Thursday, June 28, 2018

Wine Enigma

SIGNS OF THE WORLD

Even here in the bucolic, urban violence, ridden, public transportation boondoggle home, drunk driver haven of Albuquerque we can find signs worth our attention

Behold
I was opening up a very nice bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir when I noticed this on the label.

Certified Salmon Safe
Pray tell what does that mean?

Does that mean that salmon can safely drink this wine? I have images of bottles being thrown into the ocean to encourage male and female salmon mating partying. 

Does it mean that this winery is safe from depredations of wine seeking salmon who swarm over the rivers to the vineyards to drink themselves silly before they pass away?

Does it mean this is a wine I can safely cook salmon with or eat salmon with?

Does it imply that this wine acts like some sort of salmon condom?

Who knows?

An Enigma

Sunday, June 24, 2018

2018 Eastern Mediterranean Trip - In Review - Lessons

Okay, I promise...I mean it...really...I do...you can count on it...go to the bank with it...

This is the LAST POST on the 2018 Eastern Mediterranean Trip.

So what great lessons have we learned on this trip?

Are we ready to act our age?

Accepting age limitations and restricting our efforts remains much more theory and a discussion point than practice. We talk a good game but the minute we are out in the field our will power falls faster than a souffle out of the oven. I mean really, the first day, the very first freaking day in Jaffa, we walked ourselves into the ground!

But the flip side of this is that I continue to return from these trips feeling (once I’ve recovered) physically stronger and mentally more alert. So what is the right balance? Not sure.

A subtle change in attitude about travel
When we first started doing these long trips, I felt a kind of pressure that we need to this or we might never do it. There was almost an urgency to take advantage of the opportunity. After nine of these long trips, there is no longer the feeling of needing to do them because you are afraid you never will. If it all stopped now, could say we did a helluva a lot. But on the other hand I believe we have also gained the understanding that we will travel and will continue to travel. We have openly talked about if as we become less physically able to travel the way we have been, we will just change the way we travel. It has truly become part of who we are. Which has led to…
A change in my perception of my life
An understanding that the travel life and the home/work life are one. When people now ask me how my vacation was or have I gotten back into the work routine, it really doesn't compute. Because for me all I have is one life, a life that is composed of my work transformed so it supports and nourishes me rather than drains me and my travel. Sometimes I am more traveling and work is less prevalent. And other times I am working more and travel is in planning mode. But they are just two sides of the same.
On using guides
One of the influences of aging has been an increase in our reluctance to do things like driving on our own in many situations. Another has been a reluctance to attack cultures that we are unfamiliar with totally on our own. This has led to our making greater and greater use of guides. Our first use of a packaged guide/driver/accommodation trip was in Albania last fall. We did two this time - Jordan and Turkey. In Greece, the Peloponnese, we used a guide to get us around but arranged our own housing. 
There are pluses and minuses to this system. Guides as a general rule, have their own agenda...by that I mean they have a certain world view and if you are with them you are going to get them. Based on what we'd heard from many people who have been to Israel and used guides, I was pretty glad we did our own thing there and could have our impressions be unsullied. But I would not have been comfortable doing that in the areas where we had our guide drivers because driving and navigating would have been really tough. We got all our big guides this time through the TourHQ site. I was pretty happy overall with what we got and after this experience think I can use that sites resources more effectively to get what we want.
And on to the future
When I discovered the joy of the long trip, I had a passion to do them, as if I didn’t I would be missing the opportunity forever. And it was clear that the whole process of planning the trips and then managing during the trip provided stimulation to an important part of me that used to come from working…a part that needed to still be stimulated at some level especially if I wasn’t working.
Then two things took place that caused me to reevaluate. One the voice of limitations I’ve alluded to before became stronger and stronger. Even before we started this type of travel, we had these ideas of things we were going to do when we traveled that never came to pass because of limitations that arose. It is clear we can’t do what we thought we might have even five years ago because of various limitations that inexorably keep growing.
But equally important, I have mastered how to do all kinds of different traveling to all kinds of different places. Now it feels like the whole process of how one does traveling like this has become less of an effort. Before it took so much thinking to plan out a trip and consider all the options. Now if you told me we could go off for long trip, I think I could put something together in weeks. The need to plan to the extreme is really not required. And frankly, it is not quite the challenge or as stimulating. Yet the need for challenge and stimulation remain.
This has caused rethinking on what we might do and how we might do it. Result? An exciting new list of opportunities to explore. Maybe we shouldn’t lock into a destination, but should follow the availability of airfares to take us wherever that leads? Perhaps we should try to do things purposely with less notice. Maybe we should travel less long and more often? We are going to try this fall to do a completely unscripted, unplanned road trip in the US (the smart money is all on my caving just before the trip starts and make a bunch of reservations). I feel like a flower that is blooming. So many new ways for us to go out into this wonderful world and find experiences.


Interlude - An Ode To Jordanian Coffee

During our time in Jordan, I extolled the virtues and my great appreciation for the version of Turkish coffee that is brewed in Jordan. I loved it so much that our handler, Ashraf, secured a kilo from his own neighborhood roaster for me to bring home.

Now that we are back, I have been partaking on a somewhat regular basis. It requires a little bit of work but it is deeply satisfying...sort of the ideal thing to have in the early afternoon when I have the time and don't have any meetings.

Today, Wife and I did our usual Sunday afternoon main meal. I was feeling incredibly mellow. I waxed rhapsodic about all the good things we have going on in our life. We finished dinner and I collected the trash and took it out still feeling very mellow and upbeat. A little voice/presence in the back of my mind is observing this. It is saying..."You know, this really isn't like normal behavior. You don't think it could be because you drank a big ass cup of Jordanian coffee an hour before dinner?"

Hmmm. I remember Wife's anecdotal comments about my speed of speech and enthusiasm jumping each time I had the coffee when were in Jordan. Now I'm thinking, "What is it about this coffee that causes such a different reaction from any other coffee I've ever had?" No jitters, just this long lasting, upbeat energetic feel. They add cardamon to it. I've never heard of cardamon having any psychoactive properties. Maybe there is more than cardamon? Maybe they put hashish in the coffee! Wouldn't that be different. It would explain the combination of non-jittery energy with buoyant happiness.

I doubt I'm going to find an answer to this. I just know I will be very sad when I've finished all the coffee I've brought back.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

2018 Eastern Mediterranean Trip - In Review - Part One

Whenever Wife and I return from one of our trips, people we meet up with always say the same thing..."What was your favorite?"

And we inevitably are silent. For it is so incredibly hard to pick out one thing from the vast number of experiences and places we would have visited. For those who only occasionally travel and who have never had the experience of spending months on the road visiting country after country and tens of cities and places, I think it is hard to conceptualize the vast amount of experiences one gets doing trips like this.

So I am going to use this post to recite just the significant impressions I had from this trip. In my next post, I will do the deeper analysis related to our overall transitioned state and how our next steps. So without further ado...

2018 Eastern Mediterranean Trip
Best Of Impressions...
  • The chaos of departure. It is really quite amazing. Every trip something always goes wrong. Phones die, Computers crash. Credit cards get compromised (this trips version). We've gotten to the point where when it happens we just say, "Ah this is this trips version."
  • Have to say the overall bad quality of Israeli short-term rentals really made an impression – whether it was communication, the beds, the cleanliness, the amenities, our experience here would rate as the worst we've experienced.
  • I personally really regret we didn’t go to modern Tel Aviv (as opposed to Old Jaffa). I think we got a distorted view of Israel (not seeing the modern secular Jewish side)
  • It is freaking amazing how much historical stuff we learned throughout this trip…even for a confirmed history geek like me!
  • The ‘Wife getting trapped in the bomb shelter’ story..while NOT very funny at the time…is destined to become a true classic for the ages
  • The intensity of religion in Jerusalem was overpowering
  • Food in Israel– one can get really tired of shawarma, falafel, hummus when served exactly the same way with exactly the same accompaniments.
  • Being a Jew who is conflicted on traditional Jewish behavior traits is not a recipe for contentment in Israel
  • Israeli behavior patterns somewhat jarred my sensibilities – politeness on the tram and in the street, rudeness in the markets, a sort of a chip on the shoulder attitude toward language and visitors
  • Then there was the soldiers, young men and women, all over the place with weapons, but looking more like just young people anywhere…surreal. There was one scene in particular that lodged in my mind. While in Jerusalem, walking back to our apartment we saw this attractive young woman in military garb, with an automatic rifle slung over her back, carrying to bags of groceries in one hand, while texting on her cell phone in the other.
  • I don't know about you but I think there is a favorable prejudice towards the old and ancient, But the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth – Modern but way cool!
  • Thank you Southeast Asia for giving me the ‘go with the flow’ attitude toward driving that served us in good stead in Northern Israel
  • ARGH! tour bus groups of ‘the faithful’ at Northern Israel sites
  • Thumbs up for the Roman ruins at Bet She’an
  • Thumbs up for the incredible spread of salads at the Israeli BBQ place near Bet She’an
  • And speaking of Roman ruins, none could top those of Jerash in Jordan
  • Madaba and Mt. Nebo – Some of the most spectacular mosaic art I've ever seen and I am mad about mosaics
  • As far as the overall tourist experience is concerned, there was the incredible juxtaposition of the peace and calm at sites like the Citadel, Jerash, Madaba, Mt. Nebo and Karak Castle versus the tourist huckster overload at Petra
  • Petra, one wonders what it would be like to go there and not be harassed every moment by people trying to sell you things.
  • Rereading it, I can’t believe how much we did in our five days in Jordan. Jordan was truly a different experience in terms of culture, look, society
  • Many thanks and appreciation to our driver/handler Ashraf in Jordan. He was a person who you felt was looking out for your interest...even to buying for me a kilo of Jordanian coffee from his own roaster for me to take home
  • I think both Wife and I were somewhat surprised at our joy of coming to familiar ‘Euro’ culture in Greece after our three weeks in the very different Middle East feel of Jordan and Israel
  • Have to give thanks also to the great learning we got with Vassilis and his photo workshop/tour in Athens
  • We loved our Athens apartment
  • Greece a nation of patios!!! Honestly there any place that has more? We have yet to see one
  • And we loved that the Greeks were comfortable using English without putting a guilt trip on you if you didn’t know much or any Greek. Made it feel very welcoming and comfortable.
  • So appreciative of our Guide in Greece, Ioannis and his taking us to great places off the beaten train in the Peloponnese
  • And loving our base in Kalamata, a great Airbnb, the kind of place I want to bring family members back to!
  • Oh Thessaloniki! Why are you not recognized as the gem of a city you are? I don’t care. Let the cruise ships go to the islands and leave your beauty and energy to us.
  • As jarring to us as Israel was, the smashing the expectations about Turkey in Western Anatolia equaled that. It is so dangerous to travel with expectations. 
  • Our guides in Turkey, Işık & Sezgin, such windows into what life was like in that part of Turkey
  • One of our great joys in travel is those snapshot, personal interactions you have with people. Our experience with the sweet old soul running the marzipan shop in the Izmir bazaar was one of those
  • The cooking demonstration and dining with hotel staff…yet another of our wonderful experiences
  • I think it was a bit of a shame that we were getting tired and a little jaded by Greco/Roman ruins by the time we got to Turkey because the places there on looking back were as fine as any we saw the whole trip
  • Oh the joy of our ‘decompression’ time in Amsterdam. The #3’s are so welcoming. We are so comfortable in Amsterdam. It is the perfect way to start winding down from our big trips.
  • Seriously, we have the jet lag management thing down to a science.
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Tuesday, June 19, 2018

2018 Eastern Mediterranean Trip - OMG...STILL MORE

YES! Because you acted fast last time you are getting this bonus post of pictures that I forgot I took with my iPhone in Amsterdam! You lucky devils you!

FRITES
Dutiful Daughter in line to get the...
...Best Damn Frites in the Universe
We have been going to this one stand in the Albert Cuyp market now for almost as long as #3 has been in Amsterdam. Unfailing, top notch quality
Frites Maestro at work
If you have had frites, you have to have waffles
But not any ole waffles
Fresh, made to order, waffles with one of a bizillion toppings
Wally's Waffles
 
Last fall when we were in Amsterdam he wasn't there
DEVESTATION
So happy he was back so Wife could have her waffle with three kinds of chocolate
Wally in action
He told us he moves around which is why we missed him
He's putting up a web site so we will never have an Amsterdam waffle-less trip again

Right next to Wally was the place for herring
Very traditional for Wife and I
Her waffle and my herring
Go Orange!

Do you remember...
...From Jordan?

Well our table arrived just days after we got back and I set it up this weekend
Looks beautiful and we are grateful for her skills
Here shown with first cup of Jordan coffee brewed here

Coming up soon
Great Navel Gazing Post!


Sunday, June 17, 2018

2018 Eastern Mediterranean Trip - Cooking Class

Ha! Extra Bonus Post from Trip for loyal de-Intimdator readers

If you remember, I had a cooking class while we were in Turkey. This was more of a demonstration than a hands-on cooking class which in some ways was better as it allowed me to observe more closely how flavors were developed. This post is filled with action packed videos!

The meal consisted of 1 soup, 4 mezzes, one main and one dessert
The Chef
Mohammed
He actually smiled lots during this
Prep



Let's make soup!



The filling for the stuffed eggplant







Making the mezzes which were a salad of broad beans, a salad of purslane and mint, a puree of fava beans and a hot liver mezze
The master sauce is garlic pounded with salt mixed with olive oil and lemon juice
It went on all the salads


The liver mezze
The bean salad
And the bean puree

 
And the purslane/mint salad

On to the eggplant dish






Dinner is served












Thursday, June 14, 2018

de-I, Transition Wizaard

I have to say that even I am impressed...and it is very hard for me to impress myself as the ego of the self impressing tends to get canceled out by the cynicism of the self observing. But the transitioning from our travel mode to our work mode as gone so smoothly this time as to have been barely noticeable.

We have continued to refine how we treat our trip back, getting more naps during the flight over the Atlantic and during our hotel stay in Chicago on day one of our trip back so we are almost already on a normal sleep schedule on the second day when we get to Albuquerque.

And the transition between travel guy and guy who still works was equally seamless.  I had a full business day scheduled today and it was like I never left. I explained it to one person today like this.

"There is no difference in my mind between working and traveling. It isn't like they are two separate activities. They are both just parts of what my new post-full time work life are. And I move between them effortlessly because they are just parts of a whole that give me fulfillment and contentment."

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

2018 Eastern Mediterranean Trip - Day 49, Actually Home

That interval day at the hub city...part of you wishes you had gone right home...but another part knows from experience now how much better you will adjust to the jet lag. So it was that we flew home the last leg from Chicago this morning. Sleep last night was pretty good. We almost made it to 10 PM Chicago time which was 5 in the morning Amsterdam time. We got in a good six hours of sleep before our time zone confused bodies got us up.

The last flight was uneventful. We were at the house by 1 PM. Immediately jumped into doing the laundry, sorting the mail and getting grocery shopping done. On top of that I had a business phone call at 4 PM. I was pretty wiped out by dinner time. But it is 8:30 in the evening as I write this and I am not falling asleep in my chair so that's pretty good.

Tomorrow is dedicated to getting my body back in form...acupuncture, a massage and my hair cut. Thursday is back into the swing of my work life.

This trip as all the previous has been so rich in experiences and learning. We keep growing and changing. I am reviewing my posts for the 'great navel gazing' post. I look back at what we did and it's hard to remember and realize you did it because so much has taken place.

Ruminations to come!

Monday, June 11, 2018

2018 Eastern Mediterranean Trip - Day 47 & 48, Heading Home

After a chill Sunday in Amsterdam where we went out to brunch, took a walk, did some picture taking, and I had an epic one and a half hour one-on-one play session with 3.2, we said goodbye this morning and headed to Amsterdam's Schipol Airport to start the journey back home. We have been flying home from here for most of our European trips since we started our semi-retired long stay travel so the airport and the particular flights we take are very familiar.

For some reason, I got chosen for extra security screening before boarding the plane...booooo. The flight itself was uneventful. As usual also, Global Entry makes coming back to the US a very simple matter...Yaaaaaaaayyyy.  As is also our customer, we are spending the night in Chicago and starting the process of managing the change in time zones. Wife and I both napped on the plane over and then took another nap when we got into the hotel. We hopefully will stay up to about 10 PM tonight and get ourselves on track.

Sunday, June 10, 2018

2018 Eastern Mediterranean Trip - Amsterdam Pictures

Wow. Mega Trip Spring 2018 is over but for the getting home. We leave tomorrow morning for the US. Will make our usual stop over in Chicago and be back home on Tuesday. It's been lovely just hanging out with the family and we had tons of quality time with 3.1 and 3.2, ate well, drank a lot and generally started to relax and get ready for the transition home.

Wife did an epic cooking stent with 3.1 and 3.2 that left the rest of us in awe
3.2 feasting on the batter
Some really fantastic brownies
It is always a treat to cook at sea level!
#3 taking in her Mother's handiwork for her birthday
Rare sighting and video of high speed internet deity 3A
It's funny how from visit to visit one grandchild or the other will end up seeming to have more of the good pictures. This time 3.1 was in a particularly photogenic frame of mind.



The Grandchildren wanted us to visit the Modern Art Museum they had visited
3.2 ready to start the tour
Honestly, modern art is really not my thing, but I did like this piece. Could see it in our house.
 
And this exhibit was very interesting
We enter
We observe

We discuss
3.1 now ready to provide a presentation
 
Wandering the streets and canals
We do this all the time...but for the last few years we've been here in the freaking cold weather
So nice to be doing this in good weather



 River and Canal




Always...my favorite photographic mentor


People watching



People from Lisbon who wanted me to take a picture of them
And they reciprocated
Smiling from another adventure
Not showing we are exhausted and sooooo ready to go home LOL