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

Sunny California?

For my east coast and Canadian friends, this is a laughable amount of snow. But for my community in Northern California, it was a minor disaster. It has been an unseasonably cold year. The day these photos were taken, over two feet of snow fell, knocking out power through the entire town. The photos were taken after about half the snow melted.

As you gaze upon the second picture, remember, we don't have snow blowers here. My family shoveled from the house all the way to the road. We repeated this every week for 3 weeks.

My First Day in Vancouver

October in Vancouver: What images does that bring to your mind?

When I think of Canada, I usually think of "The Great White North," very cold, with lots of snow. Much to my surprise, my first day in Vancouver was gorgeous. From our office, my native guide and fellow consultant, Monte, was excited to show me the mountains ringing the city. The air was crisp and clear, enough clouds to be pretty, but not enough to block the view. Overall the weather was very nice.

The view from my room at the Marriotts was gorgeous, overlooking the pool with a view of the mountains on either side of the Hilton. After work, I slipped on my swimsuit and found the pool a wonderful 80 degrees. It was a little chilly, so the hot tub was welcome and very relaxing after my swim.

So if anyone asks, tell them October in Vancouver can be just as beautiful as October in California.