tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345959282024-03-13T03:03:26.829-07:00Tamerlane's ThoughtsCars | Geopolitics | Travel | FoodMaxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.comBlogger8078125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-19362692561896240922024-03-10T11:07:00.000-07:002024-03-10T11:07:32.278-07:00Dave's 2024 Oscar Picks<p>My Oscar savant friend predicts:</p><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Picture - Oppenheimer </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Director - Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Actor - Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Actress - Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Supporting Actor - Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Supporting Actress - Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Original Screenplay - Anatomy of a Fall</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Adapted Screenplay - American Fiction</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Cinematography - Oppenheimer </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Editing - Oppenheimer </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Costume Design - Barbie </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Production Design - Barbie </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Makeup - Poor Things </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Animated Feature - Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Animated Short Film - War is Over!</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Live Action Short - The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Documentary Short - The Last Repair Shop</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Documentary Feature - 20 Days in Mariupol</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Foreign Language Film - The Zone of Interest </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Original Score - Oppenheimer </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Original Song - “What Was I Made For,” Barbie </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Sound - Oppenheimer </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none !important;">Best Visual Effects - Godzilla Minus One </span></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-63421395326593198712023-08-30T12:50:00.000-07:002023-08-30T12:50:34.182-07:00My French Guiana Adventure: Day 8<p>The trip back home from French Guiana was wild.</p><p>I always like to arrive at the airport super early. There are maybe six other passengers in the entire airport when I get there. I walk around the lobby to look at model rockets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzbYj-P1Wx49fqsirNdR59IQDN8A04abFg_lTX_6nnfJkJNULW2013SFla0DCWDIPf_wZlwmfjOptnCkRUYh7-LNhl2J8ssNzD7FWV2bc1okBbcrs4tOIeWQku79V0yD7NyJbPWyYfGSYBsqXdIU1IAf-lB7tM1LZH54yb6kn2yrO3UkQf6xT/s4032/IMG_3199.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEjYzbYj-P1Wx49fqsirNdR59IQDN8A04abFg_lTX_6nnfJkJNULW2013SFla0DCWDIPf_wZlwmfjOptnCkRUYh7-LNhl2J8ssNzD7FWV2bc1okBbcrs4tOIeWQku79V0yD7NyJbPWyYfGSYBsqXdIU1IAf-lB7tM1LZH54yb6kn2yrO3UkQf6xT/w480-h640/IMG_3199.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3OrIsYzfwk1QZycU394vktrXU11a2u846pg9kr_G6WD-9bsgB0R4jK9IAtgrVS4eQO4mfyx61kR0-hCJ4v10bJMX8IdQeLtBvgTYNimlmcXmh6zCgC78rMwNvwEYuSEBROCzYlzf0JQnFm6Kn_Q7xZ8qO9v9_R2DSbNRanEYhYXrZIqFIKwi/s4032/IMG_3200.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEhk3OrIsYzfwk1QZycU394vktrXU11a2u846pg9kr_G6WD-9bsgB0R4jK9IAtgrVS4eQO4mfyx61kR0-hCJ4v10bJMX8IdQeLtBvgTYNimlmcXmh6zCgC78rMwNvwEYuSEBROCzYlzf0JQnFm6Kn_Q7xZ8qO9v9_R2DSbNRanEYhYXrZIqFIKwi/w480-h640/IMG_3200.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">French Guiana is an international airport, but not a busy one. Today, there are just two flights out. The Island Hopper to Miami, and the direct flight to Orly. I want to reiterate that 60% of the cocaine in Mainland France transits through this airport. You do the math. They check my body and my luggage for cocaine residue.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjcf-5S11Ff_ohLcts3hMpoKwlfaqh9rfI2KvLczDm4myHzY1Id2Ocdz3_y7Td7-pWX17F_JZj57R3mPyYZjGxZW6s5OjGgiv3xFZF_E9kXH5ury1d_xuPiHBiGark3MUnPHDapxXYgGZjhsasxzeK_muSPqTkdsUbu8VwI1XMo6LRWql-n-q/s4032/IMG_3201.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEivjcf-5S11Ff_ohLcts3hMpoKwlfaqh9rfI2KvLczDm4myHzY1Id2Ocdz3_y7Td7-pWX17F_JZj57R3mPyYZjGxZW6s5OjGgiv3xFZF_E9kXH5ury1d_xuPiHBiGark3MUnPHDapxXYgGZjhsasxzeK_muSPqTkdsUbu8VwI1XMo6LRWql-n-q/w640-h480/IMG_3201.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I board the plane. Uneventful.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKwJEa45YaItiHlhoLdumb7X6uII8NkHdf0BWa2klotIjiQJXE4SM-JT3pLJ0f6Hwbv8vA7mQXbtGR22vE1BmeYSSyiY2Wppp5AoTix8GzWpN5U9RabpJMNIaCC5ZD4opeSN9g1Tg_Pf7lLuHp8oF98skYDg06gmxmiLzPdEPPhrjO0FRHQyK/s4032/IMG_3204.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEgrKwJEa45YaItiHlhoLdumb7X6uII8NkHdf0BWa2klotIjiQJXE4SM-JT3pLJ0f6Hwbv8vA7mQXbtGR22vE1BmeYSSyiY2Wppp5AoTix8GzWpN5U9RabpJMNIaCC5ZD4opeSN9g1Tg_Pf7lLuHp8oF98skYDg06gmxmiLzPdEPPhrjO0FRHQyK/w480-h640/IMG_3204.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It is empty. Then, all of a sudden, a bunch of people get on all at once. Too many, in fact. 23 passengers on board do not have boarding passes and are not authorized to fly. It takes two hours to figure out who needs to be kicked off the plane. The crew is professional and memorable. I'm sure this has happened before. The male flight attendant reminds me of NBC News anchor Lester Holt. He is very serious, except I can see a seashell bracelet on his wrist. The female flight attendant is very rigid and very French. Her eyeglass frame is very artsy. One side is a rectangle, the other side is an oval. There is a third person. He is sitting at the front of coach. Blonde guy with wrap around shades that American cops wear. He is definitely law enforcement. During the two hour headcount fiasco, he is standing in the aisle looking towards the back of the plane, ready to throw down.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOu25WqomyOrkXsHIXCJ4wnVxFrPn8n2PNSv9t_SgEHEIWaT1GhOXfbETixyAoFyOG-icawvNX0a_B9-_dIZhRNjUl-gYFgVbFgSJpggVALkVQO7Wc8ugqh7QOjeUpSfCmzrvzTpcv9-w0HO4_0xsZ8mDiyoCNOERa3NZDYfKlzpnSwCOSlr0/s4032/IMG_3205.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEidOu25WqomyOrkXsHIXCJ4wnVxFrPn8n2PNSv9t_SgEHEIWaT1GhOXfbETixyAoFyOG-icawvNX0a_B9-_dIZhRNjUl-gYFgVbFgSJpggVALkVQO7Wc8ugqh7QOjeUpSfCmzrvzTpcv9-w0HO4_0xsZ8mDiyoCNOERa3NZDYfKlzpnSwCOSlr0/w480-h640/IMG_3205.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLosY-88cbBl5WWhWgt0SU8lCbMm5oJcM3HAgDgyz7BXscNkrOY5qjdCL_EkcskXLYE7THceUOLtOgJ0coYtkZ51DPk2wzhAdZAmAwABb2ztOsaxgPM4_F3ievkawRcGUHOANGY5PEUb9qY0NykdS4mjNilbVNxB7E8pA8R-pq-urwNU5rlZcT/s4032/IMG_3206.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEhLosY-88cbBl5WWhWgt0SU8lCbMm5oJcM3HAgDgyz7BXscNkrOY5qjdCL_EkcskXLYE7THceUOLtOgJ0coYtkZ51DPk2wzhAdZAmAwABb2ztOsaxgPM4_F3ievkawRcGUHOANGY5PEUb9qY0NykdS4mjNilbVNxB7E8pA8R-pq-urwNU5rlZcT/w640-h480/IMG_3206.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are late for our connection on one of the islands. I do not get a chance to partake in another large shot of rum. All administrative hurdles are knocked down as everyone going to Miami is allowed to bypass security to get on the next plane. We run across the tiny airport. The catch is, we all have to stay together. But a French Karen insists that she leave us to smoke a cigarette. We say she can't. She walks away and smokes anyway. The entire second plane waits for her to finish smoking.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7059vsSribf48_yCAPfTfsv48gMnbggfvq2NBqldN3s5PiGQPSzoFLHe_oBzdYkFHieY1my0WRpD7j8zqVnk_hj47FiCar1YKux8AUE_7M_j80-gwuQoYgPMP3C0LRE8Gs12ct_xn1saJswzavTLtsRFSYqjUKCXNBe5crtrchQX8IfgK1m1/s4032/IMG_3209.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEhK7059vsSribf48_yCAPfTfsv48gMnbggfvq2NBqldN3s5PiGQPSzoFLHe_oBzdYkFHieY1my0WRpD7j8zqVnk_hj47FiCar1YKux8AUE_7M_j80-gwuQoYgPMP3C0LRE8Gs12ct_xn1saJswzavTLtsRFSYqjUKCXNBe5crtrchQX8IfgK1m1/w640-h480/IMG_3209.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On the final leg, I decide to load up on the complimentary wine. We hit some serious turbulence, and this is the result.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtOqiABITPgsl8mRNeIOe4aM4cnVsatLTjTBOaoZrPMk3vhqNn5W3p731nwVtNFhEX7TIDfW3k6Uyu2wOWx8MXbAyBb044QINqmv9LEWD0hsE8Zk-K3X6KqVyGt4saNZV_rKJKsrQuYv4POwUP3dnvlkmxgirLRvOkBgJyHXc9YaVBhfCFam_/s4032/IMG_3210.heic" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEixtOqiABITPgsl8mRNeIOe4aM4cnVsatLTjTBOaoZrPMk3vhqNn5W3p731nwVtNFhEX7TIDfW3k6Uyu2wOWx8MXbAyBb044QINqmv9LEWD0hsE8Zk-K3X6KqVyGt4saNZV_rKJKsrQuYv4POwUP3dnvlkmxgirLRvOkBgJyHXc9YaVBhfCFam_/w640-h480/IMG_3210.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Home sweet home.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGW6lLbjPkHMQRdBNzewu4grx89Wy3xcz42NRTHcznlOi-IsrmXzI9p8BbbCiV9W9GJwBYd4oc8Y-5iug1-zv_7yI9jtEQEba7YuoxOVTEi8WBtnidJah3B4lS-IXcAp3jxaducIHMNKd73HWRJi0HEFufVfozQJPCuTrAEx2554AcMccpma1/s4032/IMG_3211.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEiMGW6lLbjPkHMQRdBNzewu4grx89Wy3xcz42NRTHcznlOi-IsrmXzI9p8BbbCiV9W9GJwBYd4oc8Y-5iug1-zv_7yI9jtEQEba7YuoxOVTEi8WBtnidJah3B4lS-IXcAp3jxaducIHMNKd73HWRJi0HEFufVfozQJPCuTrAEx2554AcMccpma1/w640-h480/IMG_3211.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><p>As I land in Oakland, I get this text from my wife. The kids are at the drug store getting their passport photos taken. I hope with all my heart that they get to experience travel adventures like mine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6PvBzKwioLRMdkm5IVUZLDiqk0uTRNjsL8RW8rKQQVnL4kjEu7p4Dw5ekK5JOKIff_BwCkv66yBtOhLudcMBreK2iN8qbAGTMDhyDDmfLFH-vh2PHmW8PFU2JMN9RvBbYarMFF0Hw4HmKz_Kzt4YkN3rdO9hdQA8I5GC_vr6DyyxXvf6Zbhg/s4032/IMG_9593.JPG" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEhj6PvBzKwioLRMdkm5IVUZLDiqk0uTRNjsL8RW8rKQQVnL4kjEu7p4Dw5ekK5JOKIff_BwCkv66yBtOhLudcMBreK2iN8qbAGTMDhyDDmfLFH-vh2PHmW8PFU2JMN9RvBbYarMFF0Hw4HmKz_Kzt4YkN3rdO9hdQA8I5GC_vr6DyyxXvf6Zbhg/w480-h640/IMG_9593.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>FIN.</div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-44210471134329893212023-08-30T12:13:00.003-07:002023-08-30T12:13:51.851-07:00The most common ethnicity of white Americans in every county<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAqsSVQF8ma1ndwLRKv0Gc1gBxB4FfCiEZOg2juudoU1nv_huL4gS3dtX9lRWpaE82dFIR2LiRIC9zk_kCbGAXcC2R0_INt3eT82oMRY3z5IT06oSyVj0vQWgttTkDqZr5yAgv8fuL45EnIawnMJP9g1MWAbizmIISKuQhxhfw52dJYqZFWNf/s6770/the-most-common-ethnicity-of-white-americans-in-every-v0-b56hknold4lb1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4226" data-original-width="6770" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAqsSVQF8ma1ndwLRKv0Gc1gBxB4FfCiEZOg2juudoU1nv_huL4gS3dtX9lRWpaE82dFIR2LiRIC9zk_kCbGAXcC2R0_INt3eT82oMRY3z5IT06oSyVj0vQWgttTkDqZr5yAgv8fuL45EnIawnMJP9g1MWAbizmIISKuQhxhfw52dJYqZFWNf/w640-h400/the-most-common-ethnicity-of-white-americans-in-every-v0-b56hknold4lb1.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-43857747273505626432023-08-14T19:05:00.002-07:002023-08-14T19:08:44.410-07:00Radwood San Francisco 2023 photo dump<p>The boy and I went to the show. To be frank, the magic is gone. Too corporate. There were a lot of cool cars, but the soul of the earlier shows was MIA. Too bad.</p><p>We parked across the street from Pier 30/32, next to this old E-Class.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5kOts3Vxd_PerLZeSOyOeayL4kcK7D8K3L_f1xP_DzHeKZ8S-dSC_rM1LqFIFnWmk117ZQO8uwntCSVHe5ToDp3KdCJ_6762a7OAGvSiD-prUTtcllKrQIIvfYrHX_Z9MIuQstQqTcutUKIJ_MxSQabGSMtyXBHQQUZZmsx70-IIH3xtDm63/s4032/IMG_3960.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjT5kOts3Vxd_PerLZeSOyOeayL4kcK7D8K3L_f1xP_DzHeKZ8S-dSC_rM1LqFIFnWmk117ZQO8uwntCSVHe5ToDp3KdCJ_6762a7OAGvSiD-prUTtcllKrQIIvfYrHX_Z9MIuQstQqTcutUKIJ_MxSQabGSMtyXBHQQUZZmsx70-IIH3xtDm63/w640-h480/IMG_3960.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's get started!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06i1O322jMLkV9-IQG-5WGECH2I1sJd1fcqw2ZRHIf83teD4D3pkqyJfcb0bBXWezp6utXJIPa7haEaa9PLdX__1zcKIWpXigCW0aUEmcVu5t4xPIR7KZ9QdQAS1SW5df0HOrpXZO2CvSz4eKk19UaluctXtbIVGm6e72Q_aaD_gxue6GS5d1/s4032/IMG_3961.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEi06i1O322jMLkV9-IQG-5WGECH2I1sJd1fcqw2ZRHIf83teD4D3pkqyJfcb0bBXWezp6utXJIPa7haEaa9PLdX__1zcKIWpXigCW0aUEmcVu5t4xPIR7KZ9QdQAS1SW5df0HOrpXZO2CvSz4eKk19UaluctXtbIVGm6e72Q_aaD_gxue6GS5d1/w640-h480/IMG_3961.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyKgh3rRp8WK_oE7i6hdMCnMVMOBOC6iyz6c5zIg82hYULbAYiOivR2dXzfrfUgLB3rKk7XYoFiK1TY_yZigGUb5eVPd5I2EZaEKChh2-kC_ht0ibqdx9kmCzmEInoFpHpnS_ex7ot2VLJ0wy1VM_eMotJpDX0yq_vLcvdB-NcawTX7a7beC6/s4032/IMG_3962.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhmyKgh3rRp8WK_oE7i6hdMCnMVMOBOC6iyz6c5zIg82hYULbAYiOivR2dXzfrfUgLB3rKk7XYoFiK1TY_yZigGUb5eVPd5I2EZaEKChh2-kC_ht0ibqdx9kmCzmEInoFpHpnS_ex7ot2VLJ0wy1VM_eMotJpDX0yq_vLcvdB-NcawTX7a7beC6/w640-h480/IMG_3962.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2djaeBysaeAJPtnh2KG0PLRvi4CQ9EOOOkcAdW491W5qbRTpUZuiFyaeLQe23l4-BxZGca_E-uk_1fXDWkSZxtA6Ge-URnsBCmusmwMjUjN-yOWHjY4Bbsz2xQspYlgZZVM_5znfl5WgYa7Kqpov0oVYDK_-MODKa3OQk7g46V6T6yV_jTOt/s4032/IMG_3963.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjt2djaeBysaeAJPtnh2KG0PLRvi4CQ9EOOOkcAdW491W5qbRTpUZuiFyaeLQe23l4-BxZGca_E-uk_1fXDWkSZxtA6Ge-URnsBCmusmwMjUjN-yOWHjY4Bbsz2xQspYlgZZVM_5znfl5WgYa7Kqpov0oVYDK_-MODKa3OQk7g46V6T6yV_jTOt/w640-h480/IMG_3963.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These Mondials are just so rad. I think even mainstream car enthusiasts like them now.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdk0sXJUrQYhns6Q5xs47Hk6jZNDVvL-ORFNRSrGB_wIdvm1D4PYn45vY_YavkoD-jKmrLxUFwX65DEgJ9Ivms5e1HOhWVZeoypNf3u0JxZSOomCYxnzhAb7RrR5ySMYovXgEu6pTbtCngD5jeOag7OWQXC7-Jz_16gPqDJVwg9x7GZDwykeW_/s4032/IMG_3964.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjdk0sXJUrQYhns6Q5xs47Hk6jZNDVvL-ORFNRSrGB_wIdvm1D4PYn45vY_YavkoD-jKmrLxUFwX65DEgJ9Ivms5e1HOhWVZeoypNf3u0JxZSOomCYxnzhAb7RrR5ySMYovXgEu6pTbtCngD5jeOag7OWQXC7-Jz_16gPqDJVwg9x7GZDwykeW_/w640-h480/IMG_3964.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I swear I thought this 550 was much newer than it actually was.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXtQOFi1hq-5ayS9Mev-gA5xXatnmOhGEa2mnivJcCdXXetuMJ8_xnkeMrRhE_ai94RHIdbQiH-dFLFpGoh6TDIaOvF7X3ltOb6re4K7-Kv7e8jNVBVse2aaAwiyQ8ewO0lkMN3tK2Qn-avT27w_yTlKiqAzlpnsJ7oPXMHu9km1ZCaFdpG6v/s4032/IMG_3965.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEimXtQOFi1hq-5ayS9Mev-gA5xXatnmOhGEa2mnivJcCdXXetuMJ8_xnkeMrRhE_ai94RHIdbQiH-dFLFpGoh6TDIaOvF7X3ltOb6re4K7-Kv7e8jNVBVse2aaAwiyQ8ewO0lkMN3tK2Qn-avT27w_yTlKiqAzlpnsJ7oPXMHu9km1ZCaFdpG6v/w480-h640/IMG_3965.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGfaa1UYK2uqOMUC6Pg29diaAFCgERcTbyUMlrQNgu_IH9rHkDdGdVIQg_Zr9xSPrUsuTs0IkfXa4fVYPYbvAGtCKJIxSaENwnYpphqYQb1apXC4QqpoPtBgoNp57eT85-6KyoeOFaY3FIApKXoIX3EzQ7NsO5Yu54TM-wiZObvjGE6A5ltwZ/s4032/IMG_3966.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhYGfaa1UYK2uqOMUC6Pg29diaAFCgERcTbyUMlrQNgu_IH9rHkDdGdVIQg_Zr9xSPrUsuTs0IkfXa4fVYPYbvAGtCKJIxSaENwnYpphqYQb1apXC4QqpoPtBgoNp57eT85-6KyoeOFaY3FIApKXoIX3EzQ7NsO5Yu54TM-wiZObvjGE6A5ltwZ/w640-h480/IMG_3966.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1oWYFPsA1yvP3jnSoRZgkm-wbc6jThgtGENxs1iXPVySzBnTn8l1F2AvZFYpcbVCmNbTh4evIQ4TD0JPm2ZEr-qxH_lNroFtWuj2xUiqXhuwKA5w4akjrQ0tdpWlo0H5e3R21qYPi2asxKu2gKOuHg1y3HsF5T2oSnix_-cDV4ivvuP_uplt/s4032/IMG_3967.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhv1oWYFPsA1yvP3jnSoRZgkm-wbc6jThgtGENxs1iXPVySzBnTn8l1F2AvZFYpcbVCmNbTh4evIQ4TD0JPm2ZEr-qxH_lNroFtWuj2xUiqXhuwKA5w4akjrQ0tdpWlo0H5e3R21qYPi2asxKu2gKOuHg1y3HsF5T2oSnix_-cDV4ivvuP_uplt/w640-h480/IMG_3967.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Ever since I saw Derek Tam-Scott's yellow Miura at Berkeley Cars & Coffee, I have been listening to the Carmudgeon podcast. The Rover and Citroen have been discussed in detail on the show.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-N4ReWEDThlv7eliZ9_YRLJKapjVtlyY1S595P1w_p3jHsipjg46OMWozWU-aMdOKY54qU64ybNMkh73hYp5In8tfosul32T5i0Jglo1a4Hc1rr4AdpBq0FP9y7PahYO0rFqk0kMpeUD0656aTgSsEurHTpNvWz-ZuwfaL-ibpsfXWAiuAuZ/s4032/IMG_3968.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEiM-N4ReWEDThlv7eliZ9_YRLJKapjVtlyY1S595P1w_p3jHsipjg46OMWozWU-aMdOKY54qU64ybNMkh73hYp5In8tfosul32T5i0Jglo1a4Hc1rr4AdpBq0FP9y7PahYO0rFqk0kMpeUD0656aTgSsEurHTpNvWz-ZuwfaL-ibpsfXWAiuAuZ/w640-h480/IMG_3968.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This Maserati made the trip worth it. I've seen every Quattroporte generation except the fourth. And here's the QP IV!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpstml97pBt9oVIPX7UBJm2jPnw8BHIv4TvntW-x9-3asqiIqta8Z_QrLTBz8nHnC2gpzoJt3LZvGdWAKDfTGqAWO-tJrK35m-J5lO-SXv6vln5LRbP0fVC0f8PDAYe2fXlSicIZbv5FcQYlTX8KcYfis8C6gxMlSfwXrCRD_4ODAotGtIMHB/s4032/IMG_3969.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjhpstml97pBt9oVIPX7UBJm2jPnw8BHIv4TvntW-x9-3asqiIqta8Z_QrLTBz8nHnC2gpzoJt3LZvGdWAKDfTGqAWO-tJrK35m-J5lO-SXv6vln5LRbP0fVC0f8PDAYe2fXlSicIZbv5FcQYlTX8KcYfis8C6gxMlSfwXrCRD_4ODAotGtIMHB/w640-h480/IMG_3969.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyx5gZ_S_HPYEI2XUayghOvTZ9EyEW0uAbN97z3RH1d8WMknYEOlPc8Gf5rag-93dsfTMbrvIIXb3K_QOSdoQwZMP8bId2MSHMtVWpJbPEsM0-fX2ogq1917JM7G_BYSlix51gCiSRyci2puDqg6ICwL69Stvt7plPdaZXSFNJXKmBxmZQuJl/s4032/IMG_3970.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhPyx5gZ_S_HPYEI2XUayghOvTZ9EyEW0uAbN97z3RH1d8WMknYEOlPc8Gf5rag-93dsfTMbrvIIXb3K_QOSdoQwZMP8bId2MSHMtVWpJbPEsM0-fX2ogq1917JM7G_BYSlix51gCiSRyci2puDqg6ICwL69Stvt7plPdaZXSFNJXKmBxmZQuJl/w640-h480/IMG_3970.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I spotted this Alpina a few days before the show near the Caldecott Tunnel and tweeted about it. Turned out, one of my followers was riding in the Alpina at the time!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbqRsN2Yo2XyzTlwl2ZEwjT_gCeITKE1s7yE9cqH8Dcdae8cnsRxaEa6nCFjz-w4gbJRBIgc-Y8lceHrfZUUtBF-rQCxa79y3aXJJZUH0HAVzfztt2fjhtMCI4w303SB-0Tyzyq-ppyihGJhuQ5wuG2_fdZ8buQv1DZfqM6e-zX7ZKxNg5eSj/s4032/IMG_3971.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjgbqRsN2Yo2XyzTlwl2ZEwjT_gCeITKE1s7yE9cqH8Dcdae8cnsRxaEa6nCFjz-w4gbJRBIgc-Y8lceHrfZUUtBF-rQCxa79y3aXJJZUH0HAVzfztt2fjhtMCI4w303SB-0Tyzyq-ppyihGJhuQ5wuG2_fdZ8buQv1DZfqM6e-zX7ZKxNg5eSj/w640-h480/IMG_3971.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Rchen was kind enough to let J sit in the back of his taxi. On the armrest was a Tomica version of the same taxi.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mNjcb2X7BK0-n0AkpEQtyOhERcn-5cuxztYMX0XhSbA2sUyftJY8CXtP-S_W0Bh9dMMiM83S3fGbZW76XjnygQA0fjkHTRtHA6ug6_wneuhh-6otkNU4Nxn_OpswpH9Sf6iMI9l4N2z_LuNwzTQmy3ev8r7WGx4nmgDRZcPnyGdPW5FXclfx/s4032/IMG_3972.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEh7mNjcb2X7BK0-n0AkpEQtyOhERcn-5cuxztYMX0XhSbA2sUyftJY8CXtP-S_W0Bh9dMMiM83S3fGbZW76XjnygQA0fjkHTRtHA6ug6_wneuhh-6otkNU4Nxn_OpswpH9Sf6iMI9l4N2z_LuNwzTQmy3ev8r7WGx4nmgDRZcPnyGdPW5FXclfx/w640-h480/IMG_3972.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had not seen an Excel in over twenty years. This was a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L7G44Tis1M" target="_blank">Boyz N the Hood tribute</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpsmgsS9jPypVYONUDoEmdRwWLNdfYvUb7eGLceOJ_4OfD8ckNej7w8tci-HIbo6KS9fNLCaTxWCxQNWHCJeBV1Huv-nDR8vMMO1dAZFk1TQsiVzS4tqBiS2S3olpDWGt5vopaWFyQ3EVlOTWBMFkNTJU4TL3s0SDDoqWej2m2VYLDM2he2eI/s4032/IMG_3974.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEiKpsmgsS9jPypVYONUDoEmdRwWLNdfYvUb7eGLceOJ_4OfD8ckNej7w8tci-HIbo6KS9fNLCaTxWCxQNWHCJeBV1Huv-nDR8vMMO1dAZFk1TQsiVzS4tqBiS2S3olpDWGt5vopaWFyQ3EVlOTWBMFkNTJU4TL3s0SDDoqWej2m2VYLDM2he2eI/w640-h480/IMG_3974.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlV1d544I_77G6qVVimGQMcPKjR5sxZswElDm74LKy8jQN36f0yJ-rKuoxrH3bbsV09gEynoQ5nQNDDxIs4OXKN7Jpt8ZjviJwBANDP64dy2Q-Ue_Lb7MhVM0Cd5ro-CWvX28psgronJnMdikJY24pf58Wc-uBOEQy1v_EH7g4p35dnXKJf-1z/s4032/IMG_3975.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjlV1d544I_77G6qVVimGQMcPKjR5sxZswElDm74LKy8jQN36f0yJ-rKuoxrH3bbsV09gEynoQ5nQNDDxIs4OXKN7Jpt8ZjviJwBANDP64dy2Q-Ue_Lb7MhVM0Cd5ro-CWvX28psgronJnMdikJY24pf58Wc-uBOEQy1v_EH7g4p35dnXKJf-1z/w640-h480/IMG_3975.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnHoQQEqdA356G7-O5xygMmS-oAnGkWHcoH6ohwF_wkhypxyeFM06y7PlT-U8h13bKUZy8oh9zB5XDZGYKcOgaHTUxxLGJBrE1HzBSxpZQ3X4yU8EUKUTZlZDNJSzO-mjalRKkUYjGFuA_sfaXovEXqmECDO-NcLxDIMjPHg52k4F4B88WtBp/s4032/IMG_3976.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgsnHoQQEqdA356G7-O5xygMmS-oAnGkWHcoH6ohwF_wkhypxyeFM06y7PlT-U8h13bKUZy8oh9zB5XDZGYKcOgaHTUxxLGJBrE1HzBSxpZQ3X4yU8EUKUTZlZDNJSzO-mjalRKkUYjGFuA_sfaXovEXqmECDO-NcLxDIMjPHg52k4F4B88WtBp/w640-h480/IMG_3976.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Previa with swiveling captain's chairs.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qVugBPBTGjjG8q94Upg-0mEhufSLxxRvbsnA4hXXb6NhAJ9c0gtSG9sqrREfQ30rdzhzjqXFjsBtj7iw2AGl-qeQe2AQqLHL4QCBMOO8IgXGvBkc5QTMYcYrKB06tDjsXRNcmQKncGH4EcQ3DYYFoe7yIjsRk_9TBWA7w9qbjs-0fWKMyvFM/s4032/IMG_3977.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEg7qVugBPBTGjjG8q94Upg-0mEhufSLxxRvbsnA4hXXb6NhAJ9c0gtSG9sqrREfQ30rdzhzjqXFjsBtj7iw2AGl-qeQe2AQqLHL4QCBMOO8IgXGvBkc5QTMYcYrKB06tDjsXRNcmQKncGH4EcQ3DYYFoe7yIjsRk_9TBWA7w9qbjs-0fWKMyvFM/w480-h640/IMG_3977.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This 1993 Wrangler was identical to mine, other than the engine size.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9fPUOJtM9FjpdgFkhFI1V3wwUPvbqdRSlY8XJaS2fjMFogBTxIDze9UZ5tTcMtbKhhpAWuQ0xkiNWKMAYubHAESvB9mSdDL56iPEktFmthtqyuIzLbDQrky2Bb7dmqBVc5ocdIUCQwe0W5g-VDMHv23Fh-C5CtpMSYPC6xwBILC12fHpn8kr/s4032/IMG_3978.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjR9fPUOJtM9FjpdgFkhFI1V3wwUPvbqdRSlY8XJaS2fjMFogBTxIDze9UZ5tTcMtbKhhpAWuQ0xkiNWKMAYubHAESvB9mSdDL56iPEktFmthtqyuIzLbDQrky2Bb7dmqBVc5ocdIUCQwe0W5g-VDMHv23Fh-C5CtpMSYPC6xwBILC12fHpn8kr/w640-h480/IMG_3978.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPVBW5q1aHywlpVb14LTQ0aRROsroVrMeEQnSCS5rXlQNoBU5ibmq5-EASFoeMN4HrU2yepEaU-NytDY6VjD6xnpsDgVPyDf2DHvIsPuUj0KKXv7bl26a7BB38EQ-lNmiHlCOGzfdmUzs5e7zOMOh_65DldcdEBjk4BEsPmT91IDZNQk2NXTq/s4032/IMG_3979.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgUPVBW5q1aHywlpVb14LTQ0aRROsroVrMeEQnSCS5rXlQNoBU5ibmq5-EASFoeMN4HrU2yepEaU-NytDY6VjD6xnpsDgVPyDf2DHvIsPuUj0KKXv7bl26a7BB38EQ-lNmiHlCOGzfdmUzs5e7zOMOh_65DldcdEBjk4BEsPmT91IDZNQk2NXTq/w640-h480/IMG_3979.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wHCmIE-rWCx_NMUHCXCOHBpQSk6mVi0MCuYQ-fyABsDa3syPpaU1Dct0FJOzuHACaFTJeTKr2zj6NTH4CkaJc2D04Gka-4QP7b_ymll7TVvTcWpflqxXbxW05cOo6DlVW7IHyspiI96fGXdgwMkBantRpnlyHxvr9rAWFVP2TnyiDL7KNtDd/s4032/IMG_3980.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEj-wHCmIE-rWCx_NMUHCXCOHBpQSk6mVi0MCuYQ-fyABsDa3syPpaU1Dct0FJOzuHACaFTJeTKr2zj6NTH4CkaJc2D04Gka-4QP7b_ymll7TVvTcWpflqxXbxW05cOo6DlVW7IHyspiI96fGXdgwMkBantRpnlyHxvr9rAWFVP2TnyiDL7KNtDd/w640-h480/IMG_3980.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">J has been obsessed with Humvees lately. Look how excited he was.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5LB0cW9VIiUGxyZRfHF_6sVIzUG4DlmxxHnjuQFma_MG-VfXP-m2FaXqoTzllcaTfvRv8Y2wpO5XB1V8_TGIZns9r3TKlipDTggHx10GhQ0mI6LOCZdo3bMZrpuEH0kXHjxngBXyil0RQHMshgLZS7EV4xC_sLgHakL75mLOXvMB1bGengq2/s4032/IMG_3981.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhr5LB0cW9VIiUGxyZRfHF_6sVIzUG4DlmxxHnjuQFma_MG-VfXP-m2FaXqoTzllcaTfvRv8Y2wpO5XB1V8_TGIZns9r3TKlipDTggHx10GhQ0mI6LOCZdo3bMZrpuEH0kXHjxngBXyil0RQHMshgLZS7EV4xC_sLgHakL75mLOXvMB1bGengq2/w480-h640/IMG_3981.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIby3tLNhPgw6lapfffD-oQthJtVrZ6Q47LXi_KZYtor41vUL3w7V1BmWZ3QAtOVRM5rl-zHodo6ckn44C_QyYpudMsTWpdQYzN5x8in89YWWSSoqC2NGL-PNUgTQfFqWVGbWoSgHltoSAUGUIf2lCXP1VaehF14Avy2-z6ZpbNxyqM8-WH4bo/s4032/IMG_3985.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhIby3tLNhPgw6lapfffD-oQthJtVrZ6Q47LXi_KZYtor41vUL3w7V1BmWZ3QAtOVRM5rl-zHodo6ckn44C_QyYpudMsTWpdQYzN5x8in89YWWSSoqC2NGL-PNUgTQfFqWVGbWoSgHltoSAUGUIf2lCXP1VaehF14Avy2-z6ZpbNxyqM8-WH4bo/w480-h640/IMG_3985.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv356zYCiY94ozOyhHSVMkAQFMIrXpmRT0PgqN_AGQ4NluE9dLND8RUf7-aqeGexit1Wq4rxSRgtYuQUzonqek6oYC8hfNLoLc2K6C7AIuedFQw6LSOIta9DnM64CgtVkgd5T9T1oRKkNh-e_IBv_ZR-hIdt2zfW-kBnxiu-nX2vBaG55ZqmhK/s4032/IMG_3987.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhv356zYCiY94ozOyhHSVMkAQFMIrXpmRT0PgqN_AGQ4NluE9dLND8RUf7-aqeGexit1Wq4rxSRgtYuQUzonqek6oYC8hfNLoLc2K6C7AIuedFQw6LSOIta9DnM64CgtVkgd5T9T1oRKkNh-e_IBv_ZR-hIdt2zfW-kBnxiu-nX2vBaG55ZqmhK/w480-h640/IMG_3987.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRPMk1aPZc_uTibeSQJJBrHGek8MILOlYz8tGAlSJk6crKRH1WAc_R21426WqqAYkamUUqZCUgD3nvTNvagW9KRk6-7AWwypRO9HXz4lE8h1PnKClrfwhVLtm28-LXzEwPvd2K2zvLTt4QEJDG2iyWxFAsWNNFXxWXP8rG6PnMTZ8jGdv3M7d/s4032/IMG_3988.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgdRPMk1aPZc_uTibeSQJJBrHGek8MILOlYz8tGAlSJk6crKRH1WAc_R21426WqqAYkamUUqZCUgD3nvTNvagW9KRk6-7AWwypRO9HXz4lE8h1PnKClrfwhVLtm28-LXzEwPvd2K2zvLTt4QEJDG2iyWxFAsWNNFXxWXP8rG6PnMTZ8jGdv3M7d/w640-h480/IMG_3988.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And finally, this X90 in the parking lot should have been in the show!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaadFsRGJlzShdMdYupNu5hzvxh0_WNzz7i7r5FbyvwQK-trQsOLfiztigxjWzbdx7iLN0f24TUSl3YR94U80x0nK8aczMm6Bk-W8sJlqIvWcKjS5EcmXFnaWow-0jtToEPXfyBbFMQsHdqfsebnlA_OPO0axASJhqwZB_6AViWY1Nf8OmxgI/s4032/IMG_3990.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgRaadFsRGJlzShdMdYupNu5hzvxh0_WNzz7i7r5FbyvwQK-trQsOLfiztigxjWzbdx7iLN0f24TUSl3YR94U80x0nK8aczMm6Bk-W8sJlqIvWcKjS5EcmXFnaWow-0jtToEPXfyBbFMQsHdqfsebnlA_OPO0axASJhqwZB_6AViWY1Nf8OmxgI/w640-h480/IMG_3990.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-7249875186393418872023-08-14T18:39:00.004-07:002023-08-14T18:39:18.631-07:00New POV BART video<p>I've been riding BART since 1992 but this perspective-- a GoPro suctioned onto the front train car-- is amazing.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3-Jrp6it9Ss" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-22309282630611219582023-07-29T10:44:00.003-07:002023-07-29T10:44:57.625-07:00Oo ee song from Instagram and Tiktok<p>If you've been watching short videos on social media, you've heard of this catchy tune. The artist is French and was raised in Dubai and Congo-Brazzaville. The song came out eight years ago!</p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/59Q_lhgGANc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-1449383177990521312023-07-04T10:16:00.005-07:002023-07-04T10:16:30.693-07:00Ugly American city flags<p> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pnv5iKB2hl4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-71676275209049654702023-07-01T18:01:00.000-07:002023-07-01T18:01:04.875-07:00I got a brand new car!<p>Behold! A 2023 BMW M550i xDrive. I got the mother of all deals on it yesterday. It had been sitting on the dealer lot for 137 days.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3AW58_8T9J0NHSBBnCD5wpLTdDsJT11Q2dPYb0v16mfPQe2toRdQUq1u3KOVA5Jyx2GUtcXLWtEC5fW9rKlFop1vO96go12i-aI_azFASgX3IdRVdtCxEidaUF7qmrkmLzZp0nh8MBsrEdQCM8YYdxR-MUJtjGt7NhaNL5xyQm82f56ya-Od/s4032/IMG_3775.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/AVvXsEiH3AW58_8T9J0NHSBBnCD5wpLTdDsJT11Q2dPYb0v16mfPQe2toRdQUq1u3KOVA5Jyx2GUtcXLWtEC5fW9rKlFop1vO96go12i-aI_azFASgX3IdRVdtCxEidaUF7qmrkmLzZp0nh8MBsrEdQCM8YYdxR-MUJtjGt7NhaNL5xyQm82f56ya-Od/w640-h480/IMG_3775.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>It is a lot of car. I've only driven it back home and to pick up dry cleaning so far. The car is big. It's six inches longer than my wagon and the proportions take time to get used to. There are so many gizmos and gadgets, it's ridiculous. I have to lock the doors even when I'm in the garage, or else the various gadgets will drain the battery. Some random features include:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>head-up display that shows speed limit, my speed, and distance to closest speed camera;</li><li>auto start-stop that will restart your engine not when you take your foot off the brake pedal, but when it notices the vehicle immediately in front of you has started moving away from you;</li><li>interior ambient lighting comes in ten different colors.</li></ul><div>Once I get used to it, I will have more fun driving it.</div><p></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YfaRSSratOs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-43182583524366705972023-06-19T21:11:00.001-07:002023-06-19T21:11:47.901-07:00Highlights from last 14 months<p>It's been a while. Obviously, the highlights are mostly kids-centered. But with the end of the pandemic, I've also done some serious revenge traveling.</p><p>May 2022: Drove down to San Luis Obispo along PCH.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy5kJkDzA6Y51xWmkSv0PR_FDeYoP-muybVnWWos1q6bUr1yik-pIP7eCyKDntUm5hQs2aOv5sMIJW3F8bHJEAbvhYZSApS_bcMlaVC_iNcfTqAMwrQ8We6441q_6IykpmYoi00zrGIYhUWqMbox0pZEVYxv-Ax3I5j5up5QHEoyW5k6ULgRk/s4032/May%202022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEjDy5kJkDzA6Y51xWmkSv0PR_FDeYoP-muybVnWWos1q6bUr1yik-pIP7eCyKDntUm5hQs2aOv5sMIJW3F8bHJEAbvhYZSApS_bcMlaVC_iNcfTqAMwrQ8We6441q_6IykpmYoi00zrGIYhUWqMbox0pZEVYxv-Ax3I5j5up5QHEoyW5k6ULgRk/w640-h480/May%202022.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><p>June 2022: Road trip to Seattle. Attended a Mariners game.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3eC2g7bBUhH9ximXHMnzXm-6cvINMRZy0f0c6tL2zsmLX1eBzSJa4ZAzPhJFxiV7G1brupYbBcAqO3FW1eK0p8XV1AqbGVfjjXW0_rNm9qtBDTaLPdcQo8dmRiGdoWYIM7PJ8TO8TDGlNLf4av-9pEwCaghqQkPArwLin0HBqdwDA_KMK-nu/s4032/Junw%202022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEiS3eC2g7bBUhH9ximXHMnzXm-6cvINMRZy0f0c6tL2zsmLX1eBzSJa4ZAzPhJFxiV7G1brupYbBcAqO3FW1eK0p8XV1AqbGVfjjXW0_rNm9qtBDTaLPdcQo8dmRiGdoWYIM7PJ8TO8TDGlNLf4av-9pEwCaghqQkPArwLin0HBqdwDA_KMK-nu/w640-h480/Junw%202022.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">July 2022: Basketball camp.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb1trAfUjWhjYKS1z83kToSgKfvYtRXfRWKVWyXhaQyN_CdCet_tcB6lIMvPElgNfN2u5BMmA9KmACVGwjQn00KcQ8NWoYdNhwunjrhzPUxcFDWED-5pfVjdTF_AxjzwNCDxDBgdjNcGSJzsDonbBFBSpv3APVbsL4WdXSA41JAu1KhBZDfTM/s4032/July%202022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEgeb1trAfUjWhjYKS1z83kToSgKfvYtRXfRWKVWyXhaQyN_CdCet_tcB6lIMvPElgNfN2u5BMmA9KmACVGwjQn00KcQ8NWoYdNhwunjrhzPUxcFDWED-5pfVjdTF_AxjzwNCDxDBgdjNcGSJzsDonbBFBSpv3APVbsL4WdXSA41JAu1KhBZDfTM/w640-h480/July%202022.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">August 2022: I took the boy to Monterey to see a bunch of old cars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqC_Ekg3YsRgVqxava4C1gXxKs-YqaO0saYDmZYOv71-Urb5XqOTVlas2TI7nMgDcdZQwFxxqDr4fQ5OFcNd76hayG-ZhTS29sKWYmqo_lDZOGXUZ4ESZ1LYHo_-CFPQoMetIYJrH5xv4ybNYOv4riwT03sr0z5z4G9Ql_5TqfzeOKqYfsRL1L/s4032/Aug2%202022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEgqC_Ekg3YsRgVqxava4C1gXxKs-YqaO0saYDmZYOv71-Urb5XqOTVlas2TI7nMgDcdZQwFxxqDr4fQ5OFcNd76hayG-ZhTS29sKWYmqo_lDZOGXUZ4ESZ1LYHo_-CFPQoMetIYJrH5xv4ybNYOv4riwT03sr0z5z4G9Ql_5TqfzeOKqYfsRL1L/w640-h480/Aug2%202022.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Also August 2022: I flew to Tacoma for Radwood and met the PNW contingent of Weird Car Twitter.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2--SXVJZWkfeay9m-OCJeCLycmWUQXIDS-xiI0u9ma8rzchs53iK50mMq8hwGKew5eLEMIKpj-6FrPxWnTGWOWR2-mGG3XNHDvLKDCU2O2vnd38FZJnSOX46pNlN-Hb5F1G27gFSOf6B_e7PcGDkyg8LIhfbPKTFFQDiYLeJG-xTtlsIfgZu/s4032/Aug3%202022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEjz2--SXVJZWkfeay9m-OCJeCLycmWUQXIDS-xiI0u9ma8rzchs53iK50mMq8hwGKew5eLEMIKpj-6FrPxWnTGWOWR2-mGG3XNHDvLKDCU2O2vnd38FZJnSOX46pNlN-Hb5F1G27gFSOf6B_e7PcGDkyg8LIhfbPKTFFQDiYLeJG-xTtlsIfgZu/w640-h480/Aug3%202022.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Also August 2022: I took a day trip down to San Diego and caught a Padres game.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56hwPA3IzqpsucdlzdvGS0YTh5EFnRiFbcj8dreAt69E6YHVRyEApwTOkYF9qVUUqGps9FoHYG5JqLAYHoTDaIHBOnf5PDz24HK8TUDIzklfMYn5PglMJGVZmfeyOo-izletEND0xjOLVnP2OqMiOY-bGVbR9GxUqxYSGhqi2OXyyXaBkPq1r/s4032/Aug%202022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEj56hwPA3IzqpsucdlzdvGS0YTh5EFnRiFbcj8dreAt69E6YHVRyEApwTOkYF9qVUUqGps9FoHYG5JqLAYHoTDaIHBOnf5PDz24HK8TUDIzklfMYn5PglMJGVZmfeyOo-izletEND0xjOLVnP2OqMiOY-bGVbR9GxUqxYSGhqi2OXyyXaBkPq1r/w640-h480/Aug%202022.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>September 2022: Portuguese dinner followed by opera.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO48EuNLXTPi2sOJjP-M9iAJqQWEw0lSEK2HFGCrKmU02mIH0f8OF9FTEgs38h665xfKfh95VGrO_tGTOyTL-BDdd43dNnBkNBpn-XogzdHaj03EdjpjCI8c-MT8ZCrsinavN_qS3rkyTM7MLLpg5vkN9-mUGgGoEVrpUDIc0wiAxfT75VJH3f/s4032/Sept%202022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEjO48EuNLXTPi2sOJjP-M9iAJqQWEw0lSEK2HFGCrKmU02mIH0f8OF9FTEgs38h665xfKfh95VGrO_tGTOyTL-BDdd43dNnBkNBpn-XogzdHaj03EdjpjCI8c-MT8ZCrsinavN_qS3rkyTM7MLLpg5vkN9-mUGgGoEVrpUDIc0wiAxfT75VJH3f/w480-h640/Sept%202022.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>October 2022: Pumpkin patch.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDWbq9AhPPMP17OiDwSNHcDbgmAPAQFJN-OjRZYcit4lTZP0caD9eEhPM1ZTnA0k0LLeJpEK7HP3JrpuZKR1Rr7z60-Wztqey38T2CNcsBdEjLx_oW6oEgB_-Gen_Rhsd-q-NWtV6LItLuichohgFkYtiAqTStXI97EI2Wn2JCG8eRwA6iSg7/s4032/Oct%202022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEjXDWbq9AhPPMP17OiDwSNHcDbgmAPAQFJN-OjRZYcit4lTZP0caD9eEhPM1ZTnA0k0LLeJpEK7HP3JrpuZKR1Rr7z60-Wztqey38T2CNcsBdEjLx_oW6oEgB_-Gen_Rhsd-q-NWtV6LItLuichohgFkYtiAqTStXI97EI2Wn2JCG8eRwA6iSg7/w640-h480/Oct%202022.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>November 2022: Cuba!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-md59ycupAYu5b9chufUOMpJL00SmqAcnC2mTP_rhcPHT8R-NY2tjUBpA_GNDGFnKDeZbmxc24H06nZONAxDQZrhg7G-9wqlc4xYQf8dh9qyxrKsEjDF6wvm8kih_gmh2pi2Fw3Csg2mZIBovbFK7vcoEtcm4f_Zzi4R1vzdM96MOR0cBORU7/s2549/Nov%202022.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="2549" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-md59ycupAYu5b9chufUOMpJL00SmqAcnC2mTP_rhcPHT8R-NY2tjUBpA_GNDGFnKDeZbmxc24H06nZONAxDQZrhg7G-9wqlc4xYQf8dh9qyxrKsEjDF6wvm8kih_gmh2pi2Fw3Csg2mZIBovbFK7vcoEtcm4f_Zzi4R1vzdM96MOR0cBORU7/w640-h480/Nov%202022.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">December 2022: Got stuck in Kansas City thanks to Southwest and we had to drive 2,200 miles back home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERNXKLVTcrsT2G8Qj7XYTPz-0Y_BzSRpxC7iwxJeXF8N1_b0KN8saE0zN7MPvLKbl01WjvfvCSTfygNS4uqYvJJNUs-STPBryDAZLv_Vr3eSumKyB_gWMRO1AXYXkscy0m8hQyn57FXP7Szmxk3xSGhmJQw-MHUcA5ZIWrGEtaWb2UDOrdo9-/s3088/Dec%202022.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERNXKLVTcrsT2G8Qj7XYTPz-0Y_BzSRpxC7iwxJeXF8N1_b0KN8saE0zN7MPvLKbl01WjvfvCSTfygNS4uqYvJJNUs-STPBryDAZLv_Vr3eSumKyB_gWMRO1AXYXkscy0m8hQyn57FXP7Szmxk3xSGhmJQw-MHUcA5ZIWrGEtaWb2UDOrdo9-/w640-h480/Dec%202022.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">January 2023: Checked out a Carvana store.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYydNg9cGHHr8W28DKsWOUX38P6xOzSMbRLjvgW5ekACrYuSUMrGxx5_czyufJi-4ZvktQvXSnTbDpMqd_ffhINXKkfXEmGy580EmIlSDd0wctwIvuPG-mAgVRlyAwGIddb8gJ_ON1L3OYS2uJ4W8Xfs_cN-gEMxOvqD-oVcyGKoCAA69bM5lC/s4032/Jan%202023.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYydNg9cGHHr8W28DKsWOUX38P6xOzSMbRLjvgW5ekACrYuSUMrGxx5_czyufJi-4ZvktQvXSnTbDpMqd_ffhINXKkfXEmGy580EmIlSDd0wctwIvuPG-mAgVRlyAwGIddb8gJ_ON1L3OYS2uJ4W8Xfs_cN-gEMxOvqD-oVcyGKoCAA69bM5lC/w480-h640/Jan%202023.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">February 2023: Bowling. (It was a slow month.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKL9qYCgRQK6s0Dkvu1Kf-iD9ZEUtSnyWja4ASHfAtNtQEVWww_ATNM50VhklosbdCQl85a_llSDfnBCaymK5B7uo6J82woL9kWDvTPX31dkiRrnEx9HbgPtDb0pywc1LeSaJslswKpL2OcXf2a9RlVwbYOUs5B0F46lNPtKJan1ON1dG_PCqV/s4032/Feb%202023.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEjKL9qYCgRQK6s0Dkvu1Kf-iD9ZEUtSnyWja4ASHfAtNtQEVWww_ATNM50VhklosbdCQl85a_llSDfnBCaymK5B7uo6J82woL9kWDvTPX31dkiRrnEx9HbgPtDb0pywc1LeSaJslswKpL2OcXf2a9RlVwbYOUs5B0F46lNPtKJan1ON1dG_PCqV/w480-h640/Feb%202023.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">March 2023: Got to check out a Hummer H2 up close.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnuEETOQHSWAjAERMQEtTWQEEDh9FvrB7fjA5UoZsTqRmpFPm7UT5KbeiewUHyTaRgCgFe1JJwd_B9DWLVs0WjqK1NnANUlXirCieXVU7JKdXwp7mUmLp3x0Yn7vJobKMxqSTNMCp9wpnA5j8EVhLoxfAvfOYIurlsqWRu7lC1a3hmDehLtHZ/s4032/March%202023.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEjfnuEETOQHSWAjAERMQEtTWQEEDh9FvrB7fjA5UoZsTqRmpFPm7UT5KbeiewUHyTaRgCgFe1JJwd_B9DWLVs0WjqK1NnANUlXirCieXVU7JKdXwp7mUmLp3x0Yn7vJobKMxqSTNMCp9wpnA5j8EVhLoxfAvfOYIurlsqWRu7lC1a3hmDehLtHZ/w640-h480/March%202023.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">April 2023: Legoland for the boy's birthday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi336Bc1NcM5EGStvHQAA1TCfE_E16M2qz_4TmpdcwFW7sWtxPd14IqrN5KNPpCetBJSkO5-6Y5e26FrkSCXp-4pdkc_24rwkQoJ53fpFfvuXdFKcmfr2y-F7SruEJcpZhyM8KjQkltm22rGjThpr4cBIOQW8yJCxDXyvBM5ge2gr7kxvGCOSVU/s4032/April%202023.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEi336Bc1NcM5EGStvHQAA1TCfE_E16M2qz_4TmpdcwFW7sWtxPd14IqrN5KNPpCetBJSkO5-6Y5e26FrkSCXp-4pdkc_24rwkQoJ53fpFfvuXdFKcmfr2y-F7SruEJcpZhyM8KjQkltm22rGjThpr4cBIOQW8yJCxDXyvBM5ge2gr7kxvGCOSVU/w480-h640/April%202023.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">May 2023: French Guiana!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eMJi5LPYMmJNqWgTPXfqhMsa3cdWwgVCS5FtaFI_WH-e-CLl4PQ_qyC_Btwwu-C8F-dHKTNeun_scKALNg6y163h5MKQOeRzBxaDmzaInp40OqoL5xgJ_3QAokrjwMAj_GooTNnUS7T3akwpzQ7TzcEtMjLt5zPff4AHgsKbMYerIPYaK-EN/s4032/May%202023.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEj-eMJi5LPYMmJNqWgTPXfqhMsa3cdWwgVCS5FtaFI_WH-e-CLl4PQ_qyC_Btwwu-C8F-dHKTNeun_scKALNg6y163h5MKQOeRzBxaDmzaInp40OqoL5xgJ_3QAokrjwMAj_GooTNnUS7T3akwpzQ7TzcEtMjLt5zPff4AHgsKbMYerIPYaK-EN/w640-h480/May%202023.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>June 2023: A good friend got sworn in to be a judge and I made a side trip to a Channel Island.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl236eoOK6hGFBR7J6zS3nM9HtumtVCCGwVTaKZ96LC9Yh7wIQ8QMxrIHP5Ci6uZwBOexILJTKhC2jXONm4kADqoZ4IDjZpZgV9vw4JkDq3nZ8k8Lm2AsCzFAg_2-Qck_rFm9s-p51NoN94C6f8lwbxK1qUr9nlpJoXOPXmgej9CtpScEstqZH/s4032/June%202023.HEIC" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEhl236eoOK6hGFBR7J6zS3nM9HtumtVCCGwVTaKZ96LC9Yh7wIQ8QMxrIHP5Ci6uZwBOexILJTKhC2jXONm4kADqoZ4IDjZpZgV9vw4JkDq3nZ8k8Lm2AsCzFAg_2-Qck_rFm9s-p51NoN94C6f8lwbxK1qUr9nlpJoXOPXmgej9CtpScEstqZH/w640-h480/June%202023.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-38787485558419922852023-06-11T11:19:00.003-07:002023-06-11T11:29:16.630-07:00My French Guiana adventure: Day 7<p>My last full day in French Guiana. I've had an eventful week, so I'm going to take it easy and just hang around Cayenne. After I return the rental car, I set out to get some stamps to mail three postcards to my wife and kids and one postcard to Friend of the Blog Ramon in Chile.</p><p>The post office ordeal takes over an hour. First, I wait in a long line that winds around the outside of the post office. It's hot and humid and there's barely any shade. After a while, I realize everyone in line is actually there to do banking. I get out of line and enter the post office, where I wait in a much shorter line in the post office post office part of the post office.</p><p>The employees work so slowly. Every time an employee comes in, they give each other the three-peck kiss to each other. The customer in front of me is nice but smells putrid. It's my turn.</p><p>I can only buy a sheet of six stamps at around eight euros. I use my credit card but it requires a PIN. I don't have a PIN. I need to pay with cash (coins only). I only have seven euros in coins. Fuck.</p><p>I go back outside and go to a Chinese-run market and buy the smallest bottle of water. It's tiny. I break a bill and get enough coins. I go back to the post office and wait in line again. This time, I wait in line with a young man who has a fistful of one cent coins, which he promptly drops on the floor.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1Tk7HQLrNWNKwQM6Bgm7XOgaAuCpYgCnSxZNUaiKfaPqtnqZgT8S5-EGNFm6V6irbHAq-7ZmngVDoVW55MWE3Kjk6hGljaGFIHSDUxT2FrV0zW-v_Pqk-VIuFagRK-513Rs66MhAMzaFZ-3LkJR4JMvdG3kYt41xfrU35qjETKwVYmcVAw/s4032/IMG_3195.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjr1Tk7HQLrNWNKwQM6Bgm7XOgaAuCpYgCnSxZNUaiKfaPqtnqZgT8S5-EGNFm6V6irbHAq-7ZmngVDoVW55MWE3Kjk6hGljaGFIHSDUxT2FrV0zW-v_Pqk-VIuFagRK-513Rs66MhAMzaFZ-3LkJR4JMvdG3kYt41xfrU35qjETKwVYmcVAw/w480-h640/IMG_3195.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the post office errand complete, I walk back to my hotel. On the way, I see two guys on the sidewalk hanging out with their eight songbirds, each housed in its own ornate wooden cage. The men are cousins. The one who speaks English is a fisherman and served five years in prison for being at the scene of a stabbing. His cousin drives special needs children around. We end up chatting for almost an hour about everything French Guiana, from race relations to jungle survival to the protagonist's father's murder.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For dinner, to celebrate, I go to the highest-rated Chinese restaurant in town. I tried going there on my first day in Cayenne but it was closed. Next to me is a table of six friends. For the first time during my trip, I see Black and Chinese people socializing with each other. The owner's daughter, maybe a fifth grader, is roller blading around the dining room, looking bored.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I ask the owner for the best seafood dish and she brings this to me. Cuttlefish, clams, and shrimp on a fajita plate. It is very good but does not taste like Chinese food.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOOVat73_p4VKAnT5ucGyxOEktimbjG-vzVElhjewCJbUk4Q5fVLQW6Jw5maUDMkwmmf6H75qI_JiamtPCvbn-w6cvsoZM9c6s0ZoVN0va2kGT2FhCo9BIpFnwyXnQDZ7Get9VL0UTWLRUCClbPyTF1qFBbb5lvmda-Zwe5YADTbCNCIaYA/s4032/IMG_3198.heic" 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/AVvXsEiqOOVat73_p4VKAnT5ucGyxOEktimbjG-vzVElhjewCJbUk4Q5fVLQW6Jw5maUDMkwmmf6H75qI_JiamtPCvbn-w6cvsoZM9c6s0ZoVN0va2kGT2FhCo9BIpFnwyXnQDZ7Get9VL0UTWLRUCClbPyTF1qFBbb5lvmda-Zwe5YADTbCNCIaYA/w640-h480/IMG_3198.heic" width="640" /></a></div><p>Tomorrow, I leave this strange land. And it does not go as expected.</p>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-34050319377653313382023-06-08T21:08:00.003-07:002023-06-08T21:13:52.844-07:00My French Guiana adventure: Day 6<p>Today, I drive to Brazil!</p><p>The national "highway" heading east to Brazil is very different from the road heading west to Suriname. Today's drive is much curvier and hillier. And instead of driving through savannah, today I am driving through thick jungle. There are no gas stations for the entire 200km stretch between Cayenne and Brazil. My biggest concern, aside from the heavy rain, is a flat tire. My rental doesn't have a spare.</p><p>For much of the drive, I listen to the Omnibus podcast episode about the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider" target="_blank">Gimli Glider</a>.</p><p>Just as I could not believe that I had driven to the border with Suriname, I was breathlessly speechless when I parked the Peugeot and looked across the river at Brazil. I am in the town of St George. There is a flotilla of motorboats ferrying people between the countries. People from French Guiana go to Brazil to buy cheap groceries. Brazilians come this way for economic opportunities.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Y9GxbZ27GAjH_l7LQGO__5lplLf4XC899ddOkjvF9gjPlvCtk58_-jDbQ6koqFHMSWJjWOSVRw_sSoqLqJvtJIHj1U-8HETCkvG32Rz81lGmIIPWc8vnfbQRGRGpeXdQUAI0ovhzcP2fwJPwSLhwX0Xo6IhAvWTHPO9bjMA_dxr56hrnMQ/s2016/IMG_3180.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Y9GxbZ27GAjH_l7LQGO__5lplLf4XC899ddOkjvF9gjPlvCtk58_-jDbQ6koqFHMSWJjWOSVRw_sSoqLqJvtJIHj1U-8HETCkvG32Rz81lGmIIPWc8vnfbQRGRGpeXdQUAI0ovhzcP2fwJPwSLhwX0Xo6IhAvWTHPO9bjMA_dxr56hrnMQ/w640-h480/IMG_3180.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I walk around town. There is a busy supermarket. Well, as "super" as a town with a population of 4,000 can sustain. I walk in and sitting there, reading a newspaper, is the Chinese proprietor. He looks up at me and gives me a smiling nod.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time for lunch. I go to a rundown hotel that has a restaurant downstairs. Even though the menu is in French, everyone is ordering in Portuguese. I use my one semester's worth of college Portuguese and order fish and chips. The cook walks next door to the fish stall, buys a fish that was just caught in the river, fillets it, fries it, and plops it on a plate. This might be my best meal of the trip.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtWClCTGixkxwX3pySHMg_UwKH45CMjsAQ4_Zc4kERQtS_7vzIXUssQn8RBUbBA662KXITO4Zv15NflnVdKrRjicLa69IIwieo31Q03RKhhRXyTBSVKMmQAvPJWU3ioPGIrKoramQK5AE4XF2O-m9pdIN6wLnyaZ8wo0G638eB423Xc4aiQ/s2016/IMG_3182.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtWClCTGixkxwX3pySHMg_UwKH45CMjsAQ4_Zc4kERQtS_7vzIXUssQn8RBUbBA662KXITO4Zv15NflnVdKrRjicLa69IIwieo31Q03RKhhRXyTBSVKMmQAvPJWU3ioPGIrKoramQK5AE4XF2O-m9pdIN6wLnyaZ8wo0G638eB423Xc4aiQ/w640-h480/IMG_3182.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Satiated, I have one more thing to do in St George. There is a French Foreign Legion base on the outskirts of town. I drive up a single lane dirt road and park about 50 yards from the guard post. I take my hands out of my pockets, smile, and walk as non-confrontationally as possible. A nice Nepalese soldier is standing guard. I cannot go in and I cannot take any photos. But we chat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While holding his assault rifle, with red dragonflies buzzing around us, the bored soldier answers all my questions. He was studying business management in France when he changed his mind and joined the Legion. He is a really sweet guy. Not what I imagined a Foreign Legionnaire to be like. I say good-bye and head back to Cayenne.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iKXzl7L9qmVmMGHFuBsfIvuztjuiGQsMeOWXxDtvLNBCbrrm1u1_JH4fbqZZADppGAJWCWWl3n4O_Y0K2XZgkLpX2Mfbp4Dz9GSGqW_YMf-e1trLCQ_jZ0NhBvCDxg0hWZBhIongx8smLlWJuP4Cb3gQ9sG7_YYsk_8HvHL6qNQu7o6bww/s2016/IMG_3184.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iKXzl7L9qmVmMGHFuBsfIvuztjuiGQsMeOWXxDtvLNBCbrrm1u1_JH4fbqZZADppGAJWCWWl3n4O_Y0K2XZgkLpX2Mfbp4Dz9GSGqW_YMf-e1trLCQ_jZ0NhBvCDxg0hWZBhIongx8smLlWJuP4Cb3gQ9sG7_YYsk_8HvHL6qNQu7o6bww/w640-h480/IMG_3184.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For dinner, I go to a nearby fancy hotel's chic restaurant. Now that I'm a pro, I order a punch (local rum, cane sugar syrup, lime).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCldBtdUlL87fjWWPxCtL5UZIRds6D4s6e3FcFUZfVKXpf9lqVcoYtx6-xzI6iViQlSTlBSez_zyE4EQJAj-RJjHrfoVfvAMklhLZCcPYK28wZfdasmDCKDP3jJ8zVNAQKnMAhs66UUafSnwX2NT-5DRMmksB02CypSuujSvtpaWPy4vf9g/s2016/IMG_3188.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCldBtdUlL87fjWWPxCtL5UZIRds6D4s6e3FcFUZfVKXpf9lqVcoYtx6-xzI6iViQlSTlBSez_zyE4EQJAj-RJjHrfoVfvAMklhLZCcPYK28wZfdasmDCKDP3jJ8zVNAQKnMAhs66UUafSnwX2NT-5DRMmksB02CypSuujSvtpaWPy4vf9g/w640-h480/IMG_3188.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For my entree, I order a steak and a glass of red. Everything is tasty, but the steak is tough and the wine refrigerated and ice cold.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ac0NW_l6vNQnyAYxm9VYCVZR2OaEoN5BeY3adsHViRXob7TCH4DfbNPMn-wYIwv2xp0HVuopWuQZmteNnSUcHmgJpCc9I3hiXULfDsnpn9HEvlK8AkB0KZ4s-LWxyv8Y2Jv6QLPTULvjDhq49QjfQyt_8mpqX1rWGacSWhREaxp7XMPWaA/s2016/IMG_3189.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ac0NW_l6vNQnyAYxm9VYCVZR2OaEoN5BeY3adsHViRXob7TCH4DfbNPMn-wYIwv2xp0HVuopWuQZmteNnSUcHmgJpCc9I3hiXULfDsnpn9HEvlK8AkB0KZ4s-LWxyv8Y2Jv6QLPTULvjDhq49QjfQyt_8mpqX1rWGacSWhREaxp7XMPWaA/w640-h480/IMG_3189.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Tomorrow is my last full day in French Guiana. I had originally planned to visit Devil's Island. I canceled the plan because I did not want to take a two hour ride on a tiny boat on the open sea in the heat and rain. So I am just going to bum around Cayenne tomorrow.</p>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-66837047346736198682023-06-07T21:23:00.002-07:002023-06-07T21:34:47.175-07:00My French Guiana adventure: Day 5<p>Today, I see Suriname!</p><p>I wake up early and head west in my rented Peugeot. It rains on and off the entire way, about four hours. I don't feel comfortable driving fast so everyone is passing me. The national route is one lane in each direction and very well maintained. Cayenne has crappy, nondescript cars. But as I approach the border town of St Laurent du Maroni (population 50,000; it's the second biggest city in French Guiana), I am passed by an SQ7 and a CLS wagon. I later learn that one-third of the cocaine in France is transported by drug mules along this road.</p><p>As I pull into town around noon, it is raining hard again. I park my car, run out onto the muddy grass, and take this photo. Across the brown Maroni River (they say some of that dirt in the water is from Peru) is Suriname. I made it. It is incredible. What an achievement.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyD160wANHkOxFpio5uZprI4VqyVuzbqmo2FZFRBs9xwuqMKcP5wXJyzIz5so93VT2onPNnjo087XBT3ef8NNsLh0TUuEQdgBYHWpVLjAxfB5N6sbEP7XrBtWPZa88ODbdvGn4kiQYdHrnWNIgPtkIk-rGp88-fE3hPwlBQfA0AkrCb-TfIQ/s2016/IMG_3162.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyD160wANHkOxFpio5uZprI4VqyVuzbqmo2FZFRBs9xwuqMKcP5wXJyzIz5so93VT2onPNnjo087XBT3ef8NNsLh0TUuEQdgBYHWpVLjAxfB5N6sbEP7XrBtWPZa88ODbdvGn4kiQYdHrnWNIgPtkIk-rGp88-fE3hPwlBQfA0AkrCb-TfIQ/w640-h480/IMG_3162.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I immediately run back to my car and drive a half block to the former prison. French Guiana used to be a penal colony and this was the infamous prison where Papillon stayed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lW_IWHw3z-U" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>I highly recommend the movie starring Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen.</div><div><br /></div><div>The prison/museum is kinda meh. Only a couple of buildings are open to the public and they're filled with sterile exhibits and contemporary art. Nothing jarring or macabre. Bummer.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0tAOaYKSJKxsjficw9hz7oWezKuPTbDYMWGdP0XApsNy8ScI_L-ZJ16LpWWiKiBwM1Ixvir09BYwaLk3WAqyEFqGAigRIGp07AftMMnTLhLui3XE_DY1MsvyTofPNiW7jnYrxo_5GoxMQP_yz8wTrUbKsxE7JENd6g7ed6YxBj4aVcUjVw/s2016/IMG_3163.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0tAOaYKSJKxsjficw9hz7oWezKuPTbDYMWGdP0XApsNy8ScI_L-ZJ16LpWWiKiBwM1Ixvir09BYwaLk3WAqyEFqGAigRIGp07AftMMnTLhLui3XE_DY1MsvyTofPNiW7jnYrxo_5GoxMQP_yz8wTrUbKsxE7JENd6g7ed6YxBj4aVcUjVw/w480-h640/IMG_3163.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZs-LtodgvkmsAna-USrsVav1meqF2STib4fLWK8Efvg_1cE5jKxkhgt_6LPjhXEzByhKBAHayQgyHXF4BHO9TbRYxNG6eE8zd5ydF5tDNTkiqbfx-PXJFNLNUETYaSYWFAO6BxNcs4VVsQ1KV4EXRjxSXRpxolrf6uoe5zddbOFi-vbWyw/s2016/IMG_3164.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZs-LtodgvkmsAna-USrsVav1meqF2STib4fLWK8Efvg_1cE5jKxkhgt_6LPjhXEzByhKBAHayQgyHXF4BHO9TbRYxNG6eE8zd5ydF5tDNTkiqbfx-PXJFNLNUETYaSYWFAO6BxNcs4VVsQ1KV4EXRjxSXRpxolrf6uoe5zddbOFi-vbWyw/w480-h640/IMG_3164.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHFwtqMIJkuKd8HsdK9PhD7hIFl8e7hTh2QohajNlUT9EInbE19XnHNp_pkrgcOnC6ykV_6JD8QBmsU33tWNc0MZTt7IrEeaHGAv6xFLrEBJYiYst9BHxr9sEuwgtMbhmkqGMZ5FXYakVZHj5RUxtQUxOGzd4WJrCeDf5wABUpV5gB0PSVA/s2016/IMG_3165.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHFwtqMIJkuKd8HsdK9PhD7hIFl8e7hTh2QohajNlUT9EInbE19XnHNp_pkrgcOnC6ykV_6JD8QBmsU33tWNc0MZTt7IrEeaHGAv6xFLrEBJYiYst9BHxr9sEuwgtMbhmkqGMZ5FXYakVZHj5RUxtQUxOGzd4WJrCeDf5wABUpV5gB0PSVA/w640-h480/IMG_3165.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since I am so close to the equator, it gets very dark right after sunset. I want to head back to Cayenne as soon as possible. But I need to eat lunch first. There's a highly rated Chinese joint nearby. As I walk there, I notice a lot more Amerindian faces. I can't miss the restaurant. It's very busy, packed with Chinese, black, Amerindian, white, and mixed customers. I order the combination chow mein and these fried shrimps that I've seen in a lot of French Guianese Chinese restaurant menus. I sit at a communal table across from a middle aged black lady. At the next table, an Amerindian family who just arrived by motorboat from the jungle is enjoying har gow and shumai. The food is decent.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNrm82BNSyAb9HpS04N_wAN87thPMMV-nzLs0YFdx_Rthv73FfUsIm_JIRsfzvjMBgE_9KXN8aOH1_6uCNQMyS9jKxvPZ6FxX-qxSq-9o_jQgUmorNnFiBM5JiCoIk-qMoHErPQ4pPFJHc1EKmNbJrNr_HyOnXDxVUIPhyi3x3Sg6Dc8ztg/s2016/IMG_3166.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNrm82BNSyAb9HpS04N_wAN87thPMMV-nzLs0YFdx_Rthv73FfUsIm_JIRsfzvjMBgE_9KXN8aOH1_6uCNQMyS9jKxvPZ6FxX-qxSq-9o_jQgUmorNnFiBM5JiCoIk-qMoHErPQ4pPFJHc1EKmNbJrNr_HyOnXDxVUIPhyi3x3Sg6Dc8ztg/w640-h480/IMG_3166.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the way back, I take a potty break on the side of the road. There are only two or three tiny towns between Cayenne and St Laurent du Maroni. I am amazed that there are no potholes, or even puddles, on the road.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I had my YJ Wrangler in the '90s, before any long trip, I would pat the car on the dashboard and wish for a safe journey. For the first time in over 20 years, I pat the dash of the Peugeot and wish for a safe journey. The rain is really gnarly.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xZ4oTZhYNuEB95K6a2ewco4O-l-e1Z6u3Jy-n_8zPWjDxenJb02EEHwDIAiYIwnJezvjjJNREfNr55vICHX9ccW6h4Py4T0tfc2LP1fsnbrUY86FRbKF3oGaJBEH67vcqYPtgfWxrqpVP6JHV-dqdubxJJaI6LL3EKvjYQi1g8sS0Uwr2w/s2016/IMG_3167.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xZ4oTZhYNuEB95K6a2ewco4O-l-e1Z6u3Jy-n_8zPWjDxenJb02EEHwDIAiYIwnJezvjjJNREfNr55vICHX9ccW6h4Py4T0tfc2LP1fsnbrUY86FRbKF3oGaJBEH67vcqYPtgfWxrqpVP6JHV-dqdubxJJaI6LL3EKvjYQi1g8sS0Uwr2w/w640-h480/IMG_3167.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After 600 kilometers of white knuckle driving, I am back in Cayenne. I really scored with my hotel room. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1OXJhBiReLqIBCkrYF2PdY3sURXYClWVw8hIuyv-6h11Kitc20Faq17l55GhUAviaG9HIoUFBnrNJ8wg87_JeJIH3-sDcUTw2bBL1f2i2tVdpJDb8-HukdzTVtb8Rga5QTrzRlGpN2O9sl5WX6h-LJGnPT3sHNRfneOvrBx8JwSIJFVZmQ/s2016/IMG_3168.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1OXJhBiReLqIBCkrYF2PdY3sURXYClWVw8hIuyv-6h11Kitc20Faq17l55GhUAviaG9HIoUFBnrNJ8wg87_JeJIH3-sDcUTw2bBL1f2i2tVdpJDb8-HukdzTVtb8Rga5QTrzRlGpN2O9sl5WX6h-LJGnPT3sHNRfneOvrBx8JwSIJFVZmQ/w640-h480/IMG_3168.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I fall asleep on the couch and am awakened by drums. It sounds like a high school marching band. Mildly annoyed, I wake up and walk to my balcony. It's a bunch of young people participating in a miniature pride parade. Upon seeing the trans flag, I get a little choked up.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziZWm47vg0cjXnlmHYYh64FP4J-6iEh8TJeTBrZtHqx9tuVu2pRkWQ-Kxlpkihb7-2k0xK1lyPzJzfy4ZqQ1Ghb9vHJ52BiXlt0YSDwDpD_14R3QdcfTYiExbuw3-obKw8bdSBPTXtyNkX8sig_kuimpUh_A5K-antl_uCAs5hPragrsXlA/s2016/IMG_3171.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziZWm47vg0cjXnlmHYYh64FP4J-6iEh8TJeTBrZtHqx9tuVu2pRkWQ-Kxlpkihb7-2k0xK1lyPzJzfy4ZqQ1Ghb9vHJ52BiXlt0YSDwDpD_14R3QdcfTYiExbuw3-obKw8bdSBPTXtyNkX8sig_kuimpUh_A5K-antl_uCAs5hPragrsXlA/w480-h640/IMG_3171.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomorrow, Brazil!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*I did not cross into Suriname and immediately come back because I did not want to be hassled by immigration/customs.</div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-42450819819804327252023-06-04T17:02:00.001-07:002023-06-04T17:15:24.639-07:00My French Guiana adventure: Day 4<p>Today, I visit a spaceport! But first, breakfast. It seems like no brick and mortar eatery in French Guiana opens before 10:30. My tour is 40 minutes away from my hotel and it starts at 7am. Where am I going to eat?</p><p>Fortunately, I see a few blue collar guys hanging around this red Peugeot van in Kourou, so I make a u-turn and order a sandwich.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFpMyGhRsmVo0LalCr2sfMWz9hDp4haejyEPzUczH1OCNl7JlyyLxDvPo4WAlslKDZeap68Sn9j4DPvBjbEIhuzPu4D3nKoTnyvdQ7wD6ERjRrRnfs2EJsaVNo4rE9XjGiaPImymRgMwmmN6C_jBut9VXCat2XyfdjMTcRQiuc3015TOv7Q/s4032/IMG_3100.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEieFpMyGhRsmVo0LalCr2sfMWz9hDp4haejyEPzUczH1OCNl7JlyyLxDvPo4WAlslKDZeap68Sn9j4DPvBjbEIhuzPu4D3nKoTnyvdQ7wD6ERjRrRnfs2EJsaVNo4rE9XjGiaPImymRgMwmmN6C_jBut9VXCat2XyfdjMTcRQiuc3015TOv7Q/w640-h480/IMG_3100.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My 5 euro sandwich comes with beef, egg, and cheese. It's super filling and I cannot finish it before the tour, it's so big.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkofcPDUjATbsoaiEqy5EBJn5oT3GfMpO_4_Vxv3-HkOieLK3HEW4QS-XWTu0v6QzXFozppnMiBiSlhUllZPGGGwFEFptXqGOzp7OUMuli_kqnbMn_Dmmce_bPaIXVfQKlmKR_1J19u-L_NEIEDEXSs2N5jm0-9riuwiMrVxltTL4_yPtx8w/s4032/IMG_3101.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgkofcPDUjATbsoaiEqy5EBJn5oT3GfMpO_4_Vxv3-HkOieLK3HEW4QS-XWTu0v6QzXFozppnMiBiSlhUllZPGGGwFEFptXqGOzp7OUMuli_kqnbMn_Dmmce_bPaIXVfQKlmKR_1J19u-L_NEIEDEXSs2N5jm0-9riuwiMrVxltTL4_yPtx8w/w640-h480/IMG_3101.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had assumed the three-hour all-French tour was going to have us walk around a museum and peek into the command center. I had no idea we were going to be on a bus driving all over the spaceport! Our driver is Polynesian and our tour guide is super accommodating. Even though I am the only non-French speaker, she would come up to me after each stop and explain everything in English.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The facility is expansive. Because of French Guiana's proximity to the equator, it takes 25% less fuel to launch a rocket into space. The main rockets in use are Ariane 5 (soon to be 6) and Vega. Soyuz is no longer used since the Ukraine invasion. France and Russia have a long space friendship. The first French astronaut was sent up in a Soviet rocket in the 1980s. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Security is tight. Army, navy, air force, police, Foreign Legion. They all protect the spaceport. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first stop is at an Ariane rocket launchpad. And our bus drives through it! There are two sets of parallel railroad tracks that are used to slowly transport the rocket from the hangar to the pad.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQ4mGwMwBVrto4tEjetUhJFn77II6S3Z-yxPVedNh2d1_RPFWQLcNXGayXfND6BxybhnrzIbBYzSSPJuu2Yi4yX-it4035_IEgS8Us6dRRRcdSCaP60ZAGk7pWGQ6zwBaIStTD5yz8qaHUUQOOGQjSecSWfFe5pl0X6muogvqIuW6BOJKvA/s4032/IMG_3102.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgcQ4mGwMwBVrto4tEjetUhJFn77II6S3Z-yxPVedNh2d1_RPFWQLcNXGayXfND6BxybhnrzIbBYzSSPJuu2Yi4yX-it4035_IEgS8Us6dRRRcdSCaP60ZAGk7pWGQ6zwBaIStTD5yz8qaHUUQOOGQjSecSWfFe5pl0X6muogvqIuW6BOJKvA/w480-h640/IMG_3102.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44uOvkQjAF4WzigWLdWPFooI7mtZShB6pI5GiGhzBpq48iRrx_aTE4BM18CiX31urdg8ozk1IsqYl15IRNfdDZZl-HW0zci7LH32XlXBpJRx6seQUDCqLqK1uB8WQL38aFAoQNjectgDptycktMO6w8jiRyPzrsdiUdH9atFb7pRWzklY4w/s4032/IMG_3106.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEj44uOvkQjAF4WzigWLdWPFooI7mtZShB6pI5GiGhzBpq48iRrx_aTE4BM18CiX31urdg8ozk1IsqYl15IRNfdDZZl-HW0zci7LH32XlXBpJRx6seQUDCqLqK1uB8WQL38aFAoQNjectgDptycktMO6w8jiRyPzrsdiUdH9atFb7pRWzklY4w/w480-h640/IMG_3106.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rocket flames go down a hole, through that yellow tube, and away from the launchpad. That's a water tower next to the tube.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9Oe7HhsuDy2JTcJfD8hcX_XAa-O2dWAU47-yGVT-OyQOa1Ig8lMqluCqDvL6SU9Jl-_GIJldAxLIVPWQ-0QENAr7H92QSyVAWJ0E85CUnJwmK_AOhG9wIqSHJTJnOyu8W-Rq3vgHVcCIuOEhXrtL6enIRXzGgezgJWM4AHa_UTJqxkWvJA/s4032/IMG_3113.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEii9Oe7HhsuDy2JTcJfD8hcX_XAa-O2dWAU47-yGVT-OyQOa1Ig8lMqluCqDvL6SU9Jl-_GIJldAxLIVPWQ-0QENAr7H92QSyVAWJ0E85CUnJwmK_AOhG9wIqSHJTJnOyu8W-Rq3vgHVcCIuOEhXrtL6enIRXzGgezgJWM4AHa_UTJqxkWvJA/w480-h640/IMG_3113.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5UBO94irSMmKEEdRig-8RNGMYYVMyBr7WmnNq8nB5kD-8PJWi7j96jCWyKfR2Lf9MDEXUV3q1AbTtU8mvAot-yG_r_FtIMdhuRdZcD2WCJdvdeunA1I-xIoopNRr6u6pCl-T8RO3EqT5RRo2VZ4JvlyeDE0Ff2q9GZjQkmPytsNtu2IfKw/s4032/IMG_3118.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgw5UBO94irSMmKEEdRig-8RNGMYYVMyBr7WmnNq8nB5kD-8PJWi7j96jCWyKfR2Lf9MDEXUV3q1AbTtU8mvAot-yG_r_FtIMdhuRdZcD2WCJdvdeunA1I-xIoopNRr6u6pCl-T8RO3EqT5RRo2VZ4JvlyeDE0Ff2q9GZjQkmPytsNtu2IfKw/w480-h640/IMG_3118.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rain stops briefly and we get out of the bus. This is a shot of the launchpad we just drove through.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfQPQdba7CqiDF5gozTX50Ie3zZiYWxmYqKollS5YU3UPVhMwRQpqQyQ3fKnyI5D6GowRHP2I_mBOZbFAlf-fnWuNmJTxWbmuZMAWE_0yQ1eu5DFKkWw79n-XW7xbZLytTXyYCYu8IGErX4_utyQJgd6Hy7LJhD_JEA5tbWcu9vf91LpZFA/s4032/IMG_3125.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhHfQPQdba7CqiDF5gozTX50Ie3zZiYWxmYqKollS5YU3UPVhMwRQpqQyQ3fKnyI5D6GowRHP2I_mBOZbFAlf-fnWuNmJTxWbmuZMAWE_0yQ1eu5DFKkWw79n-XW7xbZLytTXyYCYu8IGErX4_utyQJgd6Hy7LJhD_JEA5tbWcu9vf91LpZFA/w480-h640/IMG_3125.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCd34-JVe9n_LtA2Zc_wsKKyveJmWPRvFZnrPf93gITKAJqwylsBh05qchLAgOaoSy93bg0fOlPxCXK-trnYUg8aWGUeb2tOHjv_432ZasvOFqKEyIHkdMgrpDnjh-r-YD-T52o0HuPFvMmng18Yx6lfKDJFoN3eAoK8EKIxZM9_oCH-IMg/s4032/IMG_3132.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhrCd34-JVe9n_LtA2Zc_wsKKyveJmWPRvFZnrPf93gITKAJqwylsBh05qchLAgOaoSy93bg0fOlPxCXK-trnYUg8aWGUeb2tOHjv_432ZasvOFqKEyIHkdMgrpDnjh-r-YD-T52o0HuPFvMmng18Yx6lfKDJFoN3eAoK8EKIxZM9_oCH-IMg/w480-h640/IMG_3132.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1qwKtEaDDlLsaS440d_MUj_HjG5cYq6asIbGr0tTk4WZN9dRR2qoidilh0TIdoompSc2oiAFiVV63XA9i38TArPdHLixY8_6CsmrTE-Ryv_0YBWN4bD9LA4NvFasSHbh95SEEumr5T5hmiRllpYY0ZDQHNFkj3TxQcsvpPfjOrmmfLgSFw/s4032/IMG_3135.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEiq1qwKtEaDDlLsaS440d_MUj_HjG5cYq6asIbGr0tTk4WZN9dRR2qoidilh0TIdoompSc2oiAFiVV63XA9i38TArPdHLixY8_6CsmrTE-Ryv_0YBWN4bD9LA4NvFasSHbh95SEEumr5T5hmiRllpYY0ZDQHNFkj3TxQcsvpPfjOrmmfLgSFw/w640-h480/IMG_3135.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The food at the spaceport is catered by Sodexo.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcVJvbIXK_L04WFaHVjusxLEv8k33FOaWky9bh1fTlf7xyex1EiXUses_D79wU0oSb9yrWbosceMpS8lrtQ5JoQ_5qJmwGtQPTs-kmrtr2HLD6msHY-LeAevmItaTAKaxFj1W7N8qyNSW6p-WY9knRsmIFLw2r2FEVOrQKhmXHe0xOx9JWg/s4032/IMG_3137.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEiWcVJvbIXK_L04WFaHVjusxLEv8k33FOaWky9bh1fTlf7xyex1EiXUses_D79wU0oSb9yrWbosceMpS8lrtQ5JoQ_5qJmwGtQPTs-kmrtr2HLD6msHY-LeAevmItaTAKaxFj1W7N8qyNSW6p-WY9knRsmIFLw2r2FEVOrQKhmXHe0xOx9JWg/w640-h480/IMG_3137.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We then climb an elevated bunker where people can observe Vega launches.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PBsV84xS-7p9A2cgfx5XC-pc5HUcyG-VY8-zek38dCHVMZQ3OmzKz_g1J9ZxxZhT6s8oD2auXN4zaxQsovHa5GtpwWu8HhkgzO86u_QTXoHH97WkhoyBae7e47QwWXMEeurQwEeJdMJgrw8TmtjFpKnu3KjgFNjS8XPRV9YhtmbCSvaJIw/s4032/IMG_3138.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEj0PBsV84xS-7p9A2cgfx5XC-pc5HUcyG-VY8-zek38dCHVMZQ3OmzKz_g1J9ZxxZhT6s8oD2auXN4zaxQsovHa5GtpwWu8HhkgzO86u_QTXoHH97WkhoyBae7e47QwWXMEeurQwEeJdMJgrw8TmtjFpKnu3KjgFNjS8XPRV9YhtmbCSvaJIw/w640-h480/IMG_3138.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-hRKmeirA6BvYrVxJnqGNF4ZjwlQakr2Dr5YJkbP4mp8SlnFlJtq9nVok-IsOIzDAWbFKtaaZ0GFgubiIXrRc2ErHuD4zh6Lq7EWf6DmHhsa23CS81KA2nb432YN7xKD_N0yy74YMfB9NeeIOXdb91_H1BiXLoaJ8k3nVjEV4x1mOBzSTw/s4032/IMG_3139.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjH-hRKmeirA6BvYrVxJnqGNF4ZjwlQakr2Dr5YJkbP4mp8SlnFlJtq9nVok-IsOIzDAWbFKtaaZ0GFgubiIXrRc2ErHuD4zh6Lq7EWf6DmHhsa23CS81KA2nb432YN7xKD_N0yy74YMfB9NeeIOXdb91_H1BiXLoaJ8k3nVjEV4x1mOBzSTw/w640-h480/IMG_3139.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The gray building in the background is the Soyuz launchpad. Supposedly, it looks totally different from the Ariane and Vegas launchpads because of the Soviets' different philosophy. We can't get closer because it has been completely shut down.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_gA0cRtDD8ykmgfA_qMVipV7QTerO8UWr1iHjZJ1hapOmH9UlDzq9R3azFffDcR49Q0JMCaTMJNKpWis6o_iGrpQ6Zvi9j-KQvCnyF1R9WbKu69enkGvZ2JqNDGvKJ6q_seuLRrGubf1LwbCV38xxHgF2pPHVT6hjKS7srBIYzsvMBBf6g/s4032/IMG_3141.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhH_gA0cRtDD8ykmgfA_qMVipV7QTerO8UWr1iHjZJ1hapOmH9UlDzq9R3azFffDcR49Q0JMCaTMJNKpWis6o_iGrpQ6Zvi9j-KQvCnyF1R9WbKu69enkGvZ2JqNDGvKJ6q_seuLRrGubf1LwbCV38xxHgF2pPHVT6hjKS7srBIYzsvMBBf6g/w640-h480/IMG_3141.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A sloth!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7IGVJ4RIT0e4v_5rHhLZmZNwKA0qDInxB5147VJ9m8hJp5HcEIF1DamuLoPxfXyCuvny8wIPdorGEkWv8zRZ1o-_lz2Afz_BgZkxP8EENLW_l0PO4fCoALt8Uy_K6Tliq02zJxrBk18QqZfOlO0qf0ofJxpIUvrTZP4iK9NAIGW62x-ffg/s4032/IMG_3145.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjJ7IGVJ4RIT0e4v_5rHhLZmZNwKA0qDInxB5147VJ9m8hJp5HcEIF1DamuLoPxfXyCuvny8wIPdorGEkWv8zRZ1o-_lz2Afz_BgZkxP8EENLW_l0PO4fCoALt8Uy_K6Tliq02zJxrBk18QqZfOlO0qf0ofJxpIUvrTZP4iK9NAIGW62x-ffg/w640-h480/IMG_3145.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is the control room. VIPs and guests sit in comfortable lecture hall-style seats behind the windows.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJ0HZyeyK3A5WaSOLomo5P4EwBNFseUQ_VSviguKhaNbzXct2y9q5PnYba28zmKH8gN8yLN4npcfuvMW6IYRmFu8bfWulUxBHPos72TQit7VQddO3_DZuhZzFIcKv8I_HkHJNdctl1lwVAQAklo6IdSPufZL_F1J55jEaECGk4ZPurnThRQ/s4032/IMG_3147.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEghJ0HZyeyK3A5WaSOLomo5P4EwBNFseUQ_VSviguKhaNbzXct2y9q5PnYba28zmKH8gN8yLN4npcfuvMW6IYRmFu8bfWulUxBHPos72TQit7VQddO3_DZuhZzFIcKv8I_HkHJNdctl1lwVAQAklo6IdSPufZL_F1J55jEaECGk4ZPurnThRQ/w640-h480/IMG_3147.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DI3yoivflfM6hte9UzG5DhPisG6QgsH2oQLSCMha9Ha80n_TbkOjVtuRdZEvtMy7FFFMpEFJRNBEKT4nf2LfuoU5_dksXaYd0a-oKIST61TMrbM59tSckCtHBa6UvJ4DZgNYELfpf4cLRjGVnmFPSUNd0-plu-LPaaUsOEdWQqOJSUcl_w/s4032/IMG_3149.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEh4DI3yoivflfM6hte9UzG5DhPisG6QgsH2oQLSCMha9Ha80n_TbkOjVtuRdZEvtMy7FFFMpEFJRNBEKT4nf2LfuoU5_dksXaYd0a-oKIST61TMrbM59tSckCtHBa6UvJ4DZgNYELfpf4cLRjGVnmFPSUNd0-plu-LPaaUsOEdWQqOJSUcl_w/w640-h480/IMG_3149.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a Lego model of the control room and lecture hall.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ld632VfojQHIK0lb55vCs99rKAVAxjN_EAoZktpWc8w0umIpIdftjNj-1TrBWcuEnfdhll7bq7svaHlTajoCIDiENiRmLlV12ST9mDF5-IRp-u2TOsPtYGvnmwypuP1qbCB6HZE-nPjiJPq0t7DTv6llth1mT3aJM20zzqo_hAjXa5aSmQ/s4032/IMG_3150.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEg_ld632VfojQHIK0lb55vCs99rKAVAxjN_EAoZktpWc8w0umIpIdftjNj-1TrBWcuEnfdhll7bq7svaHlTajoCIDiENiRmLlV12ST9mDF5-IRp-u2TOsPtYGvnmwypuP1qbCB6HZE-nPjiJPq0t7DTv6llth1mT3aJM20zzqo_hAjXa5aSmQ/w640-h480/IMG_3150.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The four top VIPs, including a representative from France, sit here. She is the one who counts down from ten before blastoff. That orange phone is for emergencies, such as when an errant rocket needs to be destroyed.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUnVy0pPY-zktIJ12Gp0P0Jf3BLFQ8qH0AhEGvJq_PXXJJBbWuj4P6wcStOJkC4ac-nGide9Rzd0mlOr_hWMB_9T6_6fcIxzgnhe_qWglKmM0h_-pYRNxcUNSOv3b9hu00cOrmTJzSofdvtnK1m8XAEswBZ-PuDdxG_C8PmAKrbG26TTQSw/s4032/IMG_3152.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhfUnVy0pPY-zktIJ12Gp0P0Jf3BLFQ8qH0AhEGvJq_PXXJJBbWuj4P6wcStOJkC4ac-nGide9Rzd0mlOr_hWMB_9T6_6fcIxzgnhe_qWglKmM0h_-pYRNxcUNSOv3b9hu00cOrmTJzSofdvtnK1m8XAEswBZ-PuDdxG_C8PmAKrbG26TTQSw/w640-h480/IMG_3152.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I return to Cayenne, stock up on provisions for my upcoming road trips, and have dinner at a Creole-Haitian-Vietnamese place. It's just me and a table of 20 hot cops. I order a punch, thinking it's like sangria. It's actually a local specialty that you make yourself at your table. It's just rum, cane sugar syrup, and lime.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDJpYz6TGrQq0CDbv0oa01tIe7pfuf88pr1J2hvyYS0YOwhShKxcmi7qZ_zYx0_BbBsjlm9NMO1eCrvHu0tz0d0FK4KPAFLO69KIFG67Nb7E-tE0suUc3De63D47KuPKSEabC39mbXcb8-FUpGhDdUcFuE_EoGV-aeyJABIF4C0o1RoOvaQ/s4032/IMG_3159.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjYDJpYz6TGrQq0CDbv0oa01tIe7pfuf88pr1J2hvyYS0YOwhShKxcmi7qZ_zYx0_BbBsjlm9NMO1eCrvHu0tz0d0FK4KPAFLO69KIFG67Nb7E-tE0suUc3De63D47KuPKSEabC39mbXcb8-FUpGhDdUcFuE_EoGV-aeyJABIF4C0o1RoOvaQ/w640-h480/IMG_3159.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For my entree, I order stew. They have chicken, beef, fish, and pakira. Not knowing what pakira is, I order it. It's skunk pig.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-SURFcgVW9rZii-MGzXj25c0jmVBkjNWdK8rvqi7HlgIZZ35iYcKL5Z5Mtq-OVJLhodiCDWQF97v3HUAO4V4x0oCTREjnGS-9ESYkG6uJ3TTlolqzSYxqiiye6YUnSjkoPMHmtHHTStkgtPrGKhwnIHrjf1vVaXlUozWcj0Fk9TPWxIXYw/s4032/IMG_3161.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjQ-SURFcgVW9rZii-MGzXj25c0jmVBkjNWdK8rvqi7HlgIZZ35iYcKL5Z5Mtq-OVJLhodiCDWQF97v3HUAO4V4x0oCTREjnGS-9ESYkG6uJ3TTlolqzSYxqiiye6YUnSjkoPMHmtHHTStkgtPrGKhwnIHrjf1vVaXlUozWcj0Fk9TPWxIXYw/w640-h480/IMG_3161.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><p>Tomorrow, I drive 300 kilometers to the Suriname border.</p>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-11837118648923380362023-06-03T22:51:00.001-07:002023-06-03T23:00:41.005-07:00My French Guiana adventure: Day 3<p>I wake up in French Guiana! I heard my business hotel has free breakfast, so I zoom downstairs. The hot cops are still here, flirting with the restaurant staff, who are all young Brazilian women. </p><p>I love free hotel breakfasts in America. It's usually platters of scrambled eggs, sausages, and bacon. The French make a valiant effort at a facsimile, but it's just different. The cook is in no hurry so the eggs never arrive, no matter how hard I use my psychic abilities to will them into existence. The baguettes, however, are fantastic. I make two sausage sandwiches for myself.</p><p>I go back to my room and this is my view. I have to go back to my original hotel, clarify the mess, and move there. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbYXpH50KP3VlOl0uqW3JZQ1d4Xu_Tp0ee_RqLcQ5bAt9MONRPZnWdm1UQs9DhpotQoo9Ysk-aA9HN5lI7K4lZfNjB25-ZpcwpWJJyN7NvY27zzy6nakuCT6GxmOBHsthKxHi1Ret1amMEoDIZlLJKjO9QtlFv3V70SULkB_-YlBNUCOqsA/s4032/IMG_3081.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEiTbYXpH50KP3VlOl0uqW3JZQ1d4Xu_Tp0ee_RqLcQ5bAt9MONRPZnWdm1UQs9DhpotQoo9Ysk-aA9HN5lI7K4lZfNjB25-ZpcwpWJJyN7NvY27zzy6nakuCT6GxmOBHsthKxHi1Ret1amMEoDIZlLJKjO9QtlFv3V70SULkB_-YlBNUCOqsA/w640-h480/IMG_3081.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I go back to Hotel des Palmistes. The hotel staff apologizes profusely and shows me to my suite. I come to realize that I have the best room at the best located hotel in all of Cayenne. I really dig that old timey airline poster in my bedroom. That's the town square my room is facing.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMs8KHxcwu00CyitW2se-xxHkFsHQq-UXuQy-jtgtCnII9ZqR2DqhheO6oPMIVX4E47pD9AE6UbAGFMnxxYJVEmzStTJoGMuxKt7Wsc9JBuQ3_ZOFP-q7yPAhPFYNSglKIQfO8qbLMctwhaE53uavpiPR-iEcpteSNV7EotO0h7Oh621TnQ/s4032/IMG_3082.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgjMs8KHxcwu00CyitW2se-xxHkFsHQq-UXuQy-jtgtCnII9ZqR2DqhheO6oPMIVX4E47pD9AE6UbAGFMnxxYJVEmzStTJoGMuxKt7Wsc9JBuQ3_ZOFP-q7yPAhPFYNSglKIQfO8qbLMctwhaE53uavpiPR-iEcpteSNV7EotO0h7Oh621TnQ/w640-h480/IMG_3082.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My living room. I do all of my trip planning and napping in this room.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPAN8LLTPbjBjG8zmaLZ9Op043kHhAXUyR5ilShZdl1s9nnBrxkLIUYb3HgBKbrzNaA4BBGNRdFoN67SVCZ89vGthe3hVUsu6UEuOaOsPIMqO5e9u7nF7h1katYFhQ5IjIhNdJT1IaC62Vt7VIP8bAZBGzs4gp40sv6mBvZDP8n1ddJJpTQ/s4032/IMG_3083.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEiuPAN8LLTPbjBjG8zmaLZ9Op043kHhAXUyR5ilShZdl1s9nnBrxkLIUYb3HgBKbrzNaA4BBGNRdFoN67SVCZ89vGthe3hVUsu6UEuOaOsPIMqO5e9u7nF7h1katYFhQ5IjIhNdJT1IaC62Vt7VIP8bAZBGzs4gp40sv6mBvZDP8n1ddJJpTQ/w640-h480/IMG_3083.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not bad for 106 euros a night. The toilet is kind of weak and the shower is like a coffin. But that's France for ya.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjn2eQKztaTT4qnD04wrMaSAa6VG01IXG796qM9HNyvLNQsM6m66mEMmRqNPoPcr1kIoWF4AFodh7HbCzNKjIzHCQeFRBMsfcgAnTBSaU_-JlPP8fY3bGp0QiOoUUkU4rUlAotBp9rCUZGDbe5RZW0dxgY92RNOkQC0gonhsb-ChVJtYIpw/s4032/IMG_3084.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhSjn2eQKztaTT4qnD04wrMaSAa6VG01IXG796qM9HNyvLNQsM6m66mEMmRqNPoPcr1kIoWF4AFodh7HbCzNKjIzHCQeFRBMsfcgAnTBSaU_-JlPP8fY3bGp0QiOoUUkU4rUlAotBp9rCUZGDbe5RZW0dxgY92RNOkQC0gonhsb-ChVJtYIpw/w640-h480/IMG_3084.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other than my wife's bout with cancer, I really don't have any fears, living a privileged life in America. So these oddball trips to faraway lands give me thrills. My original plan was to travel throughout French Guiana in cabs and vans, but that was going to be difficult logistically and expensive. My best decision was to rent a car. I was fearful of driving in a foreign country. I was fearful of getting carried away by flood waters. I was fearful of getting lost without GPS. It all worked out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I rented a manual transmissioned Peugeot 208 with 61,000 kilometers from Sixt. It cost 260 euros for the entire week-- a bargain. It was a lot of fun to drive, although I got passed by other cars constantly. It has a three cylinder engine, after all. My biggest weakness was traffic circles. They are everywhere. It was never clear if they had one or two lanes. And the GPS on my phone gave terrible instructions when I was driving in them, But again, everything worked out great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ETA: Two more things gave me pause about the car. It has a lane centering system that tugs at the steering wheel. But because the lines here are so poorly marked, the car yanks the steering wheel at inopportune times. Finally, the car did not come with a spare tire because it had been used by the previous customer. I was given a tire repair kit. That scared me a little. I was going to some remote places.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got the car in the late morning and head out for Cacao. It's a tiny jungle village populated by Hmong refugees. They produce 90% of the vegetables the country consumes. The Sunday market is a huge attraction. I am there on a Monday so everything is closed, save for one restaurant.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3gpsxs4wXJHAMfQyvnhNULGlqaL5olYPENJIGKXvykORsg9tOG71R9uEor3159y53ho0URWkisunAMrxaYnPmdMdpfjaL_bMo0_RD-sdCMfj-_WfO8xOKtOfPzLjmw6EK6lpWk-fSGvxW9L1AsoD0TE2XtcD1WikHkOtsrcDbP9eg5RmqQ/s4032/IMG_3086.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjc3gpsxs4wXJHAMfQyvnhNULGlqaL5olYPENJIGKXvykORsg9tOG71R9uEor3159y53ho0URWkisunAMrxaYnPmdMdpfjaL_bMo0_RD-sdCMfj-_WfO8xOKtOfPzLjmw6EK6lpWk-fSGvxW9L1AsoD0TE2XtcD1WikHkOtsrcDbP9eg5RmqQ/w640-h480/IMG_3086.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A young, tall, chubby Asian guy takes my order. We can't communicate so I point at a photo of a big bowl of noodle soup. It is so hot and humid, my eyebrows can't hold back my forehead sweat. As I wait, it starts pouring rain, albeit briefly.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUT4T4UoYVoHUWKPLJ9OyKjmaj4-EV6skv_Ls1Gs_DhTfuF1QAwQGUtxOiXR9yANea6EqcsOusliwNpsJEwzQ-V8nqpXO6fgS88FNQmibCLD4rQjglWNJYAe7sklT__L7DQztquuVNoOMMeRjUGPQ-gTc30-JdvE6ZVIwKGB6Z-VsWeOdZPA/s4032/IMG_3087.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhUT4T4UoYVoHUWKPLJ9OyKjmaj4-EV6skv_Ls1Gs_DhTfuF1QAwQGUtxOiXR9yANea6EqcsOusliwNpsJEwzQ-V8nqpXO6fgS88FNQmibCLD4rQjglWNJYAe7sklT__L7DQztquuVNoOMMeRjUGPQ-gTc30-JdvE6ZVIwKGB6Z-VsWeOdZPA/w640-h480/IMG_3087.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I look at the condiments. They are either from China or Thailand.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_G5B2fvkoa09X9sdj1xY-p7zznH12iiWjyKUD8uyTSzTWJ0J_1eNpLRScdxREbycDnhktJfDWmySw3YcYLw2k6yR4ZuvOTCpMR1pc4N_lGzZD-eJ9ia4IVIoPYj4yiSfLg-XJ2Q_LlcwYbgp9Pl6TzQqnVGeyzLdthp_xcVDwZWAsB-mvQ/s4032/IMG_3088.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjL_G5B2fvkoa09X9sdj1xY-p7zznH12iiWjyKUD8uyTSzTWJ0J_1eNpLRScdxREbycDnhktJfDWmySw3YcYLw2k6yR4ZuvOTCpMR1pc4N_lGzZD-eJ9ia4IVIoPYj4yiSfLg-XJ2Q_LlcwYbgp9Pl6TzQqnVGeyzLdthp_xcVDwZWAsB-mvQ/w640-h480/IMG_3088.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What a meal. This reminds me of my favorite meal of all time. After a long bus ride in the Atacama, I got off in the port town of Iquique in the Christmas heat and ordered a seafood stew at La Surena II. Something about hot soups on hot days after long journeys.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSVoWmYomw50ejq9Xdmywc5G4Zkd2E6P0NSMnQMcQ2yFB5g0-G1zhm-DvQnoMZP5Al8oQCWnlw1pLVVeN_hN_hfPQcDuxvJXgu8v_RXE_qtEJBrlqbHEuUxgdpR76NjRqqTxoxweDSl-MUy1Kzg2CQLY6IMxx8MecUcB_8U1YAagLKYD1mA/s4032/IMG_3089.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhxSVoWmYomw50ejq9Xdmywc5G4Zkd2E6P0NSMnQMcQ2yFB5g0-G1zhm-DvQnoMZP5Al8oQCWnlw1pLVVeN_hN_hfPQcDuxvJXgu8v_RXE_qtEJBrlqbHEuUxgdpR76NjRqqTxoxweDSl-MUy1Kzg2CQLY6IMxx8MecUcB_8U1YAagLKYD1mA/w640-h480/IMG_3089.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the meal, I head to the spaceport. I have a 7am tour the next day and I want to check out the rendezvous point today so I don't get lost tomorrow and miss the tour. Ahead of me on the windy road out of Cacao, I see some kind of buzzard eating a big ass lizard. The yellow Peugeot scares off the bird. I just had to take a picture of the victim.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaHnmEkoJbTYu42BE5_HpIgrFlcWbLY90Yihb_P8zKIOVDFKtDmyt2UuQjt6dEq2cFOc5DlYHS01RAnVA0_sY2b87sp8KD3RYYU16Jl_cbVSbAp2uYZ4nVEdtuByBEnaCHi19Ms8ROoK4OAOcaD2wrdm8GV_0eFyRHHliroFgmyaVFawnng/s4032/IMG_3090.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgOaHnmEkoJbTYu42BE5_HpIgrFlcWbLY90Yihb_P8zKIOVDFKtDmyt2UuQjt6dEq2cFOc5DlYHS01RAnVA0_sY2b87sp8KD3RYYU16Jl_cbVSbAp2uYZ4nVEdtuByBEnaCHi19Ms8ROoK4OAOcaD2wrdm8GV_0eFyRHHliroFgmyaVFawnng/w480-h640/IMG_3090.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's a turnoff where you get a nice view of the jungle canopy.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe2layR7mjECoueOZTp98oDVRGju_UfeboEOlFtxUtKIyOA2SWrcz9_wakAe-tTk8uNyjxWp_An4vPmNyvtjYmKRV-_mGF7XsQHSy0cnHaAI9M8AMUBqGft3x7U-m5zm8v4HQjAbnIcjChBFtsaxF_hk5u1yiNhEdELGo8kyVN4U27O_pMA/s4032/IMG_3092.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgGe2layR7mjECoueOZTp98oDVRGju_UfeboEOlFtxUtKIyOA2SWrcz9_wakAe-tTk8uNyjxWp_An4vPmNyvtjYmKRV-_mGF7XsQHSy0cnHaAI9M8AMUBqGft3x7U-m5zm8v4HQjAbnIcjChBFtsaxF_hk5u1yiNhEdELGo8kyVN4U27O_pMA/w640-h480/IMG_3092.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Though the town of Kourou is tiny, I get lost finding the spaceport. I finally had to turn on my phone to get GPS. The Ariane 5 replica (1:1 scale) in the parking lot is a good marker.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEJ14MO9iT_7RjcRssLSBidjtKR1E9Bc0r9vUhj-3kf9oRlUzWie34MXqWVNpygG3x19Jp-y0aY3pJ_6eT8GCwMsE-V2jgUieYdHby80-mEiM5CGulUhigBpoHXxqRQivXAEjOHSkNwhu4mWd5cQ2TUuZonkNrc2Ai71pxkxS4qV1HyXQRw/s4032/IMG_3093.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjOEJ14MO9iT_7RjcRssLSBidjtKR1E9Bc0r9vUhj-3kf9oRlUzWie34MXqWVNpygG3x19Jp-y0aY3pJ_6eT8GCwMsE-V2jgUieYdHby80-mEiM5CGulUhigBpoHXxqRQivXAEjOHSkNwhu4mWd5cQ2TUuZonkNrc2Ai71pxkxS4qV1HyXQRw/w480-h640/IMG_3093.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCtltpMAM0m8EQUsSHZfuXYCP9vP7WDJvVgBo4V8X4FzPHmbig0K5_EaZvRlSSGiyr-NF-dbwV7Aj4gNYLh5LKv8HiNz9MRe0nwTIe_bjMO91qDlx22MRGymsbp0bfX9AUR5IfA334Vw-G_xOWSyKuqpdqTsx_jygb_fdpo36DAbW182U1Q/s4032/IMG_3094.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgyCtltpMAM0m8EQUsSHZfuXYCP9vP7WDJvVgBo4V8X4FzPHmbig0K5_EaZvRlSSGiyr-NF-dbwV7Aj4gNYLh5LKv8HiNz9MRe0nwTIe_bjMO91qDlx22MRGymsbp0bfX9AUR5IfA334Vw-G_xOWSyKuqpdqTsx_jygb_fdpo36DAbW182U1Q/w480-h640/IMG_3094.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now that I know where to go, I drive back to Cayenne.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22gRgO2FJuVC1MbigjoKE2bSHmlHUrlUjkRMEjlV5t7imdkhOF8tXh9voMRAFIs_CZXdkKcd3U9RvVA1CR0Qyw_1i9UWuUr6jSCgNwgIvQkhPwolM1qX0hdMR_6Tmz_fk_jr5076onOHCiTZQWdXs24PyX_5-tbUPyko8bVx_oHCpBxY7Dw/s4032/IMG_3095.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEh22gRgO2FJuVC1MbigjoKE2bSHmlHUrlUjkRMEjlV5t7imdkhOF8tXh9voMRAFIs_CZXdkKcd3U9RvVA1CR0Qyw_1i9UWuUr6jSCgNwgIvQkhPwolM1qX0hdMR_6Tmz_fk_jr5076onOHCiTZQWdXs24PyX_5-tbUPyko8bVx_oHCpBxY7Dw/w640-h480/IMG_3095.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I walk to the highest rated Chinese joint in Cayenne. The owners tell me it's closed on Mondays. I go to a different restaurant and order mapo tofu. The drinks here must be subsidized. Beer is 2 euros a bottle at restaurants. A one-liter bottle of water in markets is 1 euro.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The restaurant is empty of customers. A Chinese couple are eating, but I suspect they are the owners' friends or relatives and eating for free. The large table is taken up by five girls, all under the age of eleven. They are sisters and cousins and are dressed in Chinese costumes. They probably just came back from Chinese school where they had rehearsals. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I briefly talk to the owners. They've been here for ten years, later than most of the immigrants. But they admit they are still able to make good money here. Apparently the Chinese here are all from Zhejiang province (near Shanghai). That's where my dad's side of the family is from. In the 1930s, they left China for Japan in search of riches.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkx92K4coeNJGs8UC7yAjHnKhVXmtl6gni377LHZBi9x1DexsZ4uaY6MxqTsHiBbtESei7mPxLcqF7FyDZbI8ASz_k4mEnitjYqqpoovgim4UFLSOdh2L6WGwCu4fs5eQMoOKGWABAALSLd4hd0SJrqXo4mNEWYE2dUA3hME_1KYKJ8zpU6g/s4032/IMG_3097.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjkx92K4coeNJGs8UC7yAjHnKhVXmtl6gni377LHZBi9x1DexsZ4uaY6MxqTsHiBbtESei7mPxLcqF7FyDZbI8ASz_k4mEnitjYqqpoovgim4UFLSOdh2L6WGwCu4fs5eQMoOKGWABAALSLd4hd0SJrqXo4mNEWYE2dUA3hME_1KYKJ8zpU6g/w480-h640/IMG_3097.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-79405715671367594952023-06-01T22:05:00.002-07:002023-06-01T22:10:17.221-07:00My French Guiana adventure: Day 2<p>The Air France staff at Miami airport cared more about checking my yellow fever vaccination card than my boarding pass.</p><p>I love looking at the Departure board. Pointe A Pitre (Guadeloupe). That's where I'm going!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkuW6wNj92tADYeeakDnTHja9GIvCOknHAZ4JHWYyj-bjz-UyAg6LaCoCjnN4vMeyih4xs5Vb8zp8q5ZhEcXQUOPmeD7GRl06NonoEgGRmzzDoX95E76THGwvlLTxsAyF8qsh8UR-quPzAt_65jgad95bbBt0DlUMHpk2SwDm7gusy7RXMQ/s4032/IMG_3041.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEihkuW6wNj92tADYeeakDnTHja9GIvCOknHAZ4JHWYyj-bjz-UyAg6LaCoCjnN4vMeyih4xs5Vb8zp8q5ZhEcXQUOPmeD7GRl06NonoEgGRmzzDoX95E76THGwvlLTxsAyF8qsh8UR-quPzAt_65jgad95bbBt0DlUMHpk2SwDm7gusy7RXMQ/w640-h480/IMG_3041.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I like to think of myself as being a geography and history nerd. But I had no idea where Guadeloupe and Martinique are. Or their history. So I read Wikipedia the night before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, it was "discovered" by Columbus in 1493. When you fly over this part of the Caribbean, you quickly realize how easy it is to discover pieces of land. Islands are everywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Second, the island was so prosperous (slaves and sugar), France gave up all of its Canadian possessions in order to get the island back from the British.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Third, it was owned by Sweden from 1813 to 1814.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXS3LLeCtSXc4vTSYuxQmOKe0eO6W7z6U6IrHKG_c74f8mGof_3CL1hDEzm2KwVZebX7IQPqapgFUSFd4kbWEKUmc2aM21k_n_zVLCk9ekMnLzUUaCpfsOiPAajp0FVsp6ql2fU5jaLvIJnNJiuzoJ9FVT1D4i_DDiFnZYaS71Dq8j4lVuQ/s991/IMG_3043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="991" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXS3LLeCtSXc4vTSYuxQmOKe0eO6W7z6U6IrHKG_c74f8mGof_3CL1hDEzm2KwVZebX7IQPqapgFUSFd4kbWEKUmc2aM21k_n_zVLCk9ekMnLzUUaCpfsOiPAajp0FVsp6ql2fU5jaLvIJnNJiuzoJ9FVT1D4i_DDiFnZYaS71Dq8j4lVuQ/w640-h382/IMG_3043.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnBvMVGphVq1BgAOitGkQaeKwB9UOEpjEPI0KuNpz3wjgSurJUgtGB04sbfEgYVbpyhCEvIzDamnOR_1RXsQFEtO_qUhJgw9n3iKEdWIgTytayQWZHtlhv55FjlMQqUOSBnD1lxwdKhA2TbosI4ovlzqjzHmcJJdpwssA6EbTnpL2lJtETw/s4032/IMG_3044.heic" 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/AVvXsEgqnBvMVGphVq1BgAOitGkQaeKwB9UOEpjEPI0KuNpz3wjgSurJUgtGB04sbfEgYVbpyhCEvIzDamnOR_1RXsQFEtO_qUhJgw9n3iKEdWIgTytayQWZHtlhv55FjlMQqUOSBnD1lxwdKhA2TbosI4ovlzqjzHmcJJdpwssA6EbTnpL2lJtETw/w640-h480/IMG_3044.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There it is.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJi9KGsOqmHLlLY85rj3WgbGVUQ-po1vnN2PO3q_9XDrcgNIUqclfLWOuloGPAidNkSbrbS6rlRVVGZrYdcu_3j1THy-kBsOHsvw5YKef61tUd9p5MwoDRJOY95IBC55LmHl1lfSABRLAg7f0OSZWlevHYlcrDYZdxrwGf2ZyQadNxmxQFWA/s4032/IMG_3048.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEiJi9KGsOqmHLlLY85rj3WgbGVUQ-po1vnN2PO3q_9XDrcgNIUqclfLWOuloGPAidNkSbrbS6rlRVVGZrYdcu_3j1THy-kBsOHsvw5YKef61tUd9p5MwoDRJOY95IBC55LmHl1lfSABRLAg7f0OSZWlevHYlcrDYZdxrwGf2ZyQadNxmxQFWA/w640-h480/IMG_3048.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnZMvXsRejXYike3tdIj2qgUhQoWQbXZ7BDll5WQSJHVkuzPRT40PoVurSDOrJAdI7mpjgeQW6_GkvkkNOEwxMyRChybiHExOALOcrZZOLrGRdmH1mkuOeFCOs0PFxH6th2TQVkaCXUCCW_fWGH9IwuJUAfWLr1nLI-Iso925ZSPJRo9v4A/s4032/IMG_3049.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhqnZMvXsRejXYike3tdIj2qgUhQoWQbXZ7BDll5WQSJHVkuzPRT40PoVurSDOrJAdI7mpjgeQW6_GkvkkNOEwxMyRChybiHExOALOcrZZOLrGRdmH1mkuOeFCOs0PFxH6th2TQVkaCXUCCW_fWGH9IwuJUAfWLr1nLI-Iso925ZSPJRo9v4A/w480-h640/IMG_3049.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWZi6QzZUWMeTYYjGki1vLP8vnh4hQIe_7i5PrvrW_CLMpw4pOGFe8s_SVx7NvgfsrsPgO140rVT5CSIog3h9i33vAoaVbemSfJeuJNWla0K2UxMD1yeOTNJszSF23bDNyN8R7q8wJCvZlbaYAPdUvV0nf_a0qqhp-JZVp6re8gE0DEHVFw/s4032/IMG_3050.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEglWZi6QzZUWMeTYYjGki1vLP8vnh4hQIe_7i5PrvrW_CLMpw4pOGFe8s_SVx7NvgfsrsPgO140rVT5CSIog3h9i33vAoaVbemSfJeuJNWla0K2UxMD1yeOTNJszSF23bDNyN8R7q8wJCvZlbaYAPdUvV0nf_a0qqhp-JZVp6re8gE0DEHVFw/w480-h640/IMG_3050.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A highway. There was nothing like it anywhere in French Guiana, and it's one-sixth the size of France.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIyGDb-Vexoo7HsYxIWN5CgpdCBJ9JQJDnpitLmpj9nV-MpXkrR4tRvp4dczUrr9kQHf98QKq1p2LNMkxVHrIYdyfkUG8TJhz9GsQ7WFHYDbXK9h4Nw3BCPB-t2Dm6NtyM2UCBAYOpb5jlxx4z3KvHKOfd56Xong1CNGiX40E4vDhiarSJQ/s4032/IMG_3052.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgFIyGDb-Vexoo7HsYxIWN5CgpdCBJ9JQJDnpitLmpj9nV-MpXkrR4tRvp4dczUrr9kQHf98QKq1p2LNMkxVHrIYdyfkUG8TJhz9GsQ7WFHYDbXK9h4Nw3BCPB-t2Dm6NtyM2UCBAYOpb5jlxx4z3KvHKOfd56Xong1CNGiX40E4vDhiarSJQ/w480-h640/IMG_3052.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Though Guadeloupe was not my final destination, I did enter France so I got my passport stamped.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-TcH3p5Q1mGqp9yUJacBc99TZLcLqVcZKc-0dUhWx4souBHnABVFm0lrMrCCmn8b056fz3ba8xefpT48vbPhy31GKx8_pb1RJBNjywMZpAdufVq4U63Jr_krG3PAQgMXiq77Iy-vRNa9SM_JWIFelBwdF37Hi1dWhQpX3mtkxDg4uhT8SQ/s4032/IMG_3054.heic" 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/AVvXsEj6-TcH3p5Q1mGqp9yUJacBc99TZLcLqVcZKc-0dUhWx4souBHnABVFm0lrMrCCmn8b056fz3ba8xefpT48vbPhy31GKx8_pb1RJBNjywMZpAdufVq4U63Jr_krG3PAQgMXiq77Iy-vRNa9SM_JWIFelBwdF37Hi1dWhQpX3mtkxDg4uhT8SQ/w640-h480/IMG_3054.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I heard about the legendary rum here. For six euros, I got the most expensive rum for sale at the rinky dink airport bar. It was called Rhum Vieux. My next flight was boarding so I had to finish it in three big gulps.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhFY9xLD-YqguBp-fZZeFbhcWkHGJ0HgydJwXDgSXEIoARVwkICND42nA080Cq8atDYpkh-2AdqFcN1rpun1LhKaRhwHEXPKeFkB4Io89-j45cPyZE-FfPlbFpqx3oz1dNeiBdWbJg1azmcfarpZ7ZRl9-5AxlVAOlw4MHTT1BFWvSoiEBw/s4032/IMG_3055.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgwhFY9xLD-YqguBp-fZZeFbhcWkHGJ0HgydJwXDgSXEIoARVwkICND42nA080Cq8atDYpkh-2AdqFcN1rpun1LhKaRhwHEXPKeFkB4Io89-j45cPyZE-FfPlbFpqx3oz1dNeiBdWbJg1azmcfarpZ7ZRl9-5AxlVAOlw4MHTT1BFWvSoiEBw/w480-h640/IMG_3055.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Back on the plane for a 30 minute hop to Martinique.</div><div><br /></div><div>Per Wikipedia, Columbus spotted it in 1493 and landed there in 1502. Like Guadeloupe, Dutch Jews expelled from Brazil settled in Martinique. During World War II, it was controlled by the Vichy bastards so German U-boats went there for fuel and supplies.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVXxUjZOIuQT7X3vahpKntP2HsNiFqYGVdKfARd6DEHH2gNUBZTsfDd7MBKHELM42mJakmpC7kjRpU1_0PSI9BKWjTxJrG8Bq3WsozMuGd_vPDz5lbPw_14eqvNqvXWW6Tlso-ciu-rMa27RtSnE1BIZhAWMYFklL4B7tmiNImtTUMryHug/s4032/IMG_3057.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhgVXxUjZOIuQT7X3vahpKntP2HsNiFqYGVdKfARd6DEHH2gNUBZTsfDd7MBKHELM42mJakmpC7kjRpU1_0PSI9BKWjTxJrG8Bq3WsozMuGd_vPDz5lbPw_14eqvNqvXWW6Tlso-ciu-rMa27RtSnE1BIZhAWMYFklL4B7tmiNImtTUMryHug/w480-h640/IMG_3057.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Martinique looked pretty developed tourist infrastructure-wise. Lots of multi-story hotels.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZEhfFONt12afggRts4Pjto1SGRxUPCkNs0M7r5PhWLXTQEXO0wnAlij2MzU-oC6CjKYcMf_y9OXHxo9YKvHH-vZAJuBhY_zRnMUws6zKKoIovV9xxLGhxW6a3TFu5pEN69S3BQRY_9UsBijMuFVCyS-EEsb7UW-3wWKXt0ExTo4i1GrbnQ/s4032/IMG_3058.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhxZEhfFONt12afggRts4Pjto1SGRxUPCkNs0M7r5PhWLXTQEXO0wnAlij2MzU-oC6CjKYcMf_y9OXHxo9YKvHH-vZAJuBhY_zRnMUws6zKKoIovV9xxLGhxW6a3TFu5pEN69S3BQRY_9UsBijMuFVCyS-EEsb7UW-3wWKXt0ExTo4i1GrbnQ/w480-h640/IMG_3058.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9c7dZJuegib4mtPlaPUeaxV4X3uihXZ_wT08sCTBydy244J1X4fWy3CDc_-bEx12jYj9qt3rvjrn34epfZ29J7EVXJy6ZzHnlLIrZ9Yp9dmxJRkUwS-HJ9BOm9y3SmCiTa2yAo3wa7VTZGQ2ojGr4BUUkTyMaLxlMCOmefj-WX04kGKZ_g/s1624/IMG_3059.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1624" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9c7dZJuegib4mtPlaPUeaxV4X3uihXZ_wT08sCTBydy244J1X4fWy3CDc_-bEx12jYj9qt3rvjrn34epfZ29J7EVXJy6ZzHnlLIrZ9Yp9dmxJRkUwS-HJ9BOm9y3SmCiTa2yAo3wa7VTZGQ2ojGr4BUUkTyMaLxlMCOmefj-WX04kGKZ_g/w640-h296/IMG_3059.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDZIfcc8nrSvNHrVQf5-l7STTFuvQoOFT5gF3mnnQuBh4JSGHUnYqIcjhiU-g3CtZIAqzBhI2hOaaTkTyOz4p38jD9M4QUhbEr2bBpQ3euzjMpWunA-wWLgTGPPCTy7Ud1bqaC1_AOPOkVjeku0G4ORG6DDQmRG7hxtlvGvXWXblgnTgzuQ/s1624/IMG_3065.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1624" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDZIfcc8nrSvNHrVQf5-l7STTFuvQoOFT5gF3mnnQuBh4JSGHUnYqIcjhiU-g3CtZIAqzBhI2hOaaTkTyOz4p38jD9M4QUhbEr2bBpQ3euzjMpWunA-wWLgTGPPCTy7Ud1bqaC1_AOPOkVjeku0G4ORG6DDQmRG7hxtlvGvXWXblgnTgzuQ/w640-h296/IMG_3065.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_5bXvboSntTYxHuGhhkbCPFpw0hbvWpTi94opUfhXBfFhIkYj1Cr2Nr4XVcLg2yHjA0hRlj4s5QGuPt4rDCzAnRq9LGJzLUNe4oooJXVxD-OLenB7eQDQ6l58zo6bCUEnKMHkJb5FAd47exg7gq6VAF0KdPEF4j3FH7dfl_LvI11ryclcQ/s1624/IMG_3070.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1624" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_5bXvboSntTYxHuGhhkbCPFpw0hbvWpTi94opUfhXBfFhIkYj1Cr2Nr4XVcLg2yHjA0hRlj4s5QGuPt4rDCzAnRq9LGJzLUNe4oooJXVxD-OLenB7eQDQ6l58zo6bCUEnKMHkJb5FAd47exg7gq6VAF0KdPEF4j3FH7dfl_LvI11ryclcQ/w296-h640/IMG_3070.PNG" width="296" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As we hit French Guiana, it's just green, dense jungle. The only interruptions are caused by rivers.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4rthgkw3WbfMMpcLFf_MvlVz0uO-bMX9jd-V5zas21bL2ymmpcMi0I6IbmOYKfbaU-ZYS2GlUha779pgLHBgorau4QnuyUScFghBZVYSbHDJgAyZtyFr8gvnkONTcwaKdgNdVln7mKFIVblamE09Yr3zRlw6gdoK7JV9FORHTjEI6SkV4Q/s4032/IMG_3072.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjp4rthgkw3WbfMMpcLFf_MvlVz0uO-bMX9jd-V5zas21bL2ymmpcMi0I6IbmOYKfbaU-ZYS2GlUha779pgLHBgorau4QnuyUScFghBZVYSbHDJgAyZtyFr8gvnkONTcwaKdgNdVln7mKFIVblamE09Yr3zRlw6gdoK7JV9FORHTjEI6SkV4Q/w480-h640/IMG_3072.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Cayenne airport at sunset.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQKI8_lIzE5QD0vMyG_XTrw64iLdKcbD_QIPN_nBITUsPsZc54Swdluu-oWIC4LqPIW-amyM8Tthg7Ceq2f99vqK2nDic55A7Zmxb_7OjBm9JG-avVh7YhE7j0f_y4RBL2G9T--ea_I-6GLZQsoRn_KR0QGPy0HK1sHcd9iAWBie8FWowtA/s4032/IMG_3075.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhJQKI8_lIzE5QD0vMyG_XTrw64iLdKcbD_QIPN_nBITUsPsZc54Swdluu-oWIC4LqPIW-amyM8Tthg7Ceq2f99vqK2nDic55A7Zmxb_7OjBm9JG-avVh7YhE7j0f_y4RBL2G9T--ea_I-6GLZQsoRn_KR0QGPy0HK1sHcd9iAWBie8FWowtA/w480-h640/IMG_3075.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As I step out of the airport, I am hit by the humidity. I have a guy in a Hyundai Tuscon taxi cab drive me 30 minutes to my hotel in "downtown" Cayenne. As we pull out of the airport, it is a two-lane road with barely any traffic. It has a rural Japan feel. There are a lot of billboards selling four things-- an automatic Peugeot for 18,900 euros, cheap vacations to Fortaleza (Brazil), frozen chicken nuggets at a supermarket, and military/police recruitment.</div><div><br /></div><div>I get dropped off in the dark at my hotel. The popular restaurant/bar on the ground floor is closed and dark. It is Sunday night. I approach the side door and there's an older, lanky, slovenly dressed guard sitting in a plastic chair. He speaks English with a Caribbean accent. He tells me the hotel staff is gone and he was not told that I would be checking in. I ask him to call the staff. He tells me he suffered a brain injury earlier that day and he doesn't know how to use a phone. What?! </div><div><br /></div><div>I leave my backpack (my only luggage) on the table and pace around in the heat. What do I do? The entire city is closed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, a guy appears out of nowhere and offers to help. He is a hotel guest from Mainland France and he has an Australian accent. He works for an aluminum company and currently ranks as the third most frequent flyer Air France has. He is only in French Guiana for work for two days. His shortest work trip distance-wise is to Dakar. He spends 240 days a year traveling. Though he tried hard to help, I couldn't get a room.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had booked a nice suite at this hotel for my entire stay. Frustrated, I was told to walk down one block to the fancy hotel next to the police station. I'll stay there for a night and come back tomorrow morning to sort things out. Fine.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1F1PyqIoMqK0Lme3uI7OJUrQf25lw31acfA4UYucyfzGvNq1hN8T5hevlDuzC3qMg6xsl0E4VQeYW48KY8QFYT9D7Voxkpfsbir4f_DVRJz0oLKRwvUobLjUz3MQ9XYRPJJvoBcgpguJdxOC-0ijoAvJkIvKoXeUGUy0OQi1g2JW9y2OC-A/s4032/IMG_3076.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEj1F1PyqIoMqK0Lme3uI7OJUrQf25lw31acfA4UYucyfzGvNq1hN8T5hevlDuzC3qMg6xsl0E4VQeYW48KY8QFYT9D7Voxkpfsbir4f_DVRJz0oLKRwvUobLjUz3MQ9XYRPJJvoBcgpguJdxOC-0ijoAvJkIvKoXeUGUy0OQi1g2JW9y2OC-A/w640-h480/IMG_3076.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I check in at the Hotel Amazonia, which appears to be a business hotel affiliated with Best Western. It costs a bit more than my original hotel. It is filled with cops. Dozens upon dozens of cops from France are here to protect the head of the European Space Agency, who is here for a visit. What's odd is that every single cop staying at this hotel is in their 20s, blond or brown haired, with the same physique, and the same height. The ones not in uniform are wearing tight t-shirts, short shorts, and shower sandals. And they're all eating pizzas.</div><div><br /></div><div>Famished, I go to the hotel restaurant and get the cheapest entree, this fish.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_O7rC5ccQRPvXF19DKwF3RQRGUUsXZaGwQnwrX_aJCABa0DcleWs4C8Wzvc0_0b94T5_VXdk0OopH5aWug4CyWOlwJIKdHMywSSCppuscDY3Mm9Rvz2rp0nB35t1-lIPaWKLYk6cK3EKIz3x3NEhsLXy3ygJn7jtuY-50KJdO_nqp343FiA/s4032/IMG_3077.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEg_O7rC5ccQRPvXF19DKwF3RQRGUUsXZaGwQnwrX_aJCABa0DcleWs4C8Wzvc0_0b94T5_VXdk0OopH5aWug4CyWOlwJIKdHMywSSCppuscDY3Mm9Rvz2rp0nB35t1-lIPaWKLYk6cK3EKIz3x3NEhsLXy3ygJn7jtuY-50KJdO_nqp343FiA/w640-h480/IMG_3077.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Exhausted, I collapse on my bed. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJJbBFWiE9zhwqVinj9Ibjl2XxgEzlIkf4aPVEd4kxCLmgKXO792I1SmOfKcNRUR5yhSWnUPWrnJiwn8nrhfTLKO95fRv6n084nBTWzN32sxafzMW4z_wjpkxzKd6IuXYJvVWkdIqlJoJ2_Qc9y8xrzwO_NR5fKvOHDgpsgkQKnLOfgk2TA/s4032/IMG_3079.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjaJJbBFWiE9zhwqVinj9Ibjl2XxgEzlIkf4aPVEd4kxCLmgKXO792I1SmOfKcNRUR5yhSWnUPWrnJiwn8nrhfTLKO95fRv6n084nBTWzN32sxafzMW4z_wjpkxzKd6IuXYJvVWkdIqlJoJ2_Qc9y8xrzwO_NR5fKvOHDgpsgkQKnLOfgk2TA/w480-h640/IMG_3079.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-4821143415245368812023-06-01T07:12:00.003-07:002023-06-01T07:16:35.943-07:00My French Guiana adventure: Day 1 <p>Why French Guiana? Everyone asked me this question.</p><p>Truth be told, if you had asked me back in January, I would have never guessed that my next trip was going to be to French Guiana.</p><p>I became fascinated with the Guianas (British, Dutch, French) after reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Coast-Travels-Americas-Untamed/dp/1846682533" target="_blank">this fun book</a>. Even though I majored in Latin American Studies, I never studied these countries because they are more Caribbean than Latin. But what clinched the deal was my desire to take Air France's Island Hopper for fun. It used to fly from Miami to Port-au-Prince to Guadeloupe to Martinique to Cayenne. (Air France stopped flying to Haiti.) And of the three Guianas, the French one is the safest.</p><p>As this was a solo trip, I wanted to travel on the cheap as I have a high threshold for inconvenience. So I flew to Miami on Southwest Airlines for free, using my points. I had to make a connection in Dallas, with a very short turnaround time.</p><p>Getting a free flight meant waking up at 3:00am to catch a 5:30 flight. I parked next to this Pontiac at long term parking.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkpoIYqLeAh1KTwXYQFlHBmaPC1Jrw289My-vXj7eZP145lBQ4pB0m3lj-gRDusW31x7t0cZJIZEusZqqfQRbCZ3z5QCDxytCozwobCChN_Tq8C5LnHze1hli_19_QS-7kJPWug6DLs5JNqhYKf4Xt6AhZ_6nhSpPsil_5dv6cqVodduwjA/s4032/IMG_3032.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEiNkpoIYqLeAh1KTwXYQFlHBmaPC1Jrw289My-vXj7eZP145lBQ4pB0m3lj-gRDusW31x7t0cZJIZEusZqqfQRbCZ3z5QCDxytCozwobCChN_Tq8C5LnHze1hli_19_QS-7kJPWug6DLs5JNqhYKf4Xt6AhZ_6nhSpPsil_5dv6cqVodduwjA/w640-h480/IMG_3032.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A lot of people on the Oakland to Dallas flight were going to a rodeo!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSnpypordgERNckW0lebtSyN9aXZ002RxP5nLwFXjnte158SUSv-j6zxk7cqj-yFlLVd-cqbzJQcfSbYPt5dtg9wBL43r1ojraFbZ0xmAs1-7bJmFGP9g4jIMoejsWXNmT7G_04qsm9pxsEuPTja3FlhOU7s89tzdfs7SMmPhaNddzqnGOQ/s4032/IMG_3033.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgdSnpypordgERNckW0lebtSyN9aXZ002RxP5nLwFXjnte158SUSv-j6zxk7cqj-yFlLVd-cqbzJQcfSbYPt5dtg9wBL43r1ojraFbZ0xmAs1-7bJmFGP9g4jIMoejsWXNmT7G_04qsm9pxsEuPTja3FlhOU7s89tzdfs7SMmPhaNddzqnGOQ/w480-h640/IMG_3033.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SbB-a1ayralc_qWtrSq0wzX5pgXb9OvV1cbW_6ECIYa4HOyoL7b31uYSqr6Zev43IC5R2r7pPdCkmgo4BamkR8VBriewAC7grLZ7z-zxtzUGnHSxb8nzRYJlOxcxgf4QygroSOr8Fnvz-qjIVPd4TaZoQRxNBvPVRyv_RjrXt8WdslZusA/s750/IMG_3034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="750" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SbB-a1ayralc_qWtrSq0wzX5pgXb9OvV1cbW_6ECIYa4HOyoL7b31uYSqr6Zev43IC5R2r7pPdCkmgo4BamkR8VBriewAC7grLZ7z-zxtzUGnHSxb8nzRYJlOxcxgf4QygroSOr8Fnvz-qjIVPd4TaZoQRxNBvPVRyv_RjrXt8WdslZusA/w400-h381/IMG_3034.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I landed in Miami and went straight to the hotel. Fortunately, there was a Peruvian chain restaurant next door. It was pretty busy, and I was the only gringo there. I felt like I left the country already.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OT3mW3sWF3Q" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUugxfYURLWYsLv-9JgXYaoBBauHMn4LjqFHqCw-2YnGIUchwu67RghaT21sVLuYvG_Dbjf4XEUFneSmDih5CGIsDgWk_okMO0bbY8M8MWFGzWKX2-9MthB5D5q19fUgqKNjW_nMxdQS_g_8YW9HzUkuDuzPB80vUdDXI6gwho_QBxmjb3eg/s4032/IMG_3038.heic" 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/AVvXsEiUugxfYURLWYsLv-9JgXYaoBBauHMn4LjqFHqCw-2YnGIUchwu67RghaT21sVLuYvG_Dbjf4XEUFneSmDih5CGIsDgWk_okMO0bbY8M8MWFGzWKX2-9MthB5D5q19fUgqKNjW_nMxdQS_g_8YW9HzUkuDuzPB80vUdDXI6gwho_QBxmjb3eg/w640-h480/IMG_3038.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjB1duabXxgxwgzN3gaWf3-IIGQX7c5722WtkDL5G2lEMtNTib_bRrXvOhuM0vcsSLSp9m9ngjfPgLXYtMftDfMb1fQEtiYFLKyVq7mWddd5eWKx2oqzU4xQNUsYQpB7BPxpGTxfDqZilmV-GvYie-kl7TU5h-rDmqDK8OuESsSWPAPQPFw/s4032/IMG_3039.heic" 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/AVvXsEhSjB1duabXxgxwgzN3gaWf3-IIGQX7c5722WtkDL5G2lEMtNTib_bRrXvOhuM0vcsSLSp9m9ngjfPgLXYtMftDfMb1fQEtiYFLKyVq7mWddd5eWKx2oqzU4xQNUsYQpB7BPxpGTxfDqZilmV-GvYie-kl7TU5h-rDmqDK8OuESsSWPAPQPFw/w640-h480/IMG_3039.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I walked back to the hotel like a zombie. The portions were huge, the humidity wet, and I was exhausted from waking up so early. This old sign was in the hotel parking lot. Good night!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyjbctRxPhJJjJLvjnm-RknrA4lgQ87W_MEBruXgqkHXHa2q4tvJZ0fW0vz6WNaP00V_tBGyE-3_X6m9n42Qqk4mGDuQpMAjXav7zvlp-DJ9X2HEvaRMWUeVWByRlWDHBudCLOSB81dKPOWSXKNcvRUy6JwkMvOM-7ou2RBjgLU-oOu8UeQ/s4032/IMG_3040.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgJyjbctRxPhJJjJLvjnm-RknrA4lgQ87W_MEBruXgqkHXHa2q4tvJZ0fW0vz6WNaP00V_tBGyE-3_X6m9n42Qqk4mGDuQpMAjXav7zvlp-DJ9X2HEvaRMWUeVWByRlWDHBudCLOSB81dKPOWSXKNcvRUy6JwkMvOM-7ou2RBjgLU-oOu8UeQ/w480-h640/IMG_3040.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-57887128881235239742023-05-29T21:40:00.002-07:002023-05-29T21:41:54.972-07:00Getting an M550i?<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thinking hard about this one. <a href="https://t.co/BfgxJ4JPe4">pic.twitter.com/BfgxJ4JPe4</a></p>— Tamerlane's Thoughts (@TamerlaneBlog) <a href="https://twitter.com/TamerlaneBlog/status/1663364097096974338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Many of you know that I had been obsessed with getting an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. When a new one finally arrived at a dealer after a year's wait, I got to test drive it. It was beyond incredible. But because of its terrible resale value, the monthly lease payments are $500 a month more than a similarly priced BMW M550i. With either car, our insurance premium would double. Sadly, I had to say no to the Alfa.<div><br /></div><div>I test drove an M550i xDrive last month. Its twin turbo V8 produces 529 horsepower. It was so effortlessly fast. But the one I drove had $8,000 in options I didn't want. And it's gray with a black interior. Not exciting.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hemmed and hawed and after I got back from French Guiana, I decided to pull the trigger. I put in an order for a base M550i, blue with cognac interior and wood trim. The next day, I got an email from the dealership. BMW stopped taking orders for 2023 models. The 2024s will be a new generation. The new 5-Series will not come with a V8. The new 5-Series will not have buttons inside. Fuck!</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, I got another email. The M550i I test drove, which was still sitting in the lot over a month after I test drove it, will have an $8,000 discount over Memorial Day weekend. If I can overcome the gray exterior and black interior, I think I'll get it.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YfaRSSratOs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-90635325637951364622023-05-29T21:03:00.002-07:002023-05-29T21:03:40.575-07:00My next solo trip will be to Little Diomede<p>I am back from French Guiana! I will be posting about my experience shortly. Of course, as soon as I returned, I started thinking about my next trip. I was thinking Marquesas in the South Pacific, Paraguay, the Aleutian Islands....</p><p>Over the Memorial Day long weekend, I rewatched Michael Palin's Full Circle on YouTube. The 1997 series had him traveling around the edge of the Pacific. He started at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Little+Diomede+Island/@65.754639,-169.088607,11z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x574a0c306607e7e5:0xccde3133c438d43c!8m2!3d65.7521798!4d-168.924255!16s%2Fm%2F064r7wp?entry=ttu" target="_blank">Little Diomede Island</a>. It's in the Bering Strait and two miles away from Big Diomede, which is Russian. Also, the International Date Line separates the two islands.</p><p>The plan will be to fly to Nome on an Alaskan Airlines 737. This will be the easy part. Then, I will have to take a Pathfinder helicopter to the Little Diomede. I love trip planning.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GLvBMuMsuig" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Lp1Cer6iDY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-61329321565276973642023-04-09T09:19:00.001-07:002023-04-09T09:19:10.631-07:00I am renting a Peugeot 208<p>My French Guiana trip is in five weeks and I am renting this from Sixt! I'll be driving to Cacao (Hmong village in Amazon), Kourou (spaceport), St Laurent du Maroni (Suriname border), St Georges (Brazilian border), and Kourou (Devil's Island)).</p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pBYtEIpj1-E" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-37994167386352986362023-03-29T15:23:00.002-07:002023-03-29T15:23:22.196-07:00Eating the Globe: Western Sahara<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Morocco is notorious for canning fish in Western Sahara and labeling the product as Moroccan. I am 85% sure the canned mackerel I had was from Western Sahara. Since I make the rules, I am counting it. I mean, just look at where the green dot is on that map on the back of the box!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zPreau7xRJ-0NQzZF-Pba9Ol5TE7dx0gEPqFYAnyX0f72rTUBywmW5aKRrI_78iRF7xvjoyZVre11WEge_lQz0yRGl4yX3yjnwyhypj75SLFzwY_xAgj9z4z-UfgCr4YCyunLnPpGaKuENIAWSXJuXUCX96vxdYMAfGs_jfn4A-7c8_1-A/s2016/IMG_2591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zPreau7xRJ-0NQzZF-Pba9Ol5TE7dx0gEPqFYAnyX0f72rTUBywmW5aKRrI_78iRF7xvjoyZVre11WEge_lQz0yRGl4yX3yjnwyhypj75SLFzwY_xAgj9z4z-UfgCr4YCyunLnPpGaKuENIAWSXJuXUCX96vxdYMAfGs_jfn4A-7c8_1-A/w640-h480/IMG_2591.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ68uVDTAwiAiSXpgXsNphFDXxMy7Oc_PTVnN20_aJI12gN1_woVC5lT_09ouqYdMvAx8gIFKhaHTWgKittrdUirqf_pbKqrWYWKevvoSnS6b6C8RqqpTXkqA_6QbGw6WB6WnWS118POYY-itogmrdnJqS2bn_xCV1jJWnMpT3oyICSdRiQQ/s2016/IMG_2592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ68uVDTAwiAiSXpgXsNphFDXxMy7Oc_PTVnN20_aJI12gN1_woVC5lT_09ouqYdMvAx8gIFKhaHTWgKittrdUirqf_pbKqrWYWKevvoSnS6b6C8RqqpTXkqA_6QbGw6WB6WnWS118POYY-itogmrdnJqS2bn_xCV1jJWnMpT3oyICSdRiQQ/w640-h480/IMG_2592.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaKjBz3Xeuo5PfwwFlOYpBJKyfwI-D7XfJ7dbrM9qVOmm_4fCzRxbgTIW_S7_gYNLawd3DwNf0VqFIGa81N8fxL8DtDehH9o3hqgE3M4rFP94-wHZTaVXn0vgbBaikeEzthrG9Vl8qaRuPLZKsbi8pELerK-kzt-zK2YTcKmJLLJNQMmeEQ/s2016/IMG_2593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaKjBz3Xeuo5PfwwFlOYpBJKyfwI-D7XfJ7dbrM9qVOmm_4fCzRxbgTIW_S7_gYNLawd3DwNf0VqFIGa81N8fxL8DtDehH9o3hqgE3M4rFP94-wHZTaVXn0vgbBaikeEzthrG9Vl8qaRuPLZKsbi8pELerK-kzt-zK2YTcKmJLLJNQMmeEQ/w640-h480/IMG_2593.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I ate the mackerel plain with leftover takeout rice. It was fine.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FLxQSe5O4e4faMIV_OumEKqZsIi5kHSD0rK_FiyY4jCkmoYqZdNf7WobhPb72k4av_YpDhQW2Gvl1xfJotz5hTz0vRN4kjux5NeBTyAlAApyJlfVy_wujsbUzUITqsBEfiB0dDhWkzinZW5PlKdSFRsF-oKk_hhR-to1KQm3x_cfqvh4Ng/s2016/IMG_2594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FLxQSe5O4e4faMIV_OumEKqZsIi5kHSD0rK_FiyY4jCkmoYqZdNf7WobhPb72k4av_YpDhQW2Gvl1xfJotz5hTz0vRN4kjux5NeBTyAlAApyJlfVy_wujsbUzUITqsBEfiB0dDhWkzinZW5PlKdSFRsF-oKk_hhR-to1KQm3x_cfqvh4Ng/w640-h480/IMG_2594.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><u>Africa</u></i><span face=""Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">: Algeria, Angola, Benin, </span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zimbabwe</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><i><u>Asia</u></i>: Afghanistan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, </span><span face=""Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen</span><span face=""Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><i><u><br /></u></i></span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><i><u>Europe</u></i>: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, <span style="color: #666666;">Estonia</span>, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Vatican City</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" /><i style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><u><br /></u></i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><u>North America</u></i><span face=""Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);">: Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, USA</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" /><span face=""Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><i><u><br /></u></i></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><i><u>South America</u></i>: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" /><span face=""Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><i><u><br /></u></i></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><i><u>Oceania</u></i>: Australia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga</span></span></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-4567673123648425982023-03-16T19:27:00.001-07:002023-03-16T19:27:27.974-07:00I'm going to French Guiana!<p>I can't believe it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLNVPFb8EatpFc_fkhFUi9KJREkB9SK1FniytYbStSEotPLVKocYJT7AY3hrn2bYasfKgOtvDmdbSnjIwoJSijREeTs92RGe0kNe87VwkD_gBVCoXbjhnhKYW9b_dZugU2xjqCPWQ7kunUCneclR_1kxpSRM00Z9BsF8vX68G6N_HL3kAVA/s1203/map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1203" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLNVPFb8EatpFc_fkhFUi9KJREkB9SK1FniytYbStSEotPLVKocYJT7AY3hrn2bYasfKgOtvDmdbSnjIwoJSijREeTs92RGe0kNe87VwkD_gBVCoXbjhnhKYW9b_dZugU2xjqCPWQ7kunUCneclR_1kxpSRM00Z9BsF8vX68G6N_HL3kAVA/w640-h382/map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I will be flying Air France's once-weekly Island Hopper. From Miami, it stops in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and finally, Cayenne. Port-au-Prince used to be a stop, but Air France no longer serves Haiti.</p><p>The plan is to stay at a colonial era hotel in Cayenne and go on day trips.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M99URX0DEv8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p>The itinerary:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Minibus or shared taxi to Suriname border</li><li>Minibus or shared taxi to Brazil border</li><li>Visit Cacao in the jungle; it's a Hmong village full of former refugees</li><li>Space center tour; I just got a ticket for a three-hour tour</li><li>Devil's Island</li></ul><p></p>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-32959426945095481262023-03-16T19:13:00.000-07:002023-03-16T19:13:21.873-07:00 Unexpected Southwest Airlines Southwest Road Trip: Day 3<p>We planned on completing our road trip on Day 3. Didn't happen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuztRKjOTZGP8d3esiFDJT7O1bvnV6ZTW-OY9hqX7HQdSO2PcaS0pV4N2Uy9B5zNhfPT_cJChpD_-BUylXB_ceMgCXsQUEZqH-GVmGL9ToWHeG-lK_-Dmm59lFcYx1zKsQFHbkvURDE7W57YIJhG5GF3WSn0zzoMrNyVdovrN12PcKoj1-AA/s1299/map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1299" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuztRKjOTZGP8d3esiFDJT7O1bvnV6ZTW-OY9hqX7HQdSO2PcaS0pV4N2Uy9B5zNhfPT_cJChpD_-BUylXB_ceMgCXsQUEZqH-GVmGL9ToWHeG-lK_-Dmm59lFcYx1zKsQFHbkvURDE7W57YIJhG5GF3WSn0zzoMrNyVdovrN12PcKoj1-AA/w640-h442/map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>In retrospect, I should have deferred to my wife and let her plan the meals. But I was on a mission to get home as quickly as possible and thought she would just slow us down with meals and potty breaks. After a breakfast at our hipster motel's oatmeal bar, we headed towards Phoenix.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOGaYLfwsFmaNoMYPDIsdT-LmJ0nYQtKeaIkjFmtwBA6nCCmtdIi67tKIXPiAKdxYtXkI7Do8E0dzQWyqgC35VslrQFXazRgH7X9-qyqHaaicLRz6ZQVQ2_EecdaOHB3E03ycJSH5WO1jaV-tJP7nDC13VLBhN5P2r3D83ZW5xGMiOZvWEw/s2016/IMG_1879.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOGaYLfwsFmaNoMYPDIsdT-LmJ0nYQtKeaIkjFmtwBA6nCCmtdIi67tKIXPiAKdxYtXkI7Do8E0dzQWyqgC35VslrQFXazRgH7X9-qyqHaaicLRz6ZQVQ2_EecdaOHB3E03ycJSH5WO1jaV-tJP7nDC13VLBhN5P2r3D83ZW5xGMiOZvWEw/w640-h480/IMG_1879.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was not expecting so many mountains in southern Arizona. I was expecting flat expanses of desert.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweyW4ZkKBtWUenbnzMkqXzsl4MsZBPJ-x9hUrFw_EzTMQlWtX1ItwGKs2KbI5q9YQUxfb5nYOqgCkcT4SKdjoseDSzXPgBgT0Aqg2i01l8VwIxO_ajr24Z3zNmRcvA2WH9BdqjsmT6Aq3aXoZi56Go_Eq_8XK5lidmb3gLQCEufVgSTb0Bg/s2016/IMG_1880.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweyW4ZkKBtWUenbnzMkqXzsl4MsZBPJ-x9hUrFw_EzTMQlWtX1ItwGKs2KbI5q9YQUxfb5nYOqgCkcT4SKdjoseDSzXPgBgT0Aqg2i01l8VwIxO_ajr24Z3zNmRcvA2WH9BdqjsmT6Aq3aXoZi56Go_Eq_8XK5lidmb3gLQCEufVgSTb0Bg/w640-h480/IMG_1880.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Without any plans for lunch, the kids got grumpy. Because restaurants were 50 to 100 miles apart from each other, they had to wait. We ended up at <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/mountain-quail-cafe-quartzsite" target="_blank">a lovely but rough cafe in Quartzsite</a>, near the California border. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Quartzsite is known for two things. First, in the 1800s, camels were imported and raised here by the U.S. Army. Now, the town is a destination for destitute senior citizens who live in vans and RVs. It was featured in Nomadland.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6sxCFZ8_d84" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>The "town" was pure chaos. People on ATVs. An RV parked called MAGA...</div><div><br /><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVPDOMYrjR2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVPDOMYrjR2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; 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font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVPDOMYrjR2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by MAGA RV Park (@magarvpark)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This Brat was just one of the many wild things we saw in Quartzsite.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc5NU8wwxuFTfcWDZrjPkfJSu4Qn1jITs6gXWD4ObHv4H_EpgObOz4mfs5mKHYdKEYmBRmbObk7UBkXmZyNxSlm58ojF7Vgy3iTFXFUq2uPyXgO-GSOfyLwujXizB2KIilRyn23vUYKrXTTJiAnSwvQv0tpsT-ND894JKZ8LWzU6-8Q1C7g/s1499/IMG_1881.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1499" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc5NU8wwxuFTfcWDZrjPkfJSu4Qn1jITs6gXWD4ObHv4H_EpgObOz4mfs5mKHYdKEYmBRmbObk7UBkXmZyNxSlm58ojF7Vgy3iTFXFUq2uPyXgO-GSOfyLwujXizB2KIilRyn23vUYKrXTTJiAnSwvQv0tpsT-ND894JKZ8LWzU6-8Q1C7g/w640-h480/IMG_1881.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To lighten my mood, the kids bought me a back scratcher at the diner.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5p84ElEFvzHuB4L3Ylz4mLYo-GjJJgKRhpIgz0WJYDHo7V3t7lZaNVk7c5T1eZN-ZAD2DA5mNXWVfRXlhvmcRjSwK6KD2aLU3R5Lyly9E5a8FrEpPzyZtebS-QJTDVAeFYyYoS9Ec41iY7fAD4e2Sh7OAxXrxHDTMkR6DIcFPs4D153SchA/s2016/IMG_1882.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5p84ElEFvzHuB4L3Ylz4mLYo-GjJJgKRhpIgz0WJYDHo7V3t7lZaNVk7c5T1eZN-ZAD2DA5mNXWVfRXlhvmcRjSwK6KD2aLU3R5Lyly9E5a8FrEpPzyZtebS-QJTDVAeFYyYoS9Ec41iY7fAD4e2Sh7OAxXrxHDTMkR6DIcFPs4D153SchA/w640-h480/IMG_1882.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We crossed the might Colorado River! We're finally in California. The river crossing was kind of anticlimactic.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O03J_wccA23YZBWZlSBlRjtiiYQLjCVv8zC_wWFNmLdzbxXxuRrVl731_ArAQzL4IZr_L3BLXe55CsTVieb7cq88MuRiC9HIitibw9cnQ-YXL0GBW9vUHCNVte-O4QcqES_3NejdIcs0r-5y9VeMEmFmiwT_CJGlYr1oDMdt54v6U0OGeQ/s2016/IMG_1884.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8O03J_wccA23YZBWZlSBlRjtiiYQLjCVv8zC_wWFNmLdzbxXxuRrVl731_ArAQzL4IZr_L3BLXe55CsTVieb7cq88MuRiC9HIitibw9cnQ-YXL0GBW9vUHCNVte-O4QcqES_3NejdIcs0r-5y9VeMEmFmiwT_CJGlYr1oDMdt54v6U0OGeQ/w640-h480/IMG_1884.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lots of cool carspotting opportunities. Like this Mexican Suzuki Jimny next to the Morongo Indian casino.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURuH_gbvYQSW0JIKCS6Z7AHGnsOui9tZzGMQLSikJU9OFALf4FAIPVrMFZTTVeDw70mE3PdfrYwbDgVGkw0LElHuAWKm6ZqrbkH2tZ6TLQ6O_qb-3PFr08iWV4rOLXhk_YH4J7r4tTMWTLZ7ICsCkFXgkM4WFlavoPbY0BKz81I5fVnT4Og/s2016/IMG_1885.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURuH_gbvYQSW0JIKCS6Z7AHGnsOui9tZzGMQLSikJU9OFALf4FAIPVrMFZTTVeDw70mE3PdfrYwbDgVGkw0LElHuAWKm6ZqrbkH2tZ6TLQ6O_qb-3PFr08iWV4rOLXhk_YH4J7r4tTMWTLZ7ICsCkFXgkM4WFlavoPbY0BKz81I5fVnT4Og/w640-h480/IMG_1885.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrzybox-3bMvOURapm9G7rwRssohvqjG2JlbLbDO5JgaM6orCj1uawPmW4eKoQ_SaualZeRKMLh4PvzpyhdcwETf5QdhDn10bib_fIMG6MibXrxrHsi5XYxkZee287Ed75-v1-sL61ZAplcgPE4ihYDxt1lp9y32R6ASPJLWNFvf6qK8BHw/s2016/IMG_1886.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrzybox-3bMvOURapm9G7rwRssohvqjG2JlbLbDO5JgaM6orCj1uawPmW4eKoQ_SaualZeRKMLh4PvzpyhdcwETf5QdhDn10bib_fIMG6MibXrxrHsi5XYxkZee287Ed75-v1-sL61ZAplcgPE4ihYDxt1lp9y32R6ASPJLWNFvf6qK8BHw/w640-h480/IMG_1886.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Or this Ferrari 612!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODm2e27LbetxJ-Iz9mb1e-qCtyHT4z3mO0Wwhx98Gf_Zmg7hw_8MavjSJ8Yn2EDiOU5zCth_WzV7O0luq4SNcBJ1KxxpTHfUhH80g7VKgXtUIYIfnPywOHgVzWfE_cQ5GaEsjOmXG5ZLA3VNaij2aBjHzf2HLR3PaH7JD-3gi5AZG7tW_Cg/s2016/IMG_1887.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODm2e27LbetxJ-Iz9mb1e-qCtyHT4z3mO0Wwhx98Gf_Zmg7hw_8MavjSJ8Yn2EDiOU5zCth_WzV7O0luq4SNcBJ1KxxpTHfUhH80g7VKgXtUIYIfnPywOHgVzWfE_cQ5GaEsjOmXG5ZLA3VNaij2aBjHzf2HLR3PaH7JD-3gi5AZG7tW_Cg/w640-h480/IMG_1887.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_AV5RqOgCAM8lQkqV3F2WssUQHo_MM9-Js6lZmSWOyS9Hhjn91eWilS2E3jbSDKZx1TCk4NzylH-Il6AabpomGmou1XgmFEeUzTky13DNN2TLHgfrh_ZFUGhxP_qA_8k7SZMXMzwMgBCtL_4RSgSZxNzdxpn2To1AiebIJ0D8BTVMc9pKQ/s2016/IMG_1888.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_AV5RqOgCAM8lQkqV3F2WssUQHo_MM9-Js6lZmSWOyS9Hhjn91eWilS2E3jbSDKZx1TCk4NzylH-Il6AabpomGmou1XgmFEeUzTky13DNN2TLHgfrh_ZFUGhxP_qA_8k7SZMXMzwMgBCtL_4RSgSZxNzdxpn2To1AiebIJ0D8BTVMc9pKQ/w640-h480/IMG_1888.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL4KfcbnhMiqwE7JOqiE4GTdYXAds7F182EBamGE7cczPeZim1FhAuW231UjCt9xM37x0UTs3p6P7mMe0naJHv6Awf9HGDkPKVR7YnHEDfxp4o3w-VsPglhC0YIUaUIauO2JhmnQslcso48lC4KGUmE-PdHWFb-oL-JB4w31V3kkJdYaWPQ/s2016/IMG_1889.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL4KfcbnhMiqwE7JOqiE4GTdYXAds7F182EBamGE7cczPeZim1FhAuW231UjCt9xM37x0UTs3p6P7mMe0naJHv6Awf9HGDkPKVR7YnHEDfxp4o3w-VsPglhC0YIUaUIauO2JhmnQslcso48lC4KGUmE-PdHWFb-oL-JB4w31V3kkJdYaWPQ/w640-h480/IMG_1889.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWV4Ke3AFo5ME7N79sb_5U9-OKB1a1o2UxB6gvH5Or6YoLftinXAN3_8zlEfXV8L-I9C-U6Thap3QOtuaFRyDKc0wfemPmq3N-Q-o4TSp0VYK7khBH1y4QIR6kAF7neTktwP1TqryDnMynENKHnt4zzJ6IELMF3UX7Y2c7ekR1B4faYF4OA/s2016/IMG_1890.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWV4Ke3AFo5ME7N79sb_5U9-OKB1a1o2UxB6gvH5Or6YoLftinXAN3_8zlEfXV8L-I9C-U6Thap3QOtuaFRyDKc0wfemPmq3N-Q-o4TSp0VYK7khBH1y4QIR6kAF7neTktwP1TqryDnMynENKHnt4zzJ6IELMF3UX7Y2c7ekR1B4faYF4OA/w640-h480/IMG_1890.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We hit rain and traffic in Los Angeles and it really slowed us down. We picked a Japanese restaurant in Santa Clarita (north of Los Angeles) for dinner. The meal was easily twice what we normally paid outside of California. At least I spotted a Renault Duster in the parking lot. I gushed at the middle class Mexican dad who owned it. He was confused by my excitement.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2VT7QOVs4nrTj1dBIvOJexvVuEN4L9SyyvPmxMckrS_AgiduTAIEH77zshzQOXv-MX_j_QexSY-qV5ZMrapMDzS9qbBGchrk6lmvqYmtPk1NO3AwJDh6nOwUtjqdwIjBiBrIefkcg6C1vh5W1JJVfxoscmOZ7m3taZSOdAQ88K0-iMSE2A/s2016/IMG_1892.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2VT7QOVs4nrTj1dBIvOJexvVuEN4L9SyyvPmxMckrS_AgiduTAIEH77zshzQOXv-MX_j_QexSY-qV5ZMrapMDzS9qbBGchrk6lmvqYmtPk1NO3AwJDh6nOwUtjqdwIjBiBrIefkcg6C1vh5W1JJVfxoscmOZ7m3taZSOdAQ88K0-iMSE2A/w640-h480/IMG_1892.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued driving into the night along Interstate 5. It was simply too much mentally and physically for the kids. They were crying from sitting for so long. So we spent the night at Harris Ranch in Coalinga, three hours short of home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Harris Ranch is known for its steakhouse. Many people driving between San Francisco and Los Angeles stop here for a meal. I knew it had a hotel, but I could never figure out why anyone would stay there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had a nice room and this was what we saw when we stepped out our door in the morning (on Day 4):</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLlRFBEvPz89xrXPLnvCr6XNqlcblnM9XwgWkwTuTwXPqo32cauPUF9jwASJMRt_wK5AbskWG5plsOUOYrQcQEDOZER-fmCUx_hZR2yG-vPWMK3r1ftoRMFGm829bC9RuBDo23yu6PNCsOuZfBTbUeHSlttCdLIbXOlo8HAm8M3du-BlmaA/s2016/IMG_1896.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLlRFBEvPz89xrXPLnvCr6XNqlcblnM9XwgWkwTuTwXPqo32cauPUF9jwASJMRt_wK5AbskWG5plsOUOYrQcQEDOZER-fmCUx_hZR2yG-vPWMK3r1ftoRMFGm829bC9RuBDo23yu6PNCsOuZfBTbUeHSlttCdLIbXOlo8HAm8M3du-BlmaA/w640-h480/IMG_1896.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We walked to the restaurant and I got some beef with my eggs.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vMcMBhG3_oXeOW3Gvkw2tpmGuFmepKV-ATkn81Tv-j8ZWzNJn8o_OVc2s677n1hYmHZjQE1549JaCFMT28_mb1f0hGSVcKFzifJtTF39HQQ7NAtNZCYG_6sFINsruUua6ZENLa-MM2eAcohaJRPrw96slUABs44ahXGyp_hvfBHAB0-Bwg/s2016/IMG_1897.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vMcMBhG3_oXeOW3Gvkw2tpmGuFmepKV-ATkn81Tv-j8ZWzNJn8o_OVc2s677n1hYmHZjQE1549JaCFMT28_mb1f0hGSVcKFzifJtTF39HQQ7NAtNZCYG_6sFINsruUua6ZENLa-MM2eAcohaJRPrw96slUABs44ahXGyp_hvfBHAB0-Bwg/w640-h480/IMG_1897.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Epilogue:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got home around noon on Day 4. I returned the car at Oakland airport with 12 minutes left. The bill was $2,200(!). We also spent $600 for three nights of hotels/motels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I asked Southwest to reimburse us $2,800, I didn't ask for gas or food. They offered $1,400. I was PISSED. I appealed and on March 14, Southwest decided to reimburse us the entire $2,800.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">THE END.</div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-35721365511115293872023-02-04T16:03:00.001-08:002023-02-04T16:09:14.073-08:00Unexpected Southwest Airlines Southwest Road Trip: Day 2<p>What does Day 2 of the road trip bring? Let's see!</p><p>The shortest route would have been to continue on Interstate 40 across Arizona. We could have met up with my sister-in-law in Flagstaff for a late lunch and then spent the night at my mom's in Vegas. Well, there was a heavy snowstorm in Flagstaff and my mom was stuck in San Francisco. She was flying back from Taiwan and she ended up stranded at SFO for three days. She was going to fly Alaska Airlines home from SFO and Alaska was very generous with the hotel and food comps. She ended up having a great time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6xOvp3vU419PiiWpi6hhlucd5s80j5AlM8E7iCd5FRYaM704nvC20JFdzx9zuuuwVx6lTa0didXcPtjnmBLLmtRnMofuVXKCNkwLAC2bXUOjRDRCRQngaQ15JgJ18voZWTzJ4jSH7UrmwJgH6shmofPzj-anR5Uejig09ecW1f8M8ltFVA/s1532/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="1532" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6xOvp3vU419PiiWpi6hhlucd5s80j5AlM8E7iCd5FRYaM704nvC20JFdzx9zuuuwVx6lTa0didXcPtjnmBLLmtRnMofuVXKCNkwLAC2bXUOjRDRCRQngaQ15JgJ18voZWTzJ4jSH7UrmwJgH6shmofPzj-anR5Uejig09ecW1f8M8ltFVA/w640-h408/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I woke up at our motel in Tucumcari before everyone else so I decided to go to the donut shop and pick up some surprises for the family. Sadly, it was closed. I went to the gas station next door instead. The cashier was a trip. He called me sir and was super polite. But he (a white guy) had dreadlocks a la Korn and wore a tuxedo t-shirt. </p><p>This was the sunrise along Route 66, just outside the gas station.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dlf5IS1hAECAwoWYQcIKs3o5D7xLVTKapPgDwXSRWOY-KVvZHp_5xEmHEHv7aBCwbW9Qzmi1AvWFPSPCUgeT6tO5pR9CybwksPGEIY5s70fYAtf4YjowL1T0glmkhasRrro46VpAbLZ9E35QIpBDfiER9XHGLJqPn_0-nIpqmGotR4gyZw/s2016/IMG_1863.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_dlf5IS1hAECAwoWYQcIKs3o5D7xLVTKapPgDwXSRWOY-KVvZHp_5xEmHEHv7aBCwbW9Qzmi1AvWFPSPCUgeT6tO5pR9CybwksPGEIY5s70fYAtf4YjowL1T0glmkhasRrro46VpAbLZ9E35QIpBDfiER9XHGLJqPn_0-nIpqmGotR4gyZw/w640-h480/IMG_1863.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyqphHBKXjNwI8BVn1PpO9XwReffsLKmCptDlGC7XxRtyZaqXpsUpr9qdt3kN_z-w5Y2Mfybri6NeyO8Vtri3QedY4-WqfEuwBOzNIfjDPrJe7H5Udu93LBL3ZswzIAU6nsuLVyqjqUXKe0n98uEAemNjIcvSLSHMgOeXRyeUnTddQIz7qQ/s2016/IMG_1864.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyqphHBKXjNwI8BVn1PpO9XwReffsLKmCptDlGC7XxRtyZaqXpsUpr9qdt3kN_z-w5Y2Mfybri6NeyO8Vtri3QedY4-WqfEuwBOzNIfjDPrJe7H5Udu93LBL3ZswzIAU6nsuLVyqjqUXKe0n98uEAemNjIcvSLSHMgOeXRyeUnTddQIz7qQ/w640-h480/IMG_1864.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We headed west on Interstate 40 to Albuquerque for lunch. There was a billboard proclaiming that abortion is legal in New Mexico. There were also a few billboards looking to hire prison guards. The job does not pay well.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpq-NjQ8o3jL4ZCU_mXO7YKAyg6fupNYmjfnsBUDBOp-kSpx6_h3feHYbaIcUikpeCX2vodvud3AxTyPS211hMH0aQOpjhbqUssqypDB3CRijgfYP9RpgImjzMH9A6WPKy6A-TAVZU04AJX_0FbrB0fSu7g2-Ig90Rz_RVGpnRoaF0ZTWOmg/s2016/IMG_1865.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpq-NjQ8o3jL4ZCU_mXO7YKAyg6fupNYmjfnsBUDBOp-kSpx6_h3feHYbaIcUikpeCX2vodvud3AxTyPS211hMH0aQOpjhbqUssqypDB3CRijgfYP9RpgImjzMH9A6WPKy6A-TAVZU04AJX_0FbrB0fSu7g2-Ig90Rz_RVGpnRoaF0ZTWOmg/w640-h480/IMG_1865.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As we approached Albuquerque, there was a snow flurry. I'm glad we are going south. Neither my wife nor I have much experience driving in the snow. And we didn't want to risk it in an unfamiliar car with the kids in the back. </div><div><br /></div><div>Check out this old Kia Sephia!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjotrH6F6FyilfR0y3S2ua1Q9j1T3PT0CzrLkv1it5UjOG406iBzgP9Ep0rioWRRsOGSr7ypUIxArLf7Z8PsLSIgPlOc61V9Baxxbzo5arXhnNpx_hjgkOEr1YfrvdPI8GevaleHicjBpQ03yhIqbXqGKFcNM-vqc-L-OZKYzTbj0bN7bgRw/s1280/IMG_1866.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjotrH6F6FyilfR0y3S2ua1Q9j1T3PT0CzrLkv1it5UjOG406iBzgP9Ep0rioWRRsOGSr7ypUIxArLf7Z8PsLSIgPlOc61V9Baxxbzo5arXhnNpx_hjgkOEr1YfrvdPI8GevaleHicjBpQ03yhIqbXqGKFcNM-vqc-L-OZKYzTbj0bN7bgRw/w640-h480/IMG_1866.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a billboard for a personal injury attorney in Albuquerque. He's the brother of a friend. Apparently, their dad is a law professor and they are all super well educated and cultured. The brother that stayed in Albuquerque is Bertrand, named after the philosopher Bertrand Russell. Anyway, he came up with this tagline "Hurt? Call Bert!" He's the inspiration for Saul Goodman!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVgUN5qPB8iXqFia18-p-mf_BT50w-emtWmzYLqxxC2Yo4AtaLsUmY1ZfHr1LHDVwQJDlWYfzIy9upSDZiFa4S_i7SAvqMfy8h3ocz6eLBfR_lMOHVfeF9Pa0FEC8xdfdVK3zBvkgLPo0BttymSU9Bxx1RqkN7JMBdEd0OgnBLkeGV5h2SQ/s2016/IMG_1867.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVgUN5qPB8iXqFia18-p-mf_BT50w-emtWmzYLqxxC2Yo4AtaLsUmY1ZfHr1LHDVwQJDlWYfzIy9upSDZiFa4S_i7SAvqMfy8h3ocz6eLBfR_lMOHVfeF9Pa0FEC8xdfdVK3zBvkgLPo0BttymSU9Bxx1RqkN7JMBdEd0OgnBLkeGV5h2SQ/w640-h480/IMG_1867.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My wife found our lunch spot, which was inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O1RV1kVu8uM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1MjxXqlDz4F7GafWXEXrcJ_HJuQW1-XGS8qLgvoo28rOlegEFl26lo6DIn7FoRd3ByznMhF5M05087xJLy84VZFD_Y82azmzbEZnJo9NX3xOBEl-ca4m9lrdVQIJJoSNT0QJtxY0A8dj5hygptb4145qwTGvTnebyN8d6jjMAzIC6O702w/s2016/IMG_1868.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1MjxXqlDz4F7GafWXEXrcJ_HJuQW1-XGS8qLgvoo28rOlegEFl26lo6DIn7FoRd3ByznMhF5M05087xJLy84VZFD_Y82azmzbEZnJo9NX3xOBEl-ca4m9lrdVQIJJoSNT0QJtxY0A8dj5hygptb4145qwTGvTnebyN8d6jjMAzIC6O702w/w640-h480/IMG_1868.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We then drove 270 miles south on Interstate 25. After a third of the way down past Socorro, there was nothing. I made the mistake of not filling up sooner. The strong winds ruined the gas mileage. My wife and kids were sleeping, and I was sweating bullets. We were going to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere! We stopped at a place that said GAS. All of the pumps were cordoned off with cones and TV show tribute cars, like Scooby Doo's Mystery Machine, My wife went inside to check if gas was available. She told me a guy who was really down on his luck stood up from his chair and apologized, stating that state regulators shut down his gas station due to safety issues. We didn't get gas until we got to Truth Or Consequences.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, we arrived in Las Cruces. It's close to the Mexican border and I spotted this!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfovMpvGRtmwi_ouN-TF2nDVkwSziMCTYrIyeER_uThhAPKYOLSw-9anVIQ__RMDANt39O8MERjK48_Gi7udEqLrntpkXyWxcjCMej6q1DYwydHLY8zLT8j4OXUGgcCcKZtZdpgFOm2cgsiVsZsJ0EVEXrP8c6XAEeE9wYn0VVgU4o1cSASw/s2016/IMG_1871.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfovMpvGRtmwi_ouN-TF2nDVkwSziMCTYrIyeER_uThhAPKYOLSw-9anVIQ__RMDANt39O8MERjK48_Gi7udEqLrntpkXyWxcjCMej6q1DYwydHLY8zLT8j4OXUGgcCcKZtZdpgFOm2cgsiVsZsJ0EVEXrP8c6XAEeE9wYn0VVgU4o1cSASw/w640-h480/IMG_1871.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Dinner ended up being the best meal of 2022. We ate at <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/la-nueva-casita-cafe-las-cruces" target="_blank">La Nueva Casita</a>. New Mexican cuisine is not like regular American Mexican cuisine. I love it. I got this combo plate with chili con carne, chile relleno, enchilada, taco, and squash.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAIm9LWwcNlgOLBQfrAelElOpNB4lXXiYq_WwfdIMDJNMYSq9l1OGh0ksXQ2TRz4vtgFVs0QyGJ72L-tMIYsnnQaVL4JHmGH6kN37lpYr7lCyL8YZAf1HsEGhAU9kY3SEgeo281j7BpMyOmAc-Lz3ij2JQthj-GX9DcF-PjZs0fWGrVj1xg/s2016/IMG_1873.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAIm9LWwcNlgOLBQfrAelElOpNB4lXXiYq_WwfdIMDJNMYSq9l1OGh0ksXQ2TRz4vtgFVs0QyGJ72L-tMIYsnnQaVL4JHmGH6kN37lpYr7lCyL8YZAf1HsEGhAU9kY3SEgeo281j7BpMyOmAc-Lz3ij2JQthj-GX9DcF-PjZs0fWGrVj1xg/w640-h480/IMG_1873.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My son had been eating beans for a day straight.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7Px5pkG8HlVseA9TI9ScSf3z170eGzJvctV65i0r6gi6cAPaysn5KolxTzPi13lqo4dksLhymE-RHdWTyKO3Ksbl0DpY3fCa4pG2pknDrcFwEo55QDP2B3lBOcUZEAewzyBOd7nsH1e8gPPee4NMN0sjjKZfhCia7rUa-zZPNmQq0345SA/s1544/IMG_1875.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1544" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7Px5pkG8HlVseA9TI9ScSf3z170eGzJvctV65i0r6gi6cAPaysn5KolxTzPi13lqo4dksLhymE-RHdWTyKO3Ksbl0DpY3fCa4pG2pknDrcFwEo55QDP2B3lBOcUZEAewzyBOd7nsH1e8gPPee4NMN0sjjKZfhCia7rUa-zZPNmQq0345SA/w640-h480/IMG_1875.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After Las Cruces, we headed west towards Tuscon for the night. Here are some Texas-build Teslas headed for year end delivery.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5Evfm4XIp0PdQJpfqVsYHO1-r-VjYAIW-DsVYhAZY60aaFeqJQdx4Ro6t-sMTBB7XTf7AZdX4oEgnarJHoJomoEqDOM2eI7KEwUxQfUvxzc5QomPQAx0IvxNUvd-gaPeM3dmdHYFJYH8juSIZ9I62YoFCQhe58xpndBIAYJJ2ear5ceMuQ/s2016/IMG_1876.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5Evfm4XIp0PdQJpfqVsYHO1-r-VjYAIW-DsVYhAZY60aaFeqJQdx4Ro6t-sMTBB7XTf7AZdX4oEgnarJHoJomoEqDOM2eI7KEwUxQfUvxzc5QomPQAx0IvxNUvd-gaPeM3dmdHYFJYH8juSIZ9I62YoFCQhe58xpndBIAYJJ2ear5ceMuQ/w640-h480/IMG_1876.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiI5KcpJ559sK9Isv3-2Hs9boLBHQAB-3ACDFL8HT9iyiYcBvlOGOewhzAoTs6mUGJuCCxjDQHGUTSfp_DbDrWJ-85_OF_Lm0_0nCuvp99fPc8ewT_GgWIj916fgjGLz0vhjrmrFVGb8aCHxNgKqdmqt0pDjOxpcFNA3emxDgm1oIrPCiPGw/s2016/IMG_1877.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiI5KcpJ559sK9Isv3-2Hs9boLBHQAB-3ACDFL8HT9iyiYcBvlOGOewhzAoTs6mUGJuCCxjDQHGUTSfp_DbDrWJ-85_OF_Lm0_0nCuvp99fPc8ewT_GgWIj916fgjGLz0vhjrmrFVGb8aCHxNgKqdmqt0pDjOxpcFNA3emxDgm1oIrPCiPGw/w640-h480/IMG_1877.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We ended up at the Hotel McCoy for the night. It used to be a seedy motel next to a freeway but it has been transformed into a hipster hotel. I really liked it. It even claims to have the longest oatmeal breakfast bar in the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ysMjdGngsI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-88127524391218970402023-01-14T08:29:00.000-08:002023-01-14T08:29:01.159-08:00Unexpected Southwest Airlines Southwest Road Trip: Day 1<p>As some of you know, I was caught up in the Southwest Airlines mess over the holidays. After spending two weeks with my in-laws in Florida, we started flying home on Christmas Day. We thought we were being clever by flying on Christmas Day because we expected it to be chill and relatively easy. We were wrong. We landed in Kansas City and when we were looking for our connecting flight, we saw the pandemonium. The crying gate agents, the sea of abandoned luggage, lines of people not moving. We were stuck in Kansas City. After two days of canceled flights, we decided to rent a car and drive home.</p><p>Our goal for Day 1 was Tucumcari, New Mexico. We did not want to go straight west because we did not want to hit the mountains and snow of Colorado, Utah, and Nevada.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYVih60Nvc5p8tBqoG6QxvoZ7wSZivULrTTbW2TbMl1jm_HGmj75lUMk0Drg5R8wlX014PicP-NgQCiLpIhgm6JvY0P-wQOQU4kaMIQONtdax6RUmxQcMyh4E-8ZFrrBR6X9wKGfqmXILJ4f1DIW82Mz_BKhys1iTSWnoVb1bE1uC2lIqSA/s2816/day%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="2816" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYVih60Nvc5p8tBqoG6QxvoZ7wSZivULrTTbW2TbMl1jm_HGmj75lUMk0Drg5R8wlX014PicP-NgQCiLpIhgm6JvY0P-wQOQU4kaMIQONtdax6RUmxQcMyh4E-8ZFrrBR6X9wKGfqmXILJ4f1DIW82Mz_BKhys1iTSWnoVb1bE1uC2lIqSA/w640-h398/day%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here we were, waiting for the hotel shuttle bus on Christmas Day when our connecting flight was canceled. We had no idea what we were in for.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytkOToBej97Dhx7bb9OuATcD17mPdc7kKRVRjjh8JL61Wlk8vPmCrTMCyJPNKNthMJAdGm5wknCnHaHui-_JNEFUxwFFG4LTP6bLd1iNHH43sNABapwaBlGFM-n6UO0H17b3dNDHWaufXxjF4pp1msApykZPTXlsVxQ_drWG-CMsEnGSRjA/s4032/IMG_1808.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjytkOToBej97Dhx7bb9OuATcD17mPdc7kKRVRjjh8JL61Wlk8vPmCrTMCyJPNKNthMJAdGm5wknCnHaHui-_JNEFUxwFFG4LTP6bLd1iNHH43sNABapwaBlGFM-n6UO0H17b3dNDHWaufXxjF4pp1msApykZPTXlsVxQ_drWG-CMsEnGSRjA/w640-h480/IMG_1808.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On the first night at the Kansas City airport hotel, I ordered a wedge salad and a steak. The steak was actually not bad.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjMMWEpCXIiEuvZmS23aEZM8GfJKhBkY4dM_3Z5ph5xk7KwfV3Aokj7d2DThjZZMpgxBlNKBFn-Kfnt6FZIg8SqIsMUC40WUJMFnbDJDcKqiLh3ztuct-uBSn3HhWrFOMSLVdsWT5h6GY4Lp_m2zo58D4w5jLwsNNV9ChtxYp5FygxNn9gQ/s4032/IMG_1809%202.heic" 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/AVvXsEjEjMMWEpCXIiEuvZmS23aEZM8GfJKhBkY4dM_3Z5ph5xk7KwfV3Aokj7d2DThjZZMpgxBlNKBFn-Kfnt6FZIg8SqIsMUC40WUJMFnbDJDcKqiLh3ztuct-uBSn3HhWrFOMSLVdsWT5h6GY4Lp_m2zo58D4w5jLwsNNV9ChtxYp5FygxNn9gQ/w640-h480/IMG_1809%202.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tjxZiGBptSvd2gtPOlYpyWzaxBtcAB79SdcuDJbgLXljdm18pnkcmeOOc7vIWEtQSVplucWThZn-ccUBEU1vO_VuWyN9eo8PM-Kt8_AftDmSXS2FCywu01wmklhXLi17uj1mvgqZFGb-w9OeMwqD6V5tuCUgQDwiQmEgwr36lE5y_YK58g/s4032/IMG_1810.heic" 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/AVvXsEh-tjxZiGBptSvd2gtPOlYpyWzaxBtcAB79SdcuDJbgLXljdm18pnkcmeOOc7vIWEtQSVplucWThZn-ccUBEU1vO_VuWyN9eo8PM-Kt8_AftDmSXS2FCywu01wmklhXLi17uj1mvgqZFGb-w9OeMwqD6V5tuCUgQDwiQmEgwr36lE5y_YK58g/w640-h480/IMG_1810.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, back to the road trip. This was the morning of Day 1. We drove through rural and very cold (around 15 degrees F) Kansas. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1O-pN-TGcGFSG4OnIdcZGWo7ZaAuVXxrWf9Xmu4Qb4pCvMJv2kAW3XzU_bRsKuDWS0by9DJUfR1Rc51MjXSPEYXdoKJ4e7ZkUu3qXkpTCd-4KHjkoZvihBk1zHm_NzlenobIj2-le6K6I_GmumU3LIcqwv9eLqSRH7mlniYbvYn3er3yEeQ/s4032/IMG_1843.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEg1O-pN-TGcGFSG4OnIdcZGWo7ZaAuVXxrWf9Xmu4Qb4pCvMJv2kAW3XzU_bRsKuDWS0by9DJUfR1Rc51MjXSPEYXdoKJ4e7ZkUu3qXkpTCd-4KHjkoZvihBk1zHm_NzlenobIj2-le6K6I_GmumU3LIcqwv9eLqSRH7mlniYbvYn3er3yEeQ/w640-h480/IMG_1843.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmmJRcLHWwak9KPeXHAsHz1au7RQrtYmr1XsVUuA8XFpgJ3AprEmyIdCDQIpxgOskP62i6N26KRoThQUw-qwRWU_gFAA8dPJyB9uyfFxuzmF84VoznuFN0TQo30AwCvxU2SeaSTzsZHCHHQ4C5pdtiQWe3M4EUSjaj97cjvwLKfJQ2g1iXQ/s4032/IMG_1844.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjgmmJRcLHWwak9KPeXHAsHz1au7RQrtYmr1XsVUuA8XFpgJ3AprEmyIdCDQIpxgOskP62i6N26KRoThQUw-qwRWU_gFAA8dPJyB9uyfFxuzmF84VoznuFN0TQo30AwCvxU2SeaSTzsZHCHHQ4C5pdtiQWe3M4EUSjaj97cjvwLKfJQ2g1iXQ/w640-h480/IMG_1844.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijflh-UVbEXY1-JhnovJzXbc7WzTZedWyTH15kpQ-7D0Hvr0KuHFHX46fxrLKpterD14lR6w2lZF3QVOwLCe5O7cX7W7xdkXTIUs3KRsiEwNwa3DOxvZei3akzMn0GQUPVEJSbXnknvuKR02dGiVxBsWwNyPfnFou3M91_EUEdD1Nh03etBQ/s4032/IMG_1846.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEijflh-UVbEXY1-JhnovJzXbc7WzTZedWyTH15kpQ-7D0Hvr0KuHFHX46fxrLKpterD14lR6w2lZF3QVOwLCe5O7cX7W7xdkXTIUs3KRsiEwNwa3DOxvZei3akzMn0GQUPVEJSbXnknvuKR02dGiVxBsWwNyPfnFou3M91_EUEdD1Nh03etBQ/w640-h480/IMG_1846.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeLVblIn0LrV2Ik60s0J3MgDfi8_NBvQ5Ze2JeMumdJ6l0CUj4kqY9rZavHQu5cWWjugIQZKs9rrhli_0JbxHqrVqg6v7qYra7h1sVRY3AtFg1fnSkIL6TKA8X2YJrczm2HMjZGl_KuqYtgM3MN55x1PtBZSSh46IafLmzpT1b1wWH0cQIg/s4032/IMG_1847.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEigeLVblIn0LrV2Ik60s0J3MgDfi8_NBvQ5Ze2JeMumdJ6l0CUj4kqY9rZavHQu5cWWjugIQZKs9rrhli_0JbxHqrVqg6v7qYra7h1sVRY3AtFg1fnSkIL6TKA8X2YJrczm2HMjZGl_KuqYtgM3MN55x1PtBZSSh46IafLmzpT1b1wWH0cQIg/w640-h480/IMG_1847.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This part of Kansas was much hillier than I imagined.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9i9hmT2JCFnkudJuDoSki_S-89zdWomEZuehlMdLOKg9DimxGuo2Zl31s97RLmg3WU5wtTgx8gjUof27qSjt21HTMerAB5sEYSaIPR97hqOGTanB1GVNBWe8BOe3Gx-upjhlJeQB0O-SVBg_K00JfBMDicW7esFf5gAw_SE1Ge1EuzQPz4A/s3834/IMG_1848.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2876" data-original-width="3834" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9i9hmT2JCFnkudJuDoSki_S-89zdWomEZuehlMdLOKg9DimxGuo2Zl31s97RLmg3WU5wtTgx8gjUof27qSjt21HTMerAB5sEYSaIPR97hqOGTanB1GVNBWe8BOe3Gx-upjhlJeQB0O-SVBg_K00JfBMDicW7esFf5gAw_SE1Ge1EuzQPz4A/w640-h480/IMG_1848.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We had a nice breakfast in <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/homegrown-wichita-downtown-wichita-2" target="_blank">Wichita at a place called Homegrown</a>. The low cost of living here was insane. I filled up our Kia Sportage rental for $28!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfND5f-DbpJCB7DVYKSrHcWBeTG1Hx_Jjl4IoQInm3sZY5M7cUQlmrcRf18FhARHZn2dtF_csX3Bx1DG59iXp92sLbvjCX8vJcv2r4MkZGUqd6FyCG89Y6i5CGCXZZo85opmSOBKb5MAv3shftG0ss25yMWmw4cuKCNf3ncvVHUIcQQrHA8A/s4032/IMG_1849.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgfND5f-DbpJCB7DVYKSrHcWBeTG1Hx_Jjl4IoQInm3sZY5M7cUQlmrcRf18FhARHZn2dtF_csX3Bx1DG59iXp92sLbvjCX8vJcv2r4MkZGUqd6FyCG89Y6i5CGCXZZo85opmSOBKb5MAv3shftG0ss25yMWmw4cuKCNf3ncvVHUIcQQrHA8A/w640-h480/IMG_1849.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyCbg3O5uZGXONax0kK55Wx1IRClIzAUf-cZ890Gv6W_LY8xiT0f9zUgrWdUfy3E-6bk_8qNi6ApOurz_1UnL2DU3x0x4fvBpAZDCFVlkJVtJsct_3n23qnWYBpMRk82ydz1tpEMpHF-mnT9gf-NzjedOF1buyknUDOevGW0R7slsDCoogQ/s4032/IMG_1850.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEidyCbg3O5uZGXONax0kK55Wx1IRClIzAUf-cZ890Gv6W_LY8xiT0f9zUgrWdUfy3E-6bk_8qNi6ApOurz_1UnL2DU3x0x4fvBpAZDCFVlkJVtJsct_3n23qnWYBpMRk82ydz1tpEMpHF-mnT9gf-NzjedOF1buyknUDOevGW0R7slsDCoogQ/w640-h480/IMG_1850.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBOpi4KJyLtST165QRSkf-_4EJKfISYT2Y3qulO-Jg9Mv1yOiKeEJDFyu5kXEHPSXtJzeP2XWEZQ3usRG_pR0kOCGvr4i3-AEtkm66tJPCPnDg78xukqSKChv8UDqasOLvhwGna070v366INKra-9VRGM6NmLgiLYxBoATfGd3noEe7JeLw/s4032/IMG_1851.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgFBOpi4KJyLtST165QRSkf-_4EJKfISYT2Y3qulO-Jg9Mv1yOiKeEJDFyu5kXEHPSXtJzeP2XWEZQ3usRG_pR0kOCGvr4i3-AEtkm66tJPCPnDg78xukqSKChv8UDqasOLvhwGna070v366INKra-9VRGM6NmLgiLYxBoATfGd3noEe7JeLw/w640-h480/IMG_1851.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After breakfast, it was more driving. Rural Kansas was like another world. Every small town had multiple urgent care centers for some reason. Most of the work trucks were Dodge Rams. And they all looked like they were worked hard. Formal rest areas were rare, so the kids just peed on the side of the road.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQU_NuS5k4yQa1eb52gOUdHsDS2Wxgg-ltwfF00627DMbCFqoBLUV0MWQDXXyzxAoN8AG-81eVYPCzz46HTeIv48uvWpPjMwDfVDzmwzNcXlZO7M1D2GCxHpOf9q_uiedpwR2HgzCjuW7aL-esLVn7zMAslgFJB_CMgrMIvpokoSW0KnJeg/s4032/IMG_1853.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEinQU_NuS5k4yQa1eb52gOUdHsDS2Wxgg-ltwfF00627DMbCFqoBLUV0MWQDXXyzxAoN8AG-81eVYPCzz46HTeIv48uvWpPjMwDfVDzmwzNcXlZO7M1D2GCxHpOf9q_uiedpwR2HgzCjuW7aL-esLVn7zMAslgFJB_CMgrMIvpokoSW0KnJeg/w640-h480/IMG_1853.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvbDEKQPa6iQQT4_R891og3kccDx2yGpbjRwwbh_Ji-qmN-Wm7Utgqy5gtKE3QTrEi2-bT3Menu1SpoPALNSicZUtzoqXmKvHKXwclphEQp9J1LfuCnFYh1iXig0x15C19xeZOwKdYskvX_svqXl4xPa6bNgitHjZ66xB5Tw2-Q0Wr5kdMA/s4032/IMG_1854.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhFvbDEKQPa6iQQT4_R891og3kccDx2yGpbjRwwbh_Ji-qmN-Wm7Utgqy5gtKE3QTrEi2-bT3Menu1SpoPALNSicZUtzoqXmKvHKXwclphEQp9J1LfuCnFYh1iXig0x15C19xeZOwKdYskvX_svqXl4xPa6bNgitHjZ66xB5Tw2-Q0Wr5kdMA/w640-h480/IMG_1854.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For late lunch, we went to Asian Market in Liberal, Kansas. It was all takeout and the food was very spicy and had a Southeast Asian influence. We stocked up on Pockys and shrimp chips. The town of Liberal is majority Latino and has a huge beef processing plant. The largest helium facility in the world is nearby as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>As an addendum, about a week after driving through Liberal, one of my mentors passed away. In reading his obituary, he was born in Liberal!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqUpN8RQ-ZAQbOsUjVo4sbkEPepGOsTucolY8xG-I2IvSU6n__lXjxaY6DqWH8gUr-qSz7hTg-mg1GImieU_5_-L5dKeFM9Pj_ALxjH9gi2iDltyjfAMbFThCxV0lVA-u0jFdzShqBFCwr0_vUi8wvls8dofaT3zWNFiCFs3PdLYK6_08Uw/s4032/IMG_1855.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEirqUpN8RQ-ZAQbOsUjVo4sbkEPepGOsTucolY8xG-I2IvSU6n__lXjxaY6DqWH8gUr-qSz7hTg-mg1GImieU_5_-L5dKeFM9Pj_ALxjH9gi2iDltyjfAMbFThCxV0lVA-u0jFdzShqBFCwr0_vUi8wvls8dofaT3zWNFiCFs3PdLYK6_08Uw/w640-h480/IMG_1855.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlbG0TQpJf2-2IY_RW3QtvtuMgWH6c-zd3AipZQY4J-iGu53ppLv5lVhG6rXPKaDiH19Qnsnyk9645gajXOPGA4d5-bxaw-9gPqmVEcw3-8CGN_fjt2T1i9ltLXjeMm2E6SDqO6yfwU-zVgDNO0y7qyiDiCNTLGB5Ce-qB26YYgs5rQtByQ/s4032/IMG_1856.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEijlbG0TQpJf2-2IY_RW3QtvtuMgWH6c-zd3AipZQY4J-iGu53ppLv5lVhG6rXPKaDiH19Qnsnyk9645gajXOPGA4d5-bxaw-9gPqmVEcw3-8CGN_fjt2T1i9ltLXjeMm2E6SDqO6yfwU-zVgDNO0y7qyiDiCNTLGB5Ce-qB26YYgs5rQtByQ/w640-h480/IMG_1856.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We drove through slivers of Oklahoma and Texas. It's just cattle and oil wells.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v3-hV-Jp7RrhvNfzha3ZqWpj71wHGsTzu7ffTO5ehZjDQLT_xM1-_ThkzLA0jj4Zz6Fsg9G1ChQ_WBpNXJU85DK3PXW4zdfq1dFkY4lcnQKoDL0xf6PL2ilSYQgvdDQ0x7acz57GLZT_BSekcjQ6lVptLi9bGZgznNmBDFMdiR_W4BatQQ/s4032/IMG_1857.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEj8v3-hV-Jp7RrhvNfzha3ZqWpj71wHGsTzu7ffTO5ehZjDQLT_xM1-_ThkzLA0jj4Zz6Fsg9G1ChQ_WBpNXJU85DK3PXW4zdfq1dFkY4lcnQKoDL0xf6PL2ilSYQgvdDQ0x7acz57GLZT_BSekcjQ6lVptLi9bGZgznNmBDFMdiR_W4BatQQ/w640-h480/IMG_1857.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSFrZlvC0ts0_arxmjJTPjUzMnZXIeHJsidkqUyYi5_oVe1zNkJzC-fvV6EQ7W0DW_Ha0s8Gibr4RiACACgV9g6ndIJlf5M0RB0fj5HFd5bFP5rMV6Pa_Duwa0CPfTC__rcRRkbw2iBo0qd1cTtfwbgY0rVfmYHq9ium5wD-SRSlY8gtcfg/s4032/IMG_7723.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhRSFrZlvC0ts0_arxmjJTPjUzMnZXIeHJsidkqUyYi5_oVe1zNkJzC-fvV6EQ7W0DW_Ha0s8Gibr4RiACACgV9g6ndIJlf5M0RB0fj5HFd5bFP5rMV6Pa_Duwa0CPfTC__rcRRkbw2iBo0qd1cTtfwbgY0rVfmYHq9ium5wD-SRSlY8gtcfg/w640-h480/IMG_7723.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>We arrived in Tucumcari, New Mexico after sunset. We gained an hour because we entered the Mountain Time Zone. I was determined to take advantage of the local food. <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/la-cita-restaurant-tucumcari" target="_blank">I had this enchilada plate with green chiles at La Cita</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LoC3Zl6LG1oRcoO8bQdMd8x14ICkp8QzQMXSRjKXirE1Rbg961E0dkwN6ii4A5Qd9qUJgBgAiAkK2RbLheEeNnNF2FKXg8u5AGx4-wg5ceOliHPLnIRoZHRKKkRWc0h3TGAlHsZ15WoDrw1pczuS5ZVE-309WrRtRCptCk9nfN2NMc_Q_A/s1440/835FCA3D-B8DD-4F8B-A8FD-E5624FBD1270.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LoC3Zl6LG1oRcoO8bQdMd8x14ICkp8QzQMXSRjKXirE1Rbg961E0dkwN6ii4A5Qd9qUJgBgAiAkK2RbLheEeNnNF2FKXg8u5AGx4-wg5ceOliHPLnIRoZHRKKkRWc0h3TGAlHsZ15WoDrw1pczuS5ZVE-309WrRtRCptCk9nfN2NMc_Q_A/w640-h480/835FCA3D-B8DD-4F8B-A8FD-E5624FBD1270.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Exhausted, the first few hotels we called had no vacancies. Lots of stranded Southwest passengers were driving along Interstate 40/Route 66. We got a charming room in a mid-century modern motel called <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/motel-safari-tucumcari" target="_blank">Motel Safari</a>. We watched old America's Funniest Home Videos before we went to bed.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uooGMaoQqz8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34595928.post-16377775039190034842023-01-09T09:47:00.003-08:002023-01-09T09:47:16.650-08:00America's oldest Chinese restaurant is in Montana<p style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hwf-7We_kls" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>Maxichamphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08565255540275138635noreply@blogger.com1