Mountain</b></div><p></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b>Fluid Points and Wildly Differing Fees <br /></b></p><p>I am planning two international bicycling trips in 2024.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Trip One: Cycling Tuscany (April /May)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For this trip I'll make a brief pre-trip to Rome. Then I'll take the train to Florence to meet up with friends in Florence to cycle for six days through the Chianti region. We will finish up in Lucca (near Pisa). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Trip Two: Cycling Sparta, Monemvasia, & the Peloponnesian Peninsula (October/November)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">To avoid crowds I'm traveling well out of the normal tourist season. There will be a brief pre-trip in Athens and then on to another week of sunshine, good cycling, and great food.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Expect lots more on those trips later.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">However, while planning those trips I encountered lots of interesting oddities in the current frequent flier redemption marketplace. It is frankly a bit wild out there. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Collecting Points and Earning Elite Status</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">First off, many airlines are offering very generous point incentives if you open branded credit cards and make a minimum spend. Yet experience shows they then take steps to make it increasingly difficult achieve elite status. Today, elite status is all about how much you spend, not how often (or how far) you fly. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">And once your frequent flier points begin to pile up you may notice that airlines raise the redemption levels needed to use them. Similarly, when you reach a top elite status level, the airlines simply add new, even higher, status plateaus. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Remember how Lucy always moved the football?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Thankfully, I have lifetime elite status with multiple hotels and airlines. However, I secured my lifetime status under the old points systems. Road warriors of today don't have it so easy. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Spending Your Points.....</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">First, if you are like me and use your frequent flier points to offset the cost of annual personal travel, I strongly advise you to plan ahead and then remain flexible. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The days when redemption values were fixed have long since disappeared. Now the airlines post ever changing daily redemption rates; mostly up, sometimes down.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">And the airline you choose makes a big difference too. Although Delta is a wonderful airline, it has redemption rates that are typically much higher than rates on the other legacy carriers. And all of the major airlines have priced redemption levels for Premium Economy and Business Class cabins well out of reach for most of us. I used to routinely fly my family of four to Europe and Asia in business class for about 53K per person each way. Now business class can run 400K per person each way. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But, with a little shopping, you can still do very well flying coach (particularly on American where a flight to Europe can frequently be redeemed for 30K each way). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Also don't get fixated on flying to a specific destination. So what if you are going to Italy? It may well be more advantageous to first fly to a city like Madrid as your gateway. Shop around and once
you get to Europe, buying a connecting toyour final destination by train or on regional air
carrier may be pretty inexpensive. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">For my Greek trip I found AA service from Athens to be spotty. So I priced other gateways for my
return home. My favorite European gateways are typically London and Madrid (I love Madrid's Barajas Airport). Amsterdam is also a good choice. In a pinch I'll
shop Paris, Frankfurt and Barcelona too. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We began our trip to Vietnam last fall by flying to Thailand. After a few days in Bangkok we connected to Hanoi on a very inexpensive commuter flight. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Once you've booked a flight on points check back now and then. If redemption rates drop, consider canceling your booking and getting your points reinstated. Then re-book at the lower rate. I recently did this on a flight from Boston to London next October. The original booking was 30K. The new booking was 19K for the same flight. And since I cancelled the old one first, I still got my favorite bulkhead seat.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Searching for my return flight from Athens I'd initially hoped to return via London (on my favorite AA flight 195), but I forgot how ridiculous the fees are on flights originating at Heathrow. The fees going to London are cheap. The fees coming home suck.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And when I went to check AA initially posted high redemption points too. This led me to switch to a flight returning home from Amsterdam. That routing saved me 21,000
points and $150 in fees. And the redemption rate for my Amsterdam flight has since dropped three times. First it was 30K, then it was 27K, now it is 19K. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So I'll take an extra day and fly Aegean to Schipol, check into the
airport Hilton or Sheraton (you can walk to the gates from these hotels), then spend a day exploring the Rijksmuseum. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next morning I'll walk to my gate and fly home
to Phoenix a lot more rested. <b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Phoenix / Airline Desert</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I love living in Phoenix, with our warm, sunny climate and amazing Sky Harbor Airport. Yet, we suffer from crappy international air service. Despite being the fifth largest metro area in the US we only have two, count 'em two, daily flights to Europe and both of them go to the same place. We have no international flights to Asia at all. strip away our Canada and Mexico flights and Phoenix is an international airline desert. </p><div style="text-align: justify;">Just before covid hit American added a daily non-stop flight from Sky Harbor to London (joining British Air whose daily flight to London had been our only direct flight to Europe for decades). Now, perhaps due to the pressure of the new-ish AA flight, British Air has downsized the aircraft they operate for their PHX flight. <br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Seasonally, Condor flies a few days a week from Phoenix to Germany and Air France recently announced they will soon offer seasonal service from Phoenix to Paris. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I find it bizarre how grossly underserved Phoenix is especially when I compare offerings from highly weather impacted hubs like Denver, Dallas, and Salt Lake City.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">IMHO the situation has steadily gotten worse after American's consolidation. Once the merger moratorium on abandoning hubs dropped off AA started reducing non-stop services to/from Phoenix. Aa and Delta have poured (literally) billions of dollars into LAX and DFW, while methodically redeploying Phoenix based flight crews.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When we fly globally anywhere (except London) Phoenicians have to fly through ATL, DFW, JFK, ORD, or LAX. Now, if I were to ask you to name the most universally despised airports in North America, wouldn't all of those airports make your list?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">to me they are all poorly designed aviation relics continuously undergoing expensive and superficial upgrading. </p>Another oddity I've noticed is how AA sometimes leverages it's FF redemption strategy to nudge fliers into cashing in AA points on competitor's flights. For example when I checked into using AA points to fly non-stop from LHR to PHX on one day / one-way rate was:<br /><p style="text-align: justify;">AA: 59.5K points + $190 taxes / fees </p><p style="text-align: justify;">However, using the same AA points on the BA flight was only 22.5K points +<b> $384</b> taxes / fees one way <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Low points / high fees. The AA flight that day required 2-1/2 times the points of the BA flight (but came with those crazy high LHR fees). Fees are reasonable flying to LHR, but dreadfully high flying from LHR. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Initially I speculated the point discrepancy might be AA's way of driving non-rev passengers to code share partners in order to keep their own seats open and available for more profitable fare paying passengers. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">But a few weeks later the discrepancy vanished and, in fact, it reversed. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>LHR to PHX a few weeks back = 59K</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKBSTSgP_Y8KLT9O_Wl8x7oJca7v6RAyWPBfD-7boUQpckDz65pQMcpx2RG0oweeN3XtXggwcHPhGSKU7H1cg30Y_RqN-Txxv-xibCIqFujp5wGUBtKMlvTzQi0UliFmS-kKMYfZqg01k7W6zdKr8wBnyAb5wsvp51IL7o4mAKW4J_v1On85ki-uCOeY/s2366/Screenshot%202024-03-03%20at%203.02.56%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="2366" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKBSTSgP_Y8KLT9O_Wl8x7oJca7v6RAyWPBfD-7boUQpckDz65pQMcpx2RG0oweeN3XtXggwcHPhGSKU7H1cg30Y_RqN-Txxv-xibCIqFujp5wGUBtKMlvTzQi0UliFmS-kKMYfZqg01k7W6zdKr8wBnyAb5wsvp51IL7o4mAKW4J_v1On85ki-uCOeY/w492-h300/Screenshot%202024-03-03%20at%203.02.56%20PM.png" width="492" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>The same LHR to PHX flight a few weeks later and AA's same flight cost = 19K</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvWv4UMO9pTZMWil9zQ_Fy5DfnvoecGwdotwkqtqWPLQTgGEd-XjiGQB7y3FtJvYETpA43cQ8yQmZxWK1HEt2ELl2m2lJcmMfxNy2xJ5iEd3pjlIC84jU4SzMS5W_w0YEZyiy9JV4RwmmLMpL6HwrMG-ypXHM9DHmem8VXb12u5aaRdZQ14xCZurwU5xY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="2226" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvWv4UMO9pTZMWil9zQ_Fy5DfnvoecGwdotwkqtqWPLQTgGEd-XjiGQB7y3FtJvYETpA43cQ8yQmZxWK1HEt2ELl2m2lJcmMfxNy2xJ5iEd3pjlIC84jU4SzMS5W_w0YEZyiy9JV4RwmmLMpL6HwrMG-ypXHM9DHmem8VXb12u5aaRdZQ14xCZurwU5xY=w494-h305" width="494" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The moral of the story; be flexible, book your flights then check back now and then. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">So to recap, find a good rate and book it. Don't procrastinate. If rates goes up, no worries, you are protected. If rates goes down, you can cancel and re-book. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">You just might save enough miles for another trip.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels</b> <b>© 2024</b><br /></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-28759660441983599902024-02-18T14:26:00.011-07:002024-02-19T18:16:45.965-07:00Traveling in the "Off" Season<div><b>The Upside Down Travel View of Phoenicians<br /></b><p style="text-align: justify;">I know I've written this before, but with record crowds now traveling again it feels like a good time to repeat it. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Much of my travel and recreation activities include riding a bike. And in Arizona, with our upside down seasons, we cycle as much as possible in late fall, all winter, and during spring. We ride like crazy while the rest of America hibernates. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">So when winter begins to melt into spring and the rest of America starts tuning up their bikes for summer, we feel the dread of putting our bikes away as we prepare to endure another nuclear summer. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">For us, summer is a good time to go somewhere else. But summer is precisely when many of the world's most scenic places become overpriced, hot, and obscenely overcrowded. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">So I grudgingly trade some of my own ideal winter cycling season for some off-season travel to the places I'd prefer to experience without the company of a zillion other hot tourists. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">For example, this year, in my quest to avoid excessive crowds, I'll be biking in Tuscany in late April and on Greece's Pelopponnesian Penninsula in late October.<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;">And, I admit it, even when not riding a bike, I've come to seek out some cold places for mid-winter travel. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Paris and Rome are especially beautiful in winter. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">One fond wintertime Parisian memory was the Sunday afternoon my daughter and I spent just hanging out among Parisian families in the Luxembourg Gardens. They were all wrapped up in their stylish puffy coats pushing baby strollers, chatting and playing
cards around its glaciated fountains. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">To me that Sunday defined the true spirit of the City of Light.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">And, spending a frosty foggy winter day strolling among the rows of severely pruned trees in Versailles was equally ethereal. There was something just magical seeing the morning steam rising from the Palace's fountains and waterways as some heroic white and black swans slowly paddled by.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA357EhF9s1LBQO_W1APn6lqhjtPMhtmPCgyHHxQKIwA-LyHEPKsicwGhkM7wMaQrVqJ_a7TlM5rUGA9gZYBlMYLEPmIuC2WE9l5kiKyp9m34rKGw4pkAoVJx8iVnd5zgUtPfoPfP6ByFBc0gOZhu8BfvRwO7SUuNHdWm2wuMvYJGeHkgR36f5GiPyXb4/s2592/SAM_6499.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA357EhF9s1LBQO_W1APn6lqhjtPMhtmPCgyHHxQKIwA-LyHEPKsicwGhkM7wMaQrVqJ_a7TlM5rUGA9gZYBlMYLEPmIuC2WE9l5kiKyp9m34rKGw4pkAoVJx8iVnd5zgUtPfoPfP6ByFBc0gOZhu8BfvRwO7SUuNHdWm2wuMvYJGeHkgR36f5GiPyXb4/w400-h300/SAM_6499.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A February Day in Versailles</b></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">On bitterly cold winter days in Brugge cafes put out big blazing fire pots. The pots flank their front doors to tempt you in for Moules et Frittes (steaming bowls of mussels
accompanied by a pile of crisp french fries). There is something kind of perfect about that.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On a winter trip to New York City the sight of the snowy Bethesda (Angel's in America) Fountain in Central Park patiently awaiting new life to begin in spring felt uplifting.</div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Although winter visits deprive us warn days and blooming flowers, I'll happily wear a hat, scarf and ear muffs to join rosy cheeked Londoners as they cheer for jugglers and street performers in Covent Garden.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">And on one bright and crisp December morning I sat all bundled up on a bench in Rome's Borghese Gardens and watched the passing walkers and cyclists. The imagery was pure Edward Hopper.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4zzh0U_msNWBLoFY4Mp2U2sg6XCg73MGV4fMnSyn6xIDGZ1xRDSER6NLle0-3SSuBZyToNQwenBEzuDobyx9MFor2KjKizHFOd1cNg71emjKhTKNVvD7vayxy14etwmFLjkK1fwUGb693FckxLZsk0uMsa2bVSUpgy9L77zKgld6OIBlo8O_Nr6eZtU/s1600/BorgheseGardens3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4zzh0U_msNWBLoFY4Mp2U2sg6XCg73MGV4fMnSyn6xIDGZ1xRDSER6NLle0-3SSuBZyToNQwenBEzuDobyx9MFor2KjKizHFOd1cNg71emjKhTKNVvD7vayxy14etwmFLjkK1fwUGb693FckxLZsk0uMsa2bVSUpgy9L77zKgld6OIBlo8O_Nr6eZtU/w400-h300/BorgheseGardens3.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A December Morning in the Borghese Gardens</b></div><div><p style="text-align: justify;">So travel in the off season. Whether you visit Prague, Madrid, Rome, Athens or Berlin, you will have a much better chance of rubbing shoulders with locals on a cold winter day than any day in summer.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And, those are the days that will help you to truly discover the soul of a place. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Once my kids hit the age when travel was no longer confined by the tyranny of school calendars, I discovered crowd-free off-season travel.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And you should too!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2024</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-10954652886732653622024-01-28T12:38:00.041-07:002024-01-29T17:22:22.487-07:00Cycling SE Asia 2023 Part 9: Ho Chi Minh City<p><b> </b></p><p><b>Hot Saigon!<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">An early morning shuttle transported us from Hoi An to the nearby airport in Da Nang. Along the way we made brief stops at Da Nang's Dragon Bridge and to see its beautiful silver strand of urban beach (strongly reminded me of Waikiki). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">After landing at Saigon's Tan Son Nhat International Airport and being shuttled into the heart of the city my first impression was "wow, Saigon is even hotter than Hoi An!" <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I say this acknowledging that, being a Phoenician, we are not exactly wimps when it comes to hot weather. Each year we masochistically count the number of days (<u>in a row!)</u> when our daytime temperatures exceed 110° F. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the summer of 2023, we set an awful record with 54 days at, or above, 110° F. Yep, it was hell.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yet adding one drop of moisture to our heat and Phoenicians (like me) just melt 🫠. So the climate of Ho Chi Minh City, where heat is saturated with humidity, just hammered me. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In fact, our guides chided us that Saigon only has two seasons; hot and <b><i><u>damn</u></i></b> hot! Lucky for us, our visit was in "hot" season 😓. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">A sidebar rant....</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For any of you brain dead idiots still clinging to some
anti-science fantasy that climate change is just cyclical or some kind of left wing hoax, as glaciers recede and ice caps melt, know that thinking humans believe God wasted a brain (and certainly a heart) on you. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Please do not vote or have children.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">OK, now back to the post.... <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Despite the heat (?!) our first stop was lunch and a big steaming bowl of
very hot Phó. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaB0U4YEuSTQR_xBvgmGkA23ODIlROaBC24zyC3iLI4ckVKiomopgRSr0YmUijh8hl0q_ePqTC1W_ggS8TgxpPh51zVASEYFjkNmuPDTKapNcy0o1bbU4x2cKPZ25Jwm0NGmcXw0U3G3x1-Qa6yS-cSzGpxJSEJDpwzzAi9zQZ3x-gKR5aWraIxYHr-8/s4032/Pho%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaB0U4YEuSTQR_xBvgmGkA23ODIlROaBC24zyC3iLI4ckVKiomopgRSr0YmUijh8hl0q_ePqTC1W_ggS8TgxpPh51zVASEYFjkNmuPDTKapNcy0o1bbU4x2cKPZ25Jwm0NGmcXw0U3G3x1-Qa6yS-cSzGpxJSEJDpwzzAi9zQZ3x-gKR5aWraIxYHr-8/w400-h300/Pho%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Phó Rush - Lunchtime Saigon</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Lunch was followed by a tour a tour of Saigon's mid-century modern Independence (or Presidential) Palace. The Palace was conceived in 1962 by ill fated president Ngo Dinh Diem. Diem, was murdered the next year in a coup and never saw his completed palace. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The building, finished in 1966, was designed by the celebrated Vietnamese architect Ngo Viet Thu. Thu was a graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and was the recipient of The First Grand Prize of Rome in 1955. He went on to be the first Asian architect to be accorded the title of Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The palace ultimately served as the home of the leader of the military junta Nguyen Van Thieu and his family. They lived there until just before the final defeat of the Republic of South Vietnam in 1975. The Palace was the site of South Vietnam's surrender. <b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEx9zJFPm_DDDEMuwFI6DhlYXhwzII8lR_YPMmIOO2SKiZRL4A9ttOZ_lqdo7Mmb1I70Q2aJTwdHFDRJq1giRGojK_LaNXvOvm8bEyaW7Yh_km-5CUwCHFGd3BpcGMq57g07ODzKTXJLloM7SfnkXTPOWoXfarrvGEfFhN4eeUoD_Wx7pQaA6ad_2goLg/s3787/I%20Palace%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2382" data-original-width="3787" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEx9zJFPm_DDDEMuwFI6DhlYXhwzII8lR_YPMmIOO2SKiZRL4A9ttOZ_lqdo7Mmb1I70Q2aJTwdHFDRJq1giRGojK_LaNXvOvm8bEyaW7Yh_km-5CUwCHFGd3BpcGMq57g07ODzKTXJLloM7SfnkXTPOWoXfarrvGEfFhN4eeUoD_Wx7pQaA6ad_2goLg/w400-h251/I%20Palace%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Saigon's Independence Palace</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gKXhIxL4g77M5N-v5jV5GS6xYDVYjNyp-9794SgyUPz6LRR3STOdPbhLRdoTv96WAedg5fE9M6CiSjW7UON9z727YXnmtaQ6fTwXR9sOmDQdF9-Vp1BEqvRR73bZaoTALaP3OG05iQMjbTow1mBaVTyjLDGMmhV9NyFXsfduCToFssJSQlqaonIOaGo/s3598/I%20Palace%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2894" data-original-width="3598" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gKXhIxL4g77M5N-v5jV5GS6xYDVYjNyp-9794SgyUPz6LRR3STOdPbhLRdoTv96WAedg5fE9M6CiSjW7UON9z727YXnmtaQ6fTwXR9sOmDQdF9-Vp1BEqvRR73bZaoTALaP3OG05iQMjbTow1mBaVTyjLDGMmhV9NyFXsfduCToFssJSQlqaonIOaGo/w400-h321/I%20Palace%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Ambassador's Reception Rm.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The building is monumental in size (180,000 SF) and extraordinarily formal in layout. It is now used for conferences and other related activities. Frozen in time, it symbolically exemplifies the excesses of a past era.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">A textbook example of early 60's sleek Camelot modernism, it reminds me of the formal, highly linear, layered designs of Edward Durell Stone (as exemplified in his US Embassy in New Delhi and Kennedy Center in Washington DC). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <b> <br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGyZtG2EhqgRcDpKvq85UHqmwag1AAXeOLJX2qNo6G5SLitdyfnp1lLPZEv_463q3cN6yEbj2Wt150lOaOVrsLs5mZnSEcypUFMW_P1HfyOxCS7ej3fjqz9kHYe3-MNes1foRYJtCAUtnyKliaU1Io4dvG9we7ORpuv_RJXPSL6hI6DJkcW6DlnKuCt8/s3929/I%20Palace%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3929" data-original-width="2794" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGyZtG2EhqgRcDpKvq85UHqmwag1AAXeOLJX2qNo6G5SLitdyfnp1lLPZEv_463q3cN6yEbj2Wt150lOaOVrsLs5mZnSEcypUFMW_P1HfyOxCS7ej3fjqz9kHYe3-MNes1foRYJtCAUtnyKliaU1Io4dvG9we7ORpuv_RJXPSL6hI6DJkcW6DlnKuCt8/w285-h400/I%20Palace%203.jpeg" width="285" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Stacked Brise Soleil Windows </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rich details abound in this building. I really loved these three-part stacked
windows mounted behind the vaguely bone fragment like concrete "bamboo" brise soleil. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Simple, yet just
beautifully designed and crafted, the windows adjust to perfectly direct the breeze into major building spaces. And, without any perception of air
conditioning running, most of the spaces we toured felt pretty
comfortable. <b> <br /></b></div><div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkNeLLgP6eg_qaC5uUXE3iIAYAq-NtZcgbIFDnHwcWWIACKbbYizg-bUmO5hqw1be5zfaTbWa9rvfagJ32I3kFp77EhQ_3LOZmvLZZJjDnf-n6h1Q0VmjcVm718YNfWerZmSVy7KMtua_9CUIUQ_6DoJWnsKQ9_sotnXhP0qrddtBSYWDLqTueZEKB-8/s3909/I%20Palace%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3909" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkNeLLgP6eg_qaC5uUXE3iIAYAq-NtZcgbIFDnHwcWWIACKbbYizg-bUmO5hqw1be5zfaTbWa9rvfagJ32I3kFp77EhQ_3LOZmvLZZJjDnf-n6h1Q0VmjcVm718YNfWerZmSVy7KMtua_9CUIUQ_6DoJWnsKQ9_sotnXhP0qrddtBSYWDLqTueZEKB-8/w310-h400/I%20Palace%204.jpeg" width="310" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Presidential and Vice Presidential Reception Rooms</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">As with all palace architecture, the design intent of the building meant to humble a visitor while conveying an image of power and stability. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioSgQWeG9xlKVr-DXvaCYedfUGQNMDEHIjpCny4U17SmYMiWpyRg1lYdNjp1RnO34oZANj-NTixfMntgbvc5E-_K7kOqBYsYsKEvFLrcNJeP-Q26H7vkOKP2VHRd4QmEsGzmXoQaYwDfUVEta01TQdiSiutt5KriHDIutYIsl-HAb1OIz4oQECoaHZ7g/s3799/I%20Palace%205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2407" data-original-width="3799" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioSgQWeG9xlKVr-DXvaCYedfUGQNMDEHIjpCny4U17SmYMiWpyRg1lYdNjp1RnO34oZANj-NTixfMntgbvc5E-_K7kOqBYsYsKEvFLrcNJeP-Q26H7vkOKP2VHRd4QmEsGzmXoQaYwDfUVEta01TQdiSiutt5KriHDIutYIsl-HAb1OIz4oQECoaHZ7g/w400-h254/I%20Palace%205.jpeg" width="400" /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Presidential and Vice Presidential Reception Rooms in Use</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was to serve as a concrete symbol of prestige for Diem's authoritarianism. All of its formal room layouts are out of human scale and remind me of short little Putin sitting at his huge conference tables in the salons of the Kremlin (where he sits a mile away from anyone else in his presence). Of course, for Putin it is as much about paranoia and fear as it is prestige.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPN8-yzh09R_Agl5A0pH-_D9AmYcrXpWHXz3tDVK2UaNs6w-KNXHHZME0DtdmYf0InEgnsB_T4h_BAwq5ktVmHEY00CqJ8bl4fPeuoXyZHh9mHCj5z_iWtHSez2IefiZkL4-9PuiP7jOz9SZIwnDflGjsK-9TLs_M-sT8ooHEYL41Ta_veaUiegrsb4w/s4032/I%20Palace%206.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPN8-yzh09R_Agl5A0pH-_D9AmYcrXpWHXz3tDVK2UaNs6w-KNXHHZME0DtdmYf0InEgnsB_T4h_BAwq5ktVmHEY00CqJ8bl4fPeuoXyZHh9mHCj5z_iWtHSez2IefiZkL4-9PuiP7jOz9SZIwnDflGjsK-9TLs_M-sT8ooHEYL41Ta_veaUiegrsb4w/w300-h400/I%20Palace%206.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div></b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Reception Salon</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Beyond its dignitary spaces, the building also housed a bunker and subgrade command center. It remains a concrete symbol of a tragic period in Vietnam's history.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After visiting the Palace we viewed some of Ho Chi Minh City's other major buildings and public spaces. They run the gamut of "Tony Stark's" Avenger's skyscraper with its mid-level helipad to the classically designed Opera House and Post Office. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrnbUSVGmpoucmV-kV4r_cVhaRRY4y0XriUJpxQnoItYnLr6X0ErAub55JNr91uQWcQDgwt8UvpH4DPYv0ZdO6w1tSGMif2OJvnA_oQzh1JEvKWl-IpROIjwJKKV-VvH7eNfFC7G43mJG_oKT7W4bHBXCzQebz8uWKuQjdTvF6E4_Ysq_J_834hVYMPk/s3888/Opera%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3888" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrnbUSVGmpoucmV-kV4r_cVhaRRY4y0XriUJpxQnoItYnLr6X0ErAub55JNr91uQWcQDgwt8UvpH4DPYv0ZdO6w1tSGMif2OJvnA_oQzh1JEvKWl-IpROIjwJKKV-VvH7eNfFC7G43mJG_oKT7W4bHBXCzQebz8uWKuQjdTvF6E4_Ysq_J_834hVYMPk/w400-h311/Opera%201.jpeg" width="400" />s</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Saigon Opera House at Night<br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That evening we had the pleasure of seeing the incredible AO Acrobats show in the Opera House. The show seemed inspired by the Cirque du Soleil type shows but was adapted to reflect the lyrical culture and character of Saigon. As I age, my appreciation for the pure lithe agility and strength of the performers only increases. <b> </b><br /></div></div><div><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5zRASjiaruG9KSS2xdy11iN1OhHFn24wYVP4yBb8cg065pAHbAsn2lS7QTHUVfqbysnGMchVY_O6ZclcLqeaPt96z__xIMEM14YWjvf6P-U6aNg6ZsU9DoYOervxCYAY2cdlTS4kQRuA1tAcPt9NgQ393KyI3zZeKO84UmfRMQFSF_dckxneV19R6EE/s4028/Saigon%20Scooters.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4028" data-original-width="2629" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5zRASjiaruG9KSS2xdy11iN1OhHFn24wYVP4yBb8cg065pAHbAsn2lS7QTHUVfqbysnGMchVY_O6ZclcLqeaPt96z__xIMEM14YWjvf6P-U6aNg6ZsU9DoYOervxCYAY2cdlTS4kQRuA1tAcPt9NgQ393KyI3zZeKO84UmfRMQFSF_dckxneV19R6EE/w261-h400/Saigon%20Scooters.jpeg" width="261" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Scooter Parking at the Saigon Opera House<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-AEzreT2fLcZQeJohxoqYiPM5m4xvwwg1Ub5gYyzFZyis7LRNGeCjZt0zbRCZYgcfU_JeiUaVa_t4JbCGhchHEM3ZAJiI4t_So5FcInCHzMkRdJ82MMiU6y27II7QjkPZSqq3e20mg5GdbZIo2xFl9tz_qSB8ZPNXYbs0CtbgcchJePAsClTsBQXZZE/s4032/New%20vs%20Old.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-AEzreT2fLcZQeJohxoqYiPM5m4xvwwg1Ub5gYyzFZyis7LRNGeCjZt0zbRCZYgcfU_JeiUaVa_t4JbCGhchHEM3ZAJiI4t_So5FcInCHzMkRdJ82MMiU6y27II7QjkPZSqq3e20mg5GdbZIo2xFl9tz_qSB8ZPNXYbs0CtbgcchJePAsClTsBQXZZE/w480-h640/New%20vs%20Old.jpeg" width="480" /></a><b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Modern Saigon's Bitexco (Tony Stark's) Tower Rises Above Old Saigon </b></p>The next morning we cycled in the countryside with a stop to visit the Viet Cong's Cu Chi Tunnels complex. Our tour began with a presentation and question and answer period conducted by a former Viet Cong guerilla and inhabitant of the tunnels.<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCourkBitdk_FnH28jWB4o5kLKBGFFAigGmWYgOaA6EfwYk88nOibOOiNC-wGA27-9l4f5asQI9QCNz0fQFfv4pRgxJewb-GPKNd43XnoRuSuMdx8CXEwAh-lfvV6Yg64GFI7YuhjFx1Iti1LpgMcDhCSkVAwd4CIq-3AZ3cyG9-mvEQJVYEip0BJZG8k/s4032/Cu%20Chi%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCourkBitdk_FnH28jWB4o5kLKBGFFAigGmWYgOaA6EfwYk88nOibOOiNC-wGA27-9l4f5asQI9QCNz0fQFfv4pRgxJewb-GPKNd43XnoRuSuMdx8CXEwAh-lfvV6Yg64GFI7YuhjFx1Iti1LpgMcDhCSkVAwd4CIq-3AZ3cyG9-mvEQJVYEip0BJZG8k/w400-h300/Cu%20Chi%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Tunnel Presentation</b><br /><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We learned how the 75 mile complex of tunnels was designed and compartmentalized. Sections were built at various depths to absorb blast impacts and included with features such as smoke chambers to trap and hold smoke from cooking for eventual dissipation at night. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">More adventurous visitors could enter and explore sections of the tunnels. No way Mr. 6'-4" was gonna venture down there. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfmo6znIOLD3_JIj4C5yAfwxg_123uA6jeHtfeWJ8ZrGuL1vFC_rSYkKMWUHg3hzecKwBgfUuNHN2LexE8oxwq4RNCaI_dB0PPKsD6LoUdlfqrAwjgMKIrp42pDoIYtfCNxr08E5YChdd5UU1P3FnaPoy1CJS30a9BjOjZIfSN1VNhH9mHF4nnnGkQM8/s4032/Cu%20Chi%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfmo6znIOLD3_JIj4C5yAfwxg_123uA6jeHtfeWJ8ZrGuL1vFC_rSYkKMWUHg3hzecKwBgfUuNHN2LexE8oxwq4RNCaI_dB0PPKsD6LoUdlfqrAwjgMKIrp42pDoIYtfCNxr08E5YChdd5UU1P3FnaPoy1CJS30a9BjOjZIfSN1VNhH9mHF4nnnGkQM8/w300-h400/Cu%20Chi%204.jpeg" width="300" /></a><b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>A Concealed Tunnel Entrance<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPecZxnCBtVMxJxpMepuTseKWlZou0lYWefGA8u8FCb3dJubjf7-87NZO5ABFR3cj3kqA6jx_LMqadsT0MD0zUtqZ1plvKCjc2LfbtRANdlsj3GKFF4gnxJlVDarHgN89HAWlWMGxu5EFZiMh8dH2kEClXJo1FhW_gB-VIROYU0iec4DILTIpQ2S4bIM/s4032/Cu%20Chi%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPecZxnCBtVMxJxpMepuTseKWlZou0lYWefGA8u8FCb3dJubjf7-87NZO5ABFR3cj3kqA6jx_LMqadsT0MD0zUtqZ1plvKCjc2LfbtRANdlsj3GKFF4gnxJlVDarHgN89HAWlWMGxu5EFZiMh8dH2kEClXJo1FhW_gB-VIROYU0iec4DILTIpQ2S4bIM/w300-h400/Cu%20Chi%203.jpeg" width="300" /></a><b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Lifting a Access Portal<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyryZ-V3ND2XorWJm9twrIvD5TPyW5i89qoQTRMjMgnyAMf1E7gMZJO64Xnx8CHRG7-AMZbTnbMYPYmOhAeJuljfUz6RXPvKWGPaek3UOkhYQyWhr_Ct4nYhwtPnQDSQwQuWIos_H6BiaFjoVfEN8KqG87C04INQJBXPg-aDeQ3zbO4ovxMApIvKKNoyI/s4032/Cu%20Chi%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyryZ-V3ND2XorWJm9twrIvD5TPyW5i89qoQTRMjMgnyAMf1E7gMZJO64Xnx8CHRG7-AMZbTnbMYPYmOhAeJuljfUz6RXPvKWGPaek3UOkhYQyWhr_Ct4nYhwtPnQDSQwQuWIos_H6BiaFjoVfEN8KqG87C04INQJBXPg-aDeQ3zbO4ovxMApIvKKNoyI/w300-h400/Cu%20Chi%202.jpeg" width="300" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> The Climb Out</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The balance of this day's ride took us through vast groves of banana trees and rubber plantations. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The history of Vietnam's rubber industry is laden with sadness and heartache. The plantations began by the French (Michelin), were significantly destroyed by the Japanese, and then resurrected by Americans. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Working in the rubber plantations was pure hell. Writer Tran Tu Binh states that the bodies of plantation workers all eventually "become fertilizer for the capitalists' rubber trees".<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnu-wJUjBNEjwEV69GTqyWvOP_jH8neGmpY7tMqS30J4-6TQpbMFkamJ0a3qNHbnvjs-j_RWGG0t4kXFK89N-CXzbNoIzSi9sMrLfRiXAlJp83DtLJRwjgvKD4U15s0QuqrSVSI5S6AlvTwJFEtXT40-D8-pcIe2h9Ds-Y9OM0nOUBPsuocOUKZQh1Ic/s4032/Rubber%20Trees%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnu-wJUjBNEjwEV69GTqyWvOP_jH8neGmpY7tMqS30J4-6TQpbMFkamJ0a3qNHbnvjs-j_RWGG0t4kXFK89N-CXzbNoIzSi9sMrLfRiXAlJp83DtLJRwjgvKD4U15s0QuqrSVSI5S6AlvTwJFEtXT40-D8-pcIe2h9Ds-Y9OM0nOUBPsuocOUKZQh1Ic/w400-h300/Rubber%20Trees%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Rows of Rubber Trees</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw7_Nwcdp1dCVS_ACTlly-YMpAJ5QYIKtGIuVvzePHniJvwiZ6mB9fwhKB5CcPXUHkK3ZRMglTOK4eFK_QeQdmPYZFzLgEQgxhFwcqJIAr5p3iFBGkX9sF7f6mYp6wXTrBC3-vjQ49E5dlJD1lx5KhmaO1K06Wg9v-4Ge-0qFP6UTHjnXiV3uvdSswmE/s4032/Rubber%20Trees%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw7_Nwcdp1dCVS_ACTlly-YMpAJ5QYIKtGIuVvzePHniJvwiZ6mB9fwhKB5CcPXUHkK3ZRMglTOK4eFK_QeQdmPYZFzLgEQgxhFwcqJIAr5p3iFBGkX9sF7f6mYp6wXTrBC3-vjQ49E5dlJD1lx5KhmaO1K06Wg9v-4Ge-0qFP6UTHjnXiV3uvdSswmE/w300-h400/Rubber%20Trees%202.jpeg" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Dripping Latex<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Between understanding the use of the Cu Chi tunnels and the history of the rubber plantations it was a day for reflection on the durability of the human spirit. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next (and final) day of cycling was a 21 mile tour in the Mekong Delta.<b> </b>Along the way we passed locals transporting whole families and amazing arrays of goods on their scooters and bicycles.<b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivQ2LPksSnh70mhYpCYK78ij9QVjLJxm7qNSNQlZ0AYkwII0Sgoh6fevHoADjed7b_83An3UqBwWndDASDTQH_HqOmiTPvlwy_MP8kKa3WUVj3iucshlCwYfAIrZ0jCj23VGs-GOwWnpkfHv23H1EgdcoUDOf98fZ8XQC11ouudDI_0XhIgHRQt2zV5U/s2339/Bike%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1711" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivQ2LPksSnh70mhYpCYK78ij9QVjLJxm7qNSNQlZ0AYkwII0Sgoh6fevHoADjed7b_83An3UqBwWndDASDTQH_HqOmiTPvlwy_MP8kKa3WUVj3iucshlCwYfAIrZ0jCj23VGs-GOwWnpkfHv23H1EgdcoUDOf98fZ8XQC11ouudDI_0XhIgHRQt2zV5U/w293-h400/Bike%201.jpeg" width="293" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Bicycles as Freight Transport </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our ride was punctuated with stops to talk to farmers raising various crops including dragon fruit and coconuts. <b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnwqaWCuwbcZfoJOrxFBCa_E1grtC6aRnLBK0-BdYxplFUnx-J_OReNe1Fde9FSn0rQQgJxpfMN7Ab4nGWjwUIrW3hYujLRCJItH5tvyOoK3XDh2VwHwp2EQH6tfNrtFrMRD0M7x2h_PshFBqGJNGjKbH4HMShPzxoRj87gTe5yIxOXgSecrO3Xj0cQw/s4032/Coconuts%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnwqaWCuwbcZfoJOrxFBCa_E1grtC6aRnLBK0-BdYxplFUnx-J_OReNe1Fde9FSn0rQQgJxpfMN7Ab4nGWjwUIrW3hYujLRCJItH5tvyOoK3XDh2VwHwp2EQH6tfNrtFrMRD0M7x2h_PshFBqGJNGjKbH4HMShPzxoRj87gTe5yIxOXgSecrO3Xj0cQw/w400-h300/Coconuts%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a><b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> Coconut Harvests Require Hand Stripping of the Shells </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We learned that every part of a coconut is used. I was particularly impressed by the reduced glycemic value inherent in coconut sugar and brought a tub home to use in my baking.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Many of the rows of dragonfruit were punctuated with large elevated family funerary memorials. I was fascinated that many of the fields were outfitted with lights between each row. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3NXqXgdQ2oqVBCRPHjIpvheOGndfRQNxJk2vPKZIhJBLuLBeHtN-_1N0rMi9YOMhPBJzhnCQ2TRy2v_FQ_ewcfKMzufMc_Q0hRmyWJ5fgroC333iTkpGcGR6KcC459eW3OHfsNvmSzw3tZSNd0SZlHhnDp27_9pNslZmfjeg_xERB3h07sCool3CRoQ/s3337/Dragon%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3337" data-original-width="2764" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3NXqXgdQ2oqVBCRPHjIpvheOGndfRQNxJk2vPKZIhJBLuLBeHtN-_1N0rMi9YOMhPBJzhnCQ2TRy2v_FQ_ewcfKMzufMc_Q0hRmyWJ5fgroC333iTkpGcGR6KcC459eW3OHfsNvmSzw3tZSNd0SZlHhnDp27_9pNslZmfjeg_xERB3h07sCool3CRoQ/w331-h400/Dragon%201.jpeg" width="331" /></a></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Dragon fruit Plants</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJteOZ1UOFlrp8crBrfzfrriIV9TcgMMt_us6Tw1iHBz4MJGi33lDfShvIJ2sQu95_w5_oi93bqZv_NnaANsCCPhHUU0Q9Eu_3ISR7SJlze29f8c-HbRwZcMDhbaQTPcvWYrWN8RHTi7Fu6EIrMsEoBlKPq5ESlIBMtIRJ4YawWdcQN7-EQGor32WZjH4/s4032/Dragon%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJteOZ1UOFlrp8crBrfzfrriIV9TcgMMt_us6Tw1iHBz4MJGi33lDfShvIJ2sQu95_w5_oi93bqZv_NnaANsCCPhHUU0Q9Eu_3ISR7SJlze29f8c-HbRwZcMDhbaQTPcvWYrWN8RHTi7Fu6EIrMsEoBlKPq5ESlIBMtIRJ4YawWdcQN7-EQGor32WZjH4/w300-h400/Dragon%202.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Freshly Harvested Dragon fruit</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTdblnDsTKj-87JlsFloHj0Ag_gATTDZca5exeyNXl_Vanh_Wuh7dFbK1rsFGWhyM9CKQhYUFSl9F-YLRe7y-xNbIZcDPWv-JzQvfxk3mk8p4Hfr3Kly7BsUWHALzXdoWc4uKl4jphNb3HNa6H0mS6sT_4IO3K72hFu5c8XDPLkLP4EB0DSj5gHtUezw/s4032/Dragon%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTdblnDsTKj-87JlsFloHj0Ag_gATTDZca5exeyNXl_Vanh_Wuh7dFbK1rsFGWhyM9CKQhYUFSl9F-YLRe7y-xNbIZcDPWv-JzQvfxk3mk8p4Hfr3Kly7BsUWHALzXdoWc4uKl4jphNb3HNa6H0mS6sT_4IO3K72hFu5c8XDPLkLP4EB0DSj5gHtUezw/w300-h400/Dragon%203.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>A Sweeter Pink Variety</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">At one random stop we chatted with a dragon fruit farmer who was happy to show us the pink variety of dragon fruit they proudly raise. The farmer also explained that rows of lights we noted between plants were simply a way to "trick" the them into producing an additional harvest. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We sampled some fruit and I found it to be significantly sweeter than the typical we get exported to the US. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In addition to the dragon fruit and coconuts were seemingly endless rice fields. The Vietnamese rice industry produces some of the highest quality and award winning rice varieties in the world. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN9Erw4YmeaztTXNYi97Vv4DlS2aj0rIQDbbnLsxJtSfRA8LnlP_nyRP69dgxSSq7le7Mr4SO9yxqem1Mtv5zm7k559o85KW4aOaZKykx0blB5T2lFcfxXRcE3DB3XiWrManERHho8sAPbyMrqurisnH1Xw3_JT6tQ2hyphenhyphenoBicZappkFUhHlwyRkZ5BGo/s3932/Mekong%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2506" data-original-width="3932" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN9Erw4YmeaztTXNYi97Vv4DlS2aj0rIQDbbnLsxJtSfRA8LnlP_nyRP69dgxSSq7le7Mr4SO9yxqem1Mtv5zm7k559o85KW4aOaZKykx0blB5T2lFcfxXRcE3DB3XiWrManERHho8sAPbyMrqurisnH1Xw3_JT6tQ2hyphenhyphenoBicZappkFUhHlwyRkZ5BGo/w400-h255/Mekong%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Mighty Mekong River</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Although the tide was out, it was clear how immense the Mekong River river is. Originating in the Tibetan Highlands, the 2,700 mile long river is critical to multinational agriculture and commerce. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">What the guides did not point out to us was how the river is now dangerously low due to years of drought. It is also suffering from severe overfishing and relentless dam building on tributaries to the river in Laos and China. Hopefully, the stalled construction of the Sekong A dam (being built largely in secret by a state owned Vietnamese company) signals a reevaluation of the ecological price the dams will exact on the river for the relatively little power they will produce.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Experts studying the river have been warning that it is arguably the World's most important river and that overfishing and dam building has left it close to a ecological tipping point. A tipping point that could affect the food supply and livelihood for 70,000,000 people. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tSbHJ-BhbgwIG6pb8srKjguOMP0GmLWRCz2xHLGtdhv6McNCLSt-dU7NLuLYgp0JPn8mPvxIrQ1uwvf5LFtmvnpbBh2Y_XFkTPHJ6ClKERDlsZv9XEN68JybXCRCg-DWGqc-nTwtoSMzTLJVLT7pgVqzUryInSz8Q7pdMyV6Okf0GgeDPYBrpAFOWec/s4032/Fields%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tSbHJ-BhbgwIG6pb8srKjguOMP0GmLWRCz2xHLGtdhv6McNCLSt-dU7NLuLYgp0JPn8mPvxIrQ1uwvf5LFtmvnpbBh2Y_XFkTPHJ6ClKERDlsZv9XEN68JybXCRCg-DWGqc-nTwtoSMzTLJVLT7pgVqzUryInSz8Q7pdMyV6Okf0GgeDPYBrpAFOWec/w400-h300/Fields%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Lush Farms Along the Mekong</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We shuttled back to our hotel to freshen up for our farewell dinner to be held in the former US Ambassador's residence. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQibCS5qa3YLXoo-aq4VlNG6tmGLsP4d_jFQGLQNRVmzCsrhX4JZxM-5TfYOktzPaftDA8vLL9RfM0sQFbmwMBRVexmRl8bpmF9ROPT8vPxhs1ThQ_QiunSbGQbZ2l1-T6zyAf_ZmAZ4UBGam_MHRKQMD7v_ZOTEBcT4eUoZlaYSpZR_-3Ny6rQScdF20/s3500/Majestic%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2371" data-original-width="3500" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQibCS5qa3YLXoo-aq4VlNG6tmGLsP4d_jFQGLQNRVmzCsrhX4JZxM-5TfYOktzPaftDA8vLL9RfM0sQFbmwMBRVexmRl8bpmF9ROPT8vPxhs1ThQ_QiunSbGQbZ2l1-T6zyAf_ZmAZ4UBGam_MHRKQMD7v_ZOTEBcT4eUoZlaYSpZR_-3Ny6rQScdF20/w400-h271/Majestic%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The View From The Hotel Majestic</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I used the time to sneak off to view Saigon's historic Victorian style post office and snag just one more egg coffee. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Egg coffee is a specialty that was reportedly created by a clever bartender at the Hotel Metropole Hanoi to compensate for milk shortages during the first Indochina war. It remains popular today as a marvelous sweet treat to be savored. The baristas at The Legends of Coffee in Saigon always caution that its creation will take at least 10 minutes. But it is so worth it. This is now my favorite coffee drink. And it makes sense to come from the country that ranks second in the world in coffee production.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Each cup requires two whipped egg yolks that are carefully creamed together with sweetened condensed milk and a little vanilla. The mixture is gently poured over slightly bitter Vietnamese (robusta) coffee. In the US some people substitute New Orleans style chicory coffee. The Legends egg coffee is served in a cradle of warm water. Upon presentation you stir and stir the mixture together to fully blend the egg mixture with the coffee and then you should take your time to thoroughly enjoy it. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_WS457k94bQaVx-YNKA7GZmrytuKPnpUIVHpG1OU1i9wwQVIWkk9vQfKO9XCDsmmSJFslxjeqg4tvJkDBe1EJnsDVR4xfr_jQUz0u9ahrsNtZ2k_8xhUpUZTE3uzK65zDcgTtqgHzmafk_T7cBAKWn7HbTfdriBjDl8Mxq-ML8P3ioPon5dEG5sNL8Y/s4032/Egg%20Coffee.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_WS457k94bQaVx-YNKA7GZmrytuKPnpUIVHpG1OU1i9wwQVIWkk9vQfKO9XCDsmmSJFslxjeqg4tvJkDBe1EJnsDVR4xfr_jQUz0u9ahrsNtZ2k_8xhUpUZTE3uzK65zDcgTtqgHzmafk_T7cBAKWn7HbTfdriBjDl8Mxq-ML8P3ioPon5dEG5sNL8Y/w300-h400/Egg%20Coffee.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Sumptuous </b><b>Vietnamese Egg Coffee</b><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Our final night was capped off with a catered dinner in the former residence of US ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. The present owner of the residence toured us through the home noting the history that took place in the residence.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lodge was appointed as the US ambassador to South Vietnam by President Kennedy in 1963. In what many (including Dwight D. Eisenhower) counseled was a no-win political move. Lodge's sense of service compelled him to accept the appointment. His mission was to find a way to end the chaos of the Diem regime. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">But like many of his predecessors, he arrived with an inadequate understanding of the full political situation. Diem and his family were aggressively pro-catholic and had unleashed a wave of terror against Buddhist leaders including a massacre in Hué.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">President Kennedy, being furnished with contradictory messages from Lodge and General Harkins about the viability of the Diem regime, waffled back and forth in his support of future leadership of South Vietnam. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Many felt Kennedy had sent Lodge so he could accept credit if an American engineered coup of Deim brought stable leadership. If the coup failed he could place blame on the "rogue" (Republican) Ambassador Lodge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course much that could go wrong did. Lodge had offered Diem a US promise of political asylum if he stepped down (instead he was murdered). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then, more chaos followed as President Johnson took control of the war following the November 1963 assassination of JFK.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7AHVgymxycjpBLFfhcm8Z4Sy86TfSc37EBNzPW6zlJa-8oxrv-RaN26QKBzwDqTWoDwdUAO174R6RqxLvU1Jua-pp_xF-ZeWQsR1kJvzkaunCPKSWOnOkEoOh1vB6_Inuk_drRguEncL0UFjs5zYKPmI2d_bZN4Z6Z90YRuk-diIjKQrXkPaG2WH5CY/s3616/Lodge.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3616" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7AHVgymxycjpBLFfhcm8Z4Sy86TfSc37EBNzPW6zlJa-8oxrv-RaN26QKBzwDqTWoDwdUAO174R6RqxLvU1Jua-pp_xF-ZeWQsR1kJvzkaunCPKSWOnOkEoOh1vB6_Inuk_drRguEncL0UFjs5zYKPmI2d_bZN4Z6Z90YRuk-diIjKQrXkPaG2WH5CY/w335-h400/Lodge.jpeg" width="335" /></a><b> </b><br /></div></div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQhadv4wyvm3cDzlBWPeeW2tiOQ6seNBBGxnAggyOWrSY6ALGJyxrSzB_AeApQ4lC9AYL851SHh_uVGzkRGatUkUOvjLanO5YDwjx0Z6dcxOp_uihAJAm6s93-tLQxRM9_T4P6LRWx2ynac3Zqk4eEaRQ1jXya8v8J8AFYR8jz2OUizMTdU2mA64IIME/s4032/Ambassador%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQhadv4wyvm3cDzlBWPeeW2tiOQ6seNBBGxnAggyOWrSY6ALGJyxrSzB_AeApQ4lC9AYL851SHh_uVGzkRGatUkUOvjLanO5YDwjx0Z6dcxOp_uihAJAm6s93-tLQxRM9_T4P6LRWx2ynac3Zqk4eEaRQ1jXya8v8J8AFYR8jz2OUizMTdU2mA64IIME/w300-h400/Ambassador%201.jpeg" width="300" /></a><b> <br /></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Ambassador's Residence</b><br /></div></div><div><p style="text-align: justify;">With a great dinner and a history lesson under our belt, we retired to the Hotel Majestic for a good nights sleep. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our morning journey home would start early with a first leg to Seoul. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I arrived with a suitcase of unresolved emotions about Vietnam and all its name signified to someone my age. I left full of admiration for the Vietnamese people and hopes for their future.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2024</b><br /></p></div></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-8424593864688664342024-01-04T10:30:00.006-07:002024-01-10T12:35:04.327-07:00Cycling SE Asia 2023 Part 8: Rural Cycling and The Red Bridge Cooking School<p><b>Final Day in Hoi An </b></p><p>On our final day in Hoi An we took a brief, but <u>very</u> pretty, bike ride through the surprisingly colorful agricultural lands surrounding the city. Afterwards we returned back to Hoi An's Old Town. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZR2GppBXO32NWrDJW48LnGHNhxIsdm9tpV9vAWsquGSmCU9UmtF_qA4FcymGeSKWCnQmEUYBCiLzYx2sTWkr49L_lO94mlrOPUIv5X6PP8ksNBkK8E_vBwaIQmGEXeROdx2-xuej6hUrVbXNjXh26aD5uH1kBHUNgwbBwDPZqCHtNTLbKJ93LuIFnkQ/s4032/Cycling%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZR2GppBXO32NWrDJW48LnGHNhxIsdm9tpV9vAWsquGSmCU9UmtF_qA4FcymGeSKWCnQmEUYBCiLzYx2sTWkr49L_lO94mlrOPUIv5X6PP8ksNBkK8E_vBwaIQmGEXeROdx2-xuej6hUrVbXNjXh26aD5uH1kBHUNgwbBwDPZqCHtNTLbKJ93LuIFnkQ/w300-h400/Cycling%201.jpeg" width="300" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Short Morning Ride Near Hoi An</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hEjNy5_nyk-uZBzZjXVIiDNJzvjBkw_1mCVLcluYzbK0EhDk_GELUxmlQ6h67HqAbiA6i-QE7volROd0mszcGT1VD_p6nT2sBLkGgw_6ItDAv_ymWAwNh8YflFXMSfdLUNqGsbc1N5VQLHvLxELT9S6WIlOYCb-CIbgZLyVo-nf0yJ5HT4DdS0FW_CQ/s4032/Micro%20fields.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hEjNy5_nyk-uZBzZjXVIiDNJzvjBkw_1mCVLcluYzbK0EhDk_GELUxmlQ6h67HqAbiA6i-QE7volROd0mszcGT1VD_p6nT2sBLkGgw_6ItDAv_ymWAwNh8YflFXMSfdLUNqGsbc1N5VQLHvLxELT9S6WIlOYCb-CIbgZLyVo-nf0yJ5HT4DdS0FW_CQ/w400-h300/Micro%20fields.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Through Carefully Tended Micro Fields <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib01RPJq_Fs-AMMEa5RHNcLMNGoKl4SpfOBtWwhEdkbrb_qd3EOgRICzvNaQCcDKWzO3c5_UBfJqDLm6KDYkgnEi_BJ69hwHN3DevTV6jAt9mfd7hCPkqrun8twWDT7Tt5lYRu03sl7a6vpwB2-n1kEn_fS_16Gs7Lv46eR75v0eDQCH3Mrr5CwmrLjT8/s1931/Buffalos.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1931" data-original-width="1899" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib01RPJq_Fs-AMMEa5RHNcLMNGoKl4SpfOBtWwhEdkbrb_qd3EOgRICzvNaQCcDKWzO3c5_UBfJqDLm6KDYkgnEi_BJ69hwHN3DevTV6jAt9mfd7hCPkqrun8twWDT7Tt5lYRu03sl7a6vpwB2-n1kEn_fS_16Gs7Lv46eR75v0eDQCH3Mrr5CwmrLjT8/w394-h400/Buffalos.jpeg" width="394" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Farmers Aided by Water Buffalos</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv8_wcIVv9R16QxOT4PmwvnsW_c24J-HXq_sXvywseiYBNsKSKIVE-NLKie56VZVxsvbY-O2kETbSibt-eKOtGD6sj8o3OhxoYrwd2Fxp5UtD-y19pyKmkjlA0tegTsDWdQEHXw6F_GrqmfHwU_QgfnuPdWt4WA10CgGl3Rg2HUx3FLRh2T4RxvTmQS8/s4032/Lagoon%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv8_wcIVv9R16QxOT4PmwvnsW_c24J-HXq_sXvywseiYBNsKSKIVE-NLKie56VZVxsvbY-O2kETbSibt-eKOtGD6sj8o3OhxoYrwd2Fxp5UtD-y19pyKmkjlA0tegTsDWdQEHXw6F_GrqmfHwU_QgfnuPdWt4WA10CgGl3Rg2HUx3FLRh2T4RxvTmQS8/w480-h640/Lagoon%201.jpeg" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Lagoon Scenery Along the Way</b> <br /></p><p>Our brief stop in Hoi An allowed for a brisk walk through Hoi An's town market prior to catching a boat ride to the Red Bridge Cooking School. </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nQTDkSNkYiTVQqREcEvwz9bLmVpe9s2-Gig0SwvJj25nwU1qG3qJj6yL66_4XRH-cPdE154NBvsulFIQNBSq6cfEn4-Rk6Vf0WCjTqhyAfI98evooT0MQ-THW2GtEzyFc8yFCJbAwR730tuSk377KTiNs5s88uaJ8LCZ6Y9-KJQlWaY4EC57W0Ml9qA/s4032/Market%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nQTDkSNkYiTVQqREcEvwz9bLmVpe9s2-Gig0SwvJj25nwU1qG3qJj6yL66_4XRH-cPdE154NBvsulFIQNBSq6cfEn4-Rk6Vf0WCjTqhyAfI98evooT0MQ-THW2GtEzyFc8yFCJbAwR730tuSk377KTiNs5s88uaJ8LCZ6Y9-KJQlWaY4EC57W0Ml9qA/w400-h300/Market%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Hoi An's Town Market</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPNV7vjs1fPgzxn1q2lBOknxrolb7nUOvtu9bqbTYMpqnsvKxeT8P_RWcB97y4GyHdewEWNupHsqolQxM1jK9fiszOWZYsAg1J6Jz3qoydL3x12Hkzef019tucU3ub5xnpvHeQ2kd03n9jZeDYsU0bsW2djYmBi9ZSmrYfmquTzRIBs5Fv55-ENYYXsI/s4032/Market%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPNV7vjs1fPgzxn1q2lBOknxrolb7nUOvtu9bqbTYMpqnsvKxeT8P_RWcB97y4GyHdewEWNupHsqolQxM1jK9fiszOWZYsAg1J6Jz3qoydL3x12Hkzef019tucU3ub5xnpvHeQ2kd03n9jZeDYsU0bsW2djYmBi9ZSmrYfmquTzRIBs5Fv55-ENYYXsI/w300-h400/Market%202.jpeg" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(Very) Fresh Seafood at Hoi An's Town Market</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The cooking class was both fun and instructive. We were counseled on how to select ingredients, use and adjust
basic seasonings, and (of course) then go on to cook some wonderful basic Vietnamese specialties. I
loved making the rice paper spring roll wrappers! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">With the foods prepared
we retired to a beautiful nearby outdoor dining pavilion to enjoy our cooking
efforts for lunch. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSSIFzolKixc9uQ7qZkawjBlN_KPKtKKjvk3v84gorXAsIbszHjCxphE2l0yob2F-8Isw0LOQa5WfvwG-BG6i8MQV5lR5KRqPf9erJ5Vm7taSbNmPMXOm_AI6eH3d-HSp6ZCEY1IzsYAX3szbTM2yyoZxsx3rVVb7v2CbeQshly_Rhvxki9mLFKnrYd8/s3206/Cooking%20School%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2450" data-original-width="3206" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSSIFzolKixc9uQ7qZkawjBlN_KPKtKKjvk3v84gorXAsIbszHjCxphE2l0yob2F-8Isw0LOQa5WfvwG-BG6i8MQV5lR5KRqPf9erJ5Vm7taSbNmPMXOm_AI6eH3d-HSp6ZCEY1IzsYAX3szbTM2yyoZxsx3rVVb7v2CbeQshly_Rhvxki9mLFKnrYd8/w400-h306/Cooking%20School%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Preparing Fresh Ingredients and Seasonings</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINPKcuRpczpieF0O3_FORBT0xcLrl39Epv61qI_ElJxLtApDgONZCJ_aMP5kkVPFCjshTZ_CG5mcdJkRqem6qKvfm0VaZge5MF2Z_VmzpJTWHhYAHD1FoIb65CAGPiVSPhGFPWH1vtd8_cIBYpg4es0lNU_YDsBlDYQNrgzhs1dbLo1P9LA2FNY1ZW4w/s3475/Cooking%20School%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3475" data-original-width="2347" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINPKcuRpczpieF0O3_FORBT0xcLrl39Epv61qI_ElJxLtApDgONZCJ_aMP5kkVPFCjshTZ_CG5mcdJkRqem6qKvfm0VaZge5MF2Z_VmzpJTWHhYAHD1FoIb65CAGPiVSPhGFPWH1vtd8_cIBYpg4es0lNU_YDsBlDYQNrgzhs1dbLo1P9LA2FNY1ZW4w/w432-h640/Cooking%20School%201.jpeg" width="432" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Demonstrating Cooking Techniques</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXg1nFXNz_hlBy8wZf3rXpATUUE6qzVzU1OTluYEQrxDysVB9fmSHKklJZYMsnO9o8Dm_XVhk_rIKdPQZqDA3QTfnTL-pi1K_MNHGz98_UfPYawdRbNgw0yYKTsn2JA5nDghVNu2p_LiUyvVHW8NB48oNMVRYl_NWeCOKX5I2Xh-C13K28OIV2a1oe2tg/s4032/Cooking%20School%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXg1nFXNz_hlBy8wZf3rXpATUUE6qzVzU1OTluYEQrxDysVB9fmSHKklJZYMsnO9o8Dm_XVhk_rIKdPQZqDA3QTfnTL-pi1K_MNHGz98_UfPYawdRbNgw0yYKTsn2JA5nDghVNu2p_LiUyvVHW8NB48oNMVRYl_NWeCOKX5I2Xh-C13K28OIV2a1oe2tg/w480-h640/Cooking%20School%202.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>A Finished Effort</b><br /></p><p>After the cooking class there was time to go to the tailors for our final fittings. </p><p>After the fitting we enjoyed a great bahn mi sandwich from the little cafe near the hotel and then retired to our rooms to pack for our
morning shuttle through the gleaming, and rapidly expanding, modern port city of Da Nang to
catch our final flight to the rollicking anthill that is Ho Chi Minh City.</p><p><b> </b></p><p><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2024</b> <br /></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-83753545650763551222023-12-30T15:08:00.011-07:002024-01-10T14:05:43.524-07:00Cycling SE Asia 2023 Part 7: Exploring Hoi An <div><p><b>Hoi An the Peaceful Meeting Place<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After a wonderful breakfast (I loved having noodles for breakfast paired with small glasses of guava juice and that wonderful cold, sweet Vietnamese coffee) we took a brief walking tour of Hoi An's Old Town before heading for the bikes. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is easy to see why Hoi An is such a popular destination. This city of 120,000 is home to wonderful resorts on pristine beaches and an old town worthy of a 1999 UNESCO World Heritage designation. The name Hoi An translates to "peaceful meeting place", yet because of its lunar full moon festival it is also known as The City of Lanterns.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaFRqLsKgv33_MzFP3uiSEYgI6YM47ERXl8XKhgYaWAibR0e23HM-lANKc9WdzEvz_ypR_wVt1ovF0RfrlqdOE14De_iHkcHrk-pcMyECh1wJwbPghYbkXlDEU71yi4LesHBOIUmTOAjfqywMQia_68KDaFt-ROxvxpzpT0FcRRDhCR70YHH1_2JjOMc/s4032/Lanterns%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaFRqLsKgv33_MzFP3uiSEYgI6YM47ERXl8XKhgYaWAibR0e23HM-lANKc9WdzEvz_ypR_wVt1ovF0RfrlqdOE14De_iHkcHrk-pcMyECh1wJwbPghYbkXlDEU71yi4LesHBOIUmTOAjfqywMQia_68KDaFt-ROxvxpzpT0FcRRDhCR70YHH1_2JjOMc/w300-h400/Lanterns%201.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Bright Beautiful Lanterns are Everywhere in Hoi An<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXt85T84o1ami7ylC2N9TMIzKsfgXmMr9l0UQiBUOzRmF_FU1wzMqGEDnwFh0WirvemhOaUywmzW9tZXgUu30dE2LCvpLK2H4vnr_WKXaA4nvlHsp9fGAs6_ao7IBpLw5ibuwecQZ7IoMILTxDIgsLFO5WWhKWTZcm7CwmvO_nR9oUzw37n8d5Ar5_vVc/s4032/Lanterns%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXt85T84o1ami7ylC2N9TMIzKsfgXmMr9l0UQiBUOzRmF_FU1wzMqGEDnwFh0WirvemhOaUywmzW9tZXgUu30dE2LCvpLK2H4vnr_WKXaA4nvlHsp9fGAs6_ao7IBpLw5ibuwecQZ7IoMILTxDIgsLFO5WWhKWTZcm7CwmvO_nR9oUzw37n8d5Ar5_vVc/w320-h240/Lanterns%202.jpeg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtLoh30XrhlSOlRfHLsghltjYFqgu2YBiZ4sAm-FVAFEPjBEKSgqS_NE7NyhvOesAbY_fgX-6joiI4E81b4b3teudVba1yhPZB3Sv4bSwOHeWfLQN4F2ALwwMcatO8ppq_vjE70Qsafjw7zs6ODyPxh537UcHpzXXIxKTYvx36eQV8bJD-XPghg4u32k/s4032/Lanterns%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtLoh30XrhlSOlRfHLsghltjYFqgu2YBiZ4sAm-FVAFEPjBEKSgqS_NE7NyhvOesAbY_fgX-6joiI4E81b4b3teudVba1yhPZB3Sv4bSwOHeWfLQN4F2ALwwMcatO8ppq_vjE70Qsafjw7zs6ODyPxh537UcHpzXXIxKTYvx36eQV8bJD-XPghg4u32k/w178-h239/Lanterns%203.jpeg" width="178" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Lanterns in Profusion</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hoi An was Vietnam's largest trading center on the East (South China) Sea for more than two hundred years. But its importance waned in the 18th century with the collapse of the Nguyen rule and ensuing battles which left Hoi An in ruins. The winner Emperor Gia repaid the French for their aid in the war by giving them exclusive trading rights to nearby Dà Nang, which relegated Hoi An largely to backwater status. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hoi An's renaissance came in the 1990's in part through the efforts of a polish architect, educator, and conservationist Kazimierz Kwiatkowski. Today Hoi An's links to Poland are noted throughout the city.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZUF9bX4ZjqOL3-x7VOh8CRVsSTuw7ZhBTZ82iKuXhSSPVYxAsykGE_cRSqFwKab-cJftaTPMfA6OYXLNFZE9Rb-f91oVwB8F31eWTQ5HTnkmbK1l8g94Rx8gH1GI6hQDebwnR-2elwFcL20MhuyfEFO3geqkaxQtK9t54uv3b_RLbkG2W0Z0G5A4tGA/s4032/Temple%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZUF9bX4ZjqOL3-x7VOh8CRVsSTuw7ZhBTZ82iKuXhSSPVYxAsykGE_cRSqFwKab-cJftaTPMfA6OYXLNFZE9Rb-f91oVwB8F31eWTQ5HTnkmbK1l8g94Rx8gH1GI6hQDebwnR-2elwFcL20MhuyfEFO3geqkaxQtK9t54uv3b_RLbkG2W0Z0G5A4tGA/w480-h640/Temple%201.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>I noted the "I Heart Poland" on the Incense Offering</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">During the tours it was pointed out how severe flooding is very common in Hoi An. Further, over tourism now poses a risk to Hoi An's Old Town. The city is as fragile as it is pretty. To help reduce further damage Old Town is now closed to auto traffic.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hoi An offers a different face by day and by night with a bustling restaurant zone on one side of the river and a large shopping district with a focus on art, textiles and exquisite custom tailoring on the other. </p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmvUtMZ85A-43ue-fMzsUXQjvGKulkKlABvjBiP5Ir27-qMbEMD4PdjxCS0w6Qw1rAKeTLgWRaT5xGMwI7_mIStV9aQLfL2ZXOvaslIY_jJLSqPqMGiiIHC8HLfwcKycGb9yV4R96Yef2w0T3U0uQsXGGs51C1Ng_jnrArleAbGwp-HBw_M6vv3Nh9pE/s4032/Embroidery.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmvUtMZ85A-43ue-fMzsUXQjvGKulkKlABvjBiP5Ir27-qMbEMD4PdjxCS0w6Qw1rAKeTLgWRaT5xGMwI7_mIStV9aQLfL2ZXOvaslIY_jJLSqPqMGiiIHC8HLfwcKycGb9yV4R96Yef2w0T3U0uQsXGGs51C1Ng_jnrArleAbGwp-HBw_M6vv3Nh9pE/w300-h400/Embroidery.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>An Embroidery Shop </b><br /></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After our tour, and a walk through the large waterside market, we boarded a ferry to cross the river to where our bikes were waiting for us. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoe3DRLS7jqRDjSSxUyycRrjkGRuZ3mUr4BwNplk3mUI0HrnagDwkFK9WD2vrYslot3AiLs8yvKyPdG-pUlDiIcXGaOWIU_uay7Sn0PBiMGKvrkX3UuSGXRqso8LHO5p-KNp33krV6fRKoc9Gz09P_WhGfIDP3L8HxRe3OIIauIQOxWHRmY-F4gmjIbw/s4032/Market%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoe3DRLS7jqRDjSSxUyycRrjkGRuZ3mUr4BwNplk3mUI0HrnagDwkFK9WD2vrYslot3AiLs8yvKyPdG-pUlDiIcXGaOWIU_uay7Sn0PBiMGKvrkX3UuSGXRqso8LHO5p-KNp33krV6fRKoc9Gz09P_WhGfIDP3L8HxRe3OIIauIQOxWHRmY-F4gmjIbw/w457-h343/Market%201.jpeg" width="457" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Waterside Market</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After collecting our bikes we cycled through rural Hoi An on small streets and crossing numerous bridges in its rich marshy agricultural area. All along the way there were stacks of recently harvested and dyed marsh grass drying in the sunshine. The grasses are used by weavers to make the sleeping mats commonly used instead of mattresses throughout Vietnam. We stopped in to visit one family of weavers (a woman and her 93 year old mother) in the process of weaving. They told us they weave two mats a day selling for $12 each.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0PnY1oN_HnN5HEyU2xWIC_WYfSk-887syl4QlvKkzC3_gH8RR2AC7swstw7KrEVNeHwhblOw1plpY-CcWP4EbgZB3KFMxkgo69qpd7skGkRs43bgIp5LWDuO8dvqjG-MDMtlfFPOvp4hlUUDuOLHV7FiHlrsjpXm1mLqn9brzkKaBBByUSIL4_MZHUE/s4032/Mat%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0PnY1oN_HnN5HEyU2xWIC_WYfSk-887syl4QlvKkzC3_gH8RR2AC7swstw7KrEVNeHwhblOw1plpY-CcWP4EbgZB3KFMxkgo69qpd7skGkRs43bgIp5LWDuO8dvqjG-MDMtlfFPOvp4hlUUDuOLHV7FiHlrsjpXm1mLqn9brzkKaBBByUSIL4_MZHUE/w300-h400/Mat%201.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mat Weavers</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmft-dO-GSxbUfghQ0FFtqkd-lAE99CQKHJgtMnkp5VAHXClaOYVstp7zkF6gCB3aguwxwPExt8gII7P4XIgKGYWH6h5xUMnTeaooqt5YCEwUpxRMPPdw1sLItqu0moDNGR8_2Dwcrbk10TqUZ_m-x5rTbutJVK9z680snsub4ZB4mTMJabljOELtRB3Y/s2770/Mat%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2770" data-original-width="2735" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmft-dO-GSxbUfghQ0FFtqkd-lAE99CQKHJgtMnkp5VAHXClaOYVstp7zkF6gCB3aguwxwPExt8gII7P4XIgKGYWH6h5xUMnTeaooqt5YCEwUpxRMPPdw1sLItqu0moDNGR8_2Dwcrbk10TqUZ_m-x5rTbutJVK9z680snsub4ZB4mTMJabljOELtRB3Y/w395-h400/Mat%202.jpeg" width="395" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As we rode, we passed more farmers working with their water buffalos and lots of children eager to wave and test out their "hello's".</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV380_WUsf-_z9Fg5dhx5bsFW0W1IVClPB93LuM3vMzGZhTSa7DIFCHnCCoLDaPmxy8sREWAv0pSSLJmc4Gh-73y3RWkVnTaSv853iNpb1OJJwpPwyx0AScqGfCErsfL8ljn9meJA57IdnTYBE5KaDBcI38uWhtTI9NlWjRXqAIqB8P0wX37ybeQihBOA/s2545/Kids%20waving.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2545" data-original-width="2007" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV380_WUsf-_z9Fg5dhx5bsFW0W1IVClPB93LuM3vMzGZhTSa7DIFCHnCCoLDaPmxy8sREWAv0pSSLJmc4Gh-73y3RWkVnTaSv853iNpb1OJJwpPwyx0AScqGfCErsfL8ljn9meJA57IdnTYBE5KaDBcI38uWhtTI9NlWjRXqAIqB8P0wX37ybeQihBOA/w315-h400/Kids%20waving.jpeg" width="315" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Hello!</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">At the end of the riding we stopped at the Dao Tien a new restaurant on the rivers edge for one of the best meals of our trip. The menu included two spring roll appetizers and then presented crispy fish with young mango, grilled chicken with honey and five spice and cabbage salad. The meal was rounded out with wok fried vegetables in oyster sauce and steamed rice in pandan leaves. Truly a delight.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GXhAhuWk6q_aCplYjBs1kmVQpSdAMwtaIx53maqE1lOIRLR3c-F7ltuSsmzBLPCafhwxcGuFmHBwZKy7lBlL15MTv5dn7UZ9uQIoieBFaRQQ5DMCaIIkPfOLSX5I1Ry0FGxsQmclSNdEi7VBFd9ZHBG0mNjnKGBOMgP7ozKWOgnidDzJDKDo9kqBjFk/s4032/Lunch%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GXhAhuWk6q_aCplYjBs1kmVQpSdAMwtaIx53maqE1lOIRLR3c-F7ltuSsmzBLPCafhwxcGuFmHBwZKy7lBlL15MTv5dn7UZ9uQIoieBFaRQQ5DMCaIIkPfOLSX5I1Ry0FGxsQmclSNdEi7VBFd9ZHBG0mNjnKGBOMgP7ozKWOgnidDzJDKDo9kqBjFk/w300-h400/Lunch%201.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Rice Paper Appetizer</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilZS2l6MYGaBgLVer_AyZerH790Cpud5AWKC6sJb4JSGAWCsOh8tWjuhh3sqsj3eohHHBEYFILuBV8cIKOrOQOH1SrCuntgLuTNgwTUHwQRaVqakpNgdeBdts1ksWZYhaqSiw0QmJ0oIltQZzjE-wW1Ow8vAEWlUfnUEsFYfKm6lolAYIYMzxY0RgP7A/s4032/Lunch%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilZS2l6MYGaBgLVer_AyZerH790Cpud5AWKC6sJb4JSGAWCsOh8tWjuhh3sqsj3eohHHBEYFILuBV8cIKOrOQOH1SrCuntgLuTNgwTUHwQRaVqakpNgdeBdts1ksWZYhaqSiw0QmJ0oIltQZzjE-wW1Ow8vAEWlUfnUEsFYfKm6lolAYIYMzxY0RgP7A/w300-h400/Lunch%202.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Birds Nest Rolls</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYerBgsNkdxqCZ03TFcgTelr0eaFy-UX6PCCwpjJy7PUO4u9T_2tQPxPqIFJXD7PlvDzluUepML-7rOO3NWXTPC4FxRh0dGDx0TFro4ytkCZml8xqp34T91S7ukG-arih-kEC_qd5a7YESFrpLoiYuQQsmts9NmKFqqcD6RnJt20qcKIPT_M0onqzRck/s4032/Lunch%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYerBgsNkdxqCZ03TFcgTelr0eaFy-UX6PCCwpjJy7PUO4u9T_2tQPxPqIFJXD7PlvDzluUepML-7rOO3NWXTPC4FxRh0dGDx0TFro4ytkCZml8xqp34T91S7ukG-arih-kEC_qd5a7YESFrpLoiYuQQsmts9NmKFqqcD6RnJt20qcKIPT_M0onqzRck/w300-h400/Lunch%203.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Steamed Rice in Pandan Leaves</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5rkNZ0QhfxLV_hP8JJKulV3R-BCSZ-b8UzH19OOz13P5R-13nvCAfoVYsuFa6k1jnfh7Xj096UCbXSgrMSdR51IEYFbJH6W-cVlXntvUG7MvFIkdgOpmWcl4tr_eC-rgZWZz5woPoNKMHSCfRZsMtILZvrZpfBYCXtVcUwJqL5kxMNesrvOESztwWLc/s4032/Lunch%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5rkNZ0QhfxLV_hP8JJKulV3R-BCSZ-b8UzH19OOz13P5R-13nvCAfoVYsuFa6k1jnfh7Xj096UCbXSgrMSdR51IEYFbJH6W-cVlXntvUG7MvFIkdgOpmWcl4tr_eC-rgZWZz5woPoNKMHSCfRZsMtILZvrZpfBYCXtVcUwJqL5kxMNesrvOESztwWLc/w300-h400/Lunch%204.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Boat Themed Waterside Cafe</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">At the conclusion of the day those that were interested went for fitting at a noted local tailor sho (BeBe). I took a photo of Walt Disney in with me to show them some trousers that I'd like. I wondered if they'd be able to create a couple of pairs like Walts. One summer weight linen the other in heavy wool lined half in silk. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aJ8kQNDr5IX6NNdYqDuPG0_jkRONg8X_CqqC5C7J-wwNYmEQA502u0PxhCJJk8nOts8RZyBax4XQyHN-ve0nR1usdvcz10T3wi0PQLcWOSpcCba-masVqub14fGIaqmQfehlDkx3-svA-ubqTQSbwFitGINjUOgB68Psg4EeHkJxlo57gofVk3WT34U/s4032/IMG_3711.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2441" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aJ8kQNDr5IX6NNdYqDuPG0_jkRONg8X_CqqC5C7J-wwNYmEQA502u0PxhCJJk8nOts8RZyBax4XQyHN-ve0nR1usdvcz10T3wi0PQLcWOSpcCba-masVqub14fGIaqmQfehlDkx3-svA-ubqTQSbwFitGINjUOgB68Psg4EeHkJxlo57gofVk3WT34U/w242-h400/IMG_3711.jpeg" width="242" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Walt Disney's Slacks</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">24 hours and two fittings later my beautiful pairs of new slacks were dropped off at my hotel. I asked how they did it so fast and was told they employ dozens of seamstresses who work all day and night. The slacks will serve as a cherished souvenir of the trip.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-67251197930223822662023-12-28T18:00:00.004-07:002023-12-28T18:04:52.882-07:00Cycling SE Asia 2023 Part 6: Lang Co, Oyster Farms and the Hai Van Pass<div><p><b>Travel from Hué to Hoi An</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our repositioning day (from Hué to Hoi An) began with some really beautiful cycling<b> </b>through the outskirts of Hué. The routes were relatively quiet and flooded farming areas with lots of cemeteries, working and grazing water buffalos, and bridge crossings over rivers. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pFLR9n9ImjvYTE7WsvfMb6lo77JOOKyBjTolrzR111yiVVD8RFX5kakq2KGv1nG3GiMJP1cSfvySOfmehIE3d2W5XOTEyamhmbJ5PYCdT1t8sLOng2q9bozYIu24Gp350e8rO66IsbHfI2CJdKiyoO4JCd6Xw9NXQ1Lu4RGcBzb0RSkgDgztUrbF0G4/s4030/Water%20Buffalo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2336" data-original-width="4030" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pFLR9n9ImjvYTE7WsvfMb6lo77JOOKyBjTolrzR111yiVVD8RFX5kakq2KGv1nG3GiMJP1cSfvySOfmehIE3d2W5XOTEyamhmbJ5PYCdT1t8sLOng2q9bozYIu24Gp350e8rO66IsbHfI2CJdKiyoO4JCd6Xw9NXQ1Lu4RGcBzb0RSkgDgztUrbF0G4/w400-h231/Water%20Buffalo.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Water Buffalos</b><br /></div></div><div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Along the way we stopped for snacks hosted by an elderly couple who provided us with refreshing fresh squeezed orange juice. We could not help but notice their command of English. So we got the chance to chat with them. We came to realize that they were boat people refugees that had left South Vietnam at the end of the war and settled in Seattle. Their hard work and deprivation had assured their children of a new start in a new country. They were happy to know their children were thriving and they missed them. But they still felt tied to Vietnam and had opted to use the nation's repatriation system to return to finish their lives in the country of their birth.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Their lives were torn between the life they left and the life they created for their kids in a new land. But now, like countless refugees before, they left kids who are fully assimilated in the US and have no real ties to Vietnam. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">A generation torn between two worlds clearly takes its toll.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As we rode I loved watching everyday life pass by. Farmers in the fields, local cyclists passing and waving at us, and all of the scooters. One scooter passed carrying a child up front and produce and fertilizer behind. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then, as he passed, we saw he also was carrying two pigs in a cage behind everything. I swear they get more on those scooters than we get in our pickups.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyOEVIrqC9S2PNXbaOGQohuhpx8J-Ui78BQDfZBN1ELbPgs7vhex6KsiASyfTZMQQ_bJME8HaHiUNwHwCbpal6zR7MfCJZig1xTWX8iXZIOYHXMQwOSlRKfEsfZZD9C8feihvhjbKaewtoAkmA-3BWq5Y81q3iuZ14ykifMRmJ7UY_7lNE4DCuByXlxY/s4032/Scooter%20Pig%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyOEVIrqC9S2PNXbaOGQohuhpx8J-Ui78BQDfZBN1ELbPgs7vhex6KsiASyfTZMQQ_bJME8HaHiUNwHwCbpal6zR7MfCJZig1xTWX8iXZIOYHXMQwOSlRKfEsfZZD9C8feihvhjbKaewtoAkmA-3BWq5Y81q3iuZ14ykifMRmJ7UY_7lNE4DCuByXlxY/w300-h400/Scooter%20Pig%201.jpeg" width="300" /></a></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Family and Produce</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCCTecy3-HLqnc54YZIX9QMr1vQl9AxMoN0meMXHKj-ikq8p4qwURdFX0cKURXLFKc66i89nnimNH9JcA2pd8OsrHJ0iC5ku0P_S96HC9g4x6ccZoRKoT5mgjkeoQeFFWM7Fs5gUqxs8K8oQf6FtD-XJL5kFQuLql5zFySNF6KdNY7iaYR0Jcja5X-ZA/s2550/Scooter%20pig%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="2182" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCCTecy3-HLqnc54YZIX9QMr1vQl9AxMoN0meMXHKj-ikq8p4qwURdFX0cKURXLFKc66i89nnimNH9JcA2pd8OsrHJ0iC5ku0P_S96HC9g4x6ccZoRKoT5mgjkeoQeFFWM7Fs5gUqxs8K8oQf6FtD-XJL5kFQuLql5zFySNF6KdNY7iaYR0Jcja5X-ZA/w343-h400/Scooter%20pig%202.jpeg" width="343" /></a></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>And a Couple of Pigs on the Back!</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">At the end of our am ride we shuttled to lunch at an outdoor beachfront resort on the spectacular and peaceful Lang Co Peninsula.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LLyqvmulWQuRQXV36m9E7Nb_SFgCozTI6XTvC17TEG-BIYQ7_GMGuZy-z0WxYy2Z-Ocd8QFkp3hPF7XV-JfZwRDTbn107sRV91CCcub_4ai1yrxVYCjGqz_5sOcHgqy692fi6eruFKpOX5IFynOETiEbI1Ij7yoAOmU3_xojgFoVw214DeaWidxTKME/s4032/China%20Beach.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LLyqvmulWQuRQXV36m9E7Nb_SFgCozTI6XTvC17TEG-BIYQ7_GMGuZy-z0WxYy2Z-Ocd8QFkp3hPF7XV-JfZwRDTbn107sRV91CCcub_4ai1yrxVYCjGqz_5sOcHgqy692fi6eruFKpOX5IFynOETiEbI1Ij7yoAOmU3_xojgFoVw214DeaWidxTKME/w400-h300/China%20Beach.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Lunch Stop / Majestic Beaches Along the Lang Co Peninsula</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After lunch there were two riding options. One was to cycle up 1600 ft to the Hai Van (Ocean Cloud) Pass. The second was to ride a loop around the oyster farms of the Tam Giang Lagoon and shuttle to the top of the Hai Van Pass. <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">For me, in the heat and humidity, this decision was a no brainer. I opted for the lagoon ride. It turned out to be spectacular. Those that cycled up the mountain did so on a narrow two lane road shared with cars, large trucks and buses, plus a stretch of repaving activities. <b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcKyAQLFZ_ry-F-03WWnm3btUkZ1oOdV-QwM9btrTXRgHc5ydtIQHwYKSMP8Vymly9CoNZ1x_hBMFWUx2MAQ1NAJYLwBrAVBxuNmipl7WTE6KHdWQ1G5oazc1Yw7ZihVccz8BtoJPw14-meAOQHm5dnpYZhtYCmyYxpQl7mVjnoGGcx0wZFEZ6wPHDrk/s4032/Lagoon%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcKyAQLFZ_ry-F-03WWnm3btUkZ1oOdV-QwM9btrTXRgHc5ydtIQHwYKSMP8Vymly9CoNZ1x_hBMFWUx2MAQ1NAJYLwBrAVBxuNmipl7WTE6KHdWQ1G5oazc1Yw7ZihVccz8BtoJPw14-meAOQHm5dnpYZhtYCmyYxpQl7mVjnoGGcx0wZFEZ6wPHDrk/w400-h300/Lagoon%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Oyster Farming Lagoons</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The placid lagoon was mirror still and filled with over water structures inhabited by the oyster farmers. There were endless piles of old bike tires along the way as they use them to provide nesting beds for the oysters.<b> </b><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEpqWVaLP9naz59qqJvXYhxJ70V300_7iasplVcYBEfNUc10nc6UppI5Dx4LMRqYDbcd78Oua2D4TIiCcwbjHpy1XJYasFmf2m3x2YMqcRqdqgQ-bqrW1G__ghdgl_0FaLAopxqaCCamVFG6JcPergr1bpkV7Iq3OHB79uCBcs66fXn2mm8DMusc_M3U/s4030/Lagoon%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2739" data-original-width="4030" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEpqWVaLP9naz59qqJvXYhxJ70V300_7iasplVcYBEfNUc10nc6UppI5Dx4LMRqYDbcd78Oua2D4TIiCcwbjHpy1XJYasFmf2m3x2YMqcRqdqgQ-bqrW1G__ghdgl_0FaLAopxqaCCamVFG6JcPergr1bpkV7Iq3OHB79uCBcs66fXn2mm8DMusc_M3U/w400-h271/Lagoon%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Tam Giang Lagoon</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbdUk_AdkF3NneutlpW6P4sUfiKHla-bnawfJpQCmFhpbCESsttNvr6UT2g_l4V0yRNzqVeqNaplWTlTFkpd_RfBo7_in4CD2z-a8ii_5TSpfrjYXyqVKC7UWiIMx1vjXk1inRUOhX4RGOr9WK99_ukjkpRhizOltD_lZfgsoCPRhLUDsj-QcY1QQvUw/s4032/Lagoon%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbdUk_AdkF3NneutlpW6P4sUfiKHla-bnawfJpQCmFhpbCESsttNvr6UT2g_l4V0yRNzqVeqNaplWTlTFkpd_RfBo7_in4CD2z-a8ii_5TSpfrjYXyqVKC7UWiIMx1vjXk1inRUOhX4RGOr9WK99_ukjkpRhizOltD_lZfgsoCPRhLUDsj-QcY1QQvUw/w400-h300/Lagoon%203.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Crystal Clear</b> <b>Mountain Tributaries Flow into the Lagoon</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjd7KOmgoK1ibwh5tH97MXt87HL8CblKfiFvMEonbphk4Zcvlq2eJXflZp-HomKKHeyF5hdLuEB4WIX0R102rJUq_AmL1kQNrOEeGmSGkAItkKC5Lvi3U9nyyixvmvsQFvunWmAiCoCZSKs6CayOCL_d36ELuRohjUANoEKTFM1iVe8AH4VzU3mVIC4hY/s4032/Pass%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjd7KOmgoK1ibwh5tH97MXt87HL8CblKfiFvMEonbphk4Zcvlq2eJXflZp-HomKKHeyF5hdLuEB4WIX0R102rJUq_AmL1kQNrOEeGmSGkAItkKC5Lvi3U9nyyixvmvsQFvunWmAiCoCZSKs6CayOCL_d36ELuRohjUANoEKTFM1iVe8AH4VzU3mVIC4hY/w400-h300/Pass%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a> <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking North from Hai Van Pass </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">(The Lang Co Peninsula in the distance)<b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEUX-giNyFpZ9OK-HOIfVXoK1VHroKYscMvBLyoBWuTm28F6-YT5nlQVq3-dNKECJ-lqdHNKw3KNtlSizXL-Df8XR1nN4jigyRDllgWFk3Oe41x9RcZvjMUZUMIxzbm5-w9nIY0GkGUnf7iUrtKgOxDXKprwTQk92gL5PaQY9sLXww_VOV3PEnDRt4os/s4032/Pass%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEUX-giNyFpZ9OK-HOIfVXoK1VHroKYscMvBLyoBWuTm28F6-YT5nlQVq3-dNKECJ-lqdHNKw3KNtlSizXL-Df8XR1nN4jigyRDllgWFk3Oe41x9RcZvjMUZUMIxzbm5-w9nIY0GkGUnf7iUrtKgOxDXKprwTQk92gL5PaQY9sLXww_VOV3PEnDRt4os/w400-h300/Pass%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><b>Looking South from Hai Van Pass</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">(barely visible off to the left is the massive city of DaNang) <br /><br /></div><div>The balance of the day was spent in our final shuttle to Hoi An where we quickly settled into our new hotel. The hotel provided a very well prepared western style dinner for us. It was good to just relax.<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><b> </b></div><p><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b></p><p><br /></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-14134081607571579542023-12-27T22:15:00.003-07:002023-12-27T22:19:25.108-07:00Cycling SE Asia 2023 Part 5: Hué Vietnam's Imperial City<div><p><b>The Cycling Begins</b></p>When viewed on the map Vietnam is a very long and narrow country; sort of a bent figure eight. Hanoi is at the top, Ho Chi Minh Cty at the bottom and Hué sort of in narrow the middle squeezed between the mountains and the sea. </div><div> </div><div>And, after just a few days in the anthill that is Hanoi our arrival into Hué, with its population of 427,000, felt downright peaceful.<p style="text-align: justify;">Hué is almost in the center of Vietnam was the northernmost part of South Vietnam. Its strategic location near the DMZ meant it was the site of incredible bloodshed during Tet Offensive. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hué is set along the Huong River and just a few miles inland from the East Sea (due to China's expansionism Vietnam and its neighbors now refer to the former South China Sea as the East Sea). <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Despite December being part of Hué's "mild" season, compared to Hanoi, Hué immediately crushed us with heat and humidity. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our
first stop was a tour of the Imperial City and Citadel. The complex has
a series of walls and moats enclosing a series of gated courtyards and
inner walls and moats. Construction on Hué's Imperial City began
in 1803 and served until the imposition of the French Protectorate in
the 1880's. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This remarkable site was symbolically left derelict by the
communists at the conclusion of the Vietnam War. However since its designation as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1993, and its rising popularity as a major tourist destination (it now receives more than 4,000,000 visitors a year), it is now undergoing meticulous restoration efforts. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IUpXhyphenhyphenmo7_FtVZfwiSKl_89CKvY6SgXzXPlSmp4Ra9k5CAja5dh7pfg8qxKwkqlAXbRgvry0HhF3OBfPooYWYSHk4aDYjk612orSLlH1faJshUdnpQ5l0sPUDjTgYH8UWLJyFSPy1LpKe1Y28mj7mlF7rZFu-g8kJh2oAs5ySjqm6lVO1T6but_ZUdE/s3490/Citadel%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="3490" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IUpXhyphenhyphenmo7_FtVZfwiSKl_89CKvY6SgXzXPlSmp4Ra9k5CAja5dh7pfg8qxKwkqlAXbRgvry0HhF3OBfPooYWYSHk4aDYjk612orSLlH1faJshUdnpQ5l0sPUDjTgYH8UWLJyFSPy1LpKe1Y28mj7mlF7rZFu-g8kJh2oAs5ySjqm6lVO1T6but_ZUdE/w400-h173/Citadel%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Citadel, Imperial Walled City, and Purple Forbidden City</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEFQrBi8wrwI3ZdgOBXYa52OMyMH35ANjeZLOiECeVsOD1NzWkidPqiGUrvoos6bMSehQIsqw4-i7hr5W1FzvjaaqnEy2C1ZoBdXrUECdy23i-i-cgD8OjjUvOpS3va8S1377fXiKgZn9RSHWTZ-p-R47xobZEz9ig2oVaV029CjJzAhOzNRi0jdc1yo/s4032/Citadel%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEFQrBi8wrwI3ZdgOBXYa52OMyMH35ANjeZLOiECeVsOD1NzWkidPqiGUrvoos6bMSehQIsqw4-i7hr5W1FzvjaaqnEy2C1ZoBdXrUECdy23i-i-cgD8OjjUvOpS3va8S1377fXiKgZn9RSHWTZ-p-R47xobZEz9ig2oVaV029CjJzAhOzNRi0jdc1yo/w300-h400/Citadel%202.jpeg" width="300" /></a><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> Entering the Imperial Citadel<br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The innermost zone of the original complex was the Purple Forbidden City which was
restricted to the imperial family. The whole complex, oriented to face the Huong (Perfume) River to the southeast, Hué's Purple Forbidden City differs from
Beijing's Forbidden City which faces due south<b>. <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QUNL76M-xtWDWUlMXnqnOpaA61bU6SgkE6bMMWMzuokYofoFqYTBWOnVHFdx2WdOnUtFeLKP-6Y9S3brcbK2753sfe22SNYnAL3kDxwivGSkT5fhjYQPG2SQAsO6aZmjyCpiIGEKTuhnO81CaQYN_koEN47U9Eu5VItNfhKUVpVUSzdXhkLFNYcuxMQ/s4032/Citadel%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QUNL76M-xtWDWUlMXnqnOpaA61bU6SgkE6bMMWMzuokYofoFqYTBWOnVHFdx2WdOnUtFeLKP-6Y9S3brcbK2753sfe22SNYnAL3kDxwivGSkT5fhjYQPG2SQAsO6aZmjyCpiIGEKTuhnO81CaQYN_koEN47U9Eu5VItNfhKUVpVUSzdXhkLFNYcuxMQ/w400-h300/Citadel%203.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Citadel / Imperial City has been heavily ravaged by storms, wars, termites, and neglect. In
1947 it was seized by the Viet Minh. The French responded by mounting a six week
French counter-attack resulting in many of its original buildings (including the
Imperial Palace) being burned. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjOiVeudwioFtM6EAFOTnVgFrUF0fxA5VTFrY2xjvf823JhT1ZElMTtAGhtLyn-HH3Ptds-N5jUjawn5aZG_2rGmu3V6e8iBUwgSPLo6YvhvDFm1PJH6n_be5oZTKBWp6QWX9zC43K5gLrYgr_M01Q-nP2ZXNCiLodJH_uT5nxTf9LvHK1a5mjUBUGoM/s4032/Citadel%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjOiVeudwioFtM6EAFOTnVgFrUF0fxA5VTFrY2xjvf823JhT1ZElMTtAGhtLyn-HH3Ptds-N5jUjawn5aZG_2rGmu3V6e8iBUwgSPLo6YvhvDFm1PJH6n_be5oZTKBWp6QWX9zC43K5gLrYgr_M01Q-nP2ZXNCiLodJH_uT5nxTf9LvHK1a5mjUBUGoM/w480-h640/Citadel%204.jpeg" width="480" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Gardens Within The Forbidden City</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoYW_Xbp07F2SrT6Mmja8HqeAEyUsTrLtTaNm6VgvCAeDqptsl0ohFGQMyNRLXoNHl3fH_NvkjgPxi-ScM1UWYpeiaJfhWCXY6fk4GM_hBYqDu-IFdZ4K4fzWfrui4TdRV9KSsm1C-nXyPQ5JeLIZGGrXuM-brBEEIo1ZFh5jVwPzECV9EF9KK3j99ww/s3149/Citadel%205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2157" data-original-width="3149" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoYW_Xbp07F2SrT6Mmja8HqeAEyUsTrLtTaNm6VgvCAeDqptsl0ohFGQMyNRLXoNHl3fH_NvkjgPxi-ScM1UWYpeiaJfhWCXY6fk4GM_hBYqDu-IFdZ4K4fzWfrui4TdRV9KSsm1C-nXyPQ5JeLIZGGrXuM-brBEEIo1ZFh5jVwPzECV9EF9KK3j99ww/w400-h274/Citadel%205.jpeg" width="400" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Restoration Work</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The site was massively damaged during the Tet Offensive when the Peoples Army of Vietnam and the Viet Cong launched a coordinated attack on Hué. When US forces arrived to retake Hué they entered the site with orders to not bomb the historic areas. But, as casualties mounted, protective orders were lifted and by the end of the battle only 10 of the original 160 structures survived. The site still bears numerous scars from bullets fired during the war. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Symbolically today the Citadel now supports the tallest and largest national flag flown in Vietnam.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After our tour we checked into our hotel The Pilgrimage Village. It was a wonderful antidote to the noise and confusion of Hanoi. The Pilgrimage is set on a tranquil and beautiful site. I've stayed in many amazing hotels over the years. But, I have to say the Pilgrimage resort ranks as truly something very special. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvwxUQycU9WWcxGuyC2Pj4H-SzwfBG5QzYKwje2HqCpSfq5-EYAq-dOLqdfZityAa9HtIZrfkpdMZvV5lodp-FbokMEbJdZ0QpwttztSoWafD1FDQhNmkHojg_4FbXeVvf6hjH4kOFszGkVF_uU0bvoxfPan1A2cq7fdJiZW9EkhDm_HU7uy-9tfsVKM/s4032/Pilg%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvwxUQycU9WWcxGuyC2Pj4H-SzwfBG5QzYKwje2HqCpSfq5-EYAq-dOLqdfZityAa9HtIZrfkpdMZvV5lodp-FbokMEbJdZ0QpwttztSoWafD1FDQhNmkHojg_4FbXeVvf6hjH4kOFszGkVF_uU0bvoxfPan1A2cq7fdJiZW9EkhDm_HU7uy-9tfsVKM/w400-h300/Pilg%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Our Poolside Accommodations at The Pilgimage</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Guest suites are placed throughout the resort's highly manicured grounds. It boasts a comprehensive spa, multiple pools, various ponds (with <u>very</u> energetic frogs at night), an excellent upscale restaurant and an amazing breakfast pavilion. Pilgrimage staff all offered smiles and bright and sincere Xin Chào greetings. At twilight, howler monkeys, could be heard in the trees nearby. </p>Due to a personal connection of one of our guides we were upgraded to extra wonderful rooms with semi-access to semi-private pools. <br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7nUBdjNghnerI_N6FtjZP5hyphenhyphenpiEKM-VkiLiZOzu9aDthpONJ1bhyphenhyphenfDIjqEj5lYYimdJdIEbv8J24FUuaJnCsRkzlFaXqH1Lipu0SOcb-rIYi5uprp2D9eAZpRm5chDUkrti2IqtcDhV5n3GjepYV6t7lzB-w4rU2n62EA1Jfb5oyYJGqDj_NlbOUXkY/s4032/Pilg%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7nUBdjNghnerI_N6FtjZP5hyphenhyphenpiEKM-VkiLiZOzu9aDthpONJ1bhyphenhyphenfDIjqEj5lYYimdJdIEbv8J24FUuaJnCsRkzlFaXqH1Lipu0SOcb-rIYi5uprp2D9eAZpRm5chDUkrti2IqtcDhV5n3GjepYV6t7lzB-w4rU2n62EA1Jfb5oyYJGqDj_NlbOUXkY/w400-h300/Pilg%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>My Room at the Pilgrimage Village <br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Sl7Om8DkxFBUD66RPNZnVMMZqpqf5Dl8nkRne69Ifh8yy0xNpRo9y8awdcAutKkWIINm1fn7No9iLf5oXpUjf8Kh81Ax9KzGuD-CCpJq93Kt1_g7Hj1_BkdQjLTBxu81LsxSFuCiibLyaFpsrnl4ThpbE61h53MrBoOniHsC-th96a4U6taAG7Nf5Gg/s4032/Pilg%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Sl7Om8DkxFBUD66RPNZnVMMZqpqf5Dl8nkRne69Ifh8yy0xNpRo9y8awdcAutKkWIINm1fn7No9iLf5oXpUjf8Kh81Ax9KzGuD-CCpJq93Kt1_g7Hj1_BkdQjLTBxu81LsxSFuCiibLyaFpsrnl4ThpbE61h53MrBoOniHsC-th96a4U6taAG7Nf5Gg/w400-h300/Pilg%203.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The Main Pool at the Pilgrimage Village</span></b></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Hué we began the biking part of our vacation. And after arrival and a chance to settle in at the Pilgrimage we </span><span style="font-size: small;">had a bike fitting, safety orientation, and our warm-up ride. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those familiar with more typical VBT tours, this tour is a big change. It is unlike any of my previous 12 VBT tours. First off it is a full 10 full days in length compared to the usual 6 days of VBT's normal trips. And, here </span><span style="font-size: small;">everyone rides together with one guide riding in the front and the other riding in the back. Still everyone can ride a their own pace with little chance of anyone getting separated. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This trip is supported by an additional pace crew that discretely accompanies all the cycling with 3 minivan drivers plus a transport truck. If a rider gets a flat someone appears immediately to swap out a tire and wheel.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">If a rider opts to end riding for the day a minivan is there to pick them up while the transport truck is there to pick up the bike. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The crew advances ahead to each intersection before we got there and made sure we were directed properly. This is the only tour I've been of recent years where riders really did not need the Ride With GPS travel app VBT uses.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The warm up ride tracked some scenic farmlands with lots of birds. When we came upon our first cemetery everyone stopped in awe. It was fascinating to see these big elaborate raised memorials. However we'd soon learn over the next few days that these amazing cemeteries are seemingly everywhere. They are so common (and consume so much valuable farmland) that the government is now offering financial incentives for families to avoid these big family burial memorials. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3642" data-original-width="8604" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFn-V1u8_yHYkxg8lkeMCQcRUdF69wg_WLZT-GFfP0fOwwPYwDBZq3rZTgN-Zf_BdikEI0215dpar6g5gN0e4fWGJwfchS5R-JQbnCJPQMenHtyWhNNWGeSXhEY4M77edO1Xicyo6XHYdrRd6tsUhOhj8q5CUqmMV9vhzgSQCZX_yyaI-G-iUTsCVBTM/w400-h169/Cemetery.jpeg" width="400" /><b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> A Traditional Cemetery</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Of interest was that the government has made provisions allowing the original "boat people" refugees that left Vietnam for the US at the conclusion of the war the ability to return as seniors to be buried in Vietnam. They return yet must leave the families they created in the US. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As we rounded a corner in one village we encountered this wonderful covered bridge. The entrance at each end was adorned with a bat motif. as the bridge was shady it was filled with locals eating lunch or were taking and afternoon nap. <b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyF2eEbRP4HuO7lTGyvC_3Z0LZGkARozczCOzd1UgcmvdMELtYax_rWfjZgEVTw3UfRifSEkYft23LjdYAlE6UUF9sgT-zVekn2ZTVOtsiXd1GMaTWOt9QdoE1-GYNbs7Pkb74aCzRCGXjtG7pE_gbojYezNUOvyuLClS_ImPw2fHZ7EgGQZpGkr3eDc/s4032/Bat%20Bridge.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyF2eEbRP4HuO7lTGyvC_3Z0LZGkARozczCOzd1UgcmvdMELtYax_rWfjZgEVTw3UfRifSEkYft23LjdYAlE6UUF9sgT-zVekn2ZTVOtsiXd1GMaTWOt9QdoE1-GYNbs7Pkb74aCzRCGXjtG7pE_gbojYezNUOvyuLClS_ImPw2fHZ7EgGQZpGkr3eDc/w400-h300/Bat%20Bridge.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Bat Bridge</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Riding along the canals we noted these stainless steel fishing boats at anchor along the way.<b> </b>Upon closer inspection we saw they were assembled using sections of fuselages from downed American jets from the Vietnam war.<b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySaObp12zQ17v7XqRtpYkBzt6XHm8APenXvjnCqrIl4EvahDa1bB2wbn_WLAfUUWtwpj_L79NeheWhJX6ey9Nmg6XQeept7lXfajgOJcSudvq0XxDZqbq8DHQ2y7btSHI0CJHGRO74ZQfgOoOotc1pDcFdmC1_-NfFErRHtrSQ-A06DPhgJGbIqmDbAw/s3978/Fishing%20Boat.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2613" data-original-width="3978" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySaObp12zQ17v7XqRtpYkBzt6XHm8APenXvjnCqrIl4EvahDa1bB2wbn_WLAfUUWtwpj_L79NeheWhJX6ey9Nmg6XQeept7lXfajgOJcSudvq0XxDZqbq8DHQ2y7btSHI0CJHGRO74ZQfgOoOotc1pDcFdmC1_-NfFErRHtrSQ-A06DPhgJGbIqmDbAw/w400-h263/Fishing%20Boat.jpeg" width="400" /></a><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Jet Parts Repurposed into Fishing Boats</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After breakfast day two we toured Emperor Khai Dinh's Mausoleum. The elaborate mausoleum was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. Khai Dinh, the twelth Emperor of Vietnam, had a relatively short a 9 year reign from 1916 to his death in 1925. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Over his life he was never fully embraced by the Vietnamese public. Although he was likely gay, he fathered the last Emperor of Vietnam Bào Dai. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Construction on the mausoleum began in 1920 and continued until 1931 (6 years after Kai Dinh's death). It is reported that he levied an enormous tax on his subjects to finance its construction.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The mausoleum is compact, yet exquisitely detailed. It is composed of architectural elements that borrow from Vietnamese, Chinese and European motifs. It is reached by climbing a wide steep staircase that leads to forecourts, temples, and additional stairs. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglig8F8jK01h1wMqx3wa2-MF7BlXT-BMCI12OC_A5X7azmv3mLE_MdfGHMVr5IExAZ45O6I1x-q9hghKB-wiHBtbnjlxXNSYHfxKw1U775LhYsHPi-0I5PqFu0XlV01lmBJILiGmVB4mKQTm1qL8aPOM8L6PY3qNO-m5ry5RCBTllozhyphenhyphenXei3x_wsLGyk/s4032/KD%20tomb%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglig8F8jK01h1wMqx3wa2-MF7BlXT-BMCI12OC_A5X7azmv3mLE_MdfGHMVr5IExAZ45O6I1x-q9hghKB-wiHBtbnjlxXNSYHfxKw1U775LhYsHPi-0I5PqFu0XlV01lmBJILiGmVB4mKQTm1qL8aPOM8L6PY3qNO-m5ry5RCBTllozhyphenhyphenXei3x_wsLGyk/w400-h300/KD%20tomb%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Lower Forecourt With Protective Mandarin Statues</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Upon entrance to the tomb itself you find Kai Dinh seated on an elevated sunburst throne cast in Marseilles. The ceiling is a spectacular fresco and wall panels are composed of inlays of broken pottery fragments (similar to those found at the Imperial Palace). <br /></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcymfAHy9Y09g9PsCwve8xqlCBehuTx4pmrgjE1udk0wwhwUVUpUW3CgSaZePqCWshFI4ekHkjJqlIYk6pC5LXn_eVv9V3I5nFA_JVbxdRkFaVdvYBDZyCvTnnCq6PMqYNi7xpiNkvT_kLGNWViqc9Fggl5k377jDl1_offthWmFfCIiFhyphenhyphenUWHxdAiKCw/s3792/KD%20Tomb%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2843" data-original-width="3792" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcymfAHy9Y09g9PsCwve8xqlCBehuTx4pmrgjE1udk0wwhwUVUpUW3CgSaZePqCWshFI4ekHkjJqlIYk6pC5LXn_eVv9V3I5nFA_JVbxdRkFaVdvYBDZyCvTnnCq6PMqYNi7xpiNkvT_kLGNWViqc9Fggl5k377jDl1_offthWmFfCIiFhyphenhyphenUWHxdAiKCw/w400-h300/KD%20Tomb%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Throne Sculpture in the Tomb</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrf-b8An-XOFyVTG4BoahRmB16JCxV5RjCE4hxoKTO7oJp5la8dDYxzONhZa3zD-rvmFU3Yd5GfoR4qVAJ7lxGMaKSUUJL8_qVMa_8KlMmuHV0yg-TsIHAMzCY8F9MBaXEHMSd3qDOzm4irNPKQ9Eb81ot5OAJ0PKcFr21uMeQsc8XDL1SJm9HbMUjNYc/s3776/KD%20Tomb%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3776" data-original-width="2734" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrf-b8An-XOFyVTG4BoahRmB16JCxV5RjCE4hxoKTO7oJp5la8dDYxzONhZa3zD-rvmFU3Yd5GfoR4qVAJ7lxGMaKSUUJL8_qVMa_8KlMmuHV0yg-TsIHAMzCY8F9MBaXEHMSd3qDOzm4irNPKQ9Eb81ot5OAJ0PKcFr21uMeQsc8XDL1SJm9HbMUjNYc/w290-h400/KD%20Tomb%203.jpeg" width="290" /></a></div><p></p></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rows of Mandarin Forecourt Sculptures</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the visit to the mausoleum we collected our bicycles for a ride along the Perfume River. The river name is the result of the fragrant blooms that collect in the river in the fall from upriver orchards. Along the way we stopped at a market. Literally everything is for sale here from snakes to flowers, housewares to fresh produce. <b> <br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5BS8dmWui2FeR8Xk3gceZkpZOzbI3XWMF73acaMR0ARb5h-LgzolqlXgw0Bp2V836kqe7m7IeKH3Xbac9ZLRuw0qvkDHrP-Uemr_zkAzaYM7UcXDlnLfFpiy-f6D7a-JsakmEXDAng_YuzcFID_Iuoft9uieMLCq39EIOkg1FnplfzMn-uE95YmpYVE/s4032/Market%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5BS8dmWui2FeR8Xk3gceZkpZOzbI3XWMF73acaMR0ARb5h-LgzolqlXgw0Bp2V836kqe7m7IeKH3Xbac9ZLRuw0qvkDHrP-Uemr_zkAzaYM7UcXDlnLfFpiy-f6D7a-JsakmEXDAng_YuzcFID_Iuoft9uieMLCq39EIOkg1FnplfzMn-uE95YmpYVE/w300-h400/Market%202.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Market Day</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRr0bl__NcoMr2caRM3BxxOwT1Vas63h9UpUnNUxJiXT7qOhLjJrb4p6_vqQkVsFoDsTG7WV0FIiYdqG69RhTzNNxPqkX8Oy0F4osPWBE1mivcpVtSBphSY5uOKegnwKHBsoyceIBiCcW6-WC91DKCemQvzZgnIlDIwiFVMdN0_vtSaTodvEEcN9laqU/s3344/Market.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3344" data-original-width="2999" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRr0bl__NcoMr2caRM3BxxOwT1Vas63h9UpUnNUxJiXT7qOhLjJrb4p6_vqQkVsFoDsTG7WV0FIiYdqG69RhTzNNxPqkX8Oy0F4osPWBE1mivcpVtSBphSY5uOKegnwKHBsoyceIBiCcW6-WC91DKCemQvzZgnIlDIwiFVMdN0_vtSaTodvEEcN9laqU/w359-h400/Market.jpeg" width="359" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Fresh Seafood in Abundance</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our ride ended at the Thien Mu (Heaven Happy Fairy Lady) Pagoda and temples. The 7 story pagoda was constructed in 1884 and is the highest stupa in Vietnam. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ43APHE7XJXAiNgs3R8L_m_lUZPivA68zNVNhm8hhWVo61xMT_1rrtzWgktVUSf4gJR6RWwdd1BWvTvKmUM27q2QuwusqljqVmDBBPh40fvK0MvzHJGpkApHhehsZzk_DcqGEa_m-tNe5MTfDeziVqICbY9VygfLFF0B_tIjFCyGdwoVPSKZ_4kJINUQ/s1722/Pagoda-of-the-Celestial-Lady-in-Hue-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1722" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ43APHE7XJXAiNgs3R8L_m_lUZPivA68zNVNhm8hhWVo61xMT_1rrtzWgktVUSf4gJR6RWwdd1BWvTvKmUM27q2QuwusqljqVmDBBPh40fvK0MvzHJGpkApHhehsZzk_DcqGEa_m-tNe5MTfDeziVqICbY9VygfLFF0B_tIjFCyGdwoVPSKZ_4kJINUQ/s320/Pagoda-of-the-Celestial-Lady-in-Hue-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Thien Mu Pagoda</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">This site became a major organizing point for the Buddhist movement and a site of major protests during the summer of 1963 after South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem's regime continuously showed strong preferences for Catholics and engaged in discrimination against Buddhists.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a chilling historical reference to the protests, the auto driven by Buddhist Monk Thích Quang Duc to the busy intersection in Saigon where he set himself on fire is displayed. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">President John F. Kennedy said in reference to Malcolm Browne's photo of the self-immolaton that "No news picture in history has generated so much emotion around the world as that one". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Despite being only 8 years old when I first saw the burning monk photo it would become an image I'd never ever be able to forget. <br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueLjzZ0wXSfsfRO9ake1J1842roX6VrNIOISWHNaVfm3dXVOzvOjyjBytK0xKO_JSS2GGdu7JcyGB15ZeRnwSnU5ItQwxmoC5u26FQcvIGbVdDznXtNCzfURQM1Z7eipNACsPSRRZ2kHfq1uNIw2u1c2OfZh1NtBmtJNLF_LPpxVeKSHQ0yyb6kcnAMs/s4032/Monk%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueLjzZ0wXSfsfRO9ake1J1842roX6VrNIOISWHNaVfm3dXVOzvOjyjBytK0xKO_JSS2GGdu7JcyGB15ZeRnwSnU5ItQwxmoC5u26FQcvIGbVdDznXtNCzfURQM1Z7eipNACsPSRRZ2kHfq1uNIw2u1c2OfZh1NtBmtJNLF_LPpxVeKSHQ0yyb6kcnAMs/w186-h248/Monk%201.jpeg" width="186" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXYdKJCTlZKmJVlUjFntH-trvn6P5Jdv6H29dEsHLblD7fMhAeNSAsCtyYwsGTTfxprePAB1VCMF1utAuSaFyyu5EC03vHmft_wmOyt2Ii8MTNefaSxdsXiYDqnpE-EualTTwx7eejhBMK0Sfsuuu5OQ3wf2I-TOgYbWQDcIoFsJxJ0C45ULCkIZdkhI/s1122/Screenshot%202023-12-27%20at%203.37.10%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1122" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXYdKJCTlZKmJVlUjFntH-trvn6P5Jdv6H29dEsHLblD7fMhAeNSAsCtyYwsGTTfxprePAB1VCMF1utAuSaFyyu5EC03vHmft_wmOyt2Ii8MTNefaSxdsXiYDqnpE-EualTTwx7eejhBMK0Sfsuuu5OQ3wf2I-TOgYbWQDcIoFsJxJ0C45ULCkIZdkhI/w385-h248/Screenshot%202023-12-27%20at%203.37.10%20PM.jpeg" width="385" /></a></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"> <b>Buddhist Protests in 1963</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After visiting the Pagoda site we crossed the street to the river to a waiting "Dragon Boat" for an elegant lunch cruise along the river.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL9Sc_8n-d4g5PibhvjCyqZdbfzvQwFtg2tVs5X0QUMsB_0XR_GcBlxIFWcyCKOtcVV8r1dQK3n_VthiRLyJUym1lM1XIj09MIa-Qg6rP-KbNgJrEKCx5L-zcQ_7GUGup5MZuamDxydefrUpYVUV1YpNI9r5ANOZ9EJLEj4dS0n7vVcCWuM6EcTOWX8M/s3394/Dragon%20Boat%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3394" data-original-width="3021" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL9Sc_8n-d4g5PibhvjCyqZdbfzvQwFtg2tVs5X0QUMsB_0XR_GcBlxIFWcyCKOtcVV8r1dQK3n_VthiRLyJUym1lM1XIj09MIa-Qg6rP-KbNgJrEKCx5L-zcQ_7GUGup5MZuamDxydefrUpYVUV1YpNI9r5ANOZ9EJLEj4dS0n7vVcCWuM6EcTOWX8M/w356-h400/Dragon%20Boat%202.jpeg" width="356" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Hue's Dragon Boats <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our guides pointed out that most of Vietnam has only two seasons: Hot! and <i><u>Damn</u> </i>Hot! After a full day of cycling in what they only view as Hot!, I can only imagine what summer's here are like. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This was to be our last night in the completely amazing city of Hué. Tomorrow we ride and shuttle to Vietnam's City of Lanterns Hoi An.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b> </p></div></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-62604056648546614992023-12-24T01:11:00.016-07:002023-12-24T15:56:04.859-07:00Cycling SE Asia 2023 Part 4: Arrival Vietnam <div><p><b>Vietnam's Contrary Capital</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">My Vietnam Backstory</p><p style="text-align: justify;">My life has been blessed. I have never had to shoulder a weapon in war, endure hunger or worry about having a roof over my head. Overall my health has remained good for most of my 67 years and I have healthy children and grandchildren.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I was able to follow the American sequence for success. I became the first one in my family to attend and graduate from a University. It was at a time when higher education was still comparatively affordable. I worked hard and graduated debt free. And, the knowledge gained from college, allowed me to eventually found my own practice. </p><div style="text-align: justify;">But the one anomoly in my teen years was Vietnam. I never understood the Vietnam "conflict". My childhood in Oakland was framed by antiwar riots in Berkeley, SF State, and at Oakland's Clay Street Induction Center. </div><p style="text-align: justify;">I lived with <u>very</u> conservative parents. To them the psycho Joe McCarthy was a hero. They completely believed "commies" had infiltrated every level of the US government. In their eyes if communism was left unchecked anywhere, it would inevitably lead to soviet style domination everywhere. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Kennedy and Johnson were perceived by them as lying liberals. But, when America's truly epic liar, Richard Nixon, became president they believed anything he said. As soon as I was able to vote I took great pleasure in using my vote to cancel out one of theirs.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I earned spending money during high school by working nights, weekends, and summers at the City owned parking lots in downtown and Jack London Square. The Clay Street garage I worked in was directly across the street from Oakland's Induction Center where all Vietnam draftees reported. Upon entering this building all youthful innocence was surrendered forever.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">All day, every day, when I worked in my little parking lot booth at Clay Street I watched the endless lines of nervous young men being consumed by the Vietnam "conflict".<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">My resentment about eventually having to join that line, and possibly surrender my life for something three consecutive presidents and the US Congress never had the guts to call a war, slowly began to overwhelm me. I knew I had a future and I did not want to offer it up for something I could not understand and certainly did not believe in.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, don't get me wrong, I love my country. If an enemy were to attack our shores I'd willingly surrender my life and fight with my bare hands. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9c_WXHXqiTdr1Il2xJQckdD73hjiYweXLv1AQgBctVEX1yEWET9RFe2o70fhva-zJulzdbkvqZQ86UiFYwAj_HI6LPdgiRLH1tru3CtTWK6RmmcyS3wJhWmwinIDNVz0pRLSrpqMTjrr4HpdhqYTLQ1mdeY_IDa19F0HayXleycbJz3f4PFGv6baJjw8/s430/Clay%20St.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="430" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9c_WXHXqiTdr1Il2xJQckdD73hjiYweXLv1AQgBctVEX1yEWET9RFe2o70fhva-zJulzdbkvqZQ86UiFYwAj_HI6LPdgiRLH1tru3CtTWK6RmmcyS3wJhWmwinIDNVz0pRLSrpqMTjrr4HpdhqYTLQ1mdeY_IDa19F0HayXleycbJz3f4PFGv6baJjw8/w400-h230/Clay%20St.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Protesting The Vietnam War From the Clay Street Garage</b> </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">Photo: Oakland Local Wiki</p><p style="text-align: justify;">All this led to one of the very few times in my life when I risked an open conflict with my father. I told him that, until someone could give me a damn good reason I could fully understand, I was unwilling to go to Vietnam and would seek asylum in Canada before surrendering to the draft. Dad muttered how much it hurt knowing his only son "had a yellow streak running down his back" and walked away from me. It was one of the most painful moments in my life.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Years later, dad quietly told me he had come to the conclusion I'd been right about "that Vietnam thing".</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So to this day, the word Vietnam evokes an unresolved part of me. And, like most things in my life, confronting the unresolved is the only way I know to overcome it.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So my trip to Vietnam would involve far more than sightseeing. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hanoi </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The history of Vietnamese Hanoi began in 1010 when Ly Thaí Tô established it as a strategic stronghold naming it "Soaring Dragon". </p><p style="text-align: justify;">When the Nguyen dynasty was established in 1802 Vietnam's capital was moved to Hué. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In 1873 the French arrived and in 1887 the French military decreed Hanoi as the capital of "French Indochina".</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Japanese invaded and occupied Hanoi during WWII. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">After WWII control returned to the French colonists until their defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The country was left divided during the Geneva Conference. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Elections were scheduled to reform the country under a unified government. The communists in the North, supported by the farmers in the south, were favored to win the elections. But when the leader of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem refused to hold elections, the US government threw its support behind him. This left the capital of a Communist regime in North Vietnam while Saigon became the capital of South Vietnam. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Communist North, under Ho Chi Minh, commenced a guerilla war to recapture the South. American politicians quickly decreed that letting Vietnam fall to communism would enable the spread of communism throughout Asia. Of course, they never offered proof of those claims. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In 1964, LBJ capitalizing on a reported attack on US ships, proffered the Gulf of Tonkin resolution. It formed the excuse to escalate the Vietnam "Conflict". The US propped up and toppled successive (hopelessly corrupt) South Vietnamese regimes until our final defeat in 1976. At that time Vietnam was reunified with Hanoi becoming the capitol of the entire nation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, almost fifty years later, Vietnam operates under the iron rule of the communist party. The party first attempted to create a centrally controlled economy. It failed and then unleashed the sleeping tiger of free enterprise. Today there are highly visible signs of prosperity everywhere. And, although average annual national income still remains painfully low at just $4,000/yr (compared to $6,000/yr in Thailand and $12,000/yr in China respectively), the Vietnamese people I met are happy and optimistic. They anticipate an increasingly brighter future. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hopefully, Vietnam's path to success will not be cut short by its pervasive culture of political and bureaucratic graft and corruption.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Beep Beep!</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">A westerner's first shock upon arrival in Hanoi is the traffic. There is no workable mass transit. In this city of over 8,000,000 residents there are swarms of scooters. Scooters are used for hauling unimaginable amounts of materials. We saw scooters with four (or more) riders. Besides cars, the rideshare app Grab offers "hop on the back" scooter services allowing you to quickly book a quick, cheap ride anywhere.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_vDD2zWW7YPSqgq-KxELDDb4BUuLrXNoSVwsaz7hE902V1k52yP3WmoJRW5PnnnAlV1khQeeKKEkgSvL-lCLjPlIs0FbOEAfaawqrOx0pw3GRquLUge55EEI5SXUPW-DpTLa-yKD3mIINVXuTz7SCyXO-n6mWK1usMVk4Ho1OXMUQ12qK1WUt6oMBVY/s4032/Scooters.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_vDD2zWW7YPSqgq-KxELDDb4BUuLrXNoSVwsaz7hE902V1k52yP3WmoJRW5PnnnAlV1khQeeKKEkgSvL-lCLjPlIs0FbOEAfaawqrOx0pw3GRquLUge55EEI5SXUPW-DpTLa-yKD3mIINVXuTz7SCyXO-n6mWK1usMVk4Ho1OXMUQ12qK1WUt6oMBVY/w480-h640/Scooters.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Scooters Scooters Everywhere</b><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: justify;">Western visitors must take time to understand the rules of the road in Vietnam. It would be suicidal for a westerner to rent a car and attempt to drive in Hanoi traffic. Lane markings are irrelevant. Riding on sidewalks is common. Red lights are mere suggestions. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yet, after a day, the delicate etiquette of Vietnamese traffic started to make sense.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Everyone honks at each other all the time. But the beep beeps are not "get out of my way" rage honks like in the US. They are more of a "Hey! be aware, I'm here" safety behavior. While riding bikes we became grateful for those thoughtful little beeps that drivers offered as they came upon us and began to pass.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next thing visitors must learn is how to cross the street. In Vietnam pedestrians simply become little human pebbles disrupting the stream of endless traffic. Once you step off the curb into the swarm of traffic and <u>slowly</u> proceed to cross traffic just flows to either side of you. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Crossing rules are strict and important: </p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. First you size up traffic. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. <u>Slowly</u> step off the curb directly into traffic. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. Walk forward <u>slowly</u> with purpose. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">4. Never step backward or change direction. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">5. Never run. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It takes courage to cross swirling Hanoi traffic, but as soon as you become comfortable with how traffic constantly adapts, crossing becomes completely natural.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We arrived a day before our formal tour was to
begin, so we booked our own hotel in Hanoi's old quarter for the first night. It was a lovely
little boutique hotel (Royal Palace 2). I booked a spacious room with a
big balcony overlooking the bustling street scene below. My room rate
(including fast WiFi and a full breakfast) set me back $65 (including
all fees and tax). <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWvd1Sh7ZgRF-i_gPoWpR_u67MxHylFpA6VvsgBRpcsWflK5oOuGmqOGGPHaEwA6AXpXatulUKt671pms0vHJvJArQ4Qtz8rQ2Lj65DGBNNNprt_h18q2LkgageNaR3i_hejbXUyg0H0Zi4rqfZBhXcUHNIEuyLHY4-_unUEMIfHn_H0KYjLdlACB4mM/s4032/Hotel%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWvd1Sh7ZgRF-i_gPoWpR_u67MxHylFpA6VvsgBRpcsWflK5oOuGmqOGGPHaEwA6AXpXatulUKt671pms0vHJvJArQ4Qtz8rQ2Lj65DGBNNNprt_h18q2LkgageNaR3i_hejbXUyg0H0Zi4rqfZBhXcUHNIEuyLHY4-_unUEMIfHn_H0KYjLdlACB4mM/w400-h300/Hotel%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b>First Night Hotel in the Old Quarter</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We visited a walk-up Banh Mi stand for very serviceable dinner (which cost about a buck). Even with an eye popping exchange rate of 24,000 Vietnamese Dong to $1, it did not take long to realize that travel in Vietnam is an amazing bargain.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next morning we slept in and then met up with our Vermont Bike Tours (VBT) group at the swanky nearby Hanoi Melia Hotel in the heart of Hanoi's diplomatic zone. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our VBT tour began with a detailed walking tour of Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and residences and our welcome dinner.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The following day was packed. We began with a walking tour, took rides in cyclos (bicycle versions of a rickshaw), toured the Temple of Learning, the infamous Hanoi Hilton, religious sites and finished with an early evening performance of Hanoi's famous water puppets. In between were amazing meals at some very nice restaurants. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNeS7IQvw09UIZdfE7wWtIkfhbHPEogthZOIJrfdBTPuK5ReoxOrR6BKRs6Hb1mvwjcXXozUP7ZCSyyitKDHIFqDejFZ_f_f6fNrPxETm0o1rjJeN4v4h-3JqAYO1jaKTaDq48Uvq6d-thHYM8RW3UVJELDJUiXQWIP11T-o6_sr-FNhzk1fbC-FFAew/s3553/Bike%20Commerce.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3553" data-original-width="2698" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNeS7IQvw09UIZdfE7wWtIkfhbHPEogthZOIJrfdBTPuK5ReoxOrR6BKRs6Hb1mvwjcXXozUP7ZCSyyitKDHIFqDejFZ_f_f6fNrPxETm0o1rjJeN4v4h-3JqAYO1jaKTaDq48Uvq6d-thHYM8RW3UVJELDJUiXQWIP11T-o6_sr-FNhzk1fbC-FFAew/w152-h200/Bike%20Commerce.jpeg" width="152" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbMeHSSssXzzTZ7uHdQlvNZHwnOSD1zh_R79hWGrGQq0h3oyPTNNok9W97ZOZFyBS_LJEwrDjlh51Bux76u0m85Rx50ytsTFaNNuCbAoIkP_4HO8nNnc3T1Ht1I8W61pHI1lT3f4GoTKSjS1s0_JHBEa2cvOnBQfEzLa2TsJYRjU8JhWFjJHJgfHyLzE/s2960/Flower%20bike.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2960" data-original-width="2703" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbMeHSSssXzzTZ7uHdQlvNZHwnOSD1zh_R79hWGrGQq0h3oyPTNNok9W97ZOZFyBS_LJEwrDjlh51Bux76u0m85Rx50ytsTFaNNuCbAoIkP_4HO8nNnc3T1Ht1I8W61pHI1lT3f4GoTKSjS1s0_JHBEa2cvOnBQfEzLa2TsJYRjU8JhWFjJHJgfHyLzE/w183-h200/Flower%20bike.jpeg" width="183" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Bicycle Street Commerce</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4td_30YItwtLrascY-9rf_ffK_wsq8vTmbEBzung8VHRHRRUZWcp0kohu4NISDef0RE-ttIrEeeMnnEWiVajGi06K6yWn0SH6Hh5WQp8nUJYRrzECkVmwgw1eErrdhLd3_ygxxfm1mKsE9UuNy9D1_bupc0-yHKhKNCkKi5wkURAuHDLwv083rQyxnw/s3088/Cyclo.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4td_30YItwtLrascY-9rf_ffK_wsq8vTmbEBzung8VHRHRRUZWcp0kohu4NISDef0RE-ttIrEeeMnnEWiVajGi06K6yWn0SH6Hh5WQp8nUJYRrzECkVmwgw1eErrdhLd3_ygxxfm1mKsE9UuNy9D1_bupc0-yHKhKNCkKi5wkURAuHDLwv083rQyxnw/s320/Cyclo.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A Cyclo Ride Through the Old Quarter</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBSfzwqqiOSy3o7VB6J_oPPz1zeDzRoZcob39ZNAW-eiGMKkN-ozue4a8KWWoeLdufPhAhRScVBnORdosswvhGlRrLJrc7UB9GcZY5HdOuCpCw81m0H6MDbj3f6uEeJ7B73jvovEfAXLjVdXbrj7yVpjokoWnCafcTRPrQUef9-VJSBqvXSg0j7nD-mo/s4032/Hanoi%20Hilton.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBSfzwqqiOSy3o7VB6J_oPPz1zeDzRoZcob39ZNAW-eiGMKkN-ozue4a8KWWoeLdufPhAhRScVBnORdosswvhGlRrLJrc7UB9GcZY5HdOuCpCw81m0H6MDbj3f6uEeJ7B73jvovEfAXLjVdXbrj7yVpjokoWnCafcTRPrQUef9-VJSBqvXSg0j7nD-mo/w300-h400/Hanoi%20Hilton.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Hanoi Hilton</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Built by the French, the Hanoi Hilton was clearly designed for the purpose of torture and brutal incarceration. Today, most of it has been demolished to make way for new government structures, but the main facade exists along with a series of displays. The displays are now used as a propaganda tool to stress the cruelty of the French (true), but then goes on to stress how "humanely" the Vietnamese treated US fliers (bullshit). John McCain's inability to reach high enough to comb his hair stands as testimony to those lies. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Today everywhere in Vietnam there are smiling images of "Uncle" Ho Chi Minh. The communist party has attempted to elevate him to the status of diety. It is most evident when you visit his huge mausoleum (where, despite his wishes to the contrary, his glass boxed corpse now resides on permanent display like Lenin in Russia). Hearing his story from the Vietnamese perspective did alter my perception of him a bit. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEGm0OfVg0LB2uEq7k7gBNfLTTkngCMfEhPwsShoH2UeW7sx5KJpQzOkszorQkaxTM-zpU3SoNaGKKxhtfltjgsTEaKiR-D6H9YcUF_8bBhfsNH4FjSOq8o5k-QndR0oZijWbq2oz1TdBVrWzWDH7wUht_TbTILYBogyvdJzgDdT9OMf-Xj2nUE4R3D0/s3943/HCM%20Mausoleum.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2493" data-original-width="3943" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEGm0OfVg0LB2uEq7k7gBNfLTTkngCMfEhPwsShoH2UeW7sx5KJpQzOkszorQkaxTM-zpU3SoNaGKKxhtfltjgsTEaKiR-D6H9YcUF_8bBhfsNH4FjSOq8o5k-QndR0oZijWbq2oz1TdBVrWzWDH7wUht_TbTILYBogyvdJzgDdT9OMf-Xj2nUE4R3D0/w400-h253/HCM%20Mausoleum.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After the departure of the French Ho Chi Minh (HCM) refused to live in the elegant presidential palace the French had built. He instead chose to live in a modest home nearby.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ahShWDhW8iudgBSwESUbEUyUY7qWUreaPdEOxEyGBEF1yeqnTYBDNke8qJQc16PR16ZT67bUZzUSmpRP2TAQFUjRxMrKZmsyNJiHSPm_LrSykx916G7wXtvaz8HbkUVC-Y74MCfypSSKQafGonnx8At_DsQ_bUcoUAEm1mAmyd-OQbW5PDbmO7fJ0js/s3867/HCM%20House.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2900" data-original-width="3867" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ahShWDhW8iudgBSwESUbEUyUY7qWUreaPdEOxEyGBEF1yeqnTYBDNke8qJQc16PR16ZT67bUZzUSmpRP2TAQFUjRxMrKZmsyNJiHSPm_LrSykx916G7wXtvaz8HbkUVC-Y74MCfypSSKQafGonnx8At_DsQ_bUcoUAEm1mAmyd-OQbW5PDbmO7fJ0js/w400-h300/HCM%20House.jpeg" width="400" /></a><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Ho Chi Minh's Nearby Residence</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxBdVdWtNEZ63E9Imw5FS7GpaVGmxApZgxHCrtNUL_8-DaoFnoymfMlR9EP0LIXs3sfDTyJXGhYP3u9ijxikxfPbZdWd7EPhGU8aZjn6agQe7x_i-o1vUPLv3xWckWDd8P1VdLFE3wyg9BaVofNGD23pmXtI3UvMkVp7la-30VwGaw23LjyaX0GYNnKY/s4032/HCM%20Cars.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxBdVdWtNEZ63E9Imw5FS7GpaVGmxApZgxHCrtNUL_8-DaoFnoymfMlR9EP0LIXs3sfDTyJXGhYP3u9ijxikxfPbZdWd7EPhGU8aZjn6agQe7x_i-o1vUPLv3xWckWDd8P1VdLFE3wyg9BaVofNGD23pmXtI3UvMkVp7la-30VwGaw23LjyaX0GYNnKY/w400-h300/HCM%20Cars.jpeg" width="400" /></a><b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Ho Chi Minh's Autos Are Also Preserved</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">But once you get past all the HCM stuff, the actual City of Hanoi is really a delight. The streets are covered in trees. The French influenced legacy architecture is beautiful, the cultural amenities are rich, and Vietnamese food is wonderful. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But, more than anything, the gracious and friendly people of Hanoi form the real treasure of this City. <b> </b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bDwVFS9cv2pdMEFf4lTbobSG4fCFzHeyJUuyMnXeduSaXEacOTFfknpnRDSD7kn8OTu01Rz5GhlrT-9vrSNYSTBnWD2IEIm6EPLg-1ZGj6quW7yf9SRxYD53wbbi2DFkCMEnUvBd05UmKfRdTEgFUxXKYi3PHjZGHC97SskuwplIzhKds_1O2d8hXig/s4032/Lantern%20Street.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bDwVFS9cv2pdMEFf4lTbobSG4fCFzHeyJUuyMnXeduSaXEacOTFfknpnRDSD7kn8OTu01Rz5GhlrT-9vrSNYSTBnWD2IEIm6EPLg-1ZGj6quW7yf9SRxYD53wbbi2DFkCMEnUvBd05UmKfRdTEgFUxXKYi3PHjZGHC97SskuwplIzhKds_1O2d8hXig/w480-h640/Lantern%20Street.jpeg" width="480" /></a></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Green Canopy Trees Shade Narrow Streets With </b><b>Picturesque Lanterns in Hanoi's Old Quarter</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dl-SojVu1vbW08ZsVWaSj8xO2DR3VikY-g1Lcz0PbR7e_YoVgcb-W29lq2RObXXtzbvxqQwx7EJ11qc95oVrlSdci0H2HpoR7YrKjIB7DDi90rE4Ed6Hw4MY6oLWy069fJtFeG5i6V9epPIuXg_gb1rSHLTjn18x4BC19dwDzkbv03WZsamd4ZA9ev4/s3365/Water%20Puppets.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3365" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dl-SojVu1vbW08ZsVWaSj8xO2DR3VikY-g1Lcz0PbR7e_YoVgcb-W29lq2RObXXtzbvxqQwx7EJ11qc95oVrlSdci0H2HpoR7YrKjIB7DDi90rE4Ed6Hw4MY6oLWy069fJtFeG5i6V9epPIuXg_gb1rSHLTjn18x4BC19dwDzkbv03WZsamd4ZA9ev4/w576-h640/Water%20Puppets.jpeg" width="576" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>An Evening with Hanoi's Water Puppets</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UT9IO8SdTY4_3BmT-AO5jUApNBsc-Pu2FjzgXNVP0lPs0dQQoyanU8NmCEc5CP36P-5_1Xvr39Jq83u6E9m41LZR0miHDnMDHmgtqGWCgRJp1NHSN2tapSVzMn2ooh52WprOz8NWiqehEsSaKKvpu-g33qiGhbYGhbTbjM_kIVjF8xUP9Q1dhSo5c5Y/s4032/Wires.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UT9IO8SdTY4_3BmT-AO5jUApNBsc-Pu2FjzgXNVP0lPs0dQQoyanU8NmCEc5CP36P-5_1Xvr39Jq83u6E9m41LZR0miHDnMDHmgtqGWCgRJp1NHSN2tapSVzMn2ooh52WprOz8NWiqehEsSaKKvpu-g33qiGhbYGhbTbjM_kIVjF8xUP9Q1dhSo5c5Y/w640-h480/Wires.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Hanoi Infrastructure is Reckless</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the heat of Bangkok, the 68° temperatures in for our three days and two nights in Hanoi were very welcome. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now coming to day three, we faced an early morning flight to our next destination Hué.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-25075103694885559532023-12-19T22:58:00.020-07:002023-12-20T20:43:26.922-07:00Cycling SE Asia 2023 Part 3: A Day at Ayutthaya's Ancient Temples<div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>A Royal Summer Palace, Spectacular Temple Ruins and A Temple of Shopping <br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">When planning this trip one of my goals was to visit Cambodia's famous Siem Reap temple ruins. But knowing Cambodia's political instability, coupled with reports that the famous Angkor Wat site is frequently overrun by tourists left me reconsidering it. Then I researched the reality of air connections from Siem Reap back to Phoenix (abysmal) and started considering alternatives. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">After doing a bit of research I decided a day trip to the Ayutthaya Historical Park near Bangkok offered a great alternative to flying to Cambodia to tour Angkor Wat. We settled on a full day tour that also included a stop at Bang Pa-In Royal Summer Palace. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">It turned out to be a very full (and pretty danged hot) day of sightseeing but well worth the time spent. We stopped at three temple sites and walked among some stunning temple ruins. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">After a couple hours drive our tour began at the Bang Pa-In Royal Summer Palace. Originally built by King Prasat Thong in 1632. It fell into disuse in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In the mid-19th century King Mongkut began a restoration that was continued with most of the major present buildings constructed between 1872 and 1889 by King Chulalongkorn. The architecture is a hodgepodge of whatever Euro monarchist architectural styles were popular during its construction. There are little snippets of Versailles here and there, European statuary etc.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The palace has played host to visiting royal dignitaries, weddings and funerals. But visiting the site requires legs and shoulders to be covered. This resulted in the quick purchase of a pair of baggy elephant pants. At a cost of about $2, they became an instantly cherished souvenir and will serve as a perfect pair of PJ's.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Today, the palace buildings and grounds do not appear to be used much with many demonstrating a state of deferred maintenance. My favorite structure was the Aisawanthipphaya-At Pavilion located on an island in the middle of the palace canals.<span face="sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7RUyS90Zl2uuhBxNIbvOhAI7xO7GT7_ZTJowMhDtUderRNE_Kp3-5LE5EkvPXI8lFo3fHUOgGFDHPfsBlIUwobqyF2DTHPJpwynZYa8XnELG6CK0x07rxovScjhYsFtMkfH88YyMx7afYyshus7jI1R4apjq1h0Qe4P2XSn9CkqmTEPBqd-SlZQ64Z0/s2970/Rama%20Summer%20Palace.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2970" data-original-width="2472" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7RUyS90Zl2uuhBxNIbvOhAI7xO7GT7_ZTJowMhDtUderRNE_Kp3-5LE5EkvPXI8lFo3fHUOgGFDHPfsBlIUwobqyF2DTHPJpwynZYa8XnELG6CK0x07rxovScjhYsFtMkfH88YyMx7afYyshus7jI1R4apjq1h0Qe4P2XSn9CkqmTEPBqd-SlZQ64Z0/w333-h400/Rama%20Summer%20Palace.jpeg" width="333" /> </a></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> <br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>The Aisawantthippaya-At Pavillion </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The palace was also a site of suffering for its builder King Chulalongk<b>o</b>rn. In an 1880 journey by boat to the palace, the boat carrying his pregnant nineteen year old wife: Queen Consort Sunandha Kumarirtana and his two year old daughter capsized. Since Thai law at that time strictly forbade subjects from touching a royal (under punishment of death), guards prevented anyone from rescuing them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Upon departing the Summer Palace we began our day visiting three Ayutthaya temple sites. Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom. A center of global diplomacy it is strategically located on an island surrounded by three rivers that connect the city to the sea. It flourished from the 14th to 18th centuries. The city was burned to the ground by the Burmese army in 1767. Although it was never rebuilt, and the capital was moved to Bangkok, Ayutthaya's remains and Prangs (towers) provide an extensive archaeological site and a window into Ayutthaya's past splendors. Ayutthaya is designated as a Unesco World Heritage site.<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The first site we visited was Wat Chai Mongkon with its reclining Buddha. This site is relatively compact.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCim4AiK4WNfpk7dRhv6wmUEC8Y7M3rE9_MHkGpF3WE_Tseicyz_WKLhIth4GMFPsoG1iqBo3Qs7UhvdkGXwfokvEnMyPeSWQ6hxe2MNBtCtFk_-8ullzNVoPVKVSEmQS7y2y4VAvRfaWMbA4jHS06GYtKPphtTMir26jkXyK0KBaDTft7QJr3kxT7GIo/s4032/Ayutthaya%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2786" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCim4AiK4WNfpk7dRhv6wmUEC8Y7M3rE9_MHkGpF3WE_Tseicyz_WKLhIth4GMFPsoG1iqBo3Qs7UhvdkGXwfokvEnMyPeSWQ6hxe2MNBtCtFk_-8ullzNVoPVKVSEmQS7y2y4VAvRfaWMbA4jHS06GYtKPphtTMir26jkXyK0KBaDTft7QJr3kxT7GIo/w276-h400/Ayutthaya%201.jpeg" width="276" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Wat Yai Chai Monkon</b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVjVM2Lzbg01AXGXQFPw5Vk30HHtI9s4joitjV_g_fx-QXTQzhBIhEAhl0SiUxXLG9E0B2WpRxmgfBD6SyMjOWQdlTYE2jcgu8Bddz4NyzUhyuksBPdXQRKWNmyEgaS6dgdW8ofclnRBIxQxVF2dmvvj1Shhu2ex3Tly42j6ggmzpkrGArdT_U5rLedY/s4032/Reclining%20Buddha.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVjVM2Lzbg01AXGXQFPw5Vk30HHtI9s4joitjV_g_fx-QXTQzhBIhEAhl0SiUxXLG9E0B2WpRxmgfBD6SyMjOWQdlTYE2jcgu8Bddz4NyzUhyuksBPdXQRKWNmyEgaS6dgdW8ofclnRBIxQxVF2dmvvj1Shhu2ex3Tly42j6ggmzpkrGArdT_U5rLedY/w640-h480/Reclining%20Buddha.jpeg" width="640" /></a></b></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: white; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Phra Buddhasaiyart</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: white; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">The
giant 95' reclining Buddha is reclining on its
right side with head on a pillow. It symbolizes Buddha in his last
illness just before entering parinirvana. The reclining Buddha was
draped in gold fabric. This temple structure was the best preserved of
the three sites we visited.</span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <br /></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKa29aVyDvjMZdU5ln9IxhNhcSntfzAfcl1YshILjB4IUyQfqidBfuYIFMpLVKjGrhFcBJlVfK1bWjU7_f9x86FHSA4CMABAZxisl9brUEm_f__5BZrRgKgbxga9EDprkI8xmTJgrlctoqGOBLaN8Gg3b15WjDKbEiPLNyXmTy524WQBAUATGF12RdMY/s3719/Ayutthaya%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2964" data-original-width="3719" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKa29aVyDvjMZdU5ln9IxhNhcSntfzAfcl1YshILjB4IUyQfqidBfuYIFMpLVKjGrhFcBJlVfK1bWjU7_f9x86FHSA4CMABAZxisl9brUEm_f__5BZrRgKgbxga9EDprkI8xmTJgrlctoqGOBLaN8Gg3b15WjDKbEiPLNyXmTy524WQBAUATGF12RdMY/w400-h319/Ayutthaya%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Wat Chaiwatthanaram</b><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The next Ayutthaya temple site we visited was the spectacular Wat Chaiwatthanaram. This site borders a river and is very large. Structures here are undergoing restoration due to flood damage. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Shops directly accross the street from the site offer short-term rental of traditional Thai garments for use by families visiting the site. Seeing Thai families of all ages wearing traditional garments and changing light levels added special character to the site.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6ORmUgHd04nkkNRGH02G8Y0SrSlBJRRHaykriJfWKFJGR_is1VXhB4M1J0wDb7XdnjzUJFhoMXpocB0ZCkCSea0PvoxP_Ry-S9pc0t34X6HL3ioiSVY10Amxzd9344Y3twF1qw_9aryZwdNDWKrdmZY1cXek1TzwhShvlvfR9O841HBHt-zets0uZyg/s3827/Ayutthaya%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3827" data-original-width="2863" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6ORmUgHd04nkkNRGH02G8Y0SrSlBJRRHaykriJfWKFJGR_is1VXhB4M1J0wDb7XdnjzUJFhoMXpocB0ZCkCSea0PvoxP_Ry-S9pc0t34X6HL3ioiSVY10Amxzd9344Y3twF1qw_9aryZwdNDWKrdmZY1cXek1TzwhShvlvfR9O841HBHt-zets0uZyg/w299-h400/Ayutthaya%203.jpeg" width="299" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Families Taking Photos in Traditional Clothing</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKWVI8ADbcjuohwKZ42_SCipsx9es39U7-nLpVe4zDrP_CKo23ro9Q969UyEcsYsrwNFKwDvz1f5HxLYftfaDKMZjyoznZNIFi8LPzoLZYbyDDg9deuX6hAxAatIgKmEqqSKygJc9vraQI7zL1uSsKI8Ade6uSbMI1egROq6jQfcGxmNbI07cul9BBhI/s4032/Ayutthaya%205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKWVI8ADbcjuohwKZ42_SCipsx9es39U7-nLpVe4zDrP_CKo23ro9Q969UyEcsYsrwNFKwDvz1f5HxLYftfaDKMZjyoznZNIFi8LPzoLZYbyDDg9deuX6hAxAatIgKmEqqSKygJc9vraQI7zL1uSsKI8Ade6uSbMI1egROq6jQfcGxmNbI07cul9BBhI/w480-h640/Ayutthaya%205.jpeg" width="480" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b> Changing Light and Cloud Patterns</b></span><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The final Ayutthaya temple stop was Wat Maha That. This site is also quite large. It is known for its enigmatic Buddha head that has been captured over time by tree roots. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOyg0kkRduzpgL7QddV-ewiBtFu2PXz0kelJcA0u2qH7kfl6It_sz8orEMS5ODXtdBJaH3GPm4dXsMSgGZKBeoHr4RIDQbZ0ZF8Ek2yVeGnXC2h3Au5Jpiys2mjm81tOkGcTHqffMYae5yZVfb2YVgXXx1yrNfVxsWr8aZevL3Y2BOMAxBf1hgy70esQ/s2432/Ayutthaya%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="2172" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOyg0kkRduzpgL7QddV-ewiBtFu2PXz0kelJcA0u2qH7kfl6It_sz8orEMS5ODXtdBJaH3GPm4dXsMSgGZKBeoHr4RIDQbZ0ZF8Ek2yVeGnXC2h3Au5Jpiys2mjm81tOkGcTHqffMYae5yZVfb2YVgXXx1yrNfVxsWr8aZevL3Y2BOMAxBf1hgy70esQ/w358-h400/Ayutthaya%204.jpeg" width="358" /></a></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Buddha Head in Tree Roots at Wat Maha That</b><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The tour left me with the understanding that any real exploration of Ayutthaya could take weeks. The durability of the (primarily) brick construction left me in awe of the skill of its designers and builders. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We crossed the street to eat dinner at street food stands at Ayatthaya's Night Market before the almost 2 hour drive back to Bangkok. The tour concluded at Bangkok's temple of wretched excess the Icon Siam. This is a five story retail mecca where you can buy everything from precious jewels to handbag's from Longchamp or Vuitton, even a new Maserati.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Above five or more levels of stores is a top level food terrace with a 4-story fully programmed drape style circular waterfall. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The whole Icon Siam complex is set upon the banks of Bangkok's Chao Phraya River with access to ferry boat service. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">A whole day of sensory overload. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P76ucdKZkpoFkiRKjgKvTpqTHxtIBbdtjKYM_UOcaEOLLUEyAf82-AsXBhEFX_1akT97Ro-o7SOrXsMyqoTeb24NfuO6SJhDqFbjfZIUn6rNrSgUDwpxI_ULxLV5qPjg13RflBkWh73LTtwMoRnlXta92yom4kAzdiBhVZEaDP8yCD-7H7N_VhtIq8Q/s3754/Icon%20Siam.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3754" data-original-width="2782" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P76ucdKZkpoFkiRKjgKvTpqTHxtIBbdtjKYM_UOcaEOLLUEyAf82-AsXBhEFX_1akT97Ro-o7SOrXsMyqoTeb24NfuO6SJhDqFbjfZIUn6rNrSgUDwpxI_ULxLV5qPjg13RflBkWh73LTtwMoRnlXta92yom4kAzdiBhVZEaDP8yCD-7H7N_VhtIq8Q/w474-h640/Icon%20Siam.jpeg" width="474" /></a> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>The Top Level Terrace Food Hall at Icon Siam </b> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Icon Siam was the complete opposite of the Chatuchak Weekend Market we visited on our first day. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The mall somehow illustrates the paradox of Thailand as a nation undergoing political chaos. Last May's free and fair national election resulted in a landslide win for the 47 year old, Harvard-educated reformist and pro-democracy candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat. To date the military-appointed senate has prevented him from taking office. Much like many nations of the world Thailand's "Haves" would rather not cede an inch to the nation's "have nots".</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">To see such a luxurious mall serving a small population with immense concentrated wealth in a nation where the average <u>annual</u> total take home wage is only $7,000 underscores the extreme discrepancy in wealth inequality present here.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Thailand, a country I found to be filled with gracious people and known as the "Land of Smiles" appears destined be headed for rough seas.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">So much more to explore in Thailand, but the morning brings a flight to Vietnam.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b> </span><br /></p></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-5580830013874481832023-12-14T07:27:00.002-07:002023-12-14T15:55:13.085-07:00Cycling SE Asia 2023 Part 2: Getting to Know Bangkok<p><b>Scary Big!</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After more than 24 hours of travel we crashed like the Titanic. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But, never underestimate the medicinal value of a long warm shower and a good nights sleep. When morning arrived I had to face down the immediate reality of Bangkok's size and complexity. It is perhaps one of the worlds most intimidating cities. It is huge, crowded, choked in traffic, and everything (except traffic) moves at a frantic pace. So my first challenge was to begin the process of getting some food and determining how to get around.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Seeing a 7-11 or Circle K on every corner I began with a trip next door to get the makings for a quick breakfast. After breakfast it was time to start deciphering how to get around. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here are some transportation basics. It would be complete lunacy to rent a car here. A western driver does not have the skill set to comprehend driving in Bangkok. So abandon any thoughts of that. Here transportation must provided by those who understand its traffic flow. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Bangkok is served by a national rail system, a skytrain (BTS), a subway (MRT), buses (BMTA) and a private airport rail link. For the most part everything is technically integrated yet frustratingly separate. And for everything else there is Grab. We started by riding the Skytrain and noted it has direct connections to MRT stations, except each system doesn't offer any integrated ticketing. So you get off a Skytrain and then must go buy an MRT ticket. Most visitors are astounding how inexpensive transportation is here. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Day One: The Chatuchak Weekend Market</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Since we arrived on a weekend, and we could get there on one transport system (the BTS Skytrain), we decided we'd join the 200,000 (mostly local) visitors each weekend to the Chatuchak Market. The market features more than 15,000 market stalls distributed in 27 different sections. The market is a complete fire trap, it makes zero barrier-free accommodations, is a health department nightmare, and a lot of fun. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9oE1R-LF-qACBWSc2ILwP1nPWtj1MIHpZRGBQQcmI8HyFoRXo1dYRVgprvoMN9JBnOLNYTLgCnyDUKZoWODiNp98PRCwKXAgDODoKvfipvM4Umn3DGtw-RTHwrqVxE-_U3gKJQQSC6JA7rUWIlRLHKVhLSKnyBwRYCk9E7pNvPC2FeCo5JxXoxA96Hs/s4032/BTS.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9oE1R-LF-qACBWSc2ILwP1nPWtj1MIHpZRGBQQcmI8HyFoRXo1dYRVgprvoMN9JBnOLNYTLgCnyDUKZoWODiNp98PRCwKXAgDODoKvfipvM4Umn3DGtw-RTHwrqVxE-_U3gKJQQSC6JA7rUWIlRLHKVhLSKnyBwRYCk9E7pNvPC2FeCo5JxXoxA96Hs/w300-h400/BTS.jpeg" width="300" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The BTS </b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The BTS (Chong Nonsi) stop was just steps a way from our AirBNB, so we purchased tickets from a human at a real ticket booth (BTS vending machines are strictly cash) and waited for the train. We'd need to transfer at Siam Station and then it would be smooth sailing all the way to the market. The market is free and it is quite simply overwhelming. It is divided into 27 sections including clothing (think fake designer goods), housewares, design and decor, fresh food, perfume, serious art, prepared foods, pets, and everything in between. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtduSHv1SEdzkOXEv7f2d_5UIV04R54G8izx8fWy5PThKSo2N7OxTEGqj5_gbbaKjeEfu9U6BVoKfxnZVwmrW71SL-n1XDeJVp7i12fSTR6Q4lVFMoMyfn8RYdNbA0Ho__F6zOFdjb3RRSUtdfyfn_raUgPwqveViMXMuzw4gCWBjaEc1-HOFvr9v2Rvw/s4032/Chatachak%20Mkt%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtduSHv1SEdzkOXEv7f2d_5UIV04R54G8izx8fWy5PThKSo2N7OxTEGqj5_gbbaKjeEfu9U6BVoKfxnZVwmrW71SL-n1XDeJVp7i12fSTR6Q4lVFMoMyfn8RYdNbA0Ho__F6zOFdjb3RRSUtdfyfn_raUgPwqveViMXMuzw4gCWBjaEc1-HOFvr9v2Rvw/w300-h400/Chatachak%20Mkt%201.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Fine Silk, Toys, Fabrics, Flowers, Thai Massage</b> <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjui4gQzeYz-aK6TKzeU5comHdPWWmaOzDIiaxaYDIvbMo8CMe3uE3b89pexhRzod_BTm5DGNpaD1NntX7NFws1uPMZkDlksuln4nky4vde5b46OiKZfTn455SavdYC8kuyXLWYr7TXt3qaPEFVqB4mRQFOpFeurQnkpOAeYSkT5nPWQNecUahupxF2BhE/s4032/Chatachak%20Mkt%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjui4gQzeYz-aK6TKzeU5comHdPWWmaOzDIiaxaYDIvbMo8CMe3uE3b89pexhRzod_BTm5DGNpaD1NntX7NFws1uPMZkDlksuln4nky4vde5b46OiKZfTn455SavdYC8kuyXLWYr7TXt3qaPEFVqB4mRQFOpFeurQnkpOAeYSkT5nPWQNecUahupxF2BhE/w300-h400/Chatachak%20Mkt%203.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Woodworking and Housewares</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSJOlnNdXkn8z0b7KvMXrXYQBqtbG4BSVV_4yxj9RP4jN7f6MX-kqNLNMlfG8Kn_VJmoc2QLfpTRgm1dcJNZLTGvVYeXy7CN6GLtpGIUKYi7v4gJCtvRYc33Eo0PsvExs03EBaRC9OKAR21ujpln7_kFbJ73tuvZMYivIJQrwwty_n-c7djS-6kro2PQ/s4032/Chatachak%20Mkt%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSJOlnNdXkn8z0b7KvMXrXYQBqtbG4BSVV_4yxj9RP4jN7f6MX-kqNLNMlfG8Kn_VJmoc2QLfpTRgm1dcJNZLTGvVYeXy7CN6GLtpGIUKYi7v4gJCtvRYc33Eo0PsvExs03EBaRC9OKAR21ujpln7_kFbJ73tuvZMYivIJQrwwty_n-c7djS-6kro2PQ/w300-h400/Chatachak%20Mkt%204.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Street Food Stalls</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZfd2L5mOTxs_ErsLWbQZ1dgqSoboSlHBLs-ymSyiU1Gg5tY58M6A6iIujgHCe5tRi6o-4k24zu1GZgS8ITZstCpgIwfRdTNqtow1kXTK2r0099LIRc-PdcncXPGAHv9w9fh1XktLmomneJfvCucr4H5R3HGruRgHTNSYRg1BQN5pjyw6gyMu7cZSEA8/s3588/Chatachak%20Mkt%205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3588" data-original-width="2901" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZfd2L5mOTxs_ErsLWbQZ1dgqSoboSlHBLs-ymSyiU1Gg5tY58M6A6iIujgHCe5tRi6o-4k24zu1GZgS8ITZstCpgIwfRdTNqtow1kXTK2r0099LIRc-PdcncXPGAHv9w9fh1XktLmomneJfvCucr4H5R3HGruRgHTNSYRg1BQN5pjyw6gyMu7cZSEA8/w324-h400/Chatachak%20Mkt%205.jpeg" width="324" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Even PJ's for Creepy Aryan Children</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsnE8m8Au1JQmOupybSzSiphoDCcXmJIuWWMHE0fTFO33AJyqltUDFDn5Rj0iKrkzG99xgj54LKCr8GTE1MoMaEZa49d4xEAsGNKCO-uxSRBPLeGnT9iJbEzFzqMX-TtZllraDJ1LTNmpCXrXbGr25ZBzP-tYgcThwSI9iF9hfIeSnjA9EpaAVrlXMM0/s1537/Chatachak%20Mkt%206.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="1350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsnE8m8Au1JQmOupybSzSiphoDCcXmJIuWWMHE0fTFO33AJyqltUDFDn5Rj0iKrkzG99xgj54LKCr8GTE1MoMaEZa49d4xEAsGNKCO-uxSRBPLeGnT9iJbEzFzqMX-TtZllraDJ1LTNmpCXrXbGr25ZBzP-tYgcThwSI9iF9hfIeSnjA9EpaAVrlXMM0/w351-h400/Chatachak%20Mkt%206.jpeg" width="351" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Art Studios</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I almost left without seeing the art studios and galleries tucked off to the side by one of the major entrances. Glad we ventured back to check them out. Quite simply. the art here was serious, much of it was pretty wonderful.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After most of a day spent lost in the
market while experiencing a mild version of Bangkok's legendary wet heat
Jetlag became an issue and it was time to call it s day. We detoured
into a nearby Tops Market to finish provisioning the AirBNB.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">My
initial fear of the city melted in a single day thanks to a quick
understanding of the safe, efficient, and immaculate BTS system and the
warmth of the Thai people living in this human anthill.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Day Two: The Damnoen Saduek Floating Market and the Maeklong Railway Market.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Every time I've researched "Top 10" lists of sights to see in and around Bangkok floating markets seem to be on the list. Somehow I thought that the picturesque river commerce was in the immediate area of the city, but a little research made me realize that while there are many floating markets, all require some traveling distance, so I booked a (very) full day tour that included the Damnoen Saduek Floating Market and the Maeklong Railway Market. So the morning would be spent at the floating market and the afternoon would be spent awaiting the 2:30 PM scheduled arrival of the train into Maeklong station. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The fascinating thing about the rail market is that the railway tracks run literally right through an open air market. So as the train sounds its horn signalling its arrival, merchants must quickly pull back their shade canopies and move merchandise. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizq9WEqGh_d2ptL1q2olSa1mQ5Vbr3W3BxBPEHGaMTg3ilUSiFHffVzur9r1zS-BfPbJru75gCG3prIZj5s2sNjIEA41w4rVO6NeGeZVXJRD1Z8RKxVL1Cbqn-mcrwWBsK1t4JTqtf3xVhMaK3tJ98y4dJP5psCWEvD9wv-NfpopyWEHSh2kcMtIlCRvo/s2810/Fl%20Mkt%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2790" data-original-width="2810" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizq9WEqGh_d2ptL1q2olSa1mQ5Vbr3W3BxBPEHGaMTg3ilUSiFHffVzur9r1zS-BfPbJru75gCG3prIZj5s2sNjIEA41w4rVO6NeGeZVXJRD1Z8RKxVL1Cbqn-mcrwWBsK1t4JTqtf3xVhMaK3tJ98y4dJP5psCWEvD9wv-NfpopyWEHSh2kcMtIlCRvo/w400-h398/Fl%20Mkt%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Our Guide Lita</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The day trip picked us up and we were given an overview description of the floating market. This market was constructed by King Rama IV to connect the Mae Klong and Tha Chin rivers. It was even upgraded for an anticipated visit to Thailand by Queen Elizabeth. In 1971 the Tourism Authority of Thailand decreed the market a tourist attraction. And a first class total tourist attraction (tourist trap) it is. You board long boats in an area reminiscent of Disneyland's Jungle Boat Cruise. Then you motor into a series of canals that get tighter and more crowded the further you go. The boats stop for you to buy coconut ice cream or skewers of meat or mango and sticky rice. And everything comes at a price higher than anywhere else. When we left the boats the land merchants had the same items for about half the price. And if you see something you actually want just look at it seriously. Then ask the price. Then say no I think I'll wait and the price will be dropped in half. I bought a casual linen shirt (that I have worn continuously on the trip) for about $2.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8os2yRM98G7f-guVIFkTlcnyULTCjfY_IUdWVsBAUb5-xf-BzjQNFZ6ep8eWVnNces1XTzPaTWV77-PQJGxcVsTqG4ThrCk3kb1GFv_ydgHmpOE51QLMoVV5oF67E1582hKyVi401futBqyRaIAaoZfB4llR2vau7nAro2bu4B9PmXzXu60jS0mlBLpE/s4032/Fl%20Mkt%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8os2yRM98G7f-guVIFkTlcnyULTCjfY_IUdWVsBAUb5-xf-BzjQNFZ6ep8eWVnNces1XTzPaTWV77-PQJGxcVsTqG4ThrCk3kb1GFv_ydgHmpOE51QLMoVV5oF67E1582hKyVi401futBqyRaIAaoZfB4llR2vau7nAro2bu4B9PmXzXu60jS0mlBLpE/w400-h300/Fl%20Mkt%204.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Produce, Flowers, and Street Food (on the water)</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvOeMQusoQtexHGXshMh-E0y4s5wdoSZy7YQf9t6Azk90qihtdiwky_EIN6opaBonzdM755Hdb6xFM1-pO0vhcn46VAmFxevNsawsCXd70f5TRgoOGx06-KzpiA1euWV2xshhVycXxVvC-reeyCyeN0WDrEaGY2ckEhelYmgAcjJG51IxY1Ei_T5GQs8/s3294/Fl%20Mkt%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3294" data-original-width="2717" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvOeMQusoQtexHGXshMh-E0y4s5wdoSZy7YQf9t6Azk90qihtdiwky_EIN6opaBonzdM755Hdb6xFM1-pO0vhcn46VAmFxevNsawsCXd70f5TRgoOGx06-KzpiA1euWV2xshhVycXxVvC-reeyCyeN0WDrEaGY2ckEhelYmgAcjJG51IxY1Ei_T5GQs8/w330-h400/Fl%20Mkt%203.jpeg" width="330" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Lots of Commerce </b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpJ7ZRmYyMdz5KQMLAz2rZB84YjmxAcL8bxYbRbw4815QKqRQWtDQDD00yOrYKmyr9_EvOvgUYc5Rd-qqUvb1wUe5szPooh46HI5dKX1MzsszTvQwkbO6GrMF6lxrp9BM9QcvzSm4FN2PL_yfopg1JwQzbA5Do-DwlaHy5UTRwvkqLCRr5-Dz5KG1MMw/s4032/Fl%20Mkt%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpJ7ZRmYyMdz5KQMLAz2rZB84YjmxAcL8bxYbRbw4815QKqRQWtDQDD00yOrYKmyr9_EvOvgUYc5Rd-qqUvb1wUe5szPooh46HI5dKX1MzsszTvQwkbO6GrMF6lxrp9BM9QcvzSm4FN2PL_yfopg1JwQzbA5Do-DwlaHy5UTRwvkqLCRr5-Dz5KG1MMw/w400-h300/Fl%20Mkt%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Lots of Engine Exhaust</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After our time on the floating market it was off to see the railway market. Here timing is everything as the train has a schedule to keep. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">First everyone walks the market and gawks at the fish, flowers, produce, and seemingly everything else anyone might have even a passing interest in. The market is narrow and the awnings are low (I smacked my head plenty of times). Then everyone sort of finds their spot to witness the train's arrival. There is a curve so you hear the slowly approaching train before you see it. It is a well choreographed event with the awnings all getting retracted and goods moved out of harms way. Gawkers are warned to stay behind red lines on the sidewalks. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6DUWyEwpbJRJhAJkU5v8u7bNeXKkx3huyfv3I1Wd7_doOGmR2gnO9eWXH_Z5_uHDE3myQvKg40vli0BvRe2c7PPv0WMw4QCjsqa6Hbd6AmRwZ1fU133BPLCy94uldGwVIdWSs0XBVPBXvcWCPw7ufRQZZOqJF9WWtD8xrRqwWksJM7i0A04bwbs6_2o/s4032/RR%20Mkt%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6DUWyEwpbJRJhAJkU5v8u7bNeXKkx3huyfv3I1Wd7_doOGmR2gnO9eWXH_Z5_uHDE3myQvKg40vli0BvRe2c7PPv0WMw4QCjsqa6Hbd6AmRwZ1fU133BPLCy94uldGwVIdWSs0XBVPBXvcWCPw7ufRQZZOqJF9WWtD8xrRqwWksJM7i0A04bwbs6_2o/w300-h400/RR%20Mkt%201.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Before the Train</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ89KmdxxkoAlKOQV597h3ZJS7hxKW9sTw44plqoo7-7lJP3gPSLylzDQP4qAw6VcpEhrjqvZuk5JrOL9cdSKqYdS2dC4XacnemzSspGCsRxL_aG42rM7JKMjOuUT2RWDP9azAV6xzG8qa5RvdoJcIbQAPcyGd823p6UnigO0nv99AT_w9irmjztjsqcg/s2841/RR%20Mkt%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2841" data-original-width="1963" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ89KmdxxkoAlKOQV597h3ZJS7hxKW9sTw44plqoo7-7lJP3gPSLylzDQP4qAw6VcpEhrjqvZuk5JrOL9cdSKqYdS2dC4XacnemzSspGCsRxL_aG42rM7JKMjOuUT2RWDP9azAV6xzG8qa5RvdoJcIbQAPcyGd823p6UnigO0nv99AT_w9irmjztjsqcg/w276-h400/RR%20Mkt%202.jpeg" width="276" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Train Arrives <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As quick as the awnings came down, they go back up<b> </b>for about an hour until the train is ready to depart and the whole well choreographed process is repeated. As for me I was ready to sit indoors in some good old air conditioning. It was time for a cold beer and some mango and sticky rice.<b> </b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwrd-lpTPGNJPVkvqHlKbYsag-qZxEnULC7ksKDv9WkL_zv_ibu7S4L27rVyX80MPdqbMfMBJjJw4fvINSws49BhyphenhyphenUP70i7BhBY5PWxs7aaJGgOd1z5Hq8lDsjYAQXp_UUml05J8dFcC8kNkE0q5MdkyNhvKWhn93p_1PTmv5F7tJo-Hc3WgucN2tPUI/s4032/Stlcky%20Rice.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwrd-lpTPGNJPVkvqHlKbYsag-qZxEnULC7ksKDv9WkL_zv_ibu7S4L27rVyX80MPdqbMfMBJjJw4fvINSws49BhyphenhyphenUP70i7BhBY5PWxs7aaJGgOd1z5Hq8lDsjYAQXp_UUml05J8dFcC8kNkE0q5MdkyNhvKWhn93p_1PTmv5F7tJo-Hc3WgucN2tPUI/w300-h400/Stlcky%20Rice.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mango and Sticky Rice</b><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: justify;">The tour returned us to Bangkok, dropping us at Bangkok's over-the-top shopping center Icon Siam. That is a post of its own.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b><br /></p><br /><br /><p><br /></p></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-3882787583191387092023-12-07T02:32:00.003-07:002023-12-07T06:45:00.654-07:00Cycling SE Asia 2023 Part 1: The Journey to Bangkok<p><b>Off to a Great Start</b></p><p><i>"One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble"</i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tim Rice - Chess </b> </span></i> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The culmination of travel in 2023 for Roadboy is my long awaited return to Asia.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Four decades ago I made my first trip to Asia. The trip was limited to Japan and Hong Kong. At that time Japan was in its full glory as the globe's ascendant economic and manufacturing powerhouse. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Similarly, Hong Kong was under its last vestiges of British control. It was stunning. We traipsed through a myriad of designer factories, ogled the stunning new Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Building, visited Hong Kong Disney, and the (now scraped) Tiger Balm Gardens.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was a truly magic time in my life; anything seemed possible. The whole world awaited me. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the decades to follow, there would be subsequent trips to Japan and Singapore. But never any journeys to Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand and Vietnam.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But here I must wind the clock back to 1980 and my first architectural job (in Seattle). At that firm (WGHT) there was a special colleague named Boonsong. Mr. Boon was a talented, hard working Thai architect (and a damned great human being). He was working in Seattle on a temporary basis to earn enough money to fund his son's education at the University of Washington. His migration and employment in Seattle was his only option as Thailand prohibited citizens from taking money out of the country. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">At home he was a renowned campus architect for a major University and he regaled me with his stories of his beloved homeland. the result was a desire to visit Thailand someday.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So this trip begin with a short visit to Bangkok. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our trip itinerary began with a flight from Phoenix to LAX. Then we took a (very) long flight to Tokyo's (very nice) new Haneda Airport arriving at 4:45 am in the morning. Haneda at that hour turned out to be an eerie place. You get off a flight and walk through this immense airport with seemingly no one else there.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9TDOKPJ7_5hH86NwwpMb7I9MTyVLZ5L1HEOzNjMV-qlaN6ZD1rLGKkQfEWzKninlHknPjj-ws6HTcS7Ge5vcJIxGyFOEyeCz5TwatqJ2yc3sse8eUiPMwYsaa0jI7xfb-2DTj8vGIv-nFSd4gGv-Fo-0yvDukI1pc-WijKa1U1SRBRgJIEX1VyIAJZk/s4032/IMG_3212.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9TDOKPJ7_5hH86NwwpMb7I9MTyVLZ5L1HEOzNjMV-qlaN6ZD1rLGKkQfEWzKninlHknPjj-ws6HTcS7Ge5vcJIxGyFOEyeCz5TwatqJ2yc3sse8eUiPMwYsaa0jI7xfb-2DTj8vGIv-nFSd4gGv-Fo-0yvDukI1pc-WijKa1U1SRBRgJIEX1VyIAJZk/w400-h300/IMG_3212.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Ms. M </b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Haneda at 4:45 AM</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">At Haneda we had a six hour layover before connecting to our JAL flight for the final leg to Bangkok. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then just before our flight to Bangkok the flight crew arrived at the gate. I admit being touched when they lined up smartly, turned to face the departure lounge and bowed in reverence to the passengers they would serve. It was a simple, yet deeply meaningful, gesture of respect. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The JAL flight was as smooth as the bow and but when we arrived into Bangkok we were even more tired and more dazed. All we wanted to do was shower and sleep.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But at Suvarnabhumi airport our stupor was simply compounded by the mass of traveling humanity present at 4:00 pm on the Friday before a three-day weekend. The holiday meant that traffic into Bangkok was even more choked than usual. In fact, Klass our AirBNB host suggested we find a place to eat in the airport and wait about 4 hours before trying to make our way into the city. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We headed his advice and eventually caught a Grab to our AirBNB. Grab is to Southeast Asia what Uber is to the US. In fact, Grab bought out Uber's Asian operations. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Once in our AirBNB, it was finally time to shower and sleep. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Tomorrow we could start to figure out some trip logistics.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b><br /></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-71911860221858086522023-11-19T15:01:00.009-07:002023-11-23T15:11:44.840-07:00London / Venice / Dolomites Part 4: Cycling the Valleys of The Dolomites by VBT<div><b>Simply Breathtaking</b><p style="text-align: justify;">Welcome to the final post of Roadboy's Fall 2023 London / Venice / Dolomites adventure. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Before I get serious here let me venture into a little aside. I've always found it a bit frustrating that when I prepare multiple posts sequentially documenting my journeys using Blogger they wind up being displayed in reverse order. Seems like we should be able to re-juggle them. But that would require a process of cutting and deleting whole posts in order to repost them again in proper order. I.e, when you open my site, this, the last contribution to this multi-post series, loads first. So if you scroll backwards you can read earlier posts and understand the whole trip in order 😵💫!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I digress.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After decades of winter trips to Venice I've been awestruck by the beauty of the necklace of mountain peaks rising in the distance. The mountains (the Dolomites or "Dolomiti" to the Italians) reside in a district referred to as Veneto. They form the natural physical barrier between Italy and its neighbors to the north. A strategic location that assures a long and storied history.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I came across Vermont Bicycle Tour's "Valleys of the Dolomites" tour it appeared to be a perfect way to immerse myself in the region. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">VBT's tour begins at Venice' Marco Polo Airport. Here VBT staff collects everyone for a shuttle to the breathtaking city of Cortina d'Ampezzo. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Globally renowned as an elite ski resort, Cortina has been the set for Bond movies and Winter Olympiads. The first Scheduled Cortina Olympics was postponed until 1956 as a result of WWII. On this visit the village was chock full of construction cranes in its preparation to co-host the 2026 Winter Olympics with Milan.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">VBT's tour assembles rides near Cortina (Cortina to Cadore), Brunico (Dobbiaco, San Candido, Aurina and the Tures Valleys) and Merona (the Isarco River Valley, Glorenza and the Venosta Valley). At the conclusion of the cycling tour guests are shuttled to Verona to fly home. Verona proved to be a wonderful stop with its spectacular Roman stadium and Shakespearean ties. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Dolomites are the central section of the Italian Alps that extend from Slovenia and Austria all the way to Switzerland. In many ways the region is a slam dance of Italian, German, Austrian, and Swiss cultures, food and sensibilities. It has its own language entitled Ladin, but many locals also default to speaking German. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Everywhere we toured was delightfully efficient and immaculate. It is a region where residents are justifiably proud and it shows. We marveled that there no litter cans on each corner, yet there was no litter. A contrast to the US where we find piles of litter within a few feet of every urban trash can. Yep. Many American's are just lazy slobs. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmUgMvfoLZhrtwZ4Gb6cOQ5BrDfs761lxXuYzcew5robY4Lcbyt6ArgZS8oF3h4qeNhWwm_Hv7Ox0M9ss6mU6YVxa-oXFLMGoCkBSUm14xg_mto5CaLJdNXqghcTf8i6CRz2E62oAxk27xZgC4wmYt8Mq6lvHIyW9uYUojmkVOp8_-tMPkOMb4R0m_5o/s1316/Map.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1316" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmUgMvfoLZhrtwZ4Gb6cOQ5BrDfs761lxXuYzcew5robY4Lcbyt6ArgZS8oF3h4qeNhWwm_Hv7Ox0M9ss6mU6YVxa-oXFLMGoCkBSUm14xg_mto5CaLJdNXqghcTf8i6CRz2E62oAxk27xZgC4wmYt8Mq6lvHIyW9uYUojmkVOp8_-tMPkOMb4R0m_5o/w400-h191/Map.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Dolomites Reside in the Notch Formed Above Venice<br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDeIDdlYdDJ305t8FdMiCD_JpIxGWKgcYfEOkpIX-I0HT5mVHHcxBCuVZ9TUP5LUuVer8hQMw-X0xBtvuNC3LOsB7wXcAOqmL2aozknnGJDdy262cArw4tzmqCyhfmphu7J1PI8vj3fCgKy1IaVuYQbi2NAC1RRm_mGGo-1p5F0184mY-u7Y5tQrCxa4/s730/Screenshot%202023-10-29%20at%207.18.23%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="730" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDeIDdlYdDJ305t8FdMiCD_JpIxGWKgcYfEOkpIX-I0HT5mVHHcxBCuVZ9TUP5LUuVer8hQMw-X0xBtvuNC3LOsB7wXcAOqmL2aozknnGJDdy262cArw4tzmqCyhfmphu7J1PI8vj3fCgKy1IaVuYQbi2NAC1RRm_mGGo-1p5F0184mY-u7Y5tQrCxa4/w401-h240/Screenshot%202023-10-29%20at%207.18.23%20PM.png" width="401" /></a></b> <br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Veneto</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">On our first day in Cortina d'Ampezzo we met our VBT guides Elena and Matej for an overview of the trip. Elena is a lifelong resident of Northern Italy. And Matej is from Slovenia. So they each provided great insight to the nuances of the local cultures.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cOawpjoIJu5z1ATQqCL3Q5XsHnPUXMk80RcO8bSjEWQnix61i4tJZc98ToGJK4KbBL1qhxGcUtqu-E5wxMD4vJIU16ku-7EFKzUUCv0lzfa7etMNMOGRt5W4X5JL1MMtPMCl9-HQCE198T8syif6CeDlRLI-kAGW_8l5hExuChdIotfcOFQy24gmDlo/s2308/IMG_2810.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2308" data-original-width="2091" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cOawpjoIJu5z1ATQqCL3Q5XsHnPUXMk80RcO8bSjEWQnix61i4tJZc98ToGJK4KbBL1qhxGcUtqu-E5wxMD4vJIU16ku-7EFKzUUCv0lzfa7etMNMOGRt5W4X5JL1MMtPMCl9-HQCE198T8syif6CeDlRLI-kAGW_8l5hExuChdIotfcOFQy24gmDlo/w363-h400/IMG_2810.jpeg" width="363" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>VBT Hosts Elena Fossati and Matej Pavlic</b> <b>Present the Trip Overview</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Elena and Matej noted our first few days would include fairly short rides from Cortina
d'Ampezzo allowing us time to explore and take the amazing aerial
tram journey up to the limestone peaks of Tufana. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzFmQmq81P7u7t_5Q-t7adThYohdDMaVJvtVtwvY6lg22nAd1FQFtjtaK3ckQripA65TtnRowr4mAVDPzFemRHoQoCr_sz0dTN6FdFL6ysYReHakhz0ycjr70YUzjT_HmOtZQlqSLk_37o0SfoJVMtrN-ODQiP2y0kWBYCDcmT2bay2FJbZBYJwuB1A8/s3591/IMG_2815.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="3591" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzFmQmq81P7u7t_5Q-t7adThYohdDMaVJvtVtwvY6lg22nAd1FQFtjtaK3ckQripA65TtnRowr4mAVDPzFemRHoQoCr_sz0dTN6FdFL6ysYReHakhz0ycjr70YUzjT_HmOtZQlqSLk_37o0SfoJVMtrN-ODQiP2y0kWBYCDcmT2bay2FJbZBYJwuB1A8/w400-h304/IMG_2815.jpeg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Rails to Trails</b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0Dgv4rraoPxQDo9LCo9bHcMOLlFwiTWrRGKRe7aeBRPbspJyrfUPyUfh7CXt8_ubW24fqaJpmYitLCyIRXNUhn2sCAsQrwbXAo0JrM1paJMhMynUbZ3i43YafGDwbnzXPYofbgkc7kxKpC_lWwjvuBcLQQ2A647pbyLKQ0wgfzKcH268noVoalsGvRw/s4032/IMG_2813.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0Dgv4rraoPxQDo9LCo9bHcMOLlFwiTWrRGKRe7aeBRPbspJyrfUPyUfh7CXt8_ubW24fqaJpmYitLCyIRXNUhn2sCAsQrwbXAo0JrM1paJMhMynUbZ3i43YafGDwbnzXPYofbgkc7kxKpC_lWwjvuBcLQQ2A647pbyLKQ0wgfzKcH268noVoalsGvRw/w400-h300/IMG_2813.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Cortina d'Ampezzo</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cortina is one of those places mere mortals (like myself) can initially find intimidating. This little village is home to every exclusive designer boutique. And here they are so exclusive they seal up their windows to avoid gawking window shoppers. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I ventured into our hotel's garage to check on something on my bike one evening I found it's twelve parking spaces contained five Ferrari's, four Maserati's, two Porsche's and one lonely (but brand new) VW bus. The concentrated automotive wealth on display was obscene. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Happily we had lots of sunshine for our tram trip up Tufana. The
spectacular trip requires three sections with the last
section feeling almost vertical. At the top there are stacks of
chaise lounges for anyone dermatologically unafraid to absorb the sun's
rays at high altitude. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Residing in Arizona's "Valley of the Sun", I am
respectful of the devastating impacts of unbridled exposure to the sun. Old leathery Scottsdale residents are examples of that.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSNJV8U5hZl9xoMf4-R8i466lEbO8DD1cMb9pLyfITBVJSSIDgqllG6ZDGFB-ssVnw0q8j_DcOzmL9gWPYjKl0QrBEOSpWZwTtr-tKRBrNfiSGKde_u7TX_BmzyHgM4O9iz2bYXA8kE5_zEaFGRkqS4JTZ231B0EUnGmHMOMW9LPGv1fQ6svfqbhpPtg/s4032/IMG_2864.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSNJV8U5hZl9xoMf4-R8i466lEbO8DD1cMb9pLyfITBVJSSIDgqllG6ZDGFB-ssVnw0q8j_DcOzmL9gWPYjKl0QrBEOSpWZwTtr-tKRBrNfiSGKde_u7TX_BmzyHgM4O9iz2bYXA8kE5_zEaFGRkqS4JTZ231B0EUnGmHMOMW9LPGv1fQ6svfqbhpPtg/w400-h300/IMG_2864.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The View from Tufana</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Oh, but the the views from the top of Tufana were just stunning, especially blessed by clear sunny skies.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Upon leaving Cortina d'Ampezzo our next stop was Riscone (a little village just above the city of Brunico). In Brunico we found the another beautiful community, but this one felt "normal". Brunico's streets were filled with normal families that worked normal jobs and might not know what the words "trust fund" means.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We enjoyed two full days cycling paved trails near Brunico. Our cycling routes took us past golden valleys, skies filled with parasailers, storybook castles, waterfalls and swift running rivers. I found myself stopping continuously to just absorb the beauty all around me. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTz8TMEbI12TmPACnhHJ8IXp6wWRRdEGop3VXZCerkESTTlBmtbatxaoo7HW6Z3ahlH1ho0GoYSVjebTNqmP-QCkksZ4cZv9WH7I56ybTgKhWuxpRA5XPICn9IVbtt4KAAsBWLTdHhssS_zOtR3RTwDS5yNaEJo8M-BkB9PVvbjY9HhXZEbmVDH7GFOVo/s2946/IMG_2875.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2358" data-original-width="2946" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTz8TMEbI12TmPACnhHJ8IXp6wWRRdEGop3VXZCerkESTTlBmtbatxaoo7HW6Z3ahlH1ho0GoYSVjebTNqmP-QCkksZ4cZv9WH7I56ybTgKhWuxpRA5XPICn9IVbtt4KAAsBWLTdHhssS_zOtR3RTwDS5yNaEJo8M-BkB9PVvbjY9HhXZEbmVDH7GFOVo/w400-h320/IMG_2875.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Scenery from the Transfer Ride from Cortina to Brunico</b><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvksUxCwGu5SBaMWd6K8kPeTdYxcdCosEyuaS2ZafkX9L_9MmXJsPABphBX7OX7Oqv8OYSpVJxbCHBEsvonWFZ6XYVPgycPAA3C-ncaMaYk6FI07hPM4kb-M1AddQO_XuMfpLCCOEO88yjBdw9p7TXzYEmsHYzFaXwP6NOqm9sTKrqKARWikCGnoWdPnc/s4032/IMG_2968.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvksUxCwGu5SBaMWd6K8kPeTdYxcdCosEyuaS2ZafkX9L_9MmXJsPABphBX7OX7Oqv8OYSpVJxbCHBEsvonWFZ6XYVPgycPAA3C-ncaMaYk6FI07hPM4kb-M1AddQO_XuMfpLCCOEO88yjBdw9p7TXzYEmsHYzFaXwP6NOqm9sTKrqKARWikCGnoWdPnc/w300-h400/IMG_2968.jpeg" width="300" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b>A Feast of Chevre Delicacies Above the Golden Valley's</b><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcSVgesI_GQZgUiEWqnlsvUjqX8nxUXD5ukpNuUgnnvOS32zgV_5q7ffQ2kJNqoOZHbYHsbWyNcJqlXakkOgo1Aed0Lq0lSm7cCMbkP98OaXmIcOVkZlrwYX_LSmaZdfLF3Ee2HPSfwlkT0NiO4295TiSXTpxtlNlM7IT8DZktgAuhUfuslgx96k5IVQ/s4032/IMG_2980.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcSVgesI_GQZgUiEWqnlsvUjqX8nxUXD5ukpNuUgnnvOS32zgV_5q7ffQ2kJNqoOZHbYHsbWyNcJqlXakkOgo1Aed0Lq0lSm7cCMbkP98OaXmIcOVkZlrwYX_LSmaZdfLF3Ee2HPSfwlkT0NiO4295TiSXTpxtlNlM7IT8DZktgAuhUfuslgx96k5IVQ/w400-h300/IMG_2980.jpeg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b>The Golden Valleys</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">After our nights in Riscone / Brunico we shuttled once again to a final stop in Merona. Merona would be our home base for cycling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Merona is an ancient spa town blessed with geothermal / mineral pools. Mussolini built a giant horse racing track here. Of our stops Merona was the lowest in altitude and presented lovely warmer days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Our magnificent hotel (Hotel Termé Merano) was designed to exploit a vast array of available spa activities with a tunnel linking it to the City's massive Thermal complex. At check-in we were issued waterproof wristbands allowing us use of Merona's City facilities as well as all of the hotel's own extensive spa facilities.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">And, the breakfast at the Hotel Termé Merano was perhaps the best breakfast I've ever experienced. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Period. <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobYDZJ6nEADLXz1AZIXeufwrxNDjG9Uxce0B1KTW8AEvbWmpz9l4a0ylYiYKHYfJD58pcjOA9D9yjSCx91NRbmYmCbuz-TXeHbMMC684Ss_RyLyO1CBHeDM_KtFx2dycd7RCpyav1ShVaNzcFMQTeiV38E3prN659Qd6jQ6e92IYVqnYYjm_SacDGhUg/s4032/Merona%20Hotel.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobYDZJ6nEADLXz1AZIXeufwrxNDjG9Uxce0B1KTW8AEvbWmpz9l4a0ylYiYKHYfJD58pcjOA9D9yjSCx91NRbmYmCbuz-TXeHbMMC684Ss_RyLyO1CBHeDM_KtFx2dycd7RCpyav1ShVaNzcFMQTeiV38E3prN659Qd6jQ6e92IYVqnYYjm_SacDGhUg/w400-h300/Merona%20Hotel.jpeg" width="400" /></a> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Hotel Terme Merano</b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">From Merano we enjoyed a long downhill ride through vast apple orchards in full harvest. The bike trails even had little honor bar stops with fresh apples and fresh apple juice all set out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We cycled past castles, ancient monasteries, along rivers all to the sound of cowbells along the way.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxe1esNtZqYpifHIaaVUOtP9RYTHRkIIVDeX66omUOAJglaanduPrt9UgUn86DzdvqG2e2hMMncFVEomsLc0AuaxWmokF6l9PPtJ9iT3wWAVHJ3jBpwI-FBOvSFQd67SwRXEqfohdp0mE-S8BLcNTmf442OxpYpGRfhVqD6r775oY40_gDF2YfLsWkZk/s3941/IMG_2990.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3941" data-original-width="2956" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxe1esNtZqYpifHIaaVUOtP9RYTHRkIIVDeX66omUOAJglaanduPrt9UgUn86DzdvqG2e2hMMncFVEomsLc0AuaxWmokF6l9PPtJ9iT3wWAVHJ3jBpwI-FBOvSFQd67SwRXEqfohdp0mE-S8BLcNTmf442OxpYpGRfhVqD6r775oY40_gDF2YfLsWkZk/w300-h400/IMG_2990.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><b>Apple Harvest in Full Swing</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzgk5F_CgRDoa3e_XGzDorFehw4zm-dr_O0Sd_YyWvactQuHfnrGH5Ot0CXPJiOFGqF4PvS9O3xX29A1KxGRMYgwSx4FSOZVXcnwUGtCAhdzeqZhlCvrnRlIKTo78pXT4Zt6OPFLFgPGUYs2JKAR5bpYnHPnSmT_d5AlBezI_cGSEHBCyJ0ym1de-OY0/s2094/IMG_3008.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1635" data-original-width="2094" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzgk5F_CgRDoa3e_XGzDorFehw4zm-dr_O0Sd_YyWvactQuHfnrGH5Ot0CXPJiOFGqF4PvS9O3xX29A1KxGRMYgwSx4FSOZVXcnwUGtCAhdzeqZhlCvrnRlIKTo78pXT4Zt6OPFLFgPGUYs2JKAR5bpYnHPnSmT_d5AlBezI_cGSEHBCyJ0ym1de-OY0/w400-h313/IMG_3008.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Happiest Bovines on Earth</b> <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A highlight of Merona was an evening (booked months in advance) at Restaurant Sissi. This Michelin starred restaurant stresses a wonderfully casual atmosphere to fine dining. We booked the chef's 5 course
dinner turned out to be a tour de force of creative cuisine beginning with a shot glass of liquid pizza 😊! Every successive course seemed better than the last.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Upon completing our final Merona rides we bid our VBT hosts adieu and boarded a shuttle to Verona. The jammed expressway from Merona to Verona throttled us quickly back to reality.</div><div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ5ZYnBmZJN_fVYqIIUWDub8vDLBD9ovedbnV750gR_U7avKjiZgtdxK5xe564GZIWl_aQX93PlyLzYkRQBSWYhe00A_VOX1Om6tvJ5ro-p1migF4n0L0Z7IgnKytqu-6cdoVxLcPvdt7MXw0sawwb0I0gbB_EErr-HRa6l6XyEKOfSQKiESzgVfvsY8/s3760/IMG_3025.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2820" data-original-width="3760" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ5ZYnBmZJN_fVYqIIUWDub8vDLBD9ovedbnV750gR_U7avKjiZgtdxK5xe564GZIWl_aQX93PlyLzYkRQBSWYhe00A_VOX1Om6tvJ5ro-p1migF4n0L0Z7IgnKytqu-6cdoVxLcPvdt7MXw0sawwb0I0gbB_EErr-HRa6l6XyEKOfSQKiESzgVfvsY8/w400-h300/IMG_3025.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Freeway to Verona</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After arriving in Verona I parted ways with my cycling friends and checked into an AirBNB I had booked near Verona's massive ancient Arena.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgwloPZUBhEyOb4RORmYxYTA6rHtCbWsRu4FQpO7rai6LKQ1qMxHjCZOVAmKvt8q0KPDXUmcrVqXeg0h2WG1bz-QVCkIMdBUdO5SZdF3vXS9QkosiVG87zLmM5wIQCg0XphMc1-_qWztt6FhHnJeafinRrTmZoFH4Z1zCJyJga1lJcKAbrP7R2nf7rOY/s1536/Arena%20D'Verona.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgwloPZUBhEyOb4RORmYxYTA6rHtCbWsRu4FQpO7rai6LKQ1qMxHjCZOVAmKvt8q0KPDXUmcrVqXeg0h2WG1bz-QVCkIMdBUdO5SZdF3vXS9QkosiVG87zLmM5wIQCg0XphMc1-_qWztt6FhHnJeafinRrTmZoFH4Z1zCJyJga1lJcKAbrP7R2nf7rOY/w400-h266/Arena%20D'Verona.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Verona Arena</b><br /></div></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Verona's Roman Arena was built in 30 AD and remains the defining feature of the City. It's outer ring was initially clad in white and pink Valpolicella limestone. Much of the original limestone was lost after a major earthquake in 1117 when it was quarried for use in other buildings. The Arena's outstanding acoustics makes it a desirable venue from everything from opera to rock concerts.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMg2ocfBxB3nqGQnGXzEc7Qqfb3ARVIwPJJMziuM8H9aWnZY7z1GpubWDOwUI9JmbKzc2oUEifu31Bsge_Gkt-g6uoUBiCF02WkS3iPSiptLhur4MSXx2lf4QiznOrCFPhS37bc2KeXRKXPesh63bZfBUyYyvuYTPjejCWBwmmkC0JuWVRHHwi2bxC74M/s4032/IMG_3031.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMg2ocfBxB3nqGQnGXzEc7Qqfb3ARVIwPJJMziuM8H9aWnZY7z1GpubWDOwUI9JmbKzc2oUEifu31Bsge_Gkt-g6uoUBiCF02WkS3iPSiptLhur4MSXx2lf4QiznOrCFPhS37bc2KeXRKXPesh63bZfBUyYyvuYTPjejCWBwmmkC0JuWVRHHwi2bxC74M/w400-h300/IMG_3031.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Fans Await a Show in Verona's Arena</b><br /></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After awakening early I made my way to Verona's airport and my journey back home to Phoenix. This trip was very picturesque and wonderfully special.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-34219728986762089962023-10-28T22:17:00.020-07:002023-11-13T12:08:34.099-07:00London / Venice / Dolomites Part 3: Roadboy Returns to Venice<p><b>The World's Most Romantic City </b></p><p><b>Capital of a 1000 Year Maritime Empire</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I first visited Venice in 1974. I was 17 and the trip was my introduction to Europe. I financed the trip through three years working till 2:30 am at minimum wage as a parking lot attendant (babysitting some pretty famous drunks) in Oakland's Jack London Square. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our month long student tour crisscrossed Europe and was patiently chaperoned annually by Pege Rankin (Skyline High School's formidable journalism teacher). One of our most memorable stops was Venice. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The 1974 trip in retrospect came at strategic time the history of Italy. The nation still displayed the residual signs of the economic damage inflicted during WWII. It's status was reflected by its very currency, the fragile Lira. In 1974 Italy couldn't even afford to mint enough coins for circulation. So merchants gave change in telephone tokens, apples, Zots candy, and/or whatever seemed appropriately fungible. Vaporetto cashiers routinely short changed tourists and even basic things like safe tap water could not be taken for granted.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In fact it was in Venice that I learned (the hard way) what happens when tap water is not potable. After a big snifter of delicious lemonade I was immediately beset with a gastrointestinal emergency requiring my desperate race back to the convent we were staying in. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Upon arrival the stern sister guarding the convent door was clearly not initially convinced by the urgency of my delicate predicament.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">A half century, and many return trips later, I find Venice still to be performing a high wire act balancing beauty with fragility. But its tap water is now safe to drink.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The fact that Venice stands at all is nothing short of a miracle. Human habitation in the lagoon dates back to the 10th century BC. The Commune of Venice of today consists of 118 small islands in a tidal lagoon at the top of the Adriatic bound together by more than 400 bridges. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Venice, as a sovereign global power, reached its zenith more than 600 years ago. During the middle ages and Renaissance it was one of the world's most important financial and maritime powers and its global influence on architecture and art last to this day.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">However, Venice's sovereign status was ended by Napoleon in 1797. In 1866 Venice joined the Kingdom of Italy. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yet against formidable odds Venice endures.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's foundations endure the relentless pummeling delivered by the massive ships and watercraft that bring it economic life. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's buildings endure subsidence as they slowly settle into the silt of a lagoon that endures the increasing Acqua Alta (severe tides) brought on by global warming. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">And, each year, it endures 20-30 million visitors eager to experience its history and magic. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Many visitors seem to arrive oblivious to the fact that it is home to 51,000 permanent residents who struggle to preserve its legacy while watching precious housing stock get monetized into short term rentals.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As I'm averse to crowds, I now limit visits to the off season. Why go in the summer when it is hot, humid, and overcrowded? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">That is just plain nuts.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In fact, one of my most memorable visits was in mid-winter. On that trip, while all bundled up, we found a Venice that was almost eerily quiet and peaceful. It's misty lagoons were filled with tightly covered gondolas rocking gently patiently waiting for spring. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Yet I always return. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps because there is nowhere on earth like Venice. At every turn I find so much to discover. Just a random dip into any little church can deliver artworks by Titian, Tiepolo, Tintoretto, or Veronese. Venetian Campo's are filled with music, the joys of everyday life, and young couples arriving to be married in this most romantic of cities. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKI2sqjtEnFEzr-HZBidxNlP9h3gfuGQXwN7zdPDk6_hF89WxaoC_7ISrKVeG6bd_riOPLPiU5XPKwP5eWaM-L6pTOXD9KdDFAOa_Sab4RiejcNvIa8F3kn3qjLKwRwmcBXwITY-tlNj_5Icw6vJGkCl81oTjelpqjhG5zAML573XDxZMnf1Lmv8WBSWE/s4032/IMG_2733.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKI2sqjtEnFEzr-HZBidxNlP9h3gfuGQXwN7zdPDk6_hF89WxaoC_7ISrKVeG6bd_riOPLPiU5XPKwP5eWaM-L6pTOXD9KdDFAOa_Sab4RiejcNvIa8F3kn3qjLKwRwmcBXwITY-tlNj_5Icw6vJGkCl81oTjelpqjhG5zAML573XDxZMnf1Lmv8WBSWE/w400-h300/IMG_2733.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Evening on The Grand Canal From the Rialto Bridge </b> <br /></div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzM3DR0b9pqyk9gSook0N-0YdHwa2tq5O9lTOkOpE0qUNK9Zy3iD4e8h5QLQq0-enVCKYF5P-7QA04R3OJAxgR_UKy4s-JqWcaSkc8cV5Co4XpcV1_PpfL18HL8cxrHdyHs2ixfLH_R0b7IaZ7QBaZcnr3g4ukSjdT3uPcDQFLejYZ-NLxqgog3xOcXI/s3345/IMG_6963.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2092" data-original-width="3345" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzM3DR0b9pqyk9gSook0N-0YdHwa2tq5O9lTOkOpE0qUNK9Zy3iD4e8h5QLQq0-enVCKYF5P-7QA04R3OJAxgR_UKy4s-JqWcaSkc8cV5Co4XpcV1_PpfL18HL8cxrHdyHs2ixfLH_R0b7IaZ7QBaZcnr3g4ukSjdT3uPcDQFLejYZ-NLxqgog3xOcXI/w400-h250/IMG_6963.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Viewed from the Top of the Campanile of Saint Mark)*<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewjGt180ZBhiq2FrRh1Y2kQda_Od_ersdlyNO_OTSLNQIm3eSeo-5Yc6Ukc0z3JZu5CtYVp6tUgrC9zlNqMOCOrlUzCdsB7lQMs_6ToIfFI1yMdjJX3NtDTZwJDTGcq8BY4fxUyjKy4Jg6eURPGESSwy3vN2oolpbNcgoVUQyTGVL2u6a36xvmzf_-GA/s3302/IMG_7153.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="3302" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewjGt180ZBhiq2FrRh1Y2kQda_Od_ersdlyNO_OTSLNQIm3eSeo-5Yc6Ukc0z3JZu5CtYVp6tUgrC9zlNqMOCOrlUzCdsB7lQMs_6ToIfFI1yMdjJX3NtDTZwJDTGcq8BY4fxUyjKy4Jg6eURPGESSwy3vN2oolpbNcgoVUQyTGVL2u6a36xvmzf_-GA/w400-h275/IMG_7153.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Evening Traffic in Calm Venetian Canals*</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutef-vCxiLtme8-SV_eILbJ0T-c-5Zgu4Oqb1naAcCZF80Z5Aso700UdiNFRQoS9TMlWtpIy_vEuHcdIwXTjMBWq3HNqSxzTmykEa7D7TpQM7zegScf2RZZhnUZZIqDNmlb4RZ0N_HBp2qcbyHrzFB_t9c8rPNEWK6qwo0jirvANmhLfsSR-ebESmb6U/s4032/IMG_7178.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutef-vCxiLtme8-SV_eILbJ0T-c-5Zgu4Oqb1naAcCZF80Z5Aso700UdiNFRQoS9TMlWtpIy_vEuHcdIwXTjMBWq3HNqSxzTmykEa7D7TpQM7zegScf2RZZhnUZZIqDNmlb4RZ0N_HBp2qcbyHrzFB_t9c8rPNEWK6qwo0jirvANmhLfsSR-ebESmb6U/w400-h300/IMG_7178.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Pizza San Marco</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Viewed from San Giorgio Maggiore<b>)* <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The original Campanile was begun in the 900's and was altered continuously. It finally reached its full height in 1514. It's top was redesigned numerous times and bells were added incrementally. The Campanile served as part of a fortification system built to provide views and signal advance warning of approaching adversaries. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In 1902, however, without warning the entire original Campanile crumbled to the Piazza. So the Campanile seen today is actually a replica completed in 1912.<b><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFb71Ca8ORCSjc8Iecpyi1PaQyZnkDohtJek6VjeaRRVmXWBuJQoGMUsHJkeqM50LPoyKxos3rXUcGilbVOoARA_og70qOBjTdc-lWDyox1jhdGYBx3Q8mQBtyYhiKyQjQEEOP79_XUmIl8oMMTpDqpG8uF01Bdyu-VMNTfYIT6_OI3oD3sr_I2VJoNWs/s4032/IMG_7226.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFb71Ca8ORCSjc8Iecpyi1PaQyZnkDohtJek6VjeaRRVmXWBuJQoGMUsHJkeqM50LPoyKxos3rXUcGilbVOoARA_og70qOBjTdc-lWDyox1jhdGYBx3Q8mQBtyYhiKyQjQEEOP79_XUmIl8oMMTpDqpG8uF01Bdyu-VMNTfYIT6_OI3oD3sr_I2VJoNWs/w400-h300/IMG_7226.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Triumphal Quadriga*</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The majestic "bronze" horses that adorn Saint Marks are also replicas of the originals and both the originals (moved into the basilica for preservation purposes) and the replicas are actually almost pure copper. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The original horses likely date back to the second or third century. They were looted from Constantinople in 1204. The looters had to removed the heads of the horses to transport them. Collars were added to conceal the marks made to cut the heads. When Napoleon arrived in 1797 he felt obliged to steal them again. They were returned to Venice in 1815.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjky77BE4ttW2pltiT3pqVuEtJINqQ18TUwJ28m_66_aRCeM_wavuUCFkfH1QejjHEHsWer4KCV8cX-S7u51JDiy5FYAalSGzzRSc9n7qtD9AexHib2VOFARDCG_XoUTgOUrcWgdfmaaiM2jBxS81JSDsuufvvnWhTnn8C0FKUz6wD1LGfnphfeRWMXOAI/s4032/IMG_7229.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjky77BE4ttW2pltiT3pqVuEtJINqQ18TUwJ28m_66_aRCeM_wavuUCFkfH1QejjHEHsWer4KCV8cX-S7u51JDiy5FYAalSGzzRSc9n7qtD9AexHib2VOFARDCG_XoUTgOUrcWgdfmaaiM2jBxS81JSDsuufvvnWhTnn8C0FKUz6wD1LGfnphfeRWMXOAI/w400-h300/IMG_7229.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Piazza San Marco</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(From the Campanile)<b>* <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Probably the most photographed site in Venice is Piazza San Marco. It is the historic center of Venetian culture, religion, commerce, and governance. It is home to the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and is Venice's only Piazza.<b> </b>All other<b> </b>open spaces in Venice are smaller and referred to as Campo (fields).</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rh2FJEQ_-jm9OTeAMOyjLM0hyphenhyphenfHwVWwKAXd0glvgl1ZDzDjMlPRxhq7pvjbnhFN2ULbNhQVPlb6mEJs5FZ3NpmQDymk4pp3agje6Fq62dBUR9yi_wO5PgSxJFPo5whjeFq1fXFJWp1F2qAHTc0TiCF4rV-tq1zIwRPLAl3wMJU4peDFGXJcSxxTe2Aw/s4032/IMG_7259.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rh2FJEQ_-jm9OTeAMOyjLM0hyphenhyphenfHwVWwKAXd0glvgl1ZDzDjMlPRxhq7pvjbnhFN2ULbNhQVPlb6mEJs5FZ3NpmQDymk4pp3agje6Fq62dBUR9yi_wO5PgSxJFPo5whjeFq1fXFJWp1F2qAHTc0TiCF4rV-tq1zIwRPLAl3wMJU4peDFGXJcSxxTe2Aw/w300-h400/IMG_7259.jpeg" width="300" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b>Gondola Fèrro*</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(the six pointed counterbalance blade found on every gondola) <br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Gondola's serve as Venice's iconic mode of transport. Now completely in the domain of honeymooners and tourists. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The actual gondola's themselves are amazing. These flat bottom watercraft are designed with uneven sides to provide leverage to the agile, striped shirted, gondoliers that ply Venetian canals. These meticulously maintained and heavily ornamented boats (whose average cost runs $38,000) are still crafted in Venice. Gondoliers adhere to a directional system for each canal and are deft at continuously ducking below the many bridges they cross under. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A few blissful days here allowed me to obliterate my daily step count and enjoy a few Select spritzes. Select is the Venetian aperitif dating back to 1920. Select spritzes are a nice alternative to the Campari and Aperol versions. Although formulated about the same way (prosecco and soda), Select spritzes are garnished by a green olive instead of an orange slice. A bottle of Select became my souvenir of this trip.</div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After an all too short visit, it was time to join cycling buddies at Marco Polo Airport to board a shuttle up the mountains to Cortina d'Ampezzo to begin a few days of cycling in the Dolomites (or Dolomiti to the Italians). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Part 4: Cycling the Dolomites to follow.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Many thanks to Steven Bay for photographs noted above.<br /></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><p style="text-align: justify;"></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-353631833918774152023-10-16T09:20:00.016-07:002023-11-13T12:09:54.543-07:00London / Venice / Dolomites Part 2: London The National Gallery<p><b>Exploring Britain's National Gallery</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Although I've made many visits to London and Trafalgar Square (including the days when it was overrun by pigeons!) I've never before had the opportunity to visit Britain's National Gallery (whose imposing facade completes Trafalgar Square). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am very glad to say I corrected that oversight during this visit. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The current National Gallery, designed by William Wilkins, opened in 1838. The building was initially subjected of scorn due to its location between wealthy and poor neighborhoods (London elites at the time felt it should be in a more regal neighborhood). Also the Trafalger Square site limited the Gallery to a long and narrow footprint. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Over the years it has been subject to numerous piecemeal renovations and additions (including one by American Post Modernists Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown). Today the only remnant of the Wilkins design that remains intact is the facade. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTT7olQbIPz54aO0sxwefEyRebUxLAz9Sq91YQwFKVwlnyVOUwrDO9IwKtC7aS4KN2pakeZ7xEO9Ek0Kd01N-dPLXrRz2XPSYl970oaUdijvEDhMuImyZrMmkeYNp9iTHCxdokT_CEd7mFUVUyS9GyxAT-8QAY2rjS2PGGdjxE4ycZfUQ4hxt_bsp2Xg/s4032/IMG_2711.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTT7olQbIPz54aO0sxwefEyRebUxLAz9Sq91YQwFKVwlnyVOUwrDO9IwKtC7aS4KN2pakeZ7xEO9Ek0Kd01N-dPLXrRz2XPSYl970oaUdijvEDhMuImyZrMmkeYNp9iTHCxdokT_CEd7mFUVUyS9GyxAT-8QAY2rjS2PGGdjxE4ycZfUQ4hxt_bsp2Xg/w300-h400/IMG_2711.jpeg" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The National Gallery </b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The gallery showcases some 2300 masterpieces from the mid-thirteenth century to 1900. I really appreciated its relatively modest size and perfectly illuminated interiors. Unlike mega museums like the Louvre or the Hermitage, this gallery doesn't require a multi-day commitment to enjoy its offerings. And it houses some breathtaking art including paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Picasso and Van Gogh (including his Sunflowers.)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">During WWII its treasures had to be relocated to limestone caves in Wales (after Churchill chafed at a plan to temporarily relocate them to Canada.) I loved that while the gallery was empty it was used for noontime musical performances since London's Music Halls had to remain closed. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here are some of my favorite paintings in the collection. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJY3188WysyBOeF_n61GxAmfOHlECY4DHwGapbRm9J_N0rnMSZkhtmj0dwHFg0TW9U1pfyySgUUp8Ec3xPdxtP0AMCgJfKWqDx5S_a7bbT9B8CUcWmolR3kTOAiUjNvWfydVKg1wcAsXHNyZZcH53xCOokXD3qxIvRu2C2c1qrSuWcOpaMNudvH2lzd1o/s2773/IMG_2721.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1820" data-original-width="2773" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJY3188WysyBOeF_n61GxAmfOHlECY4DHwGapbRm9J_N0rnMSZkhtmj0dwHFg0TW9U1pfyySgUUp8Ec3xPdxtP0AMCgJfKWqDx5S_a7bbT9B8CUcWmolR3kTOAiUjNvWfydVKg1wcAsXHNyZZcH53xCOokXD3qxIvRu2C2c1qrSuWcOpaMNudvH2lzd1o/w400-h263/IMG_2721.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Bathers at Asnières</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Georges Seurat 1884)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When Impressionist art was becoming important, the National Gallery acquired pieces timidly. Many in charge of acquisitions at the time felt that Impressionism was not serious art and just a passing fad. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Although painted in 1884, the Seurat painting "Bathers at Asnières" was purchased almost 40 years later.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKDZD4hBD0dUnb4yT6cergRLeTJNAh14oURbrhpalZCo5mtwdNihkDyA0PiKAVOSo6a2AGDgf2uZHwQVxocioZ7Zf3W7RNXD09Qrcgx68P4TQsk7BtFu63jM8oy2CUGl9sKS3XnItsh6WE6MLTAmi1yiqLmV1x6NulFe5W6zS_W3IVfQrBtGwNIgp0PM/s2024/National%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2024" data-original-width="1568" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKDZD4hBD0dUnb4yT6cergRLeTJNAh14oURbrhpalZCo5mtwdNihkDyA0PiKAVOSo6a2AGDgf2uZHwQVxocioZ7Zf3W7RNXD09Qrcgx68P4TQsk7BtFu63jM8oy2CUGl9sKS3XnItsh6WE6MLTAmi1yiqLmV1x6NulFe5W6zS_W3IVfQrBtGwNIgp0PM/w310-h400/National%201.jpeg" width="310" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Portrait of a Young Man</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Sandro Botticelli approx. 1480-85)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Probably best known for "Venus on the Halfshell" in the Uffizi in Florence, I found this simple Botticelli painting to be engaging. Despite the paining being 500+ years old it captures the timeless look of youth and innocence. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Another Impressionist favorite of mine was a painting of fisherman by Joaquin Sorolla. When I first came upon one of Sorolla's paintings in Madrid's Prado a decade ago it evoked an immediate emotional response from me. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I welcomed the chance to see another example of his work.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7I7twVNGLckqKQyNJWebqIIJg_nh0T7JpjWfPNTVdTAV0I77DA0XmpH-xyOiUbUKQGAXsdyj0ff-jrMQp0QLzZ174BgfC2hZGQNm6j7lkgQw72wDXL97TE9L47yVdjKwPYD_igxoxDjqvgY-CZV6sHdXeF2zhuJDicJKYejCWU-W9dphLiXbImue8DV8/s2003/IMG_2719.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1461" data-original-width="2003" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7I7twVNGLckqKQyNJWebqIIJg_nh0T7JpjWfPNTVdTAV0I77DA0XmpH-xyOiUbUKQGAXsdyj0ff-jrMQp0QLzZ174BgfC2hZGQNm6j7lkgQw72wDXL97TE9L47yVdjKwPYD_igxoxDjqvgY-CZV6sHdXeF2zhuJDicJKYejCWU-W9dphLiXbImue8DV8/w400-h291/IMG_2719.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Valencian Fishermen</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Joaquin Sorolla 1895)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Moving on I came upon George Stubbs enormous, and impossible to miss, painting entitled "Whistlejacket". This much adored painting is majestically positioned at the end of one of the National's longest gallery's. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Stubbs painted Whistlejacket without a rider against a blank background to focus all of the energy of the painting on the Arabian stallion. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Leaping and looking over his shoulder at the viewer Whistlejacket is one of those paintings that is simply magnetic. It draws people to it. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0JcUMyzlYu7sZnZ3wEJD8dMXaNs-vUqr0vlwnxNxzzmqWuD-aXixxi9a93W5Yw_ZXZPQhzMGIQ2Wj9dEwCEljRe7OtAMhuQAgLKnCm3iz9Gxxiaftd4erq4jO9e91SdIlFmUnWNdV4K96uA21VyDzKa3w13ezONKqOlbu3DK5EFsVxzS0opISlgAPkc/s1255/National%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="1048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0JcUMyzlYu7sZnZ3wEJD8dMXaNs-vUqr0vlwnxNxzzmqWuD-aXixxi9a93W5Yw_ZXZPQhzMGIQ2Wj9dEwCEljRe7OtAMhuQAgLKnCm3iz9Gxxiaftd4erq4jO9e91SdIlFmUnWNdV4K96uA21VyDzKa3w13ezONKqOlbu3DK5EFsVxzS0opISlgAPkc/w334-h400/National%203.jpeg" width="334" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Whistlejacket</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(George Stubbs about 1762)<b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps two of the biggest draws in the National Gallery are Vincent van Gogh's "A Wheatfield, with Cypresses" and "Sunflowers". I was particularly taken by "A Wheatfield, with Cypresses" after visiting the very site in St. Remy where Van Gogh painted it. His art in St. Remy was therapy while he underwent psychological treatment in the asylum that is till there.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapZ7EUoq3oi6VY7P1Px0ef_7o1oPJRdPg0I4eRuF4pptdbc4MMK092l_U1M7BSLR66kiA1lT58l0X4oDFwWYN-Eqk8qPoL-eOX4hBjjieUI2cHVUePeCKpegtwixS2ErDIjpAEimEzd8KbX88NPZniY1yYSQ2rtF8VIoNqgmVZmMZL4qubArHM35QURc/s1714/National%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1714" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapZ7EUoq3oi6VY7P1Px0ef_7o1oPJRdPg0I4eRuF4pptdbc4MMK092l_U1M7BSLR66kiA1lT58l0X4oDFwWYN-Eqk8qPoL-eOX4hBjjieUI2cHVUePeCKpegtwixS2ErDIjpAEimEzd8KbX88NPZniY1yYSQ2rtF8VIoNqgmVZmMZL4qubArHM35QURc/w400-h296/National%204.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>A Wheatfield, with Cypresses</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Vincent van Gogh 1889) </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I also found the "Arnolfini Portrait" of interest.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22Efw5kL8YaDQm7U_XGaXD5xbzcZCMem_N2K-OvvuKTUkid1AL1h7WA3eZlW7Nz0DeIBYS3m21fEonelWj828Nsi2WfoYIiJU30XRlQxbmEOXC8OSy8AMKDxhU_cjfDnDUj1YQnIJOpnm5nehoIpBZRRzOZMP9qbTbmxsw3dEP7vNYguPclDVarZ38c0/s2707/IMG_2698.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2707" data-original-width="2011" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22Efw5kL8YaDQm7U_XGaXD5xbzcZCMem_N2K-OvvuKTUkid1AL1h7WA3eZlW7Nz0DeIBYS3m21fEonelWj828Nsi2WfoYIiJU30XRlQxbmEOXC8OSy8AMKDxhU_cjfDnDUj1YQnIJOpnm5nehoIpBZRRzOZMP9qbTbmxsw3dEP7vNYguPclDVarZ38c0/w298-h400/IMG_2698.jpeg" width="298" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b>The Arnolfini Portrait</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Jan van Eyck 1434)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have to wonder if Grant Woods might have been influenced by this painting when he created his "American Gothic". There is just something just so stark and formal in the way Jan van Eyck portrayed the wealthy Italian merchant couple in Bruges. I also love the little dog at their feet and how the mirror behind the Arnolfini's lets you see that they are welcoming arriving guests (maybe explaining the raised hand as a gesture of greeting). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Also note the stenciling above the mirror where Jan van Eyck signed his portrait.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCT-Z8UmEBDVrbGF_1DCoaflZwOX6JXyRhiw_MstQwYJQYkcdVIsmRJKrYUOQwppc3akWn0FPt6mag9P9UUrJ7V4gn8VqnFwZJDaFJpDmn3WSKXwwPavPetklF_AwQ4ivOLHoPPst470A6Vvg7SsggNkebrGB8iZIzL7pCr3V3opjQIE9fSfXs3l-sCc/s2447/IMG_2699.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2447" data-original-width="2094" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCT-Z8UmEBDVrbGF_1DCoaflZwOX6JXyRhiw_MstQwYJQYkcdVIsmRJKrYUOQwppc3akWn0FPt6mag9P9UUrJ7V4gn8VqnFwZJDaFJpDmn3WSKXwwPavPetklF_AwQ4ivOLHoPPst470A6Vvg7SsggNkebrGB8iZIzL7pCr3V3opjQIE9fSfXs3l-sCc/w343-h400/IMG_2699.jpeg" width="343" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Mirror Detail</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As my afternoon in the Gallery neared its end it was clear the gallery had taken its toll on some younger visitors. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJNWLX9Ygqrs26M1yaiu_6Jq4Zu78OXiuolPMqGc-a_3EPJTvtd3-UIvQmXoppKK4c3c5X8B07M-kmXqKPeKOVg7aV3Bzbbgm1eWTZ2euTfApN82dvLFeqyGCqws68teHFdv8KRN6gcx6OitL_ZEM8ao-p7ZEdgcm83Gpdu711m7Lll48x2qJ-41LE3U/s1511/National%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="1460" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJNWLX9Ygqrs26M1yaiu_6Jq4Zu78OXiuolPMqGc-a_3EPJTvtd3-UIvQmXoppKK4c3c5X8B07M-kmXqKPeKOVg7aV3Bzbbgm1eWTZ2euTfApN82dvLFeqyGCqws68teHFdv8KRN6gcx6OitL_ZEM8ao-p7ZEdgcm83Gpdu711m7Lll48x2qJ-41LE3U/s320/National%202.jpeg" width="309" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Youthful Gallery Fatigue</b><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As our short visit to London was drawing to a close my love for London just grew seeing how each district is so individual and celebrated; whether it is the lanterns of Chinatown or seeing the knight watching a bridge in The City viewed on our walk back to the Elizabeth Line.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZud1ZzPCYpxOK5pYLR7EegaukyK_IduJ75W6Ki5jvD2IpO8ySuEdwjsmlUFSB78VRARfpNfVhbf0QAqb3xyQoAVOfkkimh_Am8PAdMrF8BLxzAVYWU_8AThqViElI_0NhwnYbWdzRhjJUMSxwXDsrwRvzV2pkAB8oQkrpPY4-1Oh4tHBp-haJynkZQE/s4032/Chinatown.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZud1ZzPCYpxOK5pYLR7EegaukyK_IduJ75W6Ki5jvD2IpO8ySuEdwjsmlUFSB78VRARfpNfVhbf0QAqb3xyQoAVOfkkimh_Am8PAdMrF8BLxzAVYWU_8AThqViElI_0NhwnYbWdzRhjJUMSxwXDsrwRvzV2pkAB8oQkrpPY4-1Oh4tHBp-haJynkZQE/w300-h400/Chinatown.jpeg" width="300" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Lanterns of London's Chinatown</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVk4GCzTSW32JABJ4J8QibYSySfx2nquvamgJLzgtjB5ZgaELHIN1W1ujqW90CIZpywpnA5Vp6vTGHqi6BUYGS3CnaozWhcYuBe_WccUcWmIEFaHMu9wyvGKbNnHN2Hnb4ozg4okpUBWR8qM0j_244RRbixYN7hoVR54FBdutlz8gji-piqXhyGPjkXY/s3966/Bridge.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3966" data-original-width="2351" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVk4GCzTSW32JABJ4J8QibYSySfx2nquvamgJLzgtjB5ZgaELHIN1W1ujqW90CIZpywpnA5Vp6vTGHqi6BUYGS3CnaozWhcYuBe_WccUcWmIEFaHMu9wyvGKbNnHN2Hnb4ozg4okpUBWR8qM0j_244RRbixYN7hoVR54FBdutlz8gji-piqXhyGPjkXY/w238-h400/Bridge.jpeg" width="238" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Knights and Dragons Guarding a Bridge</b><br /></p>Next destination is Part 3: Venice.<p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b><br /></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-2367698414744219172023-10-09T07:35:00.005-07:002023-11-13T12:09:11.619-07:00London / Venice / Dolomites Part 1: London Shopping, Tina, the Elizabeth Line, and the NPG<p><b>Even More to Love About London </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Part 1</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">During Roadboy's visit to London last year a few things that just felt a little off. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The National Portrait Gallery (NPG), was still closed, the nation was on death watch for the Queen, and the Fourth Plinth in Trafalger Square sat empty. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirG6actDrvL8dmetSj3Jw3Dgn7W1T4zgoUbaMV-Tc4HAIHdUz5xmA90leNAD9EauMSxFahKPZoJLk4TL2yEeLRCRXxuoeM1NmSo_PJ5Cl0FqoE1XPyN8Qplx7Fp1NLi-I5Ms_5qgXei7q4wJn3_zeAP-ASMGXBVfyd6GWbTzeV3IQln0wgOENe2_yu4gs/s4032/Trafalger.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirG6actDrvL8dmetSj3Jw3Dgn7W1T4zgoUbaMV-Tc4HAIHdUz5xmA90leNAD9EauMSxFahKPZoJLk4TL2yEeLRCRXxuoeM1NmSo_PJ5Cl0FqoE1XPyN8Qplx7Fp1NLi-I5Ms_5qgXei7q4wJn3_zeAP-ASMGXBVfyd6GWbTzeV3IQln0wgOENe2_yu4gs/w400-h300/Trafalger.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b>Trafalger Square at Night<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This year London felt better. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The NPG was open, is still free, and welcomes visitors until 9:00 pm on Saturdays 😉! We booked tickets for the musical Tina, enjoyed the gleaming new Elizabeth Line from Heathrow, and Trafalger Square's Fourth Plinth has a new installation entitled "Antelope". </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzunJ0GZxKXZeCwXon9cXXBY-0mFJHbWcqRy8UZsb8VPpzWZrQYzTxjIXrl6SdHw9VCpQq9mVVtSA9JBpYd4iCDsLttGWD8hLiHJUcRuPRlSWXrreboJBS57GKwuOxDmMv14UAjdOMQoNWDclBGnj4M-7LxQ3n8d4Vhdg-y_Uo7HyYajb9b8a28kGaMNY/s3875/Elizabeth.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3875" data-original-width="2906" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzunJ0GZxKXZeCwXon9cXXBY-0mFJHbWcqRy8UZsb8VPpzWZrQYzTxjIXrl6SdHw9VCpQq9mVVtSA9JBpYd4iCDsLttGWD8hLiHJUcRuPRlSWXrreboJBS57GKwuOxDmMv14UAjdOMQoNWDclBGnj4M-7LxQ3n8d4Vhdg-y_Uo7HyYajb9b8a28kGaMNY/w300-h400/Elizabeth.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Clean and Quick Elizabeth Line</b><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">This years visit to London was a layover stop on my way to Italy to join with friends to cycle in the Dolomites. But, after AA began non-stop service from Phoenix to London Heathrow, I stopped my usual entry flights to Madrid and now begin my European trips into/through London. Also with the post Brexit Pound Sterling in a freefall against the dollar, London pricing doesn't come with the sting it used to.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">With time short, London offered us a little shopping and a full day at the NPG (followed by a nearly full day in its
neighbor the National Gallery). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoTygmfqZSAKPyjjHpAEkCThSindPcXYInmgsdQouElPrlH08nBZ-S_I8iNB1uduXfiiafMzekXYZl4e11kN3ZfMy0DF1IhsG2t5sO8b4ziWTaeMuutSXovYHPMYdZW07IqT24LMGjIiY4VrsHbN4qwfmRKKSSkhBl-q8j3BLu65nV0A9gsMbb2ZoNI0/s4032/Tina%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoTygmfqZSAKPyjjHpAEkCThSindPcXYInmgsdQouElPrlH08nBZ-S_I8iNB1uduXfiiafMzekXYZl4e11kN3ZfMy0DF1IhsG2t5sO8b4ziWTaeMuutSXovYHPMYdZW07IqT24LMGjIiY4VrsHbN4qwfmRKKSSkhBl-q8j3BLu65nV0A9gsMbb2ZoNI0/w400-h300/Tina%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Awaiting Tina</b><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">With the recent passing of Tina Turner in May, I really wanted to see Tina the tribute to her life. The London edition was high energy and truly amazing. The audience began swaying almost immediately and finished on its feet for multiple curtain calls. Don't miss Tina.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Selfridges</b> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Shopping trends change all the time in London and the current hot date
for fashionistas seems to be Liberty. Tourists will always flock to Harrod's
("Horrids" to locals) but to actually buy stuff I used to go to John Lewis. This trip locals
were lamenting that John Lewis has taken a steep dive in service and quality and should be avoided. The other
store that used to define style was Harvey Nichols, but it sort of feels
frozen in some previous decade. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Selfridges is London's grand department store
created by American Henry Gordon Selfridge in 1909. Prior to this trip I hadn't set foot in Selfridges for over thirty years. Even in an era of declining brick and mortar
retail stores I found Selfridge's pretty spectacular this visit. It still has the massive deco entry and features restaurants, a plush theater, lots
of designer studios, a bike shop(!) and some truly stratospheric prices. Not the place I'd normally buy much, but certainly an experience.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBHsn6jSI0jjdv505IglpjBIOyGlUDCdeVHaJUl74cLZPnV4_mPinKKbmKQE7kEWp8dV9ECAWpYkD3n-w1tFkar3vHY64QMTL7VXEj79-RQInxCVqhWKuypiytmLMUQ6iXaAEoXBuUvcclUWCnMxMsnYrQ3Yl_N-Rn6oUxzHiMojhcnsbUtMCnCrUPrU/s3371/SELFRIDGES%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3371" data-original-width="3003" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBHsn6jSI0jjdv505IglpjBIOyGlUDCdeVHaJUl74cLZPnV4_mPinKKbmKQE7kEWp8dV9ECAWpYkD3n-w1tFkar3vHY64QMTL7VXEj79-RQInxCVqhWKuypiytmLMUQ6iXaAEoXBuUvcclUWCnMxMsnYrQ3Yl_N-Rn6oUxzHiMojhcnsbUtMCnCrUPrU/w356-h400/SELFRIDGES%201.jpeg" width="356" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Selfridges Grand Art Deco Entry </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1qrnZ9GGjMd2ZjTqPFmEWohNPDMKcG2lvanC3dZtVdDzA-xqIdNANwiyw5aEEMM4gnQWo98hjw9R1-G_GQAAMptcJvfEyBZLv6Go68Wj4Dc-Iylb6W6FMOm9Xp20op6dTzktB08kxtMjnbkvvCgvd2uVpSdBBlzRRagSzhSf3Hq025aGQ9N1QOxd7Ns/s3942/Selridges%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2544" data-original-width="3942" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1qrnZ9GGjMd2ZjTqPFmEWohNPDMKcG2lvanC3dZtVdDzA-xqIdNANwiyw5aEEMM4gnQWo98hjw9R1-G_GQAAMptcJvfEyBZLv6Go68Wj4Dc-Iylb6W6FMOm9Xp20op6dTzktB08kxtMjnbkvvCgvd2uVpSdBBlzRRagSzhSf3Hq025aGQ9N1QOxd7Ns/w400-h259/Selridges%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Brass Staff Tribute to Selfridge<br /></b></div><div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-tBwIBf5YW7BFAIi7ZSRnfy92nbwnfVLW8WltnXYCt6tZHgF3E0fDkTfopbYZURGSfR_guEDq2K_2K3DDEZOsldteysXxWegGCvUeRT6teWGnhBu3g-GBsDWl3qhxhTSBKJkj3l56uZSo3BouyBXWhRv8LeZe4OtD7_semYsZFcbLTHb7GwkXUBYfpo/s4032/Cowboy.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-tBwIBf5YW7BFAIi7ZSRnfy92nbwnfVLW8WltnXYCt6tZHgF3E0fDkTfopbYZURGSfR_guEDq2K_2K3DDEZOsldteysXxWegGCvUeRT6teWGnhBu3g-GBsDWl3qhxhTSBKJkj3l56uZSo3BouyBXWhRv8LeZe4OtD7_semYsZFcbLTHb7GwkXUBYfpo/w300-h400/Cowboy.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Cowboy Bikes</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">While walking through Selfrdiges bike shop I was taken by Cowboy bikes. These are practical well priced and gracefully integrated commuter e-bikes. They'd be a perfect choice for urban commuters. They include fully integrated running lights, racks, fenders and anti-theft tracking devices. If I were lucky enough to live in London a Cowboy is likely what I'd use for my commute. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Right around the corner from Selfridge's we found Market Hall Oxford and stopped for lunch. My Thai chicken sandwich from Sexy Buns along with a bottle
of good Cawston Press cider was a perfect lunch.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PdB0abhhHUUjHrAzE6jUGhj2CxpT4bXG4uTtxHdoITSeIxXbvgBKs0OeOEGH9C54brdl-3xfYXUZahIz-LMxrECqpy9_8KUOvRV0ERTzi6vpdcXsTuiCswUxDnC0hC39jSjwLazsF-dKGNspk5Q1CsynzExxmhNQ5fkIpK-lL2tz_dIsEzHD2ZziJ0w/s3716/Sexy%20Buns.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3716" data-original-width="3023" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PdB0abhhHUUjHrAzE6jUGhj2CxpT4bXG4uTtxHdoITSeIxXbvgBKs0OeOEGH9C54brdl-3xfYXUZahIz-LMxrECqpy9_8KUOvRV0ERTzi6vpdcXsTuiCswUxDnC0hC39jSjwLazsF-dKGNspk5Q1CsynzExxmhNQ5fkIpK-lL2tz_dIsEzHD2ZziJ0w/w325-h400/Sexy%20Buns.jpeg" width="325" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sexy Buns and Cawthorn Press Cider</b><br /></div></div><div> <br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The NPG</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">OK, for American's who have explored the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, you already know how mesmerizing a fine portrait gallery can be. But Britain's NPG is in a class of its own. I first visited it decades ago all these many years later I once again became immersed in its portraits and photographs all organized by time periods. There is even a gallery with death masks.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrp7qw_ORwNNdL1mVb0dYyrbQd2ccMbfevdxUzTNb7WhEzTwaGxEb-ofhtkf31FKxLOTGD-ooOSrtNOHwswxts8MxKUJxWLOalbKLmTDupQBbQngoKG-uGlbZ7QCRQiHhunfGl_YBXZ5Xb1pMnbj4lemReE67ldca-w4iWxMIN0MGhVFVAOcw7UpHC5I/s1970/NPG%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1946" data-original-width="1970" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrp7qw_ORwNNdL1mVb0dYyrbQd2ccMbfevdxUzTNb7WhEzTwaGxEb-ofhtkf31FKxLOTGD-ooOSrtNOHwswxts8MxKUJxWLOalbKLmTDupQBbQngoKG-uGlbZ7QCRQiHhunfGl_YBXZ5Xb1pMnbj4lemReE67ldca-w4iWxMIN0MGhVFVAOcw7UpHC5I/w400-h395/NPG%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Annie Lennox</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Peter Ashworth 1983)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This iconic image of Lennox ultimately became the cover for the Eurythmics first number one album Touch.<b> </b>Seeing this image just made me feel young again as the tune Sweet Dreams are Made of This just rolled right into my head reminding me of a time when the endless possibilities of my life seemed to be in front of me. Nearby was this 1985 photo of George Michael in full heart throb swagger.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fJzXJTpx7-VkjWVmIv1oiD0Eqn_kjxptMYjBLCsBRCp7tW6qUAY48DyMm659fuDiX-gZ7hoVQJFLm2BEz1VH-XZyGAtd3_ALtg5Ol8Z5h7Y9-r0z9wzjdkB9LUGyWmncFlKaBVK9RZEa36X_ItHMRN6iIa8JOI_Mg8g0CS0UKDrc2QA9av1OTXkptt4/s2485/IMG_2626.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2485" data-original-width="1762" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fJzXJTpx7-VkjWVmIv1oiD0Eqn_kjxptMYjBLCsBRCp7tW6qUAY48DyMm659fuDiX-gZ7hoVQJFLm2BEz1VH-XZyGAtd3_ALtg5Ol8Z5h7Y9-r0z9wzjdkB9LUGyWmncFlKaBVK9RZEa36X_ItHMRN6iIa8JOI_Mg8g0CS0UKDrc2QA9av1OTXkptt4/w284-h400/IMG_2626.jpeg" width="284" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>George Michael</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(John Swannell 1985)<b> </b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-IYqrW1RWWOyKf1yKqZ4Ltx_OXt6PiAUuv0TnbvmuAru3oee4UASuA87495oPXUJS_OoePHZLP43ED6mkzvNnxr14UTezgUecY3kBV-dmnxH5j6LO5zVnYejeEhDihOiiztoNjIXYK9Yp9HhhrNKuOcK_r6mNNCx7BbdQoLm3tJn0Zw8JDD_BRhJok7U/s2188/NPG%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2188" data-original-width="1491" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-IYqrW1RWWOyKf1yKqZ4Ltx_OXt6PiAUuv0TnbvmuAru3oee4UASuA87495oPXUJS_OoePHZLP43ED6mkzvNnxr14UTezgUecY3kBV-dmnxH5j6LO5zVnYejeEhDihOiiztoNjIXYK9Yp9HhhrNKuOcK_r6mNNCx7BbdQoLm3tJn0Zw8JDD_BRhJok7U/w273-h400/NPG%202.jpeg" width="273" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Sir Cliff Richard</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Norman Parkinson 1960's)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Such a great photo of Britain's "Elvis" on the beach leaning impossibly back onto the hood of a gorgeous Corvette Stingray. While few American's have ever heard of him, Richard made his mark globally and landed on Britain's Top 5 charts consecutively for seven decades. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids6duFQBxomJVoJ-wznv8V0kmY9qKa3o50rxIyVf08CU0dEd5Nw-BtiVNniVzkVRFKyDkwz4X-vYrjNYBYGn4hmpMyDD9YbY1JRFLl5o4m_a6um22BZ1oaIhjrlGWDiI3vq89LM3mZ6COW5lJtrOPZGLN64HsdFHNNdgcv8x5YB_VEaF1ySSrIF-MZJg/s2203/NPG%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2203" data-original-width="2114" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEids6duFQBxomJVoJ-wznv8V0kmY9qKa3o50rxIyVf08CU0dEd5Nw-BtiVNniVzkVRFKyDkwz4X-vYrjNYBYGn4hmpMyDD9YbY1JRFLl5o4m_a6um22BZ1oaIhjrlGWDiI3vq89LM3mZ6COW5lJtrOPZGLN64HsdFHNNdgcv8x5YB_VEaF1ySSrIF-MZJg/w384-h400/NPG%203.jpeg" width="384" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Henry Moore</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Lee Miller 1941)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This striking photo just stopped me in my tracks. Here is Britain's most famous mid-twentieth century sculptor Henry Moore wearing a pair of killer slacks in a London underground shelter during the Blitz as part of his role for the War Artists Committee.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was very close to this elegantly composed sleek black and white portrait of Sir Noël Coward with that impossibly elegant cigarette.<b> </b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQT_oo4FakKIgi7YAVnmdgfUKSamkrsbf0ORpKx9O8jMqYmup3KazDgc5WPrB9XIrXVmNvQBpk9VufdMGhqWWEui8C1G9PR1vn0gi3sHyKsu_D7br9kJGT6YetScVgswyJgwRB7Vs0UCPIrIdX0zLg42djhOEABpC-P2Qges7pCnIR3RdnEERsBDevkU/s2196/NPG%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2196" data-original-width="1612" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQT_oo4FakKIgi7YAVnmdgfUKSamkrsbf0ORpKx9O8jMqYmup3KazDgc5WPrB9XIrXVmNvQBpk9VufdMGhqWWEui8C1G9PR1vn0gi3sHyKsu_D7br9kJGT6YetScVgswyJgwRB7Vs0UCPIrIdX0zLg42djhOEABpC-P2Qges7pCnIR3RdnEERsBDevkU/w294-h400/NPG%204.jpeg" width="294" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Sir Noël Coward</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Horst B. Horst 1933)<b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As I went on through the gallery I just adored this stark oil on canvas portrait of Judi Dench. She seems to be floating in a lab coat during a blizzard. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidl6RTn6Hjq0QIqEGILl-ooXWjXhT2U9bZWp4NB42K6SxpMY7Tq4SM_CcuQDqgEhhOwizEOyH7Fn1XK2mgPq1Li-CSHCAJyCPeyeJkqki4M3VCiJ5zYzLZdR5zkibF8bWr8aG3RTOj4HTzZDVnrVzK6IGpP2nVUKU3NwBtOLUv9NGtoEcn0mvOi3WmI7Q/s3106/NPG%205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3106" data-original-width="2122" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidl6RTn6Hjq0QIqEGILl-ooXWjXhT2U9bZWp4NB42K6SxpMY7Tq4SM_CcuQDqgEhhOwizEOyH7Fn1XK2mgPq1Li-CSHCAJyCPeyeJkqki4M3VCiJ5zYzLZdR5zkibF8bWr8aG3RTOj4HTzZDVnrVzK6IGpP2nVUKU3NwBtOLUv9NGtoEcn0mvOi3WmI7Q/w274-h400/NPG%205.jpeg" width="274" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Dame Judi Dench</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Alessandro Raho 2004) </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As I was just finishing up my time in the NPG I came to a little room filled with life and death masks. I found them somehow startling in the realization they were also portraits. In this last gallery was Gillian Wearing's Mask Masked. Despite morons that still try to ignore its impact and very existence, this sculpture simply and unambiguously reminds us of the tragic loss of 7,000,000 humans to the Coronavirus pandemic.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPmBXAAOefWudablXmQGE4LIW6rWwkLJgSPzRAugLjqUAsq29kTigz9fsrz-YuD7F-jGD_nV_lnpY-W3k2XKenI459sIX0AAN_gpd62t9V1wVQwb7Ig0Eg5zkQpQoqEMIn6WWgbeUSxpnDq097eWr30Bv3pP3aYE9b90-OjVQA5SySQcoxXU_JZHu7AA/s3752/NPG%206.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3752" data-original-width="1274" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPmBXAAOefWudablXmQGE4LIW6rWwkLJgSPzRAugLjqUAsq29kTigz9fsrz-YuD7F-jGD_nV_lnpY-W3k2XKenI459sIX0AAN_gpd62t9V1wVQwb7Ig0Eg5zkQpQoqEMIn6WWgbeUSxpnDq097eWr30Bv3pP3aYE9b90-OjVQA5SySQcoxXU_JZHu7AA/w218-h640/NPG%206.jpeg" width="218" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Mask Masked</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Gillian Wearing 2020)<b> </b><br /> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">London 2023 Part 2 to follow. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b><br /></p></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-23104205030675130912023-08-27T18:05:00.000-07:002023-08-27T18:05:25.191-07:00Ready to Pedal - The Dolomites!<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>A Meet Up in Venice and Off We Go!</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Roadboy prepares for a spin in Italy. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">For over three decades my home has been Phoenix AZ and every summer we Phoenicians lament about how hot it is and how we wish we were somewhere else (usually San Diego). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then the summer of 2023 came and we just tried to survive our record breaking <b><span style="color: red;">stupid hot</span></b> summer. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Luckily, I was able to bookend the summer with cycling trips to cool places. In June I cycled Canada's Vancouver Island. Now I finish summer with a cycle trip to Italy's Dolomites (the necklace of mountains seen from Venice).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4BAIZswYIbaZD4o1qwKyYa78LEWIxQE-oacQ1gW_nDrhYHjiAl1hSrpVY7d_aYUJJpskQ-b4hj_qgbV0aXN-yS2LTR83UKxyJPPzBquh4C2HhPQc7wTGaXlX0G3IjZSF5-tc2bq11c-2Hn8swE-MDePdwH96cUk_Sg7CSw0w0TadSSj1cWgYUqiiWag/s988/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%204.26.59%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="988" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4BAIZswYIbaZD4o1qwKyYa78LEWIxQE-oacQ1gW_nDrhYHjiAl1hSrpVY7d_aYUJJpskQ-b4hj_qgbV0aXN-yS2LTR83UKxyJPPzBquh4C2HhPQc7wTGaXlX0G3IjZSF5-tc2bq11c-2Hn8swE-MDePdwH96cUk_Sg7CSw0w0TadSSj1cWgYUqiiWag/w400-h265/Screenshot%202023-08-27%20at%204.26.59%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Valley's of the Dolomites </b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo VBT) </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">My trip will begin with American's nonstop service from Phoenix to London. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>I love this flight</u>. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is arguably, AA's only international flight that consistently avoids AA's various <i><b>delay machines</b></i> (sometimes referred to as DFW, JFK, CLT, ORD, MIA and PHL). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">AA's management model is to develop hubs in places that induce delays to their whole system / network of flights. <i>Coincidentally, as I compose this a friend just texted me his Kansas City flight this evening </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>is hopelessly delayed </i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(thanks to a connection in DFW).</i> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The PHX to LHR 777 allows you to just get on, spread out, have a nice dinner, watch a couple of movies and wake up in Great Britain. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sweet.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The London routing offers me a few days to layover, tame jetlag, see a couple of west end shows and (this trip) take in the newly reopened National Portrait Gallery.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then I'll fly BA from LHR to Venice (was only $85). I'll have three days to explore Venice before the bike trip begins. Venice is my go to place to shop for eyeglass frames 👓. And, this trip will also include a foodie tour with Francesca 🍽️ !<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">From Venice we have 6 days of cycling packaged by Vermont Bike Tours (VBT). VBT provides shuttles, guides, bikes, hotels and a bunch of meals. It makes the cycling so enjoyable! No worries, just enjoy the rides, the views and the food. We will conclude in Verona.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So watch this space! Roadboy is on the loose again. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travel's © 2023</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b><br /></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-7674297359208022652023-07-14T20:13:00.001-07:002023-07-14T20:13:23.347-07:00Roadboy Cycles Vancouver and Pender Island<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Canadian Gulf Islands Tour by </b></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Vermont Bike Tours (VBT) </b></span> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After a stunning arrival via seaplane into Victoria's Inner Harbor I joined my cycling buddies who had arrived earlier for dinner and a little window shopping (I found an Irish wool hat I had to have) andan obligatory stop at Rogers Chocolates. Then it was off for a great nights sleep.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoOtiqwDyohv22M1z_piQ1EfkI8-dqqjc62jU7qR786W_1fOMNFWPys4Lh5TeKClFEyvE0NNywTYZz7vMo0PAMkyJi-nVIn01l4QX_JxRDZSsobwR_YyZLFxA1Gx1QBepFYn_lB7QCOVkZB-B02SS9SGkzL-17PLmPd-oc4bzs8aOD3jTm92tgrbQPUM/s4032/IMG_2219.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoOtiqwDyohv22M1z_piQ1EfkI8-dqqjc62jU7qR786W_1fOMNFWPys4Lh5TeKClFEyvE0NNywTYZz7vMo0PAMkyJi-nVIn01l4QX_JxRDZSsobwR_YyZLFxA1Gx1QBepFYn_lB7QCOVkZB-B02SS9SGkzL-17PLmPd-oc4bzs8aOD3jTm92tgrbQPUM/w400-h300/IMG_2219.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Victoria's Inner Harbor From The Empress Hotel <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cycling Day One:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After
a morning walk and a little sightseeing in and around British Columbia's
beautiful Provincial Capital, we met our guides Sam and Zuzana for intro's, a bike fitting, and
a quick 7 mile warm-up ride through Victoria. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Similar to
Vancouver, Victoria features some very nice separated bike lanes. Along the way we passed the world's tallest Totem Pole (127'-7") and a digital display calculating the number of cyclists using
each trail each day, month and year. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The ride ended early enough we could gather for a welcome reception and
dinner. The night was off to a great start for me as one menu choice was
(my absolute favorite Alaskan sea treasure) sablefish / black cod. The
buttery smooth fish was cooked perfectly. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cycling Day Two:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In
the morning we were shuttled to a rendevous spot near Victoia's airport where
we collected our bicycles and took a seaside ride past some very
expensive seaside residences on our way the BC Ferry Terminal at Swartz Bay. Here, we boarded the ferry for a
sailing to Otter Bay on Pender Island.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zMW0RfrWYKOdZzl6IGNTLE9zeB2RX4zq_vLdMEsEGQp2jeXIUWEFGDa3nYcs1m5tk2rWX8jYytNocN5qCySQ_nH4-vEry49H7eK-91BC0UY558WTCqRNMNkYWrrnFnusTWBhl6o4KX3nVsVBckzDPQM434pPzeY-7wCyZ79bLvkjoSoGcq16VOAqBBs/s4032/IMG_2240.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zMW0RfrWYKOdZzl6IGNTLE9zeB2RX4zq_vLdMEsEGQp2jeXIUWEFGDa3nYcs1m5tk2rWX8jYytNocN5qCySQ_nH4-vEry49H7eK-91BC0UY558WTCqRNMNkYWrrnFnusTWBhl6o4KX3nVsVBckzDPQM434pPzeY-7wCyZ79bLvkjoSoGcq16VOAqBBs/w400-h300/IMG_2240.jpeg" width="400" /></a><b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> BC Ferry to Pender Island</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The
sailing was beautiful with smooth waters and blue sunny skies. Upon
disembarking on Pender Island we cycled to lunch. From there we were off to Brooks Point
where we watched the horizon looking for pods of orca's. Then it was on to check into the lovely Poets Cove Resort and Spa. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The resort is clearly designed for weddings and my room had an
amazing view of the cove and a spot clearly designed for wedding photos. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6PKJpBGPe2kUrhv7ThADzB1z557TqfYjpMG98Dd_x8Qx6CZvmOq1wxPBXBRj_k6eqhNfHWid2QYhIEYf1e9VT3yyCpw-y9A-tsvKmtOuv2-D5-n2S1-R5lA_ElXBQbyu5Tlh_T2qT9PJoHZXbxrrKXuxjj_JhcVKHyhMDkX7_zWqgOgxLLY3PBRZudw/s4032/IMG_2243.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6PKJpBGPe2kUrhv7ThADzB1z557TqfYjpMG98Dd_x8Qx6CZvmOq1wxPBXBRj_k6eqhNfHWid2QYhIEYf1e9VT3yyCpw-y9A-tsvKmtOuv2-D5-n2S1-R5lA_ElXBQbyu5Tlh_T2qT9PJoHZXbxrrKXuxjj_JhcVKHyhMDkX7_zWqgOgxLLY3PBRZudw/w400-h300/IMG_2243.jpeg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b>Views Along The Ride to Point Browning</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ctMJqj6-DDzUgloGNhtTar80_Cq_OeKod4pj12fAFHoIUNDgrvJwQxmwZ86qgS8zNZ3Ezo80tcp6AU9RCLqep8MlgpYccirF3TiMiEqqTMMrlN2W5n2UF1hB-0kNA01TZXwJd9M_mxQmO12RpqI5G8xTtbLmPi3C1cLpPtfiarbBZYQYANnw2U_r948/s4032/IMG_2255.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ctMJqj6-DDzUgloGNhtTar80_Cq_OeKod4pj12fAFHoIUNDgrvJwQxmwZ86qgS8zNZ3Ezo80tcp6AU9RCLqep8MlgpYccirF3TiMiEqqTMMrlN2W5n2UF1hB-0kNA01TZXwJd9M_mxQmO12RpqI5G8xTtbLmPi3C1cLpPtfiarbBZYQYANnw2U_r948/w400-h300/IMG_2255.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The View From My Room at Poets Cove Resort</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cycling Day Three:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In
the morning we shuttled to the Port Browning Marina where we were outfitted to spend a few hours sea kayaking. Once we were outfitted and a given safety briefing, we began our paddling along the coast and in Port Browning Harbor. </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUEyEo5tZIp3ccxlr-ASdOj4NhTwIIWCgiLA2UvHKvAcDnV354aW_E8NnxM7JzWbo9Ktg7Im1A0oga3qK2nfu--jlAipaDJIllvkdJtuczfGA1fgsO7qWlapSxdjWVlGT-p0avR3UcquXP1haFBb6Jl5bpCx8pEDW2Bz9SK5CxavYTiFVLJ7sDM4tWjs/s4032/IMG_0471.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUEyEo5tZIp3ccxlr-ASdOj4NhTwIIWCgiLA2UvHKvAcDnV354aW_E8NnxM7JzWbo9Ktg7Im1A0oga3qK2nfu--jlAipaDJIllvkdJtuczfGA1fgsO7qWlapSxdjWVlGT-p0avR3UcquXP1haFBb6Jl5bpCx8pEDW2Bz9SK5CxavYTiFVLJ7sDM4tWjs/w400-h300/IMG_0471.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b>Sea Kayaking in View of Harbor Seals Sunning on a Nearby Island</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Along the way we were joined by some inquisitive seals
who followed us along and popped their shimmering silver heads up now and then between our kayaks to check us out. Above us eagles and ospreys soared. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">After
the kayaking Sam our guide grilled a wonderful picnic lunch. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfJVQ7lmTTYco6gJ-ShoMd02AlQSbPqSrit6NCIzT1j8FMOOdlQqdrSkNS9zx8Nc7PzWiH96Ys7qLhVqCKjNmod7DYKD23IGGrqqi40d4lzWGpJGslyvo_cjq1WX5ynJl2R-Tb39LBhaokzMYIRPtOWXJAdIhhb-FYyNfx7NnJDC096JPch2YfSoAJ2Y/s4032/IMG_0794.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfJVQ7lmTTYco6gJ-ShoMd02AlQSbPqSrit6NCIzT1j8FMOOdlQqdrSkNS9zx8Nc7PzWiH96Ys7qLhVqCKjNmod7DYKD23IGGrqqi40d4lzWGpJGslyvo_cjq1WX5ynJl2R-Tb39LBhaokzMYIRPtOWXJAdIhhb-FYyNfx7NnJDC096JPch2YfSoAJ2Y/w400-h300/IMG_0794.jpeg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Our Picnic</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After lunch Sam
provided a bike clinic illustrating basic bike maintenance. I
really appreciated the methods he illustrated for reattaching dropped chains
(even while moving!), minor derailleur adjustments and changing tubes.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We retraced the route to our hotel in time to swim and soothe muscles in the resorts hot tub. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzexP1g8oq0gngQMG90cUnTUUMkEu-4PJiMP8YF73xeBD5nFt5AhwYa3Zv7_H2zofXnAwttVwdb70rDINbUwHVF410uicNuFTePK19vso-sQIWwBvWPlH28nLiI4EngdE9q6fuZJyG9zYHeOynRzBfTgv1b2Qvv-aIW3bnhFEHDjB6MUi-fqkfPGzxd20/s3324/IMG_0777.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2813" data-original-width="3324" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzexP1g8oq0gngQMG90cUnTUUMkEu-4PJiMP8YF73xeBD5nFt5AhwYa3Zv7_H2zofXnAwttVwdb70rDINbUwHVF410uicNuFTePK19vso-sQIWwBvWPlH28nLiI4EngdE9q6fuZJyG9zYHeOynRzBfTgv1b2Qvv-aIW3bnhFEHDjB6MUi-fqkfPGzxd20/w400-h339/IMG_0777.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Afternoon Cycling Back to Poets Cove</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWXD5oPtLIaEdCgGMZpx9-9i2YfckSyK25SEO34P3xIAxsGAWfzy1dMOYtpMRiP0GTetQ-Jv2TL7LkDrVeFDkcAeUsPitvra3f4wDp4UUpZkdRPVqIn_24sxCuy8pduJjFrNtR_PzNhKrVmbFO_04wISo3Y72S1JFGkHgfR1xPwmf3RU6CL2GEeZFBLI/s4032/IMG_2263.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWXD5oPtLIaEdCgGMZpx9-9i2YfckSyK25SEO34P3xIAxsGAWfzy1dMOYtpMRiP0GTetQ-Jv2TL7LkDrVeFDkcAeUsPitvra3f4wDp4UUpZkdRPVqIn_24sxCuy8pduJjFrNtR_PzNhKrVmbFO_04wISo3Y72S1JFGkHgfR1xPwmf3RU6CL2GEeZFBLI/w400-h300/IMG_2263.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>View to Mortimer Spit <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cycling Day Four:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">On
day four we were shuttled to Otter Bay to collect our bikes and take
the ferry back to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. The day included a
ride to the Sea Island Cider Mill for a light lunch and a tasting flight of
three of their wonderful organic ciders.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp135ufPhnnsH1ZdtP0H1sY6hdiD22lEiOxbtUOI9cleIeu8vACsNU7fMaUnVYRERpLuLVaoZwuZYU-TSVv9gzSaEIIQBSU4SkP4CYu6TJVjs27X51K7-D-8PM9VkNCkK79dNXyDW47IRjRgQscGOhF4NfBnyBWncj8qJaVlOHP8A-N69rvlSEQAZLnqw/s4032/IMG_2299.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp135ufPhnnsH1ZdtP0H1sY6hdiD22lEiOxbtUOI9cleIeu8vACsNU7fMaUnVYRERpLuLVaoZwuZYU-TSVv9gzSaEIIQBSU4SkP4CYu6TJVjs27X51K7-D-8PM9VkNCkK79dNXyDW47IRjRgQscGOhF4NfBnyBWncj8qJaVlOHP8A-N69rvlSEQAZLnqw/w400-h300/IMG_2299.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b>Lavender Blooming at the Sea Island Cidery<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our cycling ended at Oak Bay we checked into the wonderful Oak Bay Beach
Hotel and Spa. This hotel is truly special (and was recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as Canada's No. 1 hotel in their 2021 Reader's Choice Awards. The rooms were quiet and included fireplaces. The hotel's cozy Snug Pub and its mineral pools and spa all overlook
the bay.<b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bmQ_hud8n3JejkhYD_HHUFGMPQSXmgeH1B_YNdemWDhRnOaIBz9KLFtNfCkSAdTzldYFxGt_RkwXjLeCYGGefXMCViPhzA-l3rfQQctX19i5c39ASMv2zf1myD8b5YJ8W1nsLDYA7GolmnP0HtBNKPwhpOmHn3c09yfCaa9VkSeknXfhWTRsF40yupk/s4032/IMG_2304.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bmQ_hud8n3JejkhYD_HHUFGMPQSXmgeH1B_YNdemWDhRnOaIBz9KLFtNfCkSAdTzldYFxGt_RkwXjLeCYGGefXMCViPhzA-l3rfQQctX19i5c39ASMv2zf1myD8b5YJ8W1nsLDYA7GolmnP0HtBNKPwhpOmHn3c09yfCaa9VkSeknXfhWTRsF40yupk/w480-h640/IMG_2304.jpeg" width="480" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Oak Bay Beach Hotel </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Cycling Day Five:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our
last day included our longest rides including 20 miles on the Galloping Goose Bike trail
to Victoria's renowned Butchart Gardens (with a gelato stop along the way) and 21 miles back to the Oak Bay. This was probably my third or fourth visit to the stunning Butchart Gardens and everything seemed to be in full
dazzling bloom. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIYHO8RmzNHzSPGHibm1cFpPfGCzWG4fTFC3WoL_fsy15c1_RGxX2Nz1bPO6OrpOOIUJ0BvsHp2x7Wx683Rf-pibGnZr1q1Z_tcpGcA36Sb9mqI9bf-x56lcE9l_QdFT99htR7JSo707szR1hVwzo-7agh35m3xslcFyxf5OWBAw5M9lkzti4JUDdLvg/s4032/IMG_2319.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIYHO8RmzNHzSPGHibm1cFpPfGCzWG4fTFC3WoL_fsy15c1_RGxX2Nz1bPO6OrpOOIUJ0BvsHp2x7Wx683Rf-pibGnZr1q1Z_tcpGcA36Sb9mqI9bf-x56lcE9l_QdFT99htR7JSo707szR1hVwzo-7agh35m3xslcFyxf5OWBAw5M9lkzti4JUDdLvg/w400-h300/IMG_2319.jpeg" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> The Sunken Garden (Butchart Gardens)</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We returned for a soak in the mineral pools and then dressed for our farewell dinner. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MB3HW1lMGHKxMA2YvlOZyCpwSiRM4n2qaAFm2ukIFtB9GKVq6WCfAO_yUPlyk8sDoD2YDTNjm6Q7F2sXkEIUKbpNlBifzevTFmfRN-8h9MUqAcSOabiE2l2vNOZMiKO4x6mrrlWfiiPzVePeLRdVK_0liSjoqcf2LNRnu3c_PYUw6-oHiqZj0tWjfLU/s3938/IMG_2305.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1825" data-original-width="3938" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MB3HW1lMGHKxMA2YvlOZyCpwSiRM4n2qaAFm2ukIFtB9GKVq6WCfAO_yUPlyk8sDoD2YDTNjm6Q7F2sXkEIUKbpNlBifzevTFmfRN-8h9MUqAcSOabiE2l2vNOZMiKO4x6mrrlWfiiPzVePeLRdVK_0liSjoqcf2LNRnu3c_PYUw6-oHiqZj0tWjfLU/w400-h185/IMG_2305.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Oak Beach Bay's Mineral Pools </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Views of the Chatham and Discovery Island Indian Preserves Beyond)<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The tour calls it day six, but in reality the trip is five days which run by fast. So the next morning we gathered in the morning to make our way to whatever means of travel we were respectively using to depart the Island. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As I have old friends living just across the Straits of Juan de Fuca in Sequim Washington, I left aboard the Black Ball Ferry's Coho in a morning sailing to Port Angeles.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">75° temperatures, Canadian hospitality, amazing food and lots of sunshine and blue skies framed a beautiful cycling vacation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboys Travels © 2023</b><br /></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-74932588344780194802023-07-06T18:03:00.002-07:002023-07-06T18:07:08.270-07:00Cycling Stanley Park / Seaplanes to Victoria <b>Last Days in Vancouver</b><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">I take pride in crafting trips that (whenever possible) avoid any need to rent a car. Except in rural locales, where there are no other options, cars represent the frustration driving in unfamiliar surroundings. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">So traveling to superb multi-modal destinations, like Vancouver, makes me happy. Post EXPO 86 Vancouver knit together a remarkable multi-modal transportation network. There is robust public transport linking everything from the airport to downtown, the cruise ship terminal and a busy seaplane port. A huge advantage Vancouver offers is completely separated bike lanes (complete with separate bike traffic signals). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is so wonderful to pedal in the city with more than a white stripe separating your from idiots in cars texting while driving. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">For my last full day in Vancouver I rented an e-bike from Cycle City (<u><span style="color: red;">excellent</span></u>) for an afternoon spin through Stanley Park.<b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Stanley Park is one of the very finest urban parks in North America. It is an oasis of calm with stunning views at every turn located next to one of the densest neighborhoods in North America. The park offers a wide and beautiful waterfront trail perfect for leisurely walking and cycling. Spandex clad thigh hammer road bikers can stick to the roadway with the cars.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AdMiibevhUnJ3yK1B_tqGXP4Mf9fzIPclWJQw_uRq3-hHgwDsUl76amUSS1UifYNxKgbsuUqEUhIJNeKDCBbJ845E0JfTzmaQxYm4BkxszFtNsiH26VtrGmD70uxTVbNpSBSLDynA9gjQUrgD7Jeh-Zwb_ykf_WfZ1j_X2qzkXpcINThF3Ts9Q5UAJc/s3702/Stanley%20Park%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2509" data-original-width="3702" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AdMiibevhUnJ3yK1B_tqGXP4Mf9fzIPclWJQw_uRq3-hHgwDsUl76amUSS1UifYNxKgbsuUqEUhIJNeKDCBbJ845E0JfTzmaQxYm4BkxszFtNsiH26VtrGmD70uxTVbNpSBSLDynA9gjQUrgD7Jeh-Zwb_ykf_WfZ1j_X2qzkXpcINThF3Ts9Q5UAJc/w400-h271/Stanley%20Park%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Cycling Stanley Park Along the Shore</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhg0YHSlzq4Efsu1xbA66zaBUxfnLmcKsoRjDiTmQaCV7oZ7CuMU4ivtg0FFr88pBJSGZR-qJVcfTWCYbvmsdSHYFJIy2Zfd_RgoYGnOUZM1WBaofym8Tnsft0cVujbcjXne5_WB_FXc9anPYdzoN2imJ9-1AXWaPTYYbNQfneDbZP0rKKrxNfj7YdUl8/s3348/Stanley%20Park%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3348" data-original-width="2652" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhg0YHSlzq4Efsu1xbA66zaBUxfnLmcKsoRjDiTmQaCV7oZ7CuMU4ivtg0FFr88pBJSGZR-qJVcfTWCYbvmsdSHYFJIy2Zfd_RgoYGnOUZM1WBaofym8Tnsft0cVujbcjXne5_WB_FXc9anPYdzoN2imJ9-1AXWaPTYYbNQfneDbZP0rKKrxNfj7YdUl8/w506-h640/Stanley%20Park%202.jpeg" width="506" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Cycling over the Top of the Lions Gate Bridge</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As readers may know, Roadboy loves me some bridges. And the Lions Gate Bridge is one of my favorites. It is a graceful, almost delicate span that softly emerges from the park. Designed by Monsarrat and Pratley of Montréal, the iconic Lions Gate Bridge opened to traffic in 1938. It was "officially" dedicated May 29, 1939 by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and it remains one of Canada's longest suspension bridges. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I was surprised to learn that the Guinness Brewing family paid for the bridge during the height of the Great Depression. They needed a link from Vancouver to their residential suburbs in West Vancouver. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In 1955 Vancouver repaid the price of the bridge. It is named for twin peaks in the North Shore Mountains. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia it is about the same length as the Brooklyn Bridge. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">For Expo 86 the Guinness family returned to pay for the installation of the necklace lighting on the bridge.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Although expanded from its original 2 lanes to 3, the bridge is clearly inadequate to address modern traffic. However, the City has resisted making any dramatic changes to the structure. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtYNHasjMnu84v5NBVknBYQAE-pZ6YiEbEx3BTAKES0-TNQMoGd1kRCOVsmkMmKmjFyc0d0LX-kKL54ByEdJS_RX7kBInKeBYODpd3HQd58GP3rfqEbsEy8-h6QvF8q61jb-dYGThg_GGscEK8Cml2I81B4aLvKDGQMcEXOX9WMQuXIpDXs7C_rKTY10/s4032/Stanley%20Park%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtYNHasjMnu84v5NBVknBYQAE-pZ6YiEbEx3BTAKES0-TNQMoGd1kRCOVsmkMmKmjFyc0d0LX-kKL54ByEdJS_RX7kBInKeBYODpd3HQd58GP3rfqEbsEy8-h6QvF8q61jb-dYGThg_GGscEK8Cml2I81B4aLvKDGQMcEXOX9WMQuXIpDXs7C_rKTY10/w400-h300/Stanley%20Park%203.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sunset from Stanley Park</b><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: justify;">After my cycle tour of the park I returned to my hotel to pack and prepare for my flight to Victoria the next day.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Seaplane to Victoria</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Despite BC's elaborate ferry system the most convenient and easiest (and arguably one of the most scenic) ways to journey from downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria is via seaplane. The seaplane center is located steps from the Cruiseship terminal at Coal Harbor. Flights to Victoria are provided by Harbour Air. Harbour Air operates the largest all-seaplane fleet in North America. My flight, in a Canadian built DHC-3 De Haviland Single Otter was smooth but noisy (bring earplugs). Also, be aware luggage is severely limited on these flights. As a result, I upgraded my fare and packed more carefully than usual for this trip.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28t1TecthSog1kFMgSMg-muTCqprmCMZNokqpNJCDmr6d9qm3lsRnJWJKgK4SQxOhuNMjBMMre1wNCMoFrVW24qqEo4f8LCo6jZW6uVgGwxN2lnFF8aMP11tV4VS4ZRdmSJeUDgiCkLSS7JQFUmqkAOtEgE6GMeUG0Wsl0tU0azXU26o9KgW2jwAoad8/s4032/Flight%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28t1TecthSog1kFMgSMg-muTCqprmCMZNokqpNJCDmr6d9qm3lsRnJWJKgK4SQxOhuNMjBMMre1wNCMoFrVW24qqEo4f8LCo6jZW6uVgGwxN2lnFF8aMP11tV4VS4ZRdmSJeUDgiCkLSS7JQFUmqkAOtEgE6GMeUG0Wsl0tU0azXU26o9KgW2jwAoad8/s320/Flight%201.jpeg" width="240" /></a> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Pilot Readies for Take Off</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjss5bq5EQHlGxvRuhWSODsIHLyO2jneutjg8b9gEXnXQMbo1VkMgad8Fhii7QjDwUeZepO8kFpfr4-7ckDx5TpwI55qTfts2MNSWpLd1zQHZwCdae793-UlXAAXM6ZPYeJYGVnnAT4hG8gDf9GM9XvUZEfA0q6mSZuGhhIL0-HwGFmTX0rCyaORavVuUY/s3088/Flight%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjss5bq5EQHlGxvRuhWSODsIHLyO2jneutjg8b9gEXnXQMbo1VkMgad8Fhii7QjDwUeZepO8kFpfr4-7ckDx5TpwI55qTfts2MNSWpLd1zQHZwCdae793-UlXAAXM6ZPYeJYGVnnAT4hG8gDf9GM9XvUZEfA0q6mSZuGhhIL0-HwGFmTX0rCyaORavVuUY/s320/Flight%202.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Roadboy Selfies</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVH3LyS-EXf_X6ihaz7ihV6PNfbVtIzKqkRjyQe4y5zsQySTSz2y21AazZIu2fJ2zrvr0AzrHVxaNj9IAbqAjm1qIFOw_7SSXfX7GynxWO7UC8lRrEfROCg5Zjyy3DgJHVgjKuQr3_V0VaTCKkXrQ59WUh4ZKsVynjhL1XijpZto_rvqY68lR_xkpem4/s3359/Flight%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2342" data-original-width="3359" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVH3LyS-EXf_X6ihaz7ihV6PNfbVtIzKqkRjyQe4y5zsQySTSz2y21AazZIu2fJ2zrvr0AzrHVxaNj9IAbqAjm1qIFOw_7SSXfX7GynxWO7UC8lRrEfROCg5Zjyy3DgJHVgjKuQr3_V0VaTCKkXrQ59WUh4ZKsVynjhL1XijpZto_rvqY68lR_xkpem4/s320/Flight%203.jpeg" width="320" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Circling Over Vancouver</b> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKskTeFaJazmNkg6KpSXKCmhTk_Y1rr0TG3H8kjumg279rQgib4gxl5KW-IVxbxSbnCWR19NqMTnadQqke3xDBeM2aruS9eiUwjjoJUQqcKTcUao7kxIHFM-_N5kZwdA0f2aB5ePe_bwRUMB5CL0IKjHTLfqoyQzvZbjhGE-dAJpeSjaiyrD3e-xwtuhg/s2889/Flight%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2889" data-original-width="2506" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKskTeFaJazmNkg6KpSXKCmhTk_Y1rr0TG3H8kjumg279rQgib4gxl5KW-IVxbxSbnCWR19NqMTnadQqke3xDBeM2aruS9eiUwjjoJUQqcKTcUao7kxIHFM-_N5kZwdA0f2aB5ePe_bwRUMB5CL0IKjHTLfqoyQzvZbjhGE-dAJpeSjaiyrD3e-xwtuhg/s320/Flight%204.jpeg" width="278" /></a></div><p></p></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Lions Gate and Stanley Park</b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTxVH9zn2oLYmREL14Xh4JkcDG4ovWTu-2WVs9P79zFTfyB5fBWRL4VxEXZgPJ99lOcp-66QESObTC7NTkoh8qNmgu5IMWC7HowEpkrJh1MfclH_iqjcZNIzM1MgNeJ30fJZk6EmkyeUkU4MVAqH8iLnfGW5e_hQfDEbQrCfPSIP14QePCOFYWSXcaCY/s4032/Flight%205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTxVH9zn2oLYmREL14Xh4JkcDG4ovWTu-2WVs9P79zFTfyB5fBWRL4VxEXZgPJ99lOcp-66QESObTC7NTkoh8qNmgu5IMWC7HowEpkrJh1MfclH_iqjcZNIzM1MgNeJ30fJZk6EmkyeUkU4MVAqH8iLnfGW5e_hQfDEbQrCfPSIP14QePCOFYWSXcaCY/s320/Flight%205.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Islands Nearing Victoria</b><br /></div><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8afWDq-jBPid0eTj-05x-r4LV2KjAu5jheh6uZyOt3DJn0QYwbCNmVu98ise5zmnc1ZYdgb9mMr049iFdjZTSu_Tzfj086KLGxHkHxn2MLSJ_1NV8nvsme9emPr71FEdtyll_kwU42qSzAxERqOs6XET_uBVylg23QcVSojNMkSLFAyRSTxZNff76Nc/s4032/Flight%206.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8afWDq-jBPid0eTj-05x-r4LV2KjAu5jheh6uZyOt3DJn0QYwbCNmVu98ise5zmnc1ZYdgb9mMr049iFdjZTSu_Tzfj086KLGxHkHxn2MLSJ_1NV8nvsme9emPr71FEdtyll_kwU42qSzAxERqOs6XET_uBVylg23QcVSojNMkSLFAyRSTxZNff76Nc/s320/Flight%206.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Landing In Victoria's Inner Harbor</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The beauty of landing in Victoria's Inner Harbor is in the ability to walk grab my bag and simply walk to my hotel (a really wonderful DoubleTree located right behind the stately Fairmont Empress Hotel).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After meeting up with my cycle friends we found a cafe for some cider and halibut and chips. Then, I was off to sleep. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In the morning our 5 days of island cycling would begin.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-21523855170813787472023-06-25T23:05:00.007-07:002023-06-27T15:56:11.821-07:00Fashion Fiction: the Vancouver Art Gallery<div><div><p><b>And Some Serious Strolling</b> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I believe a big part of Canada's major strength is anchored by its cultural diversity. Over my lifetime, immigration to Canada has ushered in profound change. While some will strongly challenge my assessment, I offer it as a friendly neighbor leaning over the fence. In fact, I believe neighbors are frequently better at spotting what we cannot see ourselves. As an example I typically trust the critical assessment of US politics presented in Toronto's Globe and Mail over anything published in the US. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I firmly believe that, although not without pain, Canada's decades of cultural assimilation has deepened a national understanding of global issues, while solidifying a stronger foundation for Canada in its expanding role in international commerce and diplomacy. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">And, as a friendly neighbor, I can assure you that your efforts stand in contrast to those now held in my own beloved nation. During the same time frame we in the US have increasingly looked inward and perfected a national agoraphobia. Many US citizens are now consumed by fear with a capital "F". And this Fear is increasingly manifest in violence and vitriol directed at anyone with differing complexions, religions, gender identities and / or languages. Ring the wrong doorbell and get shot through the door by some twit "standing their ground".<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">By never putting our phones down (I too admit this with guilt) we have become numb to the relentless clickbait lies delivered to us 24/7. The lies are now highly personalized, manipulative and intended to be triggering. Just like the meddling in our elections, the lies are generated by trolls in St. Petersburg. Lincoln was right "a house divided cannot stand". By strategic use of social media our sworn enemies have convinced us to arm ourselves, choose sides and prepare for a second civil war. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But on a happier note...<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">One thing is for sure in Canada. The increasing wealth of diversity sure as hell has improved Canada's formerly dismal food scene. Lets face it peameal bacon, maple syrup and ice wine only goes so far.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But now - wow, Canada's food scene is dazzling! Exhibit 1, was my hotel breakfast. What a wonderful blend of cultural influences; panko crusted crab scotch eggs with dukkah dusted avocado. </p><p>Damn! <br /></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETkx6irAd4QZcy7M_zC02dqADqpBe6QFQVrwWbrN37fEmaUVak3k5rUx539DpzFMG9wCpBcZWveZitSepBAPial0ykcGlyjIs0ZwJ3gkbztrIre2C5oOmIHLchZ44FssfKvtpV1x_xYS2wMS-KYjsZBQVLshUKOpSvKrKu3D3FdYbdNKvQRnbhwU0erE/s4032/Scotch%20Eggs.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETkx6irAd4QZcy7M_zC02dqADqpBe6QFQVrwWbrN37fEmaUVak3k5rUx539DpzFMG9wCpBcZWveZitSepBAPial0ykcGlyjIs0ZwJ3gkbztrIre2C5oOmIHLchZ44FssfKvtpV1x_xYS2wMS-KYjsZBQVLshUKOpSvKrKu3D3FdYbdNKvQRnbhwU0erE/w480-h640/Scotch%20Eggs.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A Simple, Kinda Epic, Breakfast<br /></b></div><div><div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a breakfast like that I knew I had to get my butt in gear and seize the day. And, I decided it would be a museum day. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, for first timers to Vancouver (with only enough time to visit one museum) I'd strongly advise a visit to its Anthropological Museum at the UBC (University of British Columbia). The building is arguably Arthur Erickson's finest masterwork, and the collection it holds is the best of its kind in the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">But as I've visited it many times, I felt it was time for something new and decided to visit the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG).<br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">My arrival to the VAG brought two surprises: first, the main entrance is not at all where it should be, and second, the museum presents zero traditional, historical and / or fine art. Instead, its focus is on an ever changing series of unique exhibitions. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSIpW2lCysI_OnuKe37vvYahPW9NntfiOEovV1a0VUsjG8-lTxfR4mw6_8May_veePCfqpiZNzrV5N44xSU153YMxJcj7w6RjII-2wV98bw15s0kDUVXbHsTCMrWes6BoaW0D75YNUq-eLF0LWpHot4KdBLd1o7NNxiPZsYPezVzHEzuQhUN_i9wyFpM/s3346/IMG_2152.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3346" data-original-width="2869" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSIpW2lCysI_OnuKe37vvYahPW9NntfiOEovV1a0VUsjG8-lTxfR4mw6_8May_veePCfqpiZNzrV5N44xSU153YMxJcj7w6RjII-2wV98bw15s0kDUVXbHsTCMrWes6BoaW0D75YNUq-eLF0LWpHot4KdBLd1o7NNxiPZsYPezVzHEzuQhUN_i9wyFpM/s320/IMG_2152.jpeg" width="274" /></a> <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Nope, Not the Front Door</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">To find the sad new entry to the VAG you'll have to walk around to the back of the building where the current entrance was relocated to face Robson Square (the building being modeled in the middle of the night all those years ago.) </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In Robson Square Erickson made full use of his "Noble Stone of the
Twentieth Century" (concrete). But, now Robson Square's aesthetic feels pretty tired and brutal.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYLVmGSEOGZkOQSVvefHwP72S0NLQYWR4W_sLSkmDr8Twy8OKKvMnfDTUkZRrzaWbV_jHXTrq6XYwEor_eNto3ozPvwjMEjaPJMZTcjedge7drSYQycwDx6Vlm6MYg8qIQ1FSTxHRV4LjRQM9TY3NL7Zp9sbVzorFbL8XgUohbpB6YOif5cxyo7unKBs/s3875/Robson%20Square.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3875" data-original-width="2593" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYLVmGSEOGZkOQSVvefHwP72S0NLQYWR4W_sLSkmDr8Twy8OKKvMnfDTUkZRrzaWbV_jHXTrq6XYwEor_eNto3ozPvwjMEjaPJMZTcjedge7drSYQycwDx6Vlm6MYg8qIQ1FSTxHRV4LjRQM9TY3NL7Zp9sbVzorFbL8XgUohbpB6YOif5cxyo7unKBs/w428-h640/Robson%20Square.jpeg" width="428" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Robson Square From the Entry to the VAG</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Currently the VAG features two main exhibitions. The third floor presents the life and works of Abenaki filmmaker and activist Alanis Obosawin. The exhibit entitled "The Children Have to Hear Another Story" chronicles Obosawin's lifetime spent recording, preserving and celebrating indigenous cultures. The way history is presented to an outsider is pretty dense and can be confusing. But, taken in whole, it portrays a heartbreaking, yet ultimately hopeful, story. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The second major exhibit was Fashion Fictions. This exhibit surveys creative and highly experimental fashion; it is a slam dance of fashion created using unexpected materials and forms. To me it seemed like the natural progression of the work I saw from a young Issey Miyake nearly 50 years ago. Of special note to me were creations by Iris van Herpen (who was showcased in a fashion exhibit presented by the Phoenix Art Museum a few years back.)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The exhibit begins with a retrospective of eighties era efforts in fashion futurism. Then it goes on to presents examples of conceptual clothing using everything from paper to building construction materials.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEoBotfoMAAdMS7VlcA5Ln0O3_tPskWxuU-2tgz5FR56J8ddIqnQFUSI15lJH2rfIRxggSMzcr2-soknVONIfLQsgIykApsNZYvSQSdRzcXbMdU5HqVnP__ZFeL-7W_j9m7LzopR8kYXJut8GPd3iaOsZEkNPEZU6iavn79vjNQqm911AXFSkk_X3sos/s4032/FF%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2270" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEoBotfoMAAdMS7VlcA5Ln0O3_tPskWxuU-2tgz5FR56J8ddIqnQFUSI15lJH2rfIRxggSMzcr2-soknVONIfLQsgIykApsNZYvSQSdRzcXbMdU5HqVnP__ZFeL-7W_j9m7LzopR8kYXJut8GPd3iaOsZEkNPEZU6iavn79vjNQqm911AXFSkk_X3sos/w360-h640/FF%202.jpeg" width="360" /> </a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Design Using Folded Paper</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRYs5thwcYLzC4j4IocvwuNxbrtV8MCOWuveBpE6iQBpYqNvD6jsD0EIlNRZU3VP5ayXFwxpic_lOWiaW79lhv2r53Dc3PoYZiwG5UFwIdugxrlr7QWwfWloXfMI2bxu_r4RdVxf5Br5BrIHn6hUpQlSoFpmyWZKr0IqeT_q1HUWhAlJ3tHrGbKDtaBw/s4032/FF%201%20Puffy%20Coats.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRYs5thwcYLzC4j4IocvwuNxbrtV8MCOWuveBpE6iQBpYqNvD6jsD0EIlNRZU3VP5ayXFwxpic_lOWiaW79lhv2r53Dc3PoYZiwG5UFwIdugxrlr7QWwfWloXfMI2bxu_r4RdVxf5Br5BrIHn6hUpQlSoFpmyWZKr0IqeT_q1HUWhAlJ3tHrGbKDtaBw/w400-h300/FF%201%20Puffy%20Coats.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">There is an entire gallery devoted to fashion examples using the imagery and inspiration of "puffy" coats. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9evtdD-bQ5f48t8t2XjfKJdbzDYS71ZN4qXomBf8SVSj0r9fmsNuFThrfMH4n0szs67LS_j-lkOMeqmjZKX-hIs-88jJeVcVM8R6JQvyIHPv0gQYeKqQLd-t43iLrlTazxdqBrNF_dhvDJkG9SKtdLOeIal6iO2G31tGYfPsZzmwVkctk2JXg4Mu2G2A/s4032/FF%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1982" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9evtdD-bQ5f48t8t2XjfKJdbzDYS71ZN4qXomBf8SVSj0r9fmsNuFThrfMH4n0szs67LS_j-lkOMeqmjZKX-hIs-88jJeVcVM8R6JQvyIHPv0gQYeKqQLd-t43iLrlTazxdqBrNF_dhvDJkG9SKtdLOeIal6iO2G31tGYfPsZzmwVkctk2JXg4Mu2G2A/w314-h640/FF%203.jpeg" width="314" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Puffy Coats and Pants</b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyZUEB2zVati8rIXy9Ter_y_pFQr4bGuajLY-_IWeWHmSYovRgyayIODHNKfYWaMREH7A1DUpKLlLCwoN49bQyjfsMALslnErxZiJ-ZwXWAeulfuecMgwiTg_M57bV4AEs027Kd3Cpiqkhuxn9_JMu9JrEUSA4H976f04UoWyeATxFpwdVjn_RX3Izdg/s3157/FF%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3157" data-original-width="2678" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyZUEB2zVati8rIXy9Ter_y_pFQr4bGuajLY-_IWeWHmSYovRgyayIODHNKfYWaMREH7A1DUpKLlLCwoN49bQyjfsMALslnErxZiJ-ZwXWAeulfuecMgwiTg_M57bV4AEs027Kd3Cpiqkhuxn9_JMu9JrEUSA4H976f04UoWyeATxFpwdVjn_RX3Izdg/w339-h400/FF%204.jpeg" width="339" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A Puffer Blanket</b></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Gethsemane Collection <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Rick Owens (2021)<br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFByJ65Fk2raZDbbeaogS0XhewOeLyoFPyWi4jKVpU3z5txqi9y7fE2KYYCXz-DWsEXZpeShnJBg0ndbQkbG-gtc-GZDoZ9jF_coPXDinrLXXeGEG0ycROJo5OleqL68gQO4yvnO9ZkHNCiJGun8g7BI4hr0iKXw3xcfuJsNsV7bn-yYVnDguh6lkJ5E/s3874/FF%205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3874" data-original-width="2338" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFByJ65Fk2raZDbbeaogS0XhewOeLyoFPyWi4jKVpU3z5txqi9y7fE2KYYCXz-DWsEXZpeShnJBg0ndbQkbG-gtc-GZDoZ9jF_coPXDinrLXXeGEG0ycROJo5OleqL68gQO4yvnO9ZkHNCiJGun8g7BI4hr0iKXw3xcfuJsNsV7bn-yYVnDguh6lkJ5E/w387-h640/FF%205.jpeg" width="387" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Utopie: But Beautiful III Collection (Silk)<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Jun Takahashi (2017) <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pglugrpfX5DeX6RMRUL7FfbawjJMPkKPIQ6fPWNSpb51Au9XonS_GwllGaSbWGi4h62PNJ1RGjZvDjTMpK3ZOs0gJYQvSEGgMY5uD_QB2ltTBoJlf1diysxEw3Q4QHwQR_qDesQcAB3duzfHS5Vns3KyWbW5p4vK7l1y6pyJcP13QFcaTlxihqHJz9w/s4032/FF%206.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2002" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7pglugrpfX5DeX6RMRUL7FfbawjJMPkKPIQ6fPWNSpb51Au9XonS_GwllGaSbWGi4h62PNJ1RGjZvDjTMpK3ZOs0gJYQvSEGgMY5uD_QB2ltTBoJlf1diysxEw3Q4QHwQR_qDesQcAB3duzfHS5Vns3KyWbW5p4vK7l1y6pyJcP13QFcaTlxihqHJz9w/w318-h640/FF%206.jpeg" width="318" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Hydro Medusa Dress Sensory Seas Collection</b></div><p style="text-align: center;">Iris van Herpen (2020)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCncAaYbP2Hx1fSOeIpQiYhucRHatt13rTyiBthtaRub3BHhO18uQjx6FODKoKmhSyh0-C_WFMtNginmFSlEeTriZpzn8siFPRDoXGNn1lPUDNDKdTqZrLUyzn1_a5Z2isAeJFshlSHauwsfKjMMdpl2KZ13afRfJNOYXBUTXDl8DmMiS0MWEEo0h3kQ4/s4032/FF%207%20Iris%20Van%20Herpen.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCncAaYbP2Hx1fSOeIpQiYhucRHatt13rTyiBthtaRub3BHhO18uQjx6FODKoKmhSyh0-C_WFMtNginmFSlEeTriZpzn8siFPRDoXGNn1lPUDNDKdTqZrLUyzn1_a5Z2isAeJFshlSHauwsfKjMMdpl2KZ13afRfJNOYXBUTXDl8DmMiS0MWEEo0h3kQ4/w300-h400/FF%207%20Iris%20Van%20Herpen.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Another Piece by van Herpen </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79DxBUAfpIUpgQeSB8HI-Owwbg1DYbbrg0J-GhC0_OwiREuiy6XhU2BmBUlZ7vsYJzpT0fqWj3d9afdYRuEfhl4R74R-qf0W7JG3DuiBdD5z6HW6GAFiAH92OmuyIl8CjH3DlODcciReerY-aSLmmEPkB98OiT6kIh-MQSlIpK5Njw26OwG841IKRL_Q/s3776/FF%208%20Paper.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3776" data-original-width="1957" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79DxBUAfpIUpgQeSB8HI-Owwbg1DYbbrg0J-GhC0_OwiREuiy6XhU2BmBUlZ7vsYJzpT0fqWj3d9afdYRuEfhl4R74R-qf0W7JG3DuiBdD5z6HW6GAFiAH92OmuyIl8CjH3DlODcciReerY-aSLmmEPkB98OiT6kIh-MQSlIpK5Njw26OwG841IKRL_Q/w332-h640/FF%208%20Paper.jpeg" width="332" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Another Paper Dress</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Stina Randestad (2022)<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;">The exhibit was an enjoyable way to spend a morning. It left with the balance of my day to use to explore and just be a tourist along the at Coal Harbor promenade. It was some great people watching.</div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023 </b><br /></p></div></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-26327441519205773122023-06-23T15:09:00.008-07:002023-06-24T12:28:15.454-07:00Roadboy Returns to Vancouver BC <p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Hurts to say it but.....</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">parts of one of my favorite cities in North America (Vancouver BC) are showing some stress.<b> <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As many of Roadboy's readers know Vancouver holds many fond memories for me. My first visit here was at age 6 years as part of a family visit to Seattle's Century 21 Worlds Fair in (gasp) 1962. That trip made a huge impression on me (changed my life?) ultimately cementing a desire to start my architectural career in Seattle. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">During that first trip we turned North and made a side trip to Vancouver where I found a vibrant city nestled between water and mountains, filled with amazing parks, and immaculately clean. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Subsequent trips included a slightly buzzed college trip (where upon knocking on the side door to Arthur Erickson's architectural office at midnight, we found a full studio of obsessed, hygiene impaired, chain smoking, young designers working on a <u>huge</u> cardboard model of Vancouver's future Robson Square). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next trips were for North America's last Worlds Fair (Expo 86), then a few years later to begin an Alaskan cruise with my family from Vancouver's new cruise terminal (Canada Place from Expo.) Still later we came to see editions of HSBC's (formerly annual) multi-day Festival of Light pyrotechnical extravaganza. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This trip I arrived to chill a few days prior to taking a seaplane to Victoria to participate in a week long cycling vacation on Vancouver Island.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After so many visits I've been smitten by Vancouver's diversity, sense of history, commitment to compact housing, and steadfast, correct, and righteous objection to being sliced up by freeways (like Portland and Seattle.)</p><p>Arrival was efficient. After <u>endless</u> years of collecting a departure tax from residents, Vancouver has a wonderful Airport filled with dazzling art. From the airport I rode the SkyTrain (also a legacy begun during Expo 86). </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyLeM2Grpjsp9ocU151CoXsU7Af_xjfXDaQwZglQU0nmWGyvVsynRJgOsiBn4ou6HPIbT2RAxwXUlhQXYfRBOE8cSaxjXMlWjTex5b5dLGogoEnxGYhAhvp_OscoVWbdFJVV_yHtJ3kQGwGnu6zPiiBWCn4QzXCA1xJowghGonmOIsrCXzBT_J0CaIfk/s1987/IMG_2101.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="1987" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyLeM2Grpjsp9ocU151CoXsU7Af_xjfXDaQwZglQU0nmWGyvVsynRJgOsiBn4ou6HPIbT2RAxwXUlhQXYfRBOE8cSaxjXMlWjTex5b5dLGogoEnxGYhAhvp_OscoVWbdFJVV_yHtJ3kQGwGnu6zPiiBWCn4QzXCA1xJowghGonmOIsrCXzBT_J0CaIfk/w400-h268/IMG_2101.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> Raven Greeting International Arrivals to Vancouver Airport (YVR)</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then things went wonky. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The walk from the Yaletown Roundhouse Station to my AirBNB on Hornby had me dodging homeless encampments, litter, and drug paraphernalia. A lot of empty retail shops and for lease signs in evidence.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">And, with sidewalks becoming a permanent home to drug addicts and the mentally ill, Vancouver's streets are shared by emergency response vehicles running lights and sirens and some fine ultra luxury cars, windows tightly rolled up, transporting their occupants to homes somewhere else. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The rampant "have / have not" class warfare of most major American cities is in evidence in Vancouver. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Upon arrival at my AirBNB, I found out I'd been scammed by a certain scumbag named Andrew Chen who was supposed to be my AirBNB "host". Apparently he sold his property a few months ago and failed to cancel his bookings. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">After using AirBNB with success for many years I now have my own horror story to add to those of others. I just never expected it would happen in a place I associate with integrity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After spending about three hours with AirBNB reps (who could not find any trace of Andrew or any comparable booking for less than 4 times the price), I was able to convince them to refund my money. Sadly, they told me that there were numerous future bookings for Andrew and gave no evidence they'd be notifying his future victims. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Ironically, the refund arrived saying "Andrew had to cancel". I guess that's AirBNB spin for enabling fraudulent hosts?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Luckily, I have lots of points with various hotels chains. And, with hotel room rates (for the few available rooms here in summer) running between a breathtaking $460 and $1789 <u>a night</u> (I am not making that up) I opted to cash in some precious points.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">A long walk to the hotel lowered my blood pressure. And, after settling into my very nice Delta hotel, I found a perfect little Asian storefront eatery across the street to enjoy some Donburi. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Lesson learned: book only from Super Hosts. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Deep cleansing breath. </p><p style="text-align: left;">The real trip starts tomorrow.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Roadboy's Travels</b> <b>© 2023</b><br /></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-75517659763517603212023-05-31T20:46:00.022-07:002023-06-11T17:34:06.682-07:00A Glorious California Springtime, A Centenary Birthday, and Sargent in Spain<p><b>Returning Home</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In late April I returned to my hometown (Oakland, California) to visit my Aunt Marge who was about to turn 100.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I grew up living a block from my aunt and grandmother and would see them almost every day when I'd stop by after school to walk grandma's dog Pierre. I'd collect a coin and a slice of my grandma's fresh baked bread for my efforts. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">My family roots in the Golden State date back to the gold rush. To say my grandma was indomitable would be an understatement. She was born in 1897 in Sacramento. When asked she could recall what she was doing the day of the Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake (she was 9). It made a real impression on her when family friends, who'd gone to San Francisco for the day, never came home. She could also point out exactly where Sacramento's opium dens once thrived. Her toughness came in part from experiencing the trauma of abandonment when her father left for the Alaskan Klondike when she was just 3 or 4. A few years later an adored boyfriend did exactly the same thing. Loss was a hallmark of her life.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now in 2023, Aunt Marge is nearly the last of our family to call California home. At 100 she is alert and quick to point out she has all of her own teeth. Marge was stunningly beautiful. She adored going to movies, never missed church, wore perfectly tailored clothes (many she made herself) and kept her cars in meticulous condition.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">She began working for the powerful Southern Pacific Railroad (the "SP") at a time when American railroads owned the nations transportation network (and when SP employment came with a lifetime pension and health care). Now, tired of paying those benefits, the SP periodically calls to confirm she is still alive.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This trip also allowed me to visit long time friends and indulge in one of my passions; the art of John Singer Sargent. Prior to its closing on May 12 "Sargent in Spain" was on exhibit at the Legion of Honor (what we used to call the California Palace of the Legion of Honor).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Legion of Honor</b> <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Legion of Honor is a treasure in itself. It was a gift to San Francisco in 1924 from the flamboyant socialite Alma de Bretteville Spreckels (wife of the Spreckels sugar magnate).<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQ70TGFRIrXzy3rLfXz75v1Qb43Oo-sS720kZ_mtFPDKuTi5SwqY8Gwh99kyt9s6Wzy0V6fY-YNPe9bTtx-8oNDvUfh08wSzbrL8jGXTH6CWjSt2TYrTDmr6bbSxMrqbikHBpekDbHX8Bc5L08ejLgMbEWwd3eQcClHtisIFdyXRfZNTZdA_al24O/s4032/Legion%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQ70TGFRIrXzy3rLfXz75v1Qb43Oo-sS720kZ_mtFPDKuTi5SwqY8Gwh99kyt9s6Wzy0V6fY-YNPe9bTtx-8oNDvUfh08wSzbrL8jGXTH6CWjSt2TYrTDmr6bbSxMrqbikHBpekDbHX8Bc5L08ejLgMbEWwd3eQcClHtisIFdyXRfZNTZdA_al24O/w400-h300/Legion%201.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Palace of the Legion of Honor</b> <br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-bM5u59wjuQymlDDiG83M1bDjMKWg4YgglkPYXUEE9wZh_ue3xQlttbyjW3qnfiIdT-Pl_MAZL35a-J8EHpsoE0TMqb8a52WrD_TwhCFQ-kR00E2scMri5OCxAHekhZGkqJRkzTTiKMQ8J5v_nJGiWB9cijMHzW95JF6vgEiEWhpcyU0ViCA-rlv/s4032/Legion%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-bM5u59wjuQymlDDiG83M1bDjMKWg4YgglkPYXUEE9wZh_ue3xQlttbyjW3qnfiIdT-Pl_MAZL35a-J8EHpsoE0TMqb8a52WrD_TwhCFQ-kR00E2scMri5OCxAHekhZGkqJRkzTTiKMQ8J5v_nJGiWB9cijMHzW95JF6vgEiEWhpcyU0ViCA-rlv/w400-h300/Legion%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Stunning Golden Gate Views From Lincoln Park</b><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The museum design came when the French government gave Alma permission to construct a precise replica of the French pavilion from San Francisco's 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. The pavilion at the Exhibition was a faithful 3/4 replica of the Paris' Palais de la Légion d'Honneur. I find it amazing how many of our most iconic national landmarks (the Space Needle, Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry etc.) are the direct result of participation in Worlds Fairs. An interesting aside, the US gave up eligibility to host future worlds fairs thanks to President Reagan who stopped paying our annual dues to the Bureau International des Exhibitions (BIE). <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Museum construction was delayed during WWI and, when opened in 1924, was dedicated to California's soldiers killed in the "Great War".</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Interestingly enough, the museum was built in Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park has its own odd history. It was built over the former Golden Gate cemetery and potters field. The City in creating the park in 1909 first had to exhume and move the remains from the mainly Chinese
cemetery. The process was haphazard with some bodies moved to Colma and misc. body parts showing up all over the park for years. The
Museum is literally built over the dead (during its 1993 renovations
they unearthed 700 human remains).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Lincoln Park was named to commemorate it being the western terminus of the Lincoln Highway (the coast-to-coast highway whose eastern terminus begins in Times Square). <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Among other masterworks, the Legion of Honor houses a pretty comprehensive amazing collection of sculptures by Rodin (it was built when Rodin's art could be purchased directly from the artist's studio).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'll always remember the museum from Hitchcock's Vertigo. It was here that Kim Novak went to gaze endlessly at the (fictitious) portrait of Carlotta Valdes.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>John Singer Sargent in Spain 1856-1925<br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Singer in Spain Exhibition was curated by Washington DC's National Gallery or Art. In January it traveled to San Francisco. The exhibit examines Sargent's time spent in Spain and its profound influence on his art. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The artwork presented emphasizes the influence of Sargent's seven extended visits to Spain between 1879 and 1912. The 140 oils, watercolors, drawings and photographs displayed reflect the early influences of Diego Velázquez (from his time spent in Madrid's Prado) and his appreciation of Spanish Roma life. The Roma works led to his 1882 masterpiece El Jaleo (The Ruckus) displayed in Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I also appreciated seeing his study sketches for the murals in the Boston Public Library.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In his time John Singer Sargent was arguably the world's most prominent society portraitist artist. In 1907 (at age 51) he retired from portraiture and went on to travel with wealthy friends exploring architecture and landscapes. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Although his work was eventually marginalized by the modernist critics, his posthumous rehabilitation is certainly complete. Even Andy Warhol commented that Sargent <i>"made everybody look glamorous. Taller. Thinner. But they all have mood, every one of them has a different mood" </i></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here are some of my favorite items from the exhibit<i>. </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUJUIRF5zM8Tt_0d4WuvH0BEQQkA4EEOQBaOpJnTGKN5lxKd3gIG2hd0gbJfUF60ViBjImqJoXquI4Fvafl182XhA43L9sDWk4TWNilb-YUvDJjNoK2y6KwZDFr_E5Nbl8r3XlrM5k66cEzmGswvOkGgdaOPUmdAmmlFqHKaaIxW8FAsJ2eDcwhA1/s1874/Boat.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="1874" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUJUIRF5zM8Tt_0d4WuvH0BEQQkA4EEOQBaOpJnTGKN5lxKd3gIG2hd0gbJfUF60ViBjImqJoXquI4Fvafl182XhA43L9sDWk4TWNilb-YUvDJjNoK2y6KwZDFr_E5Nbl8r3XlrM5k66cEzmGswvOkGgdaOPUmdAmmlFqHKaaIxW8FAsJ2eDcwhA1/w400-h279/Boat.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>A Falucho</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(Port of Palma 1908 Cincinnati Art Museum)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sargent was intrigued by ships and this painting portrays a working sailing ship at port. The shimmer of the water showcases Sargent's impressionist skills. Note the perfect minimalist brushwork capturing the joy of the two boys swimming below the hull. To me this painting evokes many of the paintings of his Spanish contemporary (and a personal favorite) Joaquin Sorolla. Sorolla's painting <a href="https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/and-they-still-say-fish-is-expensive/a4fcf4c7-4d54-4e50-9255-25b44f0e0416?searchid=4f6e4ff2-7783-4d7a-1b63-dcf06ea0d6f2" target="_blank">"and they still say fish is expensive"</a> in the Museo del Prado literally bought me to tears. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdqoCmrakCbyX3oHDooYiqKRWnqkiuRN1q0zqb9SDbboU8TvfkalCLiXjK9n5DS4uWHFmIr0COVltg3i7rzDnYYXzap7mPgHHxJmhllz8voPbp_tlmsjfCTcO_ZE7ub4YAgfad8nfD5MsHo4-G_xdMX1EXqVYtiJVn0xI_Qp74p6CyPrQBj59D0Dk/s2203/Roma.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2203" data-original-width="1809" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdqoCmrakCbyX3oHDooYiqKRWnqkiuRN1q0zqb9SDbboU8TvfkalCLiXjK9n5DS4uWHFmIr0COVltg3i7rzDnYYXzap7mPgHHxJmhllz8voPbp_tlmsjfCTcO_ZE7ub4YAgfad8nfD5MsHo4-G_xdMX1EXqVYtiJVn0xI_Qp74p6CyPrQBj59D0Dk/w329-h400/Roma.jpeg" width="329" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Spanish Roma Woman</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(1879-1882 The Metropolitan Museum of New York)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Like so many of Sargent's portraits, Roma Woman stopped me in my tracks. The woman's serene expression conveys wisdom and leaves the viewer knowing that the subject led a rich life. Sargent possessed a genuine affection for the Roma people at a time when they were outcasts in Spanish society. <b> </b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRZjFCMfb8N7Ls9w43udpitFEM59UKP5w9fxQte4xOug5hMDiQHgi7i0cdUILmlYTD2lAzI5gIeBseDTH8gwGWVnp9MNhlr2C9735ltdZeG7e-tPeTHt0Tr6K-I5NkYGF7Py0k9dQaa4WGuXNAKbfDpmava957Jzevs0ZaVxdNApzf11XOfn9u1af/s2869/La%20Carmencita.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2869" data-original-width="1846" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRZjFCMfb8N7Ls9w43udpitFEM59UKP5w9fxQte4xOug5hMDiQHgi7i0cdUILmlYTD2lAzI5gIeBseDTH8gwGWVnp9MNhlr2C9735ltdZeG7e-tPeTHt0Tr6K-I5NkYGF7Py0k9dQaa4WGuXNAKbfDpmava957Jzevs0ZaVxdNApzf11XOfn9u1af/w258-h400/La%20Carmencita.jpeg" width="258" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>La Carmencita (Carmen Dauset Moreno)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(1890 The Musée d'Orsay)<b> </b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuplnYt9veGi0Xe-EWy4IL8Qp8gU3tjUEjL6hIAkW_sb6AGAXdFEJatRmUuUFkaUBc8uZQt_8PNIDoFsQ0vxdwcRxf2FDUhmx0hA1MKTFuGuDiK5ffhTfe4TseNTKFqzPeuFFh5ndR3HhwLmhmjCh2FJ2LhUFRWg-2P7uHOnrZSYbodZoPlxIzJziM/s2631/Ruckus.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2631" data-original-width="1703" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuplnYt9veGi0Xe-EWy4IL8Qp8gU3tjUEjL6hIAkW_sb6AGAXdFEJatRmUuUFkaUBc8uZQt_8PNIDoFsQ0vxdwcRxf2FDUhmx0hA1MKTFuGuDiK5ffhTfe4TseNTKFqzPeuFFh5ndR3HhwLmhmjCh2FJ2LhUFRWg-2P7uHOnrZSYbodZoPlxIzJziM/w414-h640/Ruckus.jpeg" width="414" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>La Carmencita Dancing</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(1890 Private Collection)<b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sargent met La Carmencita in New York and produced the two vivid and rich paintings above. The first is exquisitely formal and the second literally explodes with the energy of flamenco evoking his famous El Jaleo. Notice the hand with two fingers withdrawn to play castanets. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I find it interesting that dancers are frequently portrayed that way. Fred Astaire also frequently danced with two middle fingers withdrawn. While not playing castanets, in his quest for perfection, Astaire withdrew the fingers to de-emphasize his (in his opinion) overly long hands. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgyZ_7CKWXC1P7lIbbO57scz_Cb5GHNGHdQWGDKKRwN1J-2QNrpzjiky0FpatZDiSUv2HdmTKudK59b3YaoQt1DuhUQ42xKrgNTUeKO192uuy-yycQt_evnKqXGPtthkk2BP5C_vqz_VJfYPzY7gtapE1s5NbQ14VpVQIK1h2QgsPYrhGIOKxKow5/s2347/Spanish%20Woman.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2347" data-original-width="1947" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgyZ_7CKWXC1P7lIbbO57scz_Cb5GHNGHdQWGDKKRwN1J-2QNrpzjiky0FpatZDiSUv2HdmTKudK59b3YaoQt1DuhUQ42xKrgNTUeKO192uuy-yycQt_evnKqXGPtthkk2BP5C_vqz_VJfYPzY7gtapE1s5NbQ14VpVQIK1h2QgsPYrhGIOKxKow5/w331-h400/Spanish%20Woman.jpeg" width="331" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Spanish Woman</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(1879-1880 Private Collection)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">There were no notes on this painting, but the use of shadow, the flow of her hair, and intensity of her gaze is breathtaking. <b> </b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7JQZOe5UMyT7ayaL__PPmod-ER0rlw4l3QdYlivk7FqWDKOp7c-tNZjHY8XkN7-eWliVr3qzpJJ8FmIEMSK4mdtEOkeiydBn1XYjFChztpwfAeUyrtmhM8q1J1mcpH2zkWIMM7KxkKUPF44N7TbqG4sVqdO2PCeVKGBnPWctyURopLrwCxpOE2ik/s2146/Venice.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="2146" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7JQZOe5UMyT7ayaL__PPmod-ER0rlw4l3QdYlivk7FqWDKOp7c-tNZjHY8XkN7-eWliVr3qzpJJ8FmIEMSK4mdtEOkeiydBn1XYjFChztpwfAeUyrtmhM8q1J1mcpH2zkWIMM7KxkKUPF44N7TbqG4sVqdO2PCeVKGBnPWctyURopLrwCxpOE2ik/w400-h328/Venice.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Street in Venice</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(1882 The National Gallery of Art)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So many elements in this painting seem disconcerting to me. The young woman, lost in thought and wearing clothes seemingly in tatters, is being gazed upon ominously by one of the the dark characters leaning against the wall behind her. While not portraying Spain this painting was included as it suggests the influence of Diego Velázquez.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8hI-Xu4a25K3tZz3O5uEP_pmB-UWhy13BJ5XDFlgwN_WPvWWakLpQQjjELnw6esJ2gOWgYoTgfJBfC5y5iLO4reDA4OIxgGNzrAOdAahiRMMoNuXdIag0OBcq-oZmqa7lCbLxDg1blKJ0aZLjV2XS4ljzePPTkuFv9jfqyLKPbi-rKE1m3MOqBYO/s2156/Boston%20Library.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="2156" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8hI-Xu4a25K3tZz3O5uEP_pmB-UWhy13BJ5XDFlgwN_WPvWWakLpQQjjELnw6esJ2gOWgYoTgfJBfC5y5iLO4reDA4OIxgGNzrAOdAahiRMMoNuXdIag0OBcq-oZmqa7lCbLxDg1blKJ0aZLjV2XS4ljzePPTkuFv9jfqyLKPbi-rKE1m3MOqBYO/w400-h272/Boston%20Library.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Study for the Boston Public Library Special Collections Hall</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(1895-1900 The Metropolitan Museum of Art) <b></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">All in all a wonderful trip, topped off by an amazing brunch complete with the best waffles I've ever eaten. Thank you Dorothy!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b><br /></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-4045726173125529522023-04-30T00:00:00.006-07:002023-04-30T11:12:44.187-07:00Belafonte's Return to Lake Tahoe<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>My Missed Opportunity <br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Backstory</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">When my parents settled down after World War II they found a lot with a small house on it located on Davenport Avenue in the Oakland hills. The steep lot had sheep grazing on it and a wonderful view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate. Mom referred to the little house as a "sheepherders shack". </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Dad spent much of the next three decades renovating and expanding that house.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But, at the time the realtor showed them the property, they were surprised how affordable it was and questioned why so many of the houses on the street were for sale.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The realtor grudgingly told them the house next door had been recently purchased by a woman who "passed for white". And, when her very dark West Indian husband appeared, for sale signs bloomed. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The couple went on to play a pivotal role in the formative years of my life. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">My father worked nights for most of my childhood. We kind of only saw each other on weekends and when we would go on camping trips each summer. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">So every night I'd eat dinner with my mom and sister and then ask to go "visit next door" where my neighbors were somehow willing to put up with the nosy little boy from next door. I got to eat fried plantains and toast with homemade guava jelly. We'd sit on the carpet in front of their HiFi spinning records. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">My favorite records featured the magical Calypso beat of Harry Belafonte. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Time spent next door included patient explanations of the civil rights movement. And what I was told stood in stark contrast to what I heard at home. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">They would take me places in their white Plymouth
Lancer and Mr. H always enchanted everyone with his beautiful lilting West Indian "<i>Cola Nut</i>"
accent. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">My neighbor's were both well educated and frequently hosted cocktail parties that I'd somehow drift into. I was clueless who their guests were and only later would I come to find out that guests included famous entertainers, musicians from Count Basie's Orchestra, local politicos, and presidential cabinet members. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">After I graduated from High School. My dad retired and we decided to move to Idaho which is where I went to college. In college I traded a few calls and letters with my neighbors and at one point got a call to ask if I could meet them in Lake Tahoe. No explanation was given why.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Story</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The timing was 1977(?) and I was facing midterms in college. So when I explained to them that I couldn't meet in Tahoe it was understood. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I later found out from my sister (who coincidentally lived at Lake Tahoe and was able to join them) that they had seats in the Sahara Hotel's "High Sierra" showroom<b> </b>to see Harry Belafonte.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">She told me that after the show they were invited backstage to visit with Mr. Belafonte. My sister said they talked like old friends. My (very white) sister was introduced as their daughter and they noted their "son" (moi) was away at college. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Oh to be able to turn a clock backwards.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here is what I later found out.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Apparently Mr. Belafonte had performed in Lake Tahoe years before at the hotel casino across the street. Despite being the headliner. The hotel owner gave strict instructions to enter and exit through the loading dock and to not walk through his casino before or after his shows. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Despite having to endure that indignity Belafonte met his obligation to perform without indicating to his audience the obscene treatment he had received. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But my neighbor's knew the story and that Belafonte swore he'd never again return to perform at Lake Tahoe until he could "enter through the front doors".</p><p style="text-align: justify;">That Sahara show was Belafonte's return in triumph. Coincidentally, at almost the same time the casino owner that snubbed him died. Under new ownership Belafonte returned repeatedly to play the venue across the street as well.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx4QwiyevJ2mlEvnpGcci4NpC4KgGBWNqgb-wg35dr1K_Tls-MsSlTAFcdanvVdBUCj8QE34oX-M1iJo5If7MUIuUNCEjURh8PEnd7tQZ44VZnBvJtPT9cZ-aYwgex8Ovs1sVv5RBnXr-YmVv6ItPCudlTQfvgVbsIP-InOF0TptcXJEXHkKaOWcc/s1142/Belafonte%20Harrahs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="1142" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx4QwiyevJ2mlEvnpGcci4NpC4KgGBWNqgb-wg35dr1K_Tls-MsSlTAFcdanvVdBUCj8QE34oX-M1iJo5If7MUIuUNCEjURh8PEnd7tQZ44VZnBvJtPT9cZ-aYwgex8Ovs1sVv5RBnXr-YmVv6ItPCudlTQfvgVbsIP-InOF0TptcXJEXHkKaOWcc/s320/Belafonte%20Harrahs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">With Mr. Belafonte's passing this week at age 96 heaven became richer by one.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2023</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b><br /></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-41605640548163969132023-01-02T15:00:00.012-07:002023-01-06T16:17:01.718-07:00Looking Forward to Travel in 2023<p><b>Will This Be The True "Return" to Travel Year?</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Happy New Year! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Well like many I suppose, I've spent portions of my recent holiday mapping out future travel plans (🙂!) So far I've planned 2-3 major trips in 2023 (two trips are baked and one is in fluid stages), as well as beginning tentative consideration for some trips into 2024. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I benefited from a willingness to commence international travel as soon as travel destinations began post vaccine re-openings. It offered calm, once-in-a-lifetime visits to normally overrun travel destinations. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now, judging from the massive amount of tourists that invaded Greece after our departure last May, the flood gates of travel are once wide open. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Looking ahead here is Roadboy's current destination list. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">First there will be an increasing amount of business travel (yet still nothing like my pre-covid life). There has been a sea change in business travel needs now that many clients are more comfortable using web meetings. While still valuable, my actual "get on a plane" business trips are much less frequent. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Beyond that in 2023 I have firm plans for 2 major sightseeing / fun trips and am seriously considering a third with my daughter.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><b> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Trip One:</b></span> <b>Sightseeing Western Canada by Bicycle</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In June I will fly to Vancouver BC for a week of general sightseeing. This region IMHO is perhaps North America's most beautiful urban treasure. Vancouver is simply marvelous. It has no inner city freeways slicing though it. It has encouraged compact housing since the 1970's. It has amazing parks and is richly multi-cultural (which presents stunning cultural and cuisine options). The latter of which fully exploits a rich harvest from the sea and produce and wines from the nearby Okanogan Valley. Add a necklace of mountains and you have an embarrassment of riches. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">From there I will join my cycling chums for a week of biking on Vancouver Island with some sea kayaking and stops in lovely Victoria stirred in for good measure.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red;">Trip Two: </span>Venice and Cycling the Dolomites</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This trip will begin in late September. The timing is critical as it is when the overwhelming tourist crowds in Venice taper off and surrender this magical city back to the locals. But first I'll begin the trip with a week in London (the new Non-stop AA service from Phoenix to London has totally spoiled me). From London I'll fly to Venice for $80 (is that incredible?) to join with my cycling buddy Beth for a few days immersed in Venetian history. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">From Venice we will begin our cycling adventure in the Valleys of the Italian Dolomites. The cycling portion includes Cortina d'Ampezzo, Riscone, Merano and then concludes in Verona. Hopefully the balance between cycling vs. pasta carbs can find equilibrium......<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red;">Trip Three:</span> Cycling Bangkok, Vietnam</b> <b>and Cambodia</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Still in the formation stages December may see a visit to Japan (which my daughter and I both miss terribly) and/or Singapore. We will then spend a few days exploring Bangkok. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The cycling part of the trip will then include 7-8 days cycling in Vietnam to include Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, and Saigon. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'm hoping to conclude that journey with a visit to Siem Reap Cambodia. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b>Looking to 2024 there are possible trips to Iceland, the Azores (with maybe side trips to Seville and Valencia). New Zealand is planned for March or April. Beyond that Argentina and Chile still own spots on my wish list. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In 2025 I'm toying with a couple of weeks sightseeing and cycling in South Africa. But we shall see what life holds as by then. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Roadboy's Travel © 2023</b> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-16272143356395855402022-11-27T17:39:00.009-07:002023-10-28T20:06:27.108-07:00Spain's Room Mate Hotels Changes Ownership<div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Fingers Crossed<span> </span> </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Got a somewhat vague e-mail last week informing me that my personal data from the Spanish hotel chain Room Mate was being transferred to another entity. It prompted me to do a little internet sleuthing to discern what is happening with one of my favorite hotel chains. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As many readers know I am a big fan of Room Mate Hotels. They have style, personality and are competitively priced in the markets they serve. Moreover my loyalty is attributable to a certain desk clerk at the Room Mate Leo in Granada Spain. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">When I arrived at the Leo a few years ago I went to present my passport and realized I'd left it in the back seat of the cab from the airport. That left me pretty anxious. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It was late and the desk clerk calmly advised me that there was only one taxi company serving the airport at night and he'd try to track it down. His advice was just "go get a good nights sleep". </p><p style="text-align: justify;">What I didn't know was that he would go on to spend much of his shift tracking down the taxi from the airport. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next morning (Valentines Day) I went down to ask about my passport and he was till on duty. He had the name of the driver from the taxi dispatcher but still hadn't connected with him. I alsed if I should just hang out there and he reminded that that I'd "traveled across the world to experience the Grenada's stunning Alhambra". </p><p style="text-align: justify;">He said, "Just go and we'll get the passport sorted". <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After a wonderful day soaking in some amazing architecture we returned to the hotel and I was handed my passport. That effort, so far beyond the level of service I'd ever experienced from a hotel before, left me gobsmacked. And, my attempts to tip for all that effort, were waived off with a smile in typical Spanish fashion.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So a bit more about Room Mate. All Room Mate properties feature carefully curated locations, individual regional design and extraordinary flair. All Room Mate's are themed around a fictitious alter ego or "room mate". Grenada's hotel was Room Mate Leo. My recent stay in Rotterdam was at Room Mate Bruno.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Despite operating in crowded and fiercely competitive markets, Room Mate finds ways to be better than its competitors. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The chain began in 2005 under the vibrant leadership of Spanish equestrian and three time Olympian Kike Sarasola. The success that came fast to Room Mate brought with it the debt needed to fund rapid expansion.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Then the pandemic hit. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Room Mate responded by keeping staff employed and
offering subsidized rooms at 15 properties to displaced
families and health care workers. But as the pandemic dragged on Room Mate could not offset steeply declining revenues and solvency. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In July 2022 it was acquired by the equity firm Angelo Gordon joined by the Canadian hotel management firm Westmont. Initial transition PR stresses that all 400 employees (many of which as I note are exceptional) will be retained. It indicates plans to expand outside of urban locations and possibly move toward franchised properties. It appears the US properties are no longer part of the chain. <br /></p></div><div><p style="text-align: justify;">What is unclear to me so far is if Room Mate management will continue under the charismatic leadership of Mr. Sarasola. Without his caché, energy and spirit (the "secret sauce" of Room Mate) I worry the chain will quickly become just another hotel chain. I say this as a lifetime elite in not one, but two, major international hotel chains (which is pretty rare). One of those chains changes private equity ownership every three to four years and each transition delivers painful examples of how the MBA / private equity "bean counting" mindset can dramatically erode quality in the hospitality industry. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">So far, at least as of this morning, the Room-Mate website profiles Mr. Sarasola as president of Room-Mate. So with 150,000 Room Mate Instagram followers, there are a lot of us that will be watching how it all plays out.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ3HHaYN9RzSAS3LSDLcfg8DTCQYZXpCKvFIe0S5OYa2X9mdqpS5nl_P_s-jjXFso4OgkwKWi9uNmXvwOcnnbMkXXPwJfdEWZZqKb0ei_uS1womuBC24cGcjozZGJ3sNtMKjM4jYtxDUPTDBFXkQ5psOmCJ8NAFcyyY7f3Zjvm0aIIZOQcB9zRR6F/s1152/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-26%20at%2010.47.23%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1152" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQ3HHaYN9RzSAS3LSDLcfg8DTCQYZXpCKvFIe0S5OYa2X9mdqpS5nl_P_s-jjXFso4OgkwKWi9uNmXvwOcnnbMkXXPwJfdEWZZqKb0ei_uS1womuBC24cGcjozZGJ3sNtMKjM4jYtxDUPTDBFXkQ5psOmCJ8NAFcyyY7f3Zjvm0aIIZOQcB9zRR6F/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-26%20at%2010.47.23%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Kike Sarasola </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">(photo from Room Mate website)<br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Check out Room Mate Here: <a href="https://room-matehotels.com/en/" target="_blank">Room Mate Hotels</a> <br /></p><p></p><p>Room Mate fans beg Westmont, Angelo Gordon - Please do the right thing.</p><p> </p><p><b>Roadboy's Travels © 2022</b><br /></p>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5793390840709841390.post-43202155021157841752022-11-06T22:48:00.004-07:002023-01-06T16:30:49.923-07:00Roadboy's Rules for Traveling Well for Less - Rental Cars<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Roadboy's Travel Tips: Part 2: Destination Transportation<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">After two plus decades I figure it is time to update my "Traveling Well" posts from 2010.<br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">As I've always written I
believe travel should be something to remember, never a chore. So I
plan trips to experience places for business and unique places for fun. Whether for business or pleasure I just like to travel in comfort and pay fair prices. </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">My original three posts covered the techniques I use to
select and secure great prices for Airlines, Rental Cars, and
Hotels. Of course after all the years the core facets of my travel have evolved past just airlines, hotels and rental cars.<br /></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">In 2022 I simply don't need to rent cars as much as I
did in 2010. Nowadays I find driving in many places simply induces stress. </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Roads are much more crowded and pricey privatized toll roads have bloomed. In many cities it is as hard to find a place to park as it is to drive. Now even many basic service hotels charge for overnight parking. I </span></b>mean really, when exurban freeway
hotels like the Doubletree Hotel near the Airport in Grand Junction Colorado (with no
urban life to be found around it whatsoever) starts charging to park a
car overnight, well things have gotten pretty nuts. Add the rapidly expanding trend toward costly "congestion" tolls in places like
Singapore and London and the true cost of that rental car explodes.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> <br /></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">So I've changed this post from a focus on "Rental Cars" to
"Destination Transportation"</span></b>.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Destination Transportation</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">1. Mass Transportation</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Twenty years ago travel options were pretty cut and dried. I'd fly to a destination for business or leisure and upon arrival rent a car. Few airports (especially in the United States) offered any multi-modal transportation options.<br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Now
for many of my destinations I opt for public transportation / urban rail. The game
changers are apps like Rome2Rio and Google / AppleMaps. With these tools I am able to determine if I
really even need a rental car at all. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">To
put it into perspective, I've sold all the rental car
stock that used to be in my retirement portfolio. I think the car rental industry got fat and sloppy and now must rethink itself from the ground up.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">I now plan to land and catch comfortable commuter trains at airports wherever I can. And there are lots of places to do that now: <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Amsterdam, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Athens, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Chicago (O'Hare and Midway), </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Dallas, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Denver, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Lisbon, <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• London, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Madrid, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Newark, <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Phoenix (Note: the light rail stop serving to Phoenix airport IS NOT a safe place to be in the evening) <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Portland, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Salt Lake City, <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• San Francisco, <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Seattle, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Singapore, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Washington DC National </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">And <strike>very soon</strike> <span style="color: red;"><b>(now!) </b></span>Washington Dulles (and even LAX) will finally join the list of airports with rail links.<br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">In cities where I can ride light rail I supplement travel needs with Uber or Lyft rideshares. No rush to refill the car at the airport or time spent checking in a car. <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Notable exceptions to any practical local rail options are Las Vegas and (mind blowingly) Manhattan. Neither offers convenient rail connectors anywhere, just taxi's and car rentals. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">But that is just another reason Roadboy avoids Las Vegas. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Even some major global destinations stand out in the "shame" column. Barcelona's beautiful El Prat airport is an island
with no convenient rail transport. But for now there is a decent local bus that makes a
zillion stops or a pricier express shuttle to Plaza Catalunya). </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Another disaster is Paris CDG. In Paris I stick to the express bus service to /
from the Paris Opera. The nearby train is creepily unsafe. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Yet in both cities I'd still never consider renting a car, because once you arrive in the urban core of either city Metro service is superb.<br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">So I save my car rental activity to places where no other option exists. You have to rent a car on Crete, or in Costa Rica, or even in Myrtle Beach. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">So here are my tips.<br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Car Renting Tips<br /></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">1.
Size: In rental car world size is relative. While I consider a full
sized car something at least as big as a Camry or an Accord, rental car company might
say a smaller car is "full size". So read the category list of
each company carefully.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">2. Check for road worthiness:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Currently
car rental companies are painfully short of cars now, so much of what they are currently renting has more miles and is sometimes not as roadworthy as
would have been expected in years past. Be sure to examine tire tread and don't
leave if the "Check / Service Engine / Tire Pressure" light is on. <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">3. Check for damage: </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Lately some
rental car outlets (particularly smaller franchise locations on one-way rentals) have
started nitpicking small windshield stars and scratches in places you can't see (like under door
panels and on the roof of vans, etc.) All stuff the car probably had at check
out. So before I leave an airport I use my phone to video record
conditions. If any damage is bigger than a quarter tell the attendant at the
booth to note it on the contract.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">4. Get the best deal</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">In
most cases I am no longer willing to prepay for <u>any</u> non-refundable rentals.
So I rarely use my old friends Hotwire or Priceline. Life happens and a sudden illness or family emergency can cause you to need
to quickly change even your most solid travel plans. <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">I
start looking for rentals at websites that show all the prices (CarRentals.com for
example). Then I go to Costco Travel or AAA, and compare their prices.
Costco prices are frequently great. <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">For
distant future travel, I make rental reservations as far in advance as
possible and then check back periodically to see if prices have dropped.
In the case of a trip to Greece the prices tripled from the time I
reserved until the time we arrived. On another trip rental rates
plunged a few days before my trip. So I just cancelled and rebooked. <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">5. Don't buy costly upsells</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Rental car companies cream novice travelers. I see it all the time.
I'll be at the counter reciting my string of "No's" and next to me is a young couple buying everything offered without a clue that their weekly
rate just quadrupled.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Remember,
the reason they make you stand in endless lines at airports is to sell
you stuff. That is why business travelers all try to avoid counters
by using express services. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">In most cases the only upgrde you might need is a toll tag. You won;t likely benefit from the prepaid gas option. Expect the
"our gas price is cheaper than local gas stations" pitch. What they
don't say is you probably won't use the whole tank, but they charge you
for one. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">If you have AAA you don't need road service either. <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">But the biggest rip-off is insurance. Before you go somewhere
check with your car insurance agent. You will probably find out that you are
fully covered for rentals. However, if you are traveling for business some personal insurances may not cover you, so talk that out with your
insurance agent and employer. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Also check what coverage your credit card delivers. And remember if you take <u>any</u> coverage from the rental car company at all you're credit card coverage usually evaporates. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Personally, I buy annual travel insurance plans for myself and all my staff. The one we buy (Allianz AllTrips) and it includes rental car insurance. <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Now lets talk about the rental car companies. Surprise, after years of consolidation, you now pretty much rent from just one of three mega companies. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b>• Enterprise Group</b></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Enterprise / Alamo / National </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">At
Enterprise it used to take forever to rent a car. First you met and
become best friends with a smiley young rental agent that looked like
they were in some religious cult. Then you'd fill out endless paperwork and endure the up-sell. Then they'd take out a clipboard walk
around the car with you. All of it a huge waste of time.<br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">To
their credit when I'd return Enterprise cars and they asked how their "service" was, I
was honest. I told them I felt they wasted 15-20 minutes of my valuable
trip time. And frequently they offered 10-15% off my rental. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Alamo is not a favorite of mine. Alamo cars were frequently dirty and service is slow. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">National
used to be my favorite company using the Emerald Aisle.
You'd just go pick the car you wanted and drive out. But their prices
steadily increased to absurd levels and we quit using them. <br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b>• Avis Group</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Avis / Budget / Payless / Zipcar<br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Avis is a big legacy rental car company. It has lots of shuttles but is typically pricier than their offspring:<br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Budget and Payless. If you don't have an express service with Avis avoid them, their counter lines are legendary.<br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Budget
offers a Fast Break program which, when it works, is good. Pricing is typically a little above Thrifty, but well below Avis. But at many airports Budget and Payless shuttles just never come....<br /></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b>• Hertz Group</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Dollar / Thrifty / Firefly<br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Hertz
is the other big legacy company. Hertz cars were always nicer. They offered frequent shuttles and astronomical prices. Hertz was where business travelers
on expense accounts rented cars. But, since bankruptcy, the Hertz arrogance toward leisure travelers that aren't carrying leather briefcases has dropped.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Dollar
and Thrifty frequently offer great rates and express services but they
also feature epic wait times for airport shuttles.<br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b> </b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b>The others:</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Silvercar (now Audi on Demand or some such thing)<br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">A few years back I felt this
wonderful app based rental car company was the future of the car rental
industry. Then Audi bought it and methodically and systematically destroyed it. Rhetorical question: If they handle rental car companies like this......Anyway, in most
markets Silvercar is no longer a viable option for travelers. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• SIXT:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">A
European company that rents some very lovely cars. But service is
really uneven. One of my worst car rental customer experiences ever was from SIXT counter
agents in San Jose California. As soon as the counter agents saw my Arizona
drivers license they proceeded to lecture me (I am not making this up)
about how the stupid the politics are in my state.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">First
of all, I have to live everyday with Arizona's stupid politics, I don't need anyone to assume I support it. But, more importantly, I was offended by the
lecture and suggested they focus on just renting me the damned car. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Funny, that was my last SIXT rental.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> <br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">• Advantage, Fox, etc.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">Normally I'd say life is too short for these companies. Lines are long. And, they frequently don't have the car promised upon arrival. Plus they frequently have dirty and infrequent shuttles. But to be fair Fox really came through on one occasion in Seattle (and I gave them credit in my blog). So if cash is tight and you have time to wait, well maybe they are worth it.<br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"> </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b> </b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b>So what about Turo?</b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you don't know
about Turo, check it out. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Turo is the AirBNB of
car rentals. It is app based and you rent a car from a host not a
company. I've used it in 4-5 destinations so far. In all but one case I rented
from only top rated hosts. But in all cases the hosts were great, the cars were clean, the rates were
fair and, delivery was fast (in two cases I just picked up the car from
an airport parking lot using code and a key locker). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">No line, just go to the car, document the condition in the app and drive off. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">BUT remember. The big thing with Turo can be pricey delivery charges. They also charge for mileage etc. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">So do the math to see if Turo is a good deal for you or not. Also check
with your insurance to make sure you are covered.<br /></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;">That's how Roadboy does it. </div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><b>Roadboy's Travels © 20<strike>10</strike> <span style="color: red;">2022</span><strike><br /></strike></b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div>Roadboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13498819944094696206noreply@blogger.com0