Perfection

Perfection is not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Buenos Aires First Impressions

Because much of my travel is business related, my first sight of a new country is usually the taxi ride from the airport to the office. When traveling in the winter, this may be my only view of the city due to short daylight hours. Buenos Aires is no exception.

What struck me most about Buenos Aires is how beautiful the area around the airport is, even in the dead of winter (which is August in the southern hemisphere.) Huge stands of magnificent trees line the freeway on either side, alternating with open meadows, soccer fields, and a few pretty buildings.

As you move closer into the city, the trees become fewer and the sky scrapers begin. There was very little character or style to most of the architecture. A friend likened it to Russia because all the buildings are simple and functional, with no ornamentation. Most were fairly modern and well maintained; very few were run down. There are very few historical buildings or artistically architected buildings, so when I saw one, it really stood out.

When we left the freeway, most of the streets were narrow two-lane streets, bordered on each side by multi-story buildings. Close up, the buildings looks more worn and a surprising amount of litter cluttered the sidewalks. Many of the sidewalks are chipped or broken, with loose stones.

Florida Dining - Asian Food in The Villages

While visiting The Villages in Florida, one concern we had was the availability of Asian cuisine. Growing up in the California Bay Area and Sacramento exposes you to a variety of cultures and their food, and we have grown used to excellent Asian restaurants.

The Villages Thai Ruby Cuisine does not disapoint. The Thai Spring Rolls are light and crisp and are served with a Thai peanut sauce. The Amazing Beef lives up to its name: tender bites of beef drowned in a satisfying sauce. The Nam Sod is both a beautiful and extremely satisfying spicy pork salad. The atmosphere of the restaurant provided a perfect combination to satisfy.

Where to eat at The Villages - Easy Cheesecake Dessert at TFI Friday's

If you take the trolley tour of The Villages, near Orlando, Florida, you will hear that there are 90 restaurants to choose from. So how to decide?

TGI Friday's is an easy choice. It is a national chain, so you may find the menu familiar.

We stopped in on $2 beer night. The local Parrot Club had taken over the outdoor patio, so the atmosphere was even more boisterous than usual for a TGI Friday's.

If you are looking for desert, I recommend the vanilla bean cheesecake. It's neither too light nor too heavy, a perfect layer of cheesecake with a lighter, whipped topping. There is a hint of vanilla to make this treat out of the ordinary, with a contrasting swirl of chocolate for a sharp contrast. End the creamy with a sweet strawberry and you have a very satisfying dessert.

Wild America at The Villages, FL

There is a lovely community in central Florida where you can buy a home on a golf course for under $1 million. As a free bonus, you may be adopted by a family of cranes. This one, nicknamed Ozzie, comes by every day for a slice of bread. Sometimes his mate, Harriet, joins him, but today he was alone.

Ozzie walked up to the lanai, looked at me meaningfully, and waited patiently while I went into the kitchen. I found a  piece of bread to feed him. I was fearful of spooking him, but he showed no fear as I fumbled with the latch for the screen door. I walked up to him and broke bread with him. I believe I could have hand  fed him, he was so calm. What a treat for me.

The National Marine Museum in Virginia

 We were driving south from Dulles Airport on 495 late in the night. It was our first drive down this road, and we were surprised by an eye-catching tower of light along the highway. It had an artistic feel to it, but was mostly hidden by the trees. It became a compelling mystery to solve: what was that tower?

After a good night's sleep, our hosts recommended a short outing at the National Marine Museum at Quantico. As they described the museum, we  realized the mystery was solved. We had seen this relatively new museum, and now we knew how to get there.

As we approached from the highway, the pinnacle was hidden by the forest surrounding it. But when we entered the parking lot, we saw the museum. We parked, and as we approached the entry way, I was overcome by a sense of awe, knowing I walked where heroes walked and were honored.

The Five Most Important Spanish Words

I've begun traveling a lot in Latin America. I know a little Spanish, but don't really speak the language. However, I've found that with the following five words, most Americans can get by in Latin America.

• Please         Por favor
• Thank you   Gracias
• Food           Comida
• Beer            Cerveza
• Bathroom     Baño

US Takes Mexico City

 If you've seen the movie A Night at the Museum you may remember the scene where all the little soldiers in a diarama come to life and start fighting the battle which they depict. I think they included that scene because all of us, as children, have seen a museum diarama and in our young imagination, it came to life. Perhaps it even livened up our dreams that night.

This one caught my eye because I was recently in Mexico City and had to choose between a visit to Chapultepec castle, the site of this battle, or Teotihuacan. Until this moment, I had never known that the U.S. Marines had once captured and held Mexico City. One part of me wonders why we didn't make it part of the U.S. Having recently suffered from food poisoning on that same trip to Mexico City, it seems that if it was part of the U.S. it would be regulated by the FDA  or local health department, and I might have been saved several days of pain and suffering.

3 Things I Like Better in Mexico City Than Vancouver

1. Cash advance charge on my credit card: 27 cents.
2. Customs is much simpler and quicker.
3. Two-ply toilet paper.

Five Tips to Travel Safely in Mexico

1. Carry your wallet in your front pocket or in a fanny pack, or

better yet, in a money belt inside your clothing.
2. Avoid looking lost or confused, even when you are.
3. Let the porter at your hotel call your taxi cab and give directions
if you don't speak the language.
4. Never assume your door chain is enough to keep some one out. Use a
personal security device. For example, I ripped the chain right out of
the wall at my hotel when I opened the door for room service.
5. Don't accept drinks from strangers.

Cactus for lunch? Lunch in Mexico City

I've never eaten cactus before. The closest I've come is a soda pop called Cactus Cooler. But, as the old saying goes: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Today's lunch was a delightful mixture of sauteed beef and spices served over plantain, with a side of cactus and beans.

I generally find the beans in Mexico City to be fairly bland, despite the seasonings. The beef and avocado were wonderful.  The plantain added depth to the meal. And then there was the cactus.

It looked funny lying there on my plate. It had a shape all its own. I cautiously sliced off a tiny bite and was surprised to find it very tasty. There is a pungency to the flavor, but a crisp smooth texture to the flesh. It was a pleasant change from the usual fare.

Too Many Olives? Dining at the Crowne Plaza in Mexico City

Tonight I wanted something light for dinner, so I decided to try the Ensalada Griega or Greek Salad. In California I'm used to goat cheese being about a tablespoon of crumbled cheese adorning the top of my salad. But at the Crowne Plaza, they do not skimp on anything! The goat cheese was served in thick slices over the top of the salad. The flavor was mild at first, but grew in robustness with each bite. The cheese was firm yet smooth and creamy in texture.

There were tiny, pungent white onions throughout the salad that added to the audacity of the flavor combinations. And it seemed an olive was hiding under nearly every leaf of lettuce. What a treat! The salad was far richer than I expected and left me very satisfied.

Dessert by the Sea - Marriott's in Miraflores

wI typically enjoy a large, satisfying dessert and never understood the appeal of the tiny little deserts that are served in expensive restaurants. But when you become a business traveler, you begin to understand the appeal of something beautiful but not too filling after eating in restaurants three meals a day for weeks at a time.

Ponderaciones is a typical Peruvian crunchy spiral dough, filled with creamy passion fruit and borgona grape sorbet. It was just enough to round out the dinner, while not so much as to endanger my waistline. A mix of shapes, textures and flavors to delight all the senses. Very satisfying.

Of Glass and Light - Miami

Light is something we rely on in so many ways, but rarely stop to think about. Without it, we would not have the science of astronomy, as one aspiring astrophysicist points out in her lectures under the stars.
In biblical times Noah is said to have seen the first rainbow. As long ago as 300 B.C. Euclid studied light and tried to understand reflections and the
the science of light. During the 1600s the growing Dutch skill in the depiction of light led to world-wide renown of the  Dutch Golden Age paintings.
For Leonardo DaVinci blending the science and art of light were key to development of this Renaissance man's talents.

During my brief walk-through of the Miami airport, the artistic theme seems to be of glass and light. Simple, yet striking.

Vacationing on the Sound in Virginia

 While staying in luxury hotels has its appeal, sometimes the best vacations are spent with friends and family. Imagnine a delightful weekend, sitting on the sound, a little over an hour outside Washington, D.C. enjoying a beautiful view while catching up and getting to know each other again. Savor the cool drink and good conversation.

Blueberry Cheesecake at Max's in Auburn

I called my good friend and invited her to lunch. As always, she found an excuse to treat me. It happened to be my birthday, so I couldn't say no. We went to a nice restaurant in Auburn called Max's. Although I'd seen the restaurant for a few years, I always seemed to wind up at the In and Out Burgers instead. We had a wonderful sandwich but the dessert was superb. The artistry of the arrangement with the chocolate swirl was simple and elegant. The cheesecake was creamy and delicious. And the blueberries were a perfect accent, a sweet contrast to the creamy cheesecake. Cost was in line with the quality of the treat.

However, if chocolate is more your preference, do try the brownie. Have you ever experienced chocolate collapsium? Imagine a brownie with more chocolate than it is possible to squeeze into a square that size. But you don't have to imagine it, you can drop by Max's and enjoy it.

Exotic Dining - Foamed Parmesan in Lima

 After reviewing the menu, my eye was drawn to the ribeye steak. Normally, I don't expect a ribeye to be the most expensive item on the menu. It tends to be a bit tougher than other cuts of beef. I wondered if there was something special in the way a Peruvian prepared the ribeye to justify the extra cost. But this dish had a side with foamed parmesan, and that intrigued me. What would foamed parmesan look like and taste like?
Sadly, this dish was my only disappointment at the Marriott's in Lima. The ribeye was tough and the sauce could not overcome this basic flaw. The foamed parmesan did add a different look to the dish, but overall was not aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and the taste on the palette was practically non-existent. The side salad had delicate and tasty cherry tomatoes, but were served with sprouts that tasted like weeds.
This meal rates as nourishing, but over-priced and not satisfying.

Big Sin or Little Sin - Eating in Peru

Behind my office is a mega grocery store called Metro. I've been slowly exploring the store with the idea of bringing some treats in for my clients and to take home to my family. To my delight, I discovered Dulci Vilma, a lovely little cafe in the back of Metro. As I browsed the glass cases, phrase-book in hand, I saw the Pecado. I wasn't sure what it was, but I recognized pineapple, cheese and chicken in the ingredients and that was good enough for me. The counter person asked the usual whirlwind of questions. I managed to narrow it down to caliente o frio? and let her know I'd like it hot and to add agua sin gas for my drink.


It was wonderful! So wonderful that I showed a picture to mi nuevo amigas at dinner the next night. They giggled in a way that made me ask: What had I done?

I was informed Pecado meant sin, and  that the dish I had enjoyed must have been sinfully rich.
Then I remembered, pecadillo, in English, means doing the wrong things. So a pecadillo in Spanish would be a little sin, and a pecado is a big sin.

For penance, I skipped breakfast the next day to even up the calorie count and atone for my sin.

Art in Miami

Wherever I go, I alway keep an eye out for that unexpected moment of breath-taking beauty. In the midst of an international layover at MIA airport, I noticed many amateurish framed drawings from a local kids art gallery. I almost passed on by, unsure just how far away my departing terminal was. But when I saw this photo, I stopped stock still, fumbled for my camera, and captured it. I only wish my photography had an ounce of the talent that this young artist displays. I wish them well and thank them for brightening my trip.

Taxi Cab Touring in Vancouver

 I took my first swing at taxi-cab touring in Vancouver. Here's how it works: As a winter-time business traveler, there are no daylight hours for sight seeing after putting in 10-14 hours at the office. But it was my first visit to Vancouver and I wanted to capture some of the magic and beauty of that great city to share. I had a new Palm Pre Plus cell phone, and it had a camera. A marriage made in heaven, if you ask me. So while the taxi cab was winging its way to the office, I pulled out the cell phone and tried to photograph the beautiful neighborhood we were driving through.

If you've never taken a photography class, you may not be aware of how different your eye perceives the world compared to a camera. It takes a little time and training, learning how to frame a picture, learning how not to jerk the camera around when pressing the touch screen button, and getting the timing down to press the little button in between bumps, jostles and jogs of the moving vehicle.

I was delighted when my photos stopped looking like the first photo, and began to reflect the beauty I was seeing around me, like this Tudor-style home in a suburb of Vancouver. And I'm pleased to be able to share the beauty of this great, big world with all my friends.

The day dawn is breaking, the world is awaking - in Miami

I landed in Miami at oh-dark-thirty, as we say in my family. I'd flown out of Peru, so it was 4:30 AM body time, 5:30 AM Miami time, pitch dark as I rode the sky train to the terminal. But in the midst of the terminal was this lovely atrium displaying the bright dawn, whether real or man-made, I couldn't tell. But beautiful and heart-warming, nonetheless.

The Most Important Spanish Sentence

When preparing to travel to Lima, I didn't have much time to brush up on my Spanish. I'd taken 3 years of high school Spanish, I live in California and read bilingual signs all the time, so I thought I'd be OK. I practiced a few phrases with my daughter like Yo quiero Taco Bell, Donde estan los banos, Mi espanol is muy mal and Hablo espanol un poco solamente, which she promptly transformed into Hablo espanol un puerco solamente, to the amusement of all.

However, hard reality struck when I tried to dial the taxi from the airport. I found that hearing people speak a foreign language is very different from reading it. And outside of the hotel staff, very few people spoke English in Lima. I quickly memorized another phrase: Despacio, por favor, or Slowly, please.

The most important phrase (other than Donde esta mi taxi?) that I wish I had learned is Como se deletrea? or Can you spell that please?

Breakfast Buffet at the Marriotts - Lima

 I travel quite a bit and many hotels offer a breakfast buffet. But the breakfast buffet at the Marriott's is unrivaled in my experience.
Imagine, for breakfast, dishes like Pollo a la Caciatore (Chicken Cacciatore), Trucha con Mantequilla negra y Alcaparres (Trout, black butter and capers sauce), Champignoses Galopera (sauteed Galopera mushrooms), Aleman de Nueces y Pasas (a German bread with nuts and raisins), Chirimoya (apple custard). There were at least five different kinds of cheeses and two types of olives plus a wide variety of breads and cakes. It included fruits both common and exotic like pineapple, melons that looked like cantaloupe but taste very different, and a green fruit with seeds called tuna.
The sausages were almost too much for me. I've heard of blood sausage, but I'd never seen it before. The dish was full of purple crumbles and I just could not bring myself to try it. It just looked wrong! But on the other end of the buffet were some colorful sausage links that I did try. They were quite tasty, each a little different in spicing.
The buffet was so satisfying and generous, I found myself skipping lunch a few days.

Sandwiches and Coffee - Late Night in Peru

Some things seem to be universal and universally understood  - girlfriends, shopping, and coffee shops with tasty food. 

My two new girlfriends took me shopping to the Inca Market, a local market where artisans sell their creations. Afterwards, we walked over to a coffee shop owned by a long time friend. They laughed when I counted out all the money I had left after shopping, and offered to tide me over till I could make it to the ATM in the morning. I decided to try the Butifarra, with jamon del pais (country ham), lechuga (lettuce), salsa oriolla and onions. The bread was crispy and light, almost like a croissant. The onions were wonderful, the sauce was delightful and the ham was was perfect. 

They each ordered an apetizer. I didn't write down the names, but they were really tasty. The round ones were a type of potato puff.

Ordering Meals, A Challenge in Lima

Ordering meals in Lima was often a challenge. Sometimes the menu was spanish, sometimes in english, but not always very good english. For example, I'd never heard of Lomo Silvestre,  but I knew Lomo Saltado was very tasty. But what does Lomo mean? Checking the trusty phrase book I find it means back, so that's no help at all.

The menu described the dish as sliced beef sirloin with grilled portobellos and port reduction, served with potatoes, pears and Cambozola Cheese. I know I like beef and mushrooms, but what does "port reduction" mean? And though I'm a long-time cheese lover, I have never heard of Cambozola Cheese. 

The pears were what sold me. I've never had beef and pears before.  As with all the fine restaurants, the presentation was beautiful. The restaurant is at LarcoMar, and what can beat sitting at an outdoor table, overlooking the ocean, on a beautiful clear night? The beef is arranged over a layer of greens and pears sautéed in a delightful sauce. As you enjoy the dish, a new layer of taste treat awaits until you reach the plate below. 

The potatoes were beautiful, of a firm consistency, and melt-in-your-mouth flavor. It was another wonderful dinner in Lima.

The Largest Movable Roof

Did you know that Vancouver boasts the  largest retractable roof? My co-consultant and former Vancouver native proudly pointed out this wonder as we toured the grounds of the Pan Pacific hotel on the waterline.

However, since I've come home, I fear he may have been pulling my leg. Does this photo look like the home of the Vancouver Whitecaps to you? 

Sunset at 30,000 Feet

Have you ever seen a sun sandwich? You know, a layer of clouds below the sun and a layer of clouds above the sun, kind of like a golden oreo?

As I was flying out of Seattle, through a solid cloud deck, the airplane emerged from the lower cloud deck and I was treated to a sight I'd never seen before: the sun, sandwiched between two solid layers of clouds. As I watched, the sky turned gloriously rosy and the sun sank beneath the clouds. It was the most unusual sunset I've ever watched.

See the article by Michael Pidwirny, PhD, of the University of British Columbia for a scientist's explanation (and an even prettier picture) of layers in our atmosphere.

A Taste of Peru at Home - Salsa Jorvic

Although memories of Peru may be fading, I've enjoyed sharing a taste of the exotic with my family after I returned home.

Before I left Lima, I went shopping at the Metro and brought home a few unique items. I'd forgotten my phrase book, so I had no idea what I was buying. But there was a picture of a chicken and a chef on it, so that had to be a good start.

In my familiar kitchen, I pulled out the packet and began to read the instructions.

Verter la sal del pavo por dentro y hacia fuera. Hacer lo mismo conla salsa de jorvic. Arrodillarse piernas hacer lo mismo con la Salsa de Jorvic.


Now what does that mean? Something about the sauce and chicken, probably, but what exactly? Is it a baste, or a marinade? How do I cook the chicken? 

All I can say it Thank Heaven for Google Translate. The english version came out like this:

Pour salt the turkey inside and out. Do the same with the sauce jorvic. Kneel legs do the same with the Sauce Jorvic.

Oops, the sauce is for a turkey, not a chicken. But that's an easy substitution. I'm not sure what they are recommending I do with the turkey legs, but I'll just ignore that, treat it like a marinade, and soak the chicken breasts overnight. The next day I baked them and they came out blackened, but very moist. The spicing smelled strong. We can't quite identify it, a little dusky, but it tasted just right. Serve with a side of rice and your favorite vegetables for a taste of the exotic at home.

A Field of Poppies

My photography leaves something to be desired. Rather than a glorious field of California poppies, it looks more like a patch of weeds. Just 2 years ago it was a mere handful, but this year they shine in the sun.  But give it a few more years and it will be glorious. 

Can She Bake a Cherry Pie, Billy Boy?

How many of you have savored a home-made cherry pie made from cherries you grew and picked yourself? We are blessed to live on a small property with a few fruit trees and two of them are cherry trees. One is a bing type cherry, very tasty for eating. The other is a pie cherry - tiny little cherries that have the perfect mix of tart and sweet. It takes a fair bit of work, and you have to be the early bird to beat the the others birds to the cherries. But once or twice a year, we enjoy cherry pies like nothing we've ever tasted. It just goes to show "there's no place like home."

Agua sin Gas?

For some people, sin is their favorite four-letter-word. But what does sin have to do with water in Peru?

When traveling abroad, you are always warned to avoid drinking the local water because of risk of gastric distress (also known as Montezuma's Revenge, or less politely "the runs".) When I was preparing for my trip to Latin America, the stats I saw were that up to 40% of travelers suffered from some distress and around 30% had to limit their activities because of it. So I resolved to follow the recommendations and always drink bottled water.
But wait, every Spanish class I've ever taken teaches you the phrases like Necesito un vaso de agua, or
I need a glass of water.  Never in my life have I heard someone explain how to ask for bottled water in Spanish.
Even reading the bottle doesn't help. I know what agua is. And sin, in Spanish, simply means without. But what does gas mean? I pulled out my Spanish-English dictionary, looked it up, and found that gas, in Spanish, means... gas.  A lot of help that was.  Water without gas.
It wasn't until I was shopping a few days later that I figured it out. While reaching for my agua sin gas, I noticed beside it a nearly identical bottle of agua con gas. Then it hit me - gas is carbonation! So if I want a bottle of carbonated water, I ask for Agua con gas, por favor. And if I want just bottled water, I ask for Agua sin gas, por favor.

The Ghost in the Window

Such an intriguing image. The beautiful geometric floor patterns. The elegant flower arrangement in the center. The gift shop beyond. But wait, something is wrong. Is that the ghost of the Larcomar in the corner of the window?

Hotel Art in Lima

As I wandered about the lobby the first few days at my hotel in Lima, I kept heading for the drinking fountain, only to realize it was an alcove displaying a piece of artwork. As there was no placard, the way good art SHOULD be displayed ;-) , I had to go on instincts alone in viewing the piece.

Was it a historical recreation of a piece from pre-Inca days?
Was it a modern interpretation of traditional culture?
Or did the sculptor slip with his chisel, only to rescue the piece with an astute use of rock saw and polisher? 

Carb Counters Beware of Lomo Saltado

On my visit to Peru, one question many of my new friends asked was "Have you tried Lomo Saltado?" It is a traditional peruvian dish with Asian influences. At first I couldn't say, but after a few more lunches & dinners I realized that yes, I had. My first lunch in Lima I asked a coworker for recommendations, looked at another fellow's lunch, and decided what he had looked really good. The waiter brought me Lomo Saltado and it was wonderful. I highly recommend it.

But if you do a google image search, you'll quickly see why this is not a carb-counter's meal of choice. 

To Infinity...And Beyond - in Miami

Never before in my life have I ridden so many sky trains, walked so many sky walks, and ridden so many escalators on so little sleep. A view like this is enough to make any sleep-deprived world traveler regret the decision to go strictly carry-on. Like a Jacob's Ladder, I wondered... Does it go on forever, like a dream, into the clouds? And who will be waiting for me at the top of this escalator?

MIA - My Least Favorite Airport

 I left Lima late, later than planned. There was a security alert, the departure was delayed, and it was after 11:15 PM when the plane finally departed. With a mere 5 hour flight, I drifted off to sleep as quickly as I could. But even on an airplane, morning comes too early.
It was my body's equivalent of 4:30 AM when we landed at Miami airport. It was pitch black outside as I rode the skytrain through the terminal. What had originally seemed like an interminable 3+ hour layout, turned out to be just about the right amount of time in Miami.

I didn't know until that day that a connecting flight in Miami only saves you the taxi drive to the airport. Otherwise, it is as if you have arrived and departed all in one trip. I had to pick up my checked baggage, and recheck it. I had to go through security screening all over again. Yes, it included a full-body scan, though not a pat-down search, and some unpleasantness with my wallet. Then I had to take an untold number of skytrains and escalators (yes, a two-story escalator! look closely) from my arriving terminal to my departing terminal. When I arrived, I walked up to the ticket counter, showed her my ticket, and asked her "Am I in the right place?" Her response was "Yes," and finally I could relax - for a whole 30 minutes until it was time to board the next leg of my flight.

Miami ranks as my least favorite airport experience.

Mix and Match Architecture - A Striking Contrast in Vancouver

When I travel to major cities, I love looking at the architecture. It tells a story to me, a little history of the city and when it was growing. For example, here is a quaint 10-story molded concrete building. This would be a large building for many cities, and may tell a story of growth in days gone by. Yet it is dwarfed by the glass-and-chrome skyscrapers around it. Vancouver has been a successful city for a very long time and shows no sign of slowing down.

Infinity Mirror in Vancouver

An infinity mirror is a fascinating concept. You may have seen one in a hands-on kids museum, in a disco, or maybe in the temple. But have you ever seen one in the business section of downtown Vancouver?  

The Best Home Entertainment - No Batteries Required

How do I stay entertained when I'm not traveling to foreign places? The best entertainment value in the world is a cat combined with a small pet like a fish or a hamster. The cat does not need batteries, has a much wider range of behaviors than a furby, works when the electricity goes out, does not require internet access and never, ever needs a software upgrade