Inca Rose in Buenos Aires

Inca Rose
The name evokes romance and mystery. This beautiful stone is said to have the power to draw love to the wearer and help in the development of inner freedom by helping to resolve inner conflict.
This beautiful necklace was on display in the luxurious Marriott Plaza Hotel near the restaraunt.

The geological name for Inca Rose is Rhodochrosite  Mark this down in your trivia books. Rhodochrosite became the official state mineral for Colorado in 2002.

Aztec Pyramid of the Moon - Beware these 2 tricks

Traveling in Mexico would not have been my first choice, but I go where the clients need me. Luckily for me, a quick web search showed that there are some pretty cool sites to see in Mexico City. If you have a chance, take the time to spend a day climbing the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the moon. But beware! Even my spanish-speaking companion was tricked by the following.

1. Everyone who acts friendly is NOT a park ranger with your best interests in mind. The friendly fellow with a handful of flyers is NOT an employee of the park, he is a hawker for the vendors at the park. His job is to make sure you park near a gift store and buy something.

2. Don't be fooled by the people whistling or pointing at you, then motioning you to park in front of them. These are NOT park rangers, they are vendors trying to get you to park in front of their restaurant. This restaurant is probably a very long way from the entrance to the park.

The park is BIG, so be prepared before you go and know the layout, where the parking is, and where the entry points into the park are. If you want to try one of the restaurants at the park, please indulge and enjoy. But don't be mislead into parking, then finding out you are not at the park entrance.

One other word of advice: It is quicker and closer to park near the first pyramid, then walk to the second pyramid. Don't go back to your car and drive around the park to the second pyramid. It is a much longer walk and the gift shops are much more expensive.

Arriving in Vancouver

My first arrival at the Vancouver airport was an unexpected pleasure.

The flight was not especially pleasant. From Seattle, I boarded a plane so small I could not carry on my own luggage; the attendant checked it at the airplane. Small planes are very noisy and because of turbulence there was no beverage service. When we landed, I had to carry my luggage up 2 flights of stairs from the tarmac to the terminal. Then a seemingly interminable ride up two very long escalators.

But the destination was worth the journey.


When you enter the airport proper, it is a magical moment.
You hear the ocean roar and the seaguls call. You find yourself surrounded by exotic Indian artifacts. Trees line the walkway and peace descends upon your soul. Welcome to Vancouver, the ocean calls.