End of the Year Bash

With the New Year just over 24 hours a way, Four Corners still has some unfinished business from 2011. Apologies for the delay, but, as you can imagine, things got quite busy around the holidays, and I was, after all, just returning from South Africa. But here I am now to fill some of the gaps.....

Unfortunately November never got its own "Next Destinations" list, and now with the end of December already here, consider the list below for both months. You will also find below a brief recap of my and Joe's few hours walking around Frankfurt, Germany, awaiting our flight to Cape Town, and a (very) short review of "Cowboys and Aliens". Look to my next blog post for the beginning of my Uncle Paul's (Correspondent Paul? Nice ring to it.....) time in Istanbul, Turkey.

November/December Next Destinations List-

1. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia- Some of you may have heard about this place. The Salar de Uyuni, located in southern Bolivia, is a massive salt flat, the largest in the world. That may not sound all that exciting, but it is actually a big draw for tourists, and I myself am pretty intrigued. There appears to be some pretty neat things to check out at the flats, including a large train graveyard containing the rusting skeletons of old trains. Train buffs (its ok...I know you are out there) might take interest in that. Take a look at the Wikitravel site for a start: http://wikitravel.org/en/Salar_de_Uyuni#b, and this website for some photos and info on the train graveyard: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/where-locomotives-come-to-die/7130

2. Rwanda- I'm sure some are probably scratching their heads over this pick. Yeah, some pretty terrible stuff went down in Rwanda in the early 1990s. Since, though, Rwanda has picked itself up, dusted itself off, and has become a model of economic development and stability in Africa. The capital, Kigali, is safe, clean, and easy to get around. Checking out the Genocide Museum there is probably worth it. The country also is one of the best places to come and see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, and looks to have some stunning natural beauty. Better yet, tourists haven't totally overrun the place yet. I recommend looking at the Lonely Planet site, they certainly talk up the country: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/rwanda

3. Yangon, Burma- At the risk of my readers thinking that I have lost the plot, I am still going to recommend visiting Burma (Myanmar officially, but the preferred name of the political opposition, whom I support). This, like Rwanda, has had some bad press in the past, but bear in mind that political reform appears underway and the country is beginning to open up. I for a long time have been curious about Myanmar, and am very interested in visiting there. Yangon, the largest city and commercial hub, has lots to offer in terms of sites and things to do. Burmese, despite being some of the poorest people on earth, are also some of the friendliest and open people as well. Don't count this country out, and injecting some tourist cash will probably be well received by the locals. http://wikitravel.org/en/Yangon

4. Koln (Cologne), Germany- I don't think I am presenting anything unique here, Koln (the German name) is already a popular place for tourists in Germany, but I think it is worth giving mention anyway. With a wealth of history, the city is filled with sites and things for a visitor to do. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/germany/north-rhine-westphalia/cologne

5. Charleston, South Carolina- I haven't really been giving the US of A a lot of play on these lists, so I am going to try a little harder. I have it on good word that Charleston is supposed to be a really neat place, filled with southern charm, and is a lovely place to just stroll around. The New York Times and Lonely Planet both have some info for ya: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/travel/11hours.1.html and http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/the-south/charleston

12/08-Frankfurt: For at least a few hours, at least.

Ten hour layover. Having to pass away double-digit hours in the lead up to the 11-hour flight from Frankfurt to Cape Town was a daunting prospect. When I told people about the length of our layover, they grimaced. Luckily, thanks to some of that famous German efficiency, having to hang out for 10 hours in Frankfurt can be something to look forward to. A high speed train zips passengers from the Frankfurt airport strait to the city's train station in the heart of town in just under 15 minutes. So, after passing through customs and finding Joe on the other side standing there waiting, we set out to stroll Germany's financial capital.

We emerged from the Frankfurt Hauptbanhof and headed in the direction of downtown and, ultimately, the city's old town. The city is surprisingly compact, and easily walk-able. The first thing we encountered was the Occupy Frankfurt movement, a colony of tents in front of the headquarters of the European Central Bank. Nobody seemed to be paying them any mind, and they weren't really obstructing anything or being a nuisance. Oh well, move on folks, nothing to see here. We continued on, already getting into conversation (I could tell Joe and I were gonna get along fine) and walked along the city's main shopping thoroughfare (packed with shoppers and couples out for a stroll), at the end of which there was a small square filled with stalls selling vegetables, fruits, and bratwurst. Eventually we made it to the old part of the city, where, apparently, it was Christmas. The place was absolutely jam-packed with stalls selling all kinds of stuff, crafts, toys, ornaments, but mainly food, cookies, cakes, and all kinds of holiday deserts on offer. Christmas lights were strung up, and one part of city even had a carousel set up (with some older men riding on it-which was a bit weird). Lots of people were out to partake in the fun, and I was glad we were there to bear witness.

We emerged from the festivities and crossed the  Main River via bridge, which afforded us some nice shots of the city skyline. There wasn't much on offer on other side, but by this time we were freezing our asses (we only had sweatshirts on-it was still Germany's winter, mind) and stopped into a cafe for, well, mainly the warmth, but a little something to eat too. We headed back over to the other side, once again strolled through the Christmas market, where I grabbed a bratwurst (I was still hungry, and, its Germany, I  mean, you gotta have a brat). By this time the sun was setting and the temperature was dropping with it. Joe and I both nodded in agreement when he mentioned that maybe it was time to head back and get ready for the long trip south. It wasn't a lot of time, I think we were in downtown Frankfurt for just a few hours, but it was an enjoyable time, I'm glad we could do it, and its now another pin on the map.

In-Flight Movie Review-Cowboys and Aliens: The name says it all.

Don't. Just don't. Yeah, its got Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, and it takes two of America's favorite movie topics and brings them together. I, for one think that is an awful idea, and I was only proven right. The acting, or, more to the point, the dialogue and lines are pretty laughable, as is the story line. Even the action is kind of bush league. I wasn't expecting much out of this one, but I was still hoping to at least be entertained. It failed even in that regard. The only good thing about this flick is Olivia Wilde features prominently in it. Ms. Wilde is gorgeous. Beyond that though, a waste of time. I'm glad I was confined to an airplane. I knew I should have just re-watched "The Debt".

Verdict: I already said it, but here it is again: Don't. Grade: D
If you liked this movie you might also like: I'm not even going to bother.......

Hope that wasn't too much for you to take in folks. Again, look here for my Uncle Paul's breakdown of he and my Aunt Elena's trip to Istanbul. Other than that, have a happy new year, and hopefully 2012 will be filled with more globe-trotting for the Four Corners. Happy travels.

Movie Review- Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol: Never Mind the Total Ridiculousness

A Tom Cruise movie getting praise in the media? Crazier things have happened. I mean, when the dearly-departed Kim Jong-il punched his ticket, a crane (the bird) landed on a statue of him in Pyongyang and bowed its head in sorrow. Has to be true though, North Korean media reported it. Anyway, the fourth, yes fourth, installment of the Mission Impossible series has been getting, shall I say, impossibly good reviews from critics. Salon.com even labeled it the action movie of the year. With my good friend and wingman Nick Decker back from Buffalo, we set out last night to see a flick. He had reservations about the new Sherlock Holmes (my original pick) so we decided on the holiday season's top action movie.

Lets say for starters that I am a huge fan of the second Mission Impossible. The acting, action, and story-line were all solid, and you can't beat the soundtrack (it was done by Hans Zimmer after all....). MI3 was decent, so given the rave reviews this new one was getting, I had pretty high expectations.....

I was disappointed. MI4 is so ridiculously over-the-top, plot-hole ridden, and cliched that I could only shake my head. First off, the plot-line is basically ripped right from the popular video game series "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare". If you don't know what I mean here, just think: Russians, nuclear weapons, and potential third World War. Really, I mean, involving the Russians and nuclear weapons, can't we possibly come up with something a little more original? I won't go into any further detail for those who want to see it, but if you are at all well-versed in action films, the story is going to feel pretty damn stale. Some of the action sequences don't even make an attempt at realism, but do demonstrate the super-human abilities of Tom Cruise. I will say, however, the action is still entertaining. Its high octane, thrilling stuff at time, and the choreography is decent. I was a big fan of some of the martial arts employed in the film

My biggest gripe with this film though is the humor. Yeah, you read that right. Call me a ogre or whatever, but I say I am an action movie purist, and I still like my thrillers/action films to take on an air of seriousness (good example? MI2....). This movie got WAY too cute at time and threw in jokes (many of them not that funny) where they weren't needed. Nothing better demonstrated this than the inclusion of Simon Pegg. I like the little Englishman, I find his movies (like Hot Fuzz and Shawn of the Dead) to be entertaining affairs, but he has no place in a film like this. I was a bit nervous about his being in this movie, and my fears were justified. He's too damn goofy. The attempts at being funny also included making Jeremy Renner (fast becoming a favorite actor of mine) look like an absolute dope in some scenes, despite his being a trained assassin. Where is the Renner from "The Town" or "Hurt Locker"? I think to best sum it up, MI4 played out more like an action-comedy. That is fine, I can get into those as well, but not for a Mission Impossible film. MI2 has a low (5.8) rating on IMDB, and this one already has a 7.9. I don't put a whole lot of stock in what the voters on that website think (One word: Oldboy. A long story, maybe I will tell it sometime), but even taking this into account, I thought MI2 better embodied what an MI film should be like. Still high-octane, but more serious and not cutesy. I came to MI4 looking for another M12, instead I got "The Rundown" (what I think is a good example of an action-comedy).

Verdict: If you like the fast-paced fight-scenes, shoot-outs and stunts, and don't get annoyed by the cliche's and silly humor, then for sure see it; MI4 fits this bill very well. However, if you are more of a purist like I am, and can't stand when a flick of this genre tries to be funny, then don't bother. Grade: B-

If you liked this movie you might also like: If you like this movie, you are probably easily entertained, not that there is anything wrong with that.

Out of Africa: Back to Whitesboro

We can officially call this one a wrap. The pin is in the map, Cape Town has officially been visited. Its a long way there, but well worth the trip. In the spirit of the holiday season, the coming days are going to be filled with activity on this space. Here is what my reader's have to look forward to:

1. Cape Town photos. I am currently posting them to Kodak, but look for some here as well.

2. Frankfurt recap.  I didn't get a chance to describe our day in Frankfurt, Germany, on the way to Cape Town, but I will give the low down later in a post.

3. The November (yep, its a ways overdue) Next Destinations List. I promise to get that up soon.

4. My Uncle Paul's recap of his trip to Istanbul, Turkey in October!! Paul has kindly described his experience in Istanbul for us, becoming the Four Corner's first official correspondent. I will be posting it in chunks however, he didn't mince any words, and it comes to about nine pages in a word document. Paul has a PhD in English, so I wouldn't expect anything less. It is a good view onto what it is like to take a tour (in this case, the one offered by FC's main advesary, Rick Steves-DAMN HIM!!) something that I cannot give an account of, so  I think it will be valuable to post here.

5. A review of "Cowboys and Aliens", which I watched on the flight from Frankfurt to Toronto yesterday.

So there you have it. Give me a day or two to get over this jet lag and get back into the swing of things and I will be sure to get you the above-mentioned material.

In the meantime, I leave you with a couple of neat items picked up on the internet today:

Lonely Planets Top Travel Destinations of 2012:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/europe/travel-tips-and-articles/76856 (countries)
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/london/travel-tips-and-articles/76861 (cities)

Time Magazine World at 7 Billion: Fastest Growing Cities of Tomorrow:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2097720_2097718_2097717,00.html

Cape Town Day 8

So here it is, my last full day here in beautiful Cape Town. Joe's flight was not until seven this evening, so we still had some time to enjoy the city together.

There is a rather large market comprised of stalls selling textiles and crafts that is set up in Greenmarket Square, maybe a 10 minute walk from our hotel. We set out for there after breakfast. Mom, in an email to me last night, requested a bag that could be taken grocery shopping (so she doesn't have to use plastic bags. Part of her Green Initiative I suppose), and I figured I could maybe nab one there. It didn't take long to spot one that I liked, made by a large black woman who kept on calling me "baby". As I was "her first customer of the day" she knocked down the price by 50 rand. I doubt this was true, but the new price was agreeable enough that I didn't feel the need to bargain. Both parties in the transaction were satisfied. With my new purchase in hand, we moved on.

The two of us just wandered about for a few minutes, then decided to give our a walk a bit of direction, and went down to the V&A Waterfront one last time. It was an incredibly beautiful day today, so why let it go to waste? We strolled through the crowds briefly than parked ourselves on a bench for a while. Joe stopped in once more into Dodge City, where he got a little something to eat. We hung around for a bit longer, but eventually had to head back, Joe had a plane to catch.

Things have been quiet since Joe hopped in a taxi destined for Cape Town International. I went back for a bit to Greenmarket Square, as I wanted to pick up a few more items for people back home, and sat down on a bench and people watched for a while as well. I also strolled Long Street, looking for nothing in particular. I finished off with a meal of chicken and chips in the hole-in-the-wall next to our hotel and made a quick stop into a grocery store. And now here I am, in for the evening.

I have a flight at the same time tomorrow, so I still have part of the day. I probably won't do too much exploring, I think Joe and I covered a lot of ground and saw everything we wanted to see. I can say that Cape Town was a fantastic place to visit, and I think I can speak for Joe as well when I say we had a thoroughly enjoyable experience here. The weather (for the most part) was unbeatable, the back drop of Table Mountain alone must make Cape Town one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and some of the natural beauty here on the Peninsula is second to none. While not an architectural spectacle on the order of say, Istanbul or [insert any number of European cities here], the city center ain't too shabby either. The wrought-iron balconies of Long Street reminded me of my time boppin' around the French Quarter of New Orleans with my partner in "all things cool", my Uncle Paul. Cape Town isn't without its flaws though. Going out at night, even with someone else in tow, can be a hassle. Joe and I had to grow accustomed to pleas for monetary assistance and offers of drugs. Even during the day, you can't be guaranteed that a persistent beggar won't catch site of you. At night things certainly do feel uneasy, and during our stay here we were sure to keep our night-time dinners to Long Street, patrolled by a number of Public Security Officers. Cape Town is statistically one of the most dangerous cities in the world. While much of the violence is sequestered in the Cape Flats, evenings in the City Bowl do not feel safe. It is not the most pedestrian friendly city either, with the left-side driving likely to confuse most westerners and the beginning, and little discipline is shown by South African drivers. As our guide Ursula put it: "As pedestrians, we have no rights here". Public Transportation could be a little more convenient as well. Without it, the costs of seeing some of the city's farther reaches like Camps Bay and the rest of the Peninsula quickly become pricey endeavors.

But it is difficult to find any city that is perfect. Despite its flaws, Cape Town offers so much, and as one of the world's iconic cities, really should not be missed. With proper travel practice and situational awareness (a good tip from John Cusack...I hope my readers remember what I mean here), one should have a wonderful time in South Africa's Mother City. I know I did.

This is going to be my last post for this trip. I don't think I will post up anything tomorrow before my flight. Look for an update upon my return to central New York late on Sunday. This is Adam Kwiat, Cape Town, South Africa. 

Cape Town Day 7

The gorgeous weather returned for Joe's final full day in Cape Town (I know, I know, I'm not to happy about that either-my newly designated Travel Partner has to leave a day before I do....) though it was still a bit cooler than earlier in the week. We really only had one major thing left on our list to see: Bo Kaap.

Bo Kaap is a neighborhood (not far from our hotel in fact) that is the heart of Muslim Cape Town. Located in a steep area, the district is characterized by narrow streets and brightly colored homes, which are its main attraction. In actuality, the painting of homes really began relatively recently, maybe twenty years ago, by an ambitious resident that wanted to re-gentrify the area.

We had seen at the nearby tourist center that walking tours of Bo Kaap were available, so we went for that. At 11:00 we joined our guide, a German woman named Ursula, and a few other tourists to began our tour. We got a little more than we bargained for, as Ursula first took us around the city center. At first I thought we would be shorted our time in Bo Kaap, which is really all we wanted to see, and we had already done everything we wanted in the city center. It worked out though. Ursula ended up showing us some neat things that we had over-looked, primarily a couple of cathedrals and a couple of art-deco buildings (I'm still an architecture buff at heart). Apparently Ursula had her own opinions on architecture, which she didn't mind sharing with us. After showing us the old city hall, done in a Victorian style with granite imported from Aberdeen, Scotland, she pointed out the new city hall, which she described as "a monster". A modern walkway built between the South African Mutual Building (very neat art deco designs on that one) and another fell afoul of Ursula as well: She said she thought it was "awful". We also picked up quite a bit of the city's history, which had pretty much passed us by before. Ursula was a very knowledgeable and friendly lady, and was able to give us info on the city without boring our tits off. I think both of us enjoyed having her lead the way.

Eventually we came to where Joe and I most wanted: Bo Kaap. We didn't spend much time up there, but I don't think it is warranted, its pretty small in area. We first went into Bo Kaap's oldest mosque (there are ten in the area, all very small, squeezed between other buildings). Afterward we walked the streets, lined with, again, brightly painted homes. Again we got the low-down from Ursula, who said she remembered when all the homes were simply white-washed, but now the colorful paint-jobs are acting as a tourist draw. She took us along what she said were probably Bo-Kaaps most iconic streets, where Joe and I got in some photography (well, maybe for Joe, I just snap photos. I am going to get there though, you watch) after yesterday's quiet day.

Before leaving Bo Kaap Joe inquired about walking up Signal Hill. Signal Hill abuts Bo Kaap and is the location of the city's Noon Gun, a cannon that fires everyday at noon, an old tradition carried over from sea-faring days. Walking up Signal Hill was also something the two of us had wanted to check off. Ursula confirmed that, yes, we could make the steep walk up there, but stated that there is a lot of "nonsense" going on up that street. She said she had been mugged there multiple times. Never mind then.

After two brief stops in a Dutch Reform church and an underground market, we said our goodbyes. As it was already well past lunch time, we were both feeling the hunger pangs, and dropped off our gear and headed down to the waterfront to our new favorite establishment, a little diner called "Dodge City" that served a special called the "steak and shake", a cheeseburger, fries and a milkshake for the equivalent of under 7 bucks. After filling up, we decided that we couldn't let the nice weather go to waste and first strolled around the waterfront, finally settling down on a bench that faced Table Mountain, giving us a clear view of the city's iconic feature. There we sat in the warm sun, enjoyed the breeze, people watched, and chatted until my watch told us that it was probably time to head back.

We hung out for a bit, then set out on Long Street for a light dinner. We settled on the Long Street Cafe. We both ordered the chicken wings (quite good actually, a nice tangy, with a touch of spicy, sauce). Joe went for a drought beer, and I got a glass of mango juice, very manly, I know. Apparently the waitress who dropped off our drinks (different from the one who took the order), thought so too. She came over and asked who had the beer, gave it to Joe and then, when giving me my mango juice, literally LAUGHED IN MY FACE. Yeah, what kind of pussy goes to a place with a bar and gets a mango juice? Way to strip a guy of any confidence. Dinner was enjoyable otherwise, food was good, so was the conversation. 

So tomorrow Joe head's back to the United States of Awesome. I will be headed back at the same time, but on Saturday. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed having him as a travel partner. He fit right in, and I think we did really well here in the city on the Cape.

Cape Town Day 6

So that bad weather from yesterday? It carried over to today, unfortunately. After breakfast we waited for a break in the weather and set up Long Street, towards an area of the city known as Gardens. Gardens is in the northern part of the city running up to the bottom of Table Mountain, and is primarily residential. We didn't get very far though, as the wind began to pick up and the rain started again.

We decided to drop exploring Cape Town's suburbs for the moment, and headed back down Long Street in the direction of the Waterfront. Our destination was our "rainy-day" option, the District Six Museum. The museum gives the history of an area of the city known as District Six. Once a vibrant multi-ethnic community, in the 1960s the district was declared a "whites only" part of the city by the apartheid government, and whole families had their homes bulldozed and were forcibly moved to the Cape Flats (mentioned in my first post, the city's most dangerous area). We had to stop a couple times on the way down there as the rain stopped and then started again, finding cover under awnings, chatting as we waited for a break.

The museum was disappointing. It was far too small, and didn't really offer that much. The story of District Six is an interesting and sad one, and I don't think the museum did it too much justice. Our guide book said that if you can only visit one museum it should be this one. Not so sure about that. Yes it is right to try an learn something about one of the more brutal actions taken by the apartheid government, but both of us weren't all that impressed. 

After leaving the weather looked like it might finally have finished being a bitch, so we used the rest of the afternoon to go down to the waterfront to grab a quick lunch and to finish off our souvenir shopping. Crowds were still out in full force, and even the sun managed to enter the stage.

After completing our shopping lists we rested up a bit and then made out again for Cape Town's northern suburbs. We explored a residential area known as Oranjezicht. By this time the sun was sticking around, and made for a pleasant stroll through the quiet streets (well, it took some work, the streets are pretty steep. They basically run up the side of Table Mountain, mind). It was an interesting walk. There are some nice homes up there, it is obviously a very wealthy area (we looked at some ads at a property development shop on the way up, looks like some homes can go for 1 million bucks up there), but it feels like a place under siege. Most of the homes had high walls with the logos of security services pasted on, warning off any would-be thieves. It didn't end there, nearly all had some form of sharp object on top of those walls, mainly spikes, like you would see on the top of a gate. Others were a bit more extreme. Barbed wire wasn't altogether uncommon. Some were a little more creative, with clusters of nails sticking out (one house went so far as to put fake leaves over the nails, a bit conscience about their look perhaps). Our personal favorite though was the (quite common) electrified fencing running on top of the garden walls. Yes, you read that right. Electrified. Fencing. I guess I am not in Whitesboro anymore. As we walked by a few homes, some unhappy-sounding dogs were there to greet us. One scared the absolute shit out of me, rushing the gate as we passed. Sneaky bugger. Suffice to say, fear of crime apparently runs pretty high in Cape Town's suburbs. I looked at the statistics for Oranjezicht. 90% of the residents are white.

After another brief rest at the hotel room, we set out for our last adventure of the day: ostrich. We went back to the nearby restaurant recommended by the hotel for an ostrich burger. Obviously a very popular place, we had to wait a few minutes, but eventually got a table. It didn't take us long to find our prey on the menu, and both ordered the ostrich burger, known as the Big Bird at this place (the Royale Eatery, it's called).

Verdict: It was pretty good. I think Joe was a bit more impressed than I was, but I would give it a satisfactory rating. It tastes pretty good, and is healthier for you than beef. South Africans may be on to something there.

And so ended what will hopefully be our quietest day. We have some things planned out for tomorrow (weather permitting of course). You know where to find the details..........

Cape Town Day 5

For starters, sorry I can't come up with any cool/catchy titles on this trip; when I've been putting up these blog posts, I've been so tired nearly all creative abilities have abandoned me. Anyway.....

Today was slow compared to yesterday's adventures, and the festivities were hampered by some miserable weather. Things looked ok when we got out of bed, but in the afternoon the Cape Town deluge struck.

You may remember mention of a Hop on Hop off bus tour with two lines, red and a blue. Well, we had already done the red, so today we were gonna give the blue a shot. We picked up the bus at the nearest stop just a view blocks down and off of Long Street, and were off. The first stop was the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Gardens cover a swath of land at the foot of Table Mountain. As two budding photography enthusiasts (full disclosure: Joe is SO much better than I. He actually knows what he is doing. I really should give my camera manual a closer look. He does seem to have a better camera though, I will use that as my weak defense), we thought it might offer up some photo-shooting opportunities. It was a bit windy and chilly, a sign of things to come, as we took to the grounds. The area did offer some decent views of Table Mountain, but on the whole we weren't that impressed with the Gardens. It is a nice place, don't get me wrong, but many of the plants and flowers look like they have seen better days. The flower that Nelson Mandela himself planted looked pretty sad. There were still some nice scenes to be taken in, but we headed up making it a short visit.

We hopped back on the blue line to the next stop, Groot Constantia. GC is South Africa's oldest wine vineyard, established 1685. You are correct in thinking that we had already visited a vineyard, but you may remember hearing that the scenery there wasn't considered to be anything to write home about, and that visit was more for gift-purchasing (cat out of the bag). This time we were more interested in exploring the vineyard grounds. We caught a lucky break at GC, as the clouds broke and the sun shone, warming the air and bringing more color into our photos. We both had a really good there, neither of us has ever been to an active vineyard, and I'm not sure that many exist that had GC's surrounding natural beauty. The vineyards seemingly stretch up onto the slopes of Table Mountain. Combined with the clearing sky, we were treated to some beautiful images. The grounds were very well kept to, with flowers planted to break the monotony of green vines, and the grass areas were mowed immaculately. Just another gem offered up by Cape Town.

The next stop on the line was the World of Birds, Africa's largest bird sanctuary. We both thought this would be neat to check out. Well, we got to check out some of it at least. After having passed through just a couple of avaries (which did have some pretty sharp looking species, including everyone's favorite kookaburra), the rains came, and came. We found ourselves running for cover (I cut across one dirt area between paths, scaring the shit out of a number of birds not kept in cages). As soon as the rain seemed to let up, and we began our tour again, it would just start up again. It rained really hard at some intervals, even with rain gear we didn't want to venture out. After a few failed attempts we gave up on it and decided to catch the bus for the long ride home.

After drying off, we still had to fill our bellies. We decided that ostrich burger was on the menu, so after asking at the front desk where we might find the elusive bird, we set up Long Street for the recommended establishment. Seeing a line at the door, we had a look down the street at the Long Street Cafe, which I mentioned to Joe I had seen in some photos online when researching our trip. We decided to give that a try. While the music was a bit loud for regular conversation, it was a nice establishment, with a spacious eating area and friendly (and cute) staff. Prices were decent as well. We both went for the ribeye (less than ten bucks)-and were both happy with the result. Our server's name was Lovejoy, which, I mean, you really can't beat a name like that. As it was still drizzling out after we finished, we called it a day and now here I am, recalling the day's events. 

And so completed what was probably our quietest day of the trip. Rain is again forecast for tomorrow, so we may have to look for some indoor activities. Come back tomorrow to find out how we managed.  

Cape Town Day 4

Awesome, awesome day. Joe and I had booked a tour through a local operator to take us to Cape Point and surrounding areas. Pickup was supposed to be at 9 this morning, but we got a phone call from the front desk at 8 saying the tour had arrived. After rushing down and seeing our driver, a nice white fellow named Raymond, sitting in the van outside the hotel, we apologized for making him wait. That was ok, we were told, we lucked out, no one else had booked for today, so we had the tour to ourselves. Raymond (he preferred that over Ray) allowed us to grab breakfast quick, and then we were on our way.

Raymond was an older fellow (a pensioner, as he called it), but was very talkative and incredibly knowledgeable. Basically the whole time he delved into Cape Town/South African history and facts and figures, and even went on some tangents, such as explaining the origins of the words "marmalade" and "yankee". We were a bit perplexed about why he would do that, but we were happy to let him ramble on.

Once again, the weather couldn't have been better (I really know how to pick 'em) so we were in for a pleasant trip. First stop was a quick one at a bluff overlooking Camps Bay that gave a great view of the beach and the Twelve Apostles that overlook the area. After the obligatory camera snapping, we were on the move, moving beyond Camps Bay. After passing through Hout Bay and a nearby nudist colony (we didn't bother stopping......) we came to Chapman's Peak Drive, one of the world's most iconic roadways. Looking out onto a bay known as Chapman's Bay, the drive really does have some stunning views, almost unbelievable, in fact. Raymond stopped at a turn-off and let us get out, snap photos, enjoy the breeze and the scenery. From there the next stop was the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point, the very tip of the Cape Peninsula. The drive there took us through some quaint, peaceful-looking villages, but all are still considered part of Cape Town proper (citizens vote in CT municipal elections, for instance). Before arriving at the Reserve, Raymond had us stop at an ostrich farm. That's right, an ostrich farm. They are raised for their meat here in SA (Raymond informed us it tastes like beef, but is low in cholesterol). Beef can be pretty pricey here, so the birds offer a tasty substitute. The area surrounding the farm was very pretty though, so we got in some more photos.

After entering the Reserve, our first stop was to be the African continent's southwestern-most point, a short drive from Cape Point itself. On the way there though we got lucky, and came across a herd of baboons crossing the road. There were numerous signs warning against feeding them, as I guess they can get quite violent. They looked pretty lazy to me, and seemed busy picking bugs and all kinds of other shit off of each-other, but we photoed from the safety of the van anyway.After-wards we made it to Cape Point, where Raymond told us to take our time and he would wait. We could have taken a funicular or taken a fairly steep climb up the hill to the point and the (now defunct) lighthouse that sits atop. We went for the climb. It made for good exercise, as it got us both sweating and made my thigh muscles feel like they were on fire (out of shape, apparently), but we finally made it and took in the views. Below the lighthouse there was yet another point that juts out even further, so we hiked down there as well. After an Indonesian family (one of the girls was super cute-hard to go for it in such a place though) cleared out, we had the spot to ourselves, enabling us to capture the surrounding ocean-view and the cliffs across False Bay (the body of water separating the Cape Peninsula from eastern SA). The walk back was much easier (all downhill) and what better next stop than to go see some penguins?

Boulder's Bay has a famous African penguin colony, and after a short drive we joined in with groups of other tourists to catch site of the little beggars. Onlookers have to stand on a deck built just over the beach (very close though, penguins were walking under the deck) so you can get a good view of them. Man, have they got the life. The basically just waddle around or lay on the nice warm beach, occasionally going swimming to catch some food. Raymond put it this way: "They eat, sleep, and have sex, its the life". Agreed Raymond, agreed. Apparently they mate for life, so you could see couples of penguins standing next to each other just hanging out. Not the most romantic birds I guess, but very loyal. Amongst the tourists were some Chinese women with a Chinese tour guide. I could understand their conversation, and, upon seeing the little baby girl of some (I think) English tourists, one of the ladies said "look, a little penguin!" and tried picking up the poor child and take a photo with it. Well, the girl didn't like that so much, and starting bawling. The guide advised the lady to put her down, "she doesn't like it", he said. I can always get a kick out of Chinese tourists I guess, I had to have a laugh at it. Anyway, sorry for the tangent.

After having our fill of penguins on the beach we had one more stop to make. Driving from Boulder's penguin colony and through nearby Simon's Town, we came to Klein Constantia, a wine vineyard. Here Raymond said we could try out some wines and snap some photos of the grounds (Raymond said they weren't the best looking of the wine-growing vineyards, but, I thought they were pretty damn nice). We were allowed to try seven different wines. Now, as you may know, alcohol isn't really my thing. I appreciate that people really get into it, and that's fine, but I really can't stand the taste. By about the third sample (which of course we not all that much, just a small splash) I was ready to toss in the towel and just throw up everywhere. I held my cool though and was able to take in all seven, though I had to tell the poor bastard giving us the samples (who was watching me force the stuff down) to just give me a teensy amount of the seventh wine (the sweetest of them, as it were) or else they might have a mess on their hands. Joe, I could tell, knew what he was doing, and was even able to pick out his favorites and obviously could appreciate the descriptions of each of the wines the worker was giving. They all made me want to kill myself, was about the extent of my analysis, but I kept that to myself.

After taking in some of the wine-making operations and the vineyards, we hopped back in for the short ride home (We basically drove around the Peninsula. The drive out was long, but from Klein Constantia back into the city bowl it was quick). We were thoroughly bushed, and already we have required quick naps to recharge our batteries. Ray dropped us out right out front where we began, and we said our goodbyes. He paid us the compliment of saying we were one of his better tours, and that he thoroughly enjoyed it. We let him know we felt likewise.

So how was that for some travelin' action? Tomorrow should be a bit more tame, but you never know with the Four Corners. Be sure to see what we have in store.....

Cape Town Days 2 & 3

Alrighty, in for the evening after a nice dinner at the Indian restaurant just down the block from our hotel. I have lots to tell folks.....

So, about yesterday. There is this Hop on Hop off bus system especially for tourists that visit certain points in the city (two different lines-red and blue, there is lots of overlap, but blue has longer route). We hopped on a red line bus for a ride to one of its prime stops: the Table Mountain cable car. We were told at the ticket booth to expect chilly temperatures at the top, but that wasn't going to stop us. We piled into the cable car (the system was built decades ago by a Swiss engineering firm) with a bunch of people and rode up into the clouds-literally. Heights really aren't my thing-so riding in the clear-glass cable car made my legs wobbly and I felt my stomach tighten a bit, but luckily it was a quick ride.

It was chilly, and windy, but man....the top of Table Mountain offers fantastic views over the city and surrounding areas-really some of the best views I have ever seen. We walked about the immediate area working our cameras overtime (easily going to break 1000 photos this trip) looking for some Facebook-profile photo material until it began to rain a bit. There was a cafe near the cable car station where we took shelter until the rain passed, and Joe grabbed something to eat. We sat at a picnic type table next to a white South African family from Johannesburg, who chatted us up while we sat. As soon as the weather cleared though, we said our goodbyes and got back to business.

And so began the trek. With the weather better, we decided to walk the mountain in its entirety. We were both fitted with shoes fit for hiking (some went up with flip-flops or designer shoes-genius) so we figured, why not? It was awesome. I was worried that it might be too time consuming, as we had other things we had planned for the day, but walking the loop from the cable car station and back took maybe two hours. There weren't that many people venturing out that far, but a German couple did end up following close behind us. We walked to one end of the mountain known as Maclear's Beacon-the highest point on the mountain. Keep in mind, nearly all 360-degrees of the mountain have a great view of something. Our starting point (after leaving the cafe) which was behind the cable car station, had maybe the best, giving way to a series of rock formations known as the 12 Apostles. Don't worry, photos are going to follow.

From Maclear's Beacon we began to head back, and this route (which was demarcated with little paintings of footprints) took us really close to the edge, on the side facing the city bowl. No railings. No warnings. Just don't be stupid. It wasn't anywhere near "slip and you are dead" but definitely close enough to make one a little more cautious. This spot had the best views of the city however, so it was well worth walking around. By this point it was approaching 3 o'clock, and we wanted to move on to our other targets. We picked up the pace a little and, upon arriving at our starting point, shook hands, having conquered Cape Town's most famous site. Chalk that one up as a victory.

After taking the cable car down we got back on the red line, heading towards Camps Bay. Camps Bay is a  rich area fronting pristine beaches on the Atlantic Ocean on one side of Table Mountain. During the Apartheid era it was the heart of white privilege, and it kind of still is. The beach was packed with people from all races, but the homes facing the water, some of which were very nice, others a bit kitsch, all probably incredibly expensive,  were likely all white-owned. Anybody hanging out on balconies were all white. The customers in sitting in the restaurants lining Victoria Road (the road running along the beach) were also all white. We just walked a ways up the road, enjoying the sun (high up on Table Mountain it got a bit hairy, but below in the city the weather was perfect all day) and snapping some photos of the homes and of the beach area. Heading back to pick up the bus we grabbed something to eat in a sandwich shop that seemed to specialize in low-fat, healthy foods, but was still inexpensive. "Rich people eat healthy" was how Joe summed it up.

We rode the red line to one more place, Sea Point, an area with large, open parks and a promenade running along the water. We walked the length of the promenade past the city's World Cup stadium, all the way to the V&A waterfront. By now we were sufficiently sun-burned, tired, and our leg-muscles were burning, and the sun was beginning to set. We caught the bus one last time to retire to our hotel and a good night's sleep.

Not enough for ya? I will make today's tale a quickie, it wasn't as jam-packed. Today we did Robben Island, the location of the former prison were Nelson Mandela served much of his prison term. Our tour wasn't until 2:00, so we slept in and took it slow in the morning. We were still out the door by 10:30, and first checked out South Africa's parliament building and the surrounding area, which had a large public park known as the Company Gardens. Company Gardens made for a nice stroll (weather=perfect, again). We even got to witness some real African wild-life, like squirrels (including a real fattie munching on peanuts someone gave him) and some ducks. Its real perilous, out here in the African wild.

Our ferry to Robben Island left from the V&A, so we strolled down and hung out there until our time came. The ferry was delayed a while, as the second leg of some international boating race was just departing this afternoon from Cape Town. I guess that explained the huge crowds down there.The ferry was filled with fellow travelers and the half-hour or so trip across Table Bay was a windy and cold one (sweatshirts recommended), but you get a great look at Table Mountain and the city. After arriving, we were immediately put on buses and whisked to the prison, where we all coalesced around our tour guide, the friendly Zozo (his real name was like a mile-long, so he had us call him this). Zozo, like all the guides on the island, was a former prisoner on Robben Island, so had intimate knowledge of the prison's operations. He was incredibly hard to understand, English wasn't his first language (he had a funny way of speaking, he would speak slowly, seemingly for the group's benefit, than would speed up at random spots: I..came...here...in nine..teen...seventy...seven....andthenstayeduntilnineteeneightyfivesofiveyears.) He was a very friendly, very funny guy though, we really enjoyed following him around. The tour wasn't all that much. He took us to the prison courtyard where prisoners were forced to break rocks, and then to a line of cells, where we were shown Mandela's cell of 18 years. We ended off in another cell block (where SA's current president, Jacob Zuma, was placed) where Zozo gave a rabble-rousing speech where he thanked everyone in the group (ostensibly representing the international community) for our part in bringing down the Apartheid regime. It won him a round of applause. As we left, I thanked him and shook his hand, and he had met Mandela at one point so....this is the hand that shook the hand.......

The tour offered a bus ride around the island with commentary from the driver (our's was a really cool dude wearing one of those Bob Marley hats and spoke like he was stoned). We were driven past some historical sites and some spots related to the prison, but the best part was the last part, where we stopped at a viewing point looking across the Table Bay to the city and Table Mountain, and had time to snap some photos.

Joe and I chatted on the ferry ride back, so it went by quick, and, after a short walk from the waterfront we are back in our room. There is no time to slow down though. Tomorrow is a big day, as we will be taking off on a tour to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. Be sure to come back and see how it went.

Cheers. 

Cape Town- The begining.

Well. That was quite an adventure. Today's main event was a hike up on Table Mountain, the iconic mountain that looks like, well, a table, that serves as a backdrop to the city. Before I get into that though, let me just give you a quick rundown of yesterday's events.

After the 11-hour flight from Frankfurt (on which I sat next to two pretty cool dudes, one from Norway the other from Switzerland-Joe and I couldn't get seats together-the plane was absolutely packed too) we arrived in Cape Town (I'll call it CT from here on in, if that's acceptable) at around 10:00 local time in the shiny, world-class-looking airport. Taxis aren't THAT cheap (certainly cheaper than the US or Europe) but they weren't much more than the alternatives, so we hopped in with an Indian cabbie to our hotel downtown, an area known as the city bowl. The drive in afforded us our first view of Table Mountain the nearby Lions Head (a large, very tall rock formation shaped somewhat like-wanna take a guess?) and also took us past an area known as the Cape Flats-an area separated from the bowl by Table Mountain that is poverty, crime-ridden and comprised mainly of shack dwellings that is likely one of the world's most dangerous places). Driving by the flats offered quite a contrast to the ultra-modern airport that we were coming from.

After resting up a bit in our, if I may say (I booked it), stellar hotel (view of Table Mountain, on the city's most famous street, free breakfast, free internet-though a bit dodgy-and quite affordable) we set out to explore a bit of the City Bowl, ambling towards the city's famous Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Long Street, the location of our hotel and, again, CP's most famous street, has a number of buildings that would not be out of place in New Orlean's French Quarter, and thus served as a nice starting point. The immediate impression is that this can't possibly be in Africa-it has a distinct European feel. The weather was absolutely gorgeous though-which isn't very European, not in December at least.We turned off onto Shortmarket Street which ran in front of Green Market Square, a small public space filled with stalls selling purses and crafts (at the time, at least). There we grabbed lunch of pizza (Joe) and chicken and chips (me) at a little eatery. It was pretty cheap, and I enjoyed my lunch (I didn't get ill either, so that's a good sign). Re-fueled, we made our way down to the waterfront.

It was mid-afternoon, and the waterfront area was packed with pedestrians and diners-most of them probably tourists. It is primarily shops and restaurants in the area, though the city's dockyards abut the pedestrian parts. Neither one of us is big shoppers, but this was just our first day, and we do plan on going back, so we just strolled around a bit, and stopped to listen to a street band that had drawn a large crowd. It was composed of one crooner (who was sweating profusely-he was dancing too) one dude banging on the inside of what looked like a giant bowl with drumsticks, and two guys on, I don't know any other way to describe them, giant xylophones. I would say that their music was "pretty dope". Good stuff.

Still tired from the long haul, we headed back early, stopping in a grocery store for some provisions. The store was definitely first world (actually had more snacks than you would see in America) but was still pretty cheap compared to its western counterparts. We grabbed a quick dinner in the burger joint next to our hotel, and called it a night.

It's quite late here now, so I will have to pick up here tomorrow. I will be sure to catch up then, I don't want to be a day behind each time, but we are bushed from today's escapades. Come back to hear about them, along with tomorrow's activities (again, I will try to catch up).

Cheers.

Welcome to Cape Town

It took a while (over 33 hours, i believe) to get here, but I have finally arrived in Cape Town or Kaapstad, as its called in Afrikaans, South Africa's Mother City (the local nickname for it). I am falling asleep as I write this, so this is just a quick post to state my arrival, and there will be more to come (expect to hear about my friend and travel partner, Joe, and my day in Frankfurt, waiting out a long lay-over. We just wandered around downtown in the middle of gorgeous 70 degree weather with a breeze. Whats it doing in upstate NY? Rainy and miserable? Anyway, look for a discussion tomorrow night for today's events as well as tomorrow's activities, when hopefully I won't be preparing to pass out.

Cheers my chinas (pronounced chaw-nuhs....SA English for buddy, pal). 

End of November Next Destinations List

I know I am quite late here, but....the wait will have to continue a little while longer. I have been distracted by work and getting ready for the next adventure (which you will be able to read all about here), so look for the Next Destinations List after my triumphant return.

Another note, internet in Africa is not known for its quality, in the event that I cannot get to my blog...don't panic. I will be keeping detailed notes, and will post everything at some point, either while in country or after I get back.

Again, a new list will be up later in the month, after the Cape Town Excursion.

Cheers.

Couple good links

Some interesting links I came across on the net today:

Most controversial monuments:
http://www.slate.com/slideshows/life/the-worlds-most-controversial-monuments.html

World's most visited tourist sites:
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-most-visited-tourist-attractions/1

Cities to keep an eye out for:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/11/28/16_global_cities_to_watch

Airline "Red Carpets"

I have been talking this up for a while now. The absurd "red carpets"-which are actually just shag rugs that look like they came from a whore's nest of a hotel off a thruway-that airlines have their preferred customers walk across when boarding. I am a preferred customer on United and its affiliates, and I refuse to partake in the lunacy. Finally, someone else is catching on. From the good people at Salon.com:
http://www.salon.com/2011/11/24/the_most_absurd_red_carpet_ever_at_the_airline_gate/

Reuters Best Photos of the Year

A great photo essay from Reuters: http://blogs.reuters.com/fullfocus/2011/11/21/best-photos-of-the-year-2011/#a=45

Movie Review- J. Edgar

I'm usually not one for biopics. I mean, if I was really interested in getting the low-down on someone's life, I could just do a quick Wikipedia search and boom, just saved myself two hours and 10 bucks. J. Edgar's story, though not one I think about on a regular basis does some pretty interesting, but again, would I really want to see a movie on it? Well, I have yet to see a Clint Eastwood film I didn't like (the most recent was "Invictus", about the fall of apartheid in South Africa) and Leo Di Caprio ranks as one of my favorite actors (I mean, you gotta give credit where it is due, Blood Diamond and Departed anyone?). This, combined with a desire to keep my Dad's visiting post-doc, Charles, from killing himself as winter sets in, convinced me to make a trip to our local theater.

Well.....I liked the film. Like I said above, the story of J. Edgar Hoover and some of his exploits is pretty interesting to me, and, at least in Mr. Eastwood's hands, made for a good film premise. The acting is really solid. I of course didn't know this, but Hoover apparently had an overly formal and direct way of speaking, so much so that is was almost embarrassing to hear. De Caprio pulled this off quite well I thought, and I enjoyed watching him. Naomi Watts plays Hoover's long-time secretary (whom Hoover actually proposed to after only knowing her for a few days. She rejected him, to say the least, but at least took his calls for him for all those years). I have never really been convinced by her, but she did alright here. Judi Dench plays the man's mother, and if the intention was to portray her as a domineering, somewhat creepy lady, it worked. Two other performances I was pretty impressed by were Clyde Tolson, Hoover's deputy and (suspected) lover, played by Armie Hammer, who some of you will recognize as playing the Winkelvoss twins is the fantastic "Social Network". There was also a decent cameo by Jeff Donovan as Robert Kennedy.

So, alright, the acting from the main roles was good all-around, and the story of Hoover's kept my interest for the two hours plus change. Don't go into this one looking for mystery and intrigue, as it appears Charles (though he said overall he liked the film) was hoping for. I think the most interesting part of the film comes in the form of Hoover's involvement in the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh's baby boy. Other than that, there really isn't a whole lot of action or mystery or anything like that, it is purely meant to tell of the exploits of the man who dominated law enforcement in this country for the better part of 50 years. The only complaint I would have is that this film bounces around WAY too much. It is told as a flash back, and I can go along with switching between past and present, but those parts themselves should be linear, here they weren't. One part of the past was portrayed, then another part that occurred BEFORE the previous part, made things a bit confusing, though overall not too bad.

J. Edgar doesn't offer anything sexy, its just a solid film with good acting, and makes for a decent biopic. Though, again credit where it is due, the make-up/costume crew did an awesome job here. De Caprio, Watts and Hammer all played the younger and older forms of their characters, which, let me tell you, were quite different in appearance. Hats off to the make-up folks. Anyway, let me compare it to a football (soccer) match won by your favorite team: They didn't turn on the style, score any astonishing goals, or contribute anything to the high-light reel, but won the game comfortably 2-0.

Verdict: I am going to say see it; in this case, the biopic is a good way to become familiar with one of America's more controversial figures. However, its really not worth catching on the big screen. Wait until a cold or rainy night and give it a rent. Grade: B+

If you liked this movie you might also like: Movies/audiotapes of your friends performing certain intimate acts that you can use to blackmail them later (I did say that Hoover was controversial, didn't I?)

Cape Town

It says it all in the title: I just booked for a trip to Cape Town next month, December 7 to the 17th. Suffice to say, I am chuffed. Hopefully you will be along for the ride.

GOP Foreign Policy Debate

Great article from Slate summarizing last night's GOP Foreign Policy Debate. It was filled with some shockers: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2011/11/does_michele_bachmann_want_the_u_s_to_be_more_like_china_.html

Werner Herzog

Nice article/interview with the film-maker Werner Herzog about his new documentary "Into the Abyss" on Salon.com. I am hoping to see "Abyss", looks like an interesting film.

http://www.salon.com/2011/11/11/werner_herzog_death_row_inmates_understand_family_values_best/

Movie Review- Killer Elite: Amateur Actors

I remember being semi-stoked when this movie hit theaters back in September. The trailer looked pretty sweet, and, its got Jason Statham in it.....what could be better? I'll tell you, Jason Statham AND Robert De Niro AND Clive Owen, all in the same film. Would any other movies made after this one even matter? Well, I got a chance to watch it this weekend, so I am here to give you the answer........

You can analyze this movie through two scopes: The first, as a film purist , or the "I just want to see people get shot and shit blown up" one. If you view all films with the first option in mind, you will probably end up self-immolating yourself after watching this one. The acting and the writing are really some of the worst that I have ever seen; the lines sounded like they were written by Rick Perry (ZING!). I don't expect much from Statham, but De Niro is obviously De Niro, and Clive Owen ain't half bad. Well, De Niro, who really wasn't in all that much of the film (Statham is in the lead role), sounded like he was reading his lines from a sheet of paper the whole time, and Owen's line were apparently ripped from "The Grand Encyclopedia of Cliches". I know these guys can do better, and I know you can't just make Oscar contenders all the time, but it is disappointing to see top actors take on what I call "paycheck roles". A film of this type should be reserved for Statham and his ilk, De Niro should stick to better stuff. Then again, he did make those "Meet the Parents" flicks.  The story, about a mercenary performing a big job for a client who is holding his partner hostage, is supposedly based upon a true story. The story in itself, if in fact true, is pretty neat, but was portrayed in the film somewhat confusingly, and some elements were not explained at all.

However, we didn't come here for the acting did we. Lets face it, this movie is quite the ride. Its virtually non-stop action from the very beginning, and I do have to give the choreographers credit, the action is well done, and some of the fight scenes pretty exhilarating. If you are taking this into account, the rest doesn't really matter a whole lot. It makes for a fun 2 hours, even if some of the lines are almost painful to listen to. Jason Statham really is not a very good actor (I'm sure I have said this before), but credit where credit is due, his stunts and action sequences are second to none. There are some good hand-to-hand scenes in this film, and even De Niro gets in on the action a few times. Its a pretty shitty piece of film making, but for the loads of action is carries, it certainly has entertainment value, and it gets the job done. I suppose you could argue that there are tons of action films to choose from, and that is true, but this one does have a somewhat unique story line to back it up at least.

Verdict: If you can stomach what amounts to some pretty awful acting, then its worth a look for the mindless fun/action. It is a good way to kill 2 hours on a cold, rainy night in upstate New York, that is for sure. I am actually gonna say see it. Grade: D- from an orthodox standpoint, but the action gets an A.

If you liked this movie you might also like: Google "Jason Statham movies". That should give you a solid start. 

Forgot to welcome November.......

Deepest apologies. I completely forgot about my monthly "Next Travel Destinations" list. The end of October was busy and distracting enough to pull me from my blogging duties. Official Four Corners' Shout-out Recipient Uncle Paul was visiting Istanbul, Turkey, (hopefully he will have some notes to post here, officially making him a Four Corners Correspondent), work was getting busy, and I got caught up in getting my Thailand trip sorted out. Pretty engrossing stuff, but I haven't completely forgotten, and here we go, with the (very late) October edition of the Four Corners Official Next Destinations List:

1. Japan- The entire country? Well, yeah. I know I have given billing to Japan on this list before, it is a great place, with lots to see, an interesting culture and fantastic people. I mention this specifically because of recent news. The Japanese government is offering to pay the air fare of 10,000 lucky applicants, in a bid to boost their travel industry after the tsunami/earthquake the country experienced in March. I am considering giving it a shot. Kobe, Osaka, and Hokkaido are just some of the cities I hope to touch upon. Here is the link for the story: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/japan-to-give-away-10000-flights-to-kickstart-tourism-2369661.html

2. Angel Falls, Venezuela- I very much doubt people think of Venezuela has a great place to visit. The feeling is probably warranted, given that the capital city, Caracas, is the murder capital of the world. But outside of the urban areas, Venezuela is blessed with some stunning natural beauty, the most noteworthy being Angel Falls. Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world, and looks to be quite a site. I wouldn't let the country's reputation turn you off, take the necessary precautions of course, but one of the world's natural wonders really shouldn't be missed. Here is some info to get you started:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Angel_Falls#b
http://www.angel-ecotours.com/adventure-travel-package-can1.html

3. Riga, Latvia- I gotta give the Baltic states some love here. They aren't your glamour European destinations, but here at the Four Corners we don't discriminate. Riga looks like a pretty neat place, with a historical center that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The only issue with Riga and other cities in the Baltics is they can be kind of hard to get to. You'll probably have to fly through Frankfurt or some other large airport to get there. I think it would be worth it though. The New York Times has a nice profile on the city: http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/latvia/riga/overview.html
Here is the Lonely Planet guide too: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/latvia

4. Algiers, Algeria- The white-washed capital of Algeria sits on the coast of the Mediterranean, which is a good start. What spurred to thinking about Algiers was a recent news article, actually. On November 1, the city opened up its metro line, after more than three decades of construction. As it were, this is only the second metro on the entire African continent, the Cairo metro previously being the only one. Anyway, Algiers doesn't look to have a TON to offer, but Lonely Planet sure makes it sound worth a shot: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/algeria/algiers. Only problem with Algeria is you need a visa. Here is the article on the metro, by the way: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15532117

5. Kathmandu, Nepal- The capital of Nepal may not be for the faint of heart. It is not  dangerous or anything like that, but a western traveler could be in for some culture shock. Its a developing city with chaotic traffic, construction, and all kinds of hustle and bustle. To me though, that sounds fantastic. If Lonely Planet is to be believed, it is well worth a trip, as it has lots to see and do. I am placing it on my itinerary, will you? Here is some info: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/kathmandu
http://www.wordtravels.com/Cities/Nepal/Kathmandu

That concludes this edition. A couple of notes first: If any of my readers have been to or have lived in any of the places I include on these lists, let me know what you think!! Leave a comment. These of course are places I have never been, but come across in my readings that sound interesting, but are crowded out by Paris, Rome, Istanbul, London, etc. I can't speak from experience on them, so if you can, please, lets hear it.

I should be watching the film "Killer Elite" tonight. Be sure to swing by to see what I thought.

Lastly, I am hoping to plan some travel for next month. I haven't decided yet, but will be sure to let you know when I do.

Cheers.

Travel Notice

Announcement here: I have had to postpone my trip to Bangkok until early January, due to severe flooding there. This should give me more time to prepare, and I am still stoked about the trip. I wish the city, and for that matter, the country's residents the best of luck, and hope things turn around for them soon. I am  going to plan something for December, not sure where yet though. Brazil maybe? Dubai? I'll let give you the scoop when the time comes.

Oh, and an interesting article here, about making aesthetically pleasing power line pylons:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/world/europe/dressing-up-power-lines-comes-with-limits-in-denmark.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

Most Beautiful Museums

I am not a huge fan of visiting museums, unless the main theme is something of real interest to me, but here is a pretty cool list from the BBC, focusing on just the architectural design of museums:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/slideshow/20111020-worlds-most-beautiful-museums 

Just Checking In......

Were any of you worried? I didn't realize it, but it has already been eleven days since my last post. The time just flew right by, and I have been somewhat consumed by work and gearing up for my trip to South East Asia. I have a long weekend coming up though, and should find some time to watch a movie or two. I have some in the queue. But, until then, I found some neat things online I thought  I would share, a couple from Foreign Policy Magazine:

A photo essay from Tehran, Iran. I know no one is clamoring to go there (there are actually supposed to be some neat things in Iran) but it is still another place, and thus good enough for FC:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/10/14/iran_photographs_city_of_cliches

A huge photo essay containing images from the World's failed states/most dangerous places. There are over 50 images, but this gives a good look at some places that probably would fall low on our travel lists, interesting stuff though:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/20/postcards_from_hell_2011

And from the always reliable New York Times, an article and slideshow about Quebec City, one of my more recent travel destinations. Great place, give this stuff a gander:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/travel/36-hours-in-quebec-city.html?ref=travel

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/10/16/travel/20111016-quebec-city.html?ref=travel


Back here with more later.......












 

Movie Review-Ides of March: Et tu Brute

Another movie, another Ryan Gosling starring role. This time its George Clooney's (as in, he directed it, and had a role as well) political thriller, "Ides of March".

First off, I saw this film with my brother, Luke, and a post-doc who is working with my Dad for year, a guy named Charles. He is from Miami (well, he is Cameroonian, but he lives and works in Miami), so upstate New York is a huge step down. To compound the problem he is here by himself, his wife is still in school, so he has to eat out and see movies by himself, and otherwise stands alone in the battle against the doldrums of our area. He has never seen snow before either (not much in Cameroon or Miami, who knew?), so it is only going to get worse, very soon. In other words, the poor bastard is on suicide watch. I decided to give him respite, and invited him to go see a movie with us. It was down to either this film, or "Killer Elite", which  I admittedly was more in the mood for, but Charles had seen that on his own, so we settled for "Ides".

"Political thriller" doesn't seem like a fitting description in the first half of the movie, it is pretty slow. I was worried my two companions would need to see someone get their head chopped off or a house blown up soon, or else would become bored. They seemed to hold in there though. I didn't really mind, the story intrigued me, and it did pick up in the second half, but even the slow parts weren't that bad. Gosling plays a the chief media handler/advisor to George Clooney, a former Democratic governor who is running for President. The story takes place in Ohio before that state's Democratic primary, which pits Clooney against one other candidate. Clooney really stacked the deck with this one, calling on Philip Seymour Hoffman (one of my favorites) to play his campaign manager, Marissa Tomei does a surprisingly good job (I have never been to impressed with her, don't send my any hate mail, please) as a ruthless reporter, Paul Giamatti (another good one) comes in as the rival candidate's campaign manager, and Jeffrey Wright plays the suspiciously-looks-like-Herman-Cain politician whose endorsement everyone wants.

But, before I digress into the acting, let me continue on with the story. I haven't seen many political movies in this vein, that is, candidates on the campaign trail, that sort of thing. I am afraid they would be too dull, but with the race for 2012 getting into gear, and the fact this one has got some good faces in it, I gave it a shot, and am glad that I did. I don't know if the story is very original, and it is even a little predictable and maybe somewhat cliched, but I still liked it. Again, don't look for any further plot details here, but the story does eventually pick up, I'm not sure if "thriller" is the word I would use still, but interesting certainly suffices. the New York Times review of this movie crucified it for, or at least the way I read it, not presenting anything new to the genre, and I guess I can see some sense in that, but the film is still well done, the story good enough, and the acting is solid. Its hard to go wrong with PSH or Giamatti, and both were very good in their roles. Gosling was pretty decent too, much more lines than in "Drive", but I like him here as well. Despite the extreme difference in the two roles, he fit pretty seamlessly into both, at least in my humble opinion. The kid has got talent, I say. The one I wasn't very convinced by this time around was actually Clooney. I think the guy looks too Presidential, a bit like Mitt Romney actually. So, I think he set himself with a cliched role. He doesn't really speak all that much, he let the others take the limelight, so he didn't really have much to set the world on fire with here. There is one scene where he has a private dialogue with Gosling where both do an impressive job, however. What was also pretty neat were the cameos Clooney got out of some of the movers-and-shakers in political news coverage: Chris Matthews, John King, Rachel Maddow, and Charlie Rose all appear in the movie. Nicely done George, nicely done.

Charles and Luke both liked the film, which I was pleased to see, and, unless you have a sloth-like thought process, you can tell I was pleased with it as well. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't splash the cash to see it in theaters though, there is no action or effects that warrant it, but I felt obligated to save Charles from the depths of solitude and soul-crushing despair. It wasn't a loss by any means though, I am a political-junkie, and "Ides" provided a nice fictional aside to all the commotion going on in the real world of politics at the moment.

Verdict: See it, but don't expect to be blown away or to be riveted. Look for a decent story and some good acting with this one, but again, I continue my rant against the over-priced theaters, and while there are worse ways of blowing cash than seeing "Ides" on the big screen, it really doesn't need to be. Grade: B

If you liked this movie you might also like: Mud-slinging, debates, political-scandals, speeches filled with platitudes, and hot interns (there is definitely one is this film, never seen the actress before though)

A little extra: Rick Perry, gotcha, you racist (Niggerhead Ranch? Did he really think that that WOULDN'T somehow come out?)

Movie Review-Drive: Definitely not for the faint of heart

Drive was one of this year's movies that got me pretty excited. Initial reviews were very good (its got over an 8 on IMDB, no small feat), and the trailer looked promising. I never got the chance to see it soon after its release, but a day off from work today, allowed me to finally give it a look last night.

The movie puts Ryan Gosling, a young actor who seems to be rising in popularity, in the main role of an individual simply called "The Driver" or just "Kid" (we never get to hear his real name), a mechanic/part-time stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver for some spending money. That sounds like a fairly unoriginal plot-line, and I am sure that it is. Luckily that back-drop doesn't serve as the crux of the film, but instead it is Gosling's offer to help the ex-con/heavily-indebted-to-shady-types-husband of his cute apartment neighbor (played by an English actress, Carey Mulligan), that becomes the main them. Gosling's character had befriended Mulligan and her little boy while the husband was in the clinger, but upon his return home, things get nasty, and Gosling gets involved. 

As is customary, I won't go any deeper into the story, but I can tell you that the movie is extremely violent and dark. I mean, it is dark thematically, but also literally, some scenes  were hard to watch because you couldn't see what the hell was going on. It is not action-packed, don't expect that. But the scenes that involve confrontations are incredibly brutal, cringe-worthy, in-fact. I myself did not find this to be a turn-off, but some might. "The Driver" was not a very, lets say, loquacious character. He speaks in one-word answers or very short sentences, sometimes a nod of the head would suffice as a response. I think some people (judging by reactions on IMDB) didn't care for this, but I actually liked it. The character, it appears, is supposed to be very serious and composed, I thought this was fitting for the role, and Gosling did a very good job at it. It seems simple, but I don't think so. There a some other good actors in this, Ron Perlman, Bryan Cranston, and Albert Brooks have roles, and all put in a good shift. Perlman and Brooks' characters in particular are fun to watch. I have also heard complaints regarding the movie's soundtrack. Now, the lyrical songs that are played are pretty crap, but there are some instrumental bits that are really good, and I think appropriate for the scenes that is was played in. 

Some complaints. It is really far too short, clocking an hour and a half plus change. Sorry, but that doesn't really justify forking out for the movie theater. The ending kind of blows too. It leaves much to the imagination, which I don't really agree with. People pay and spend time to go see an interesting story, one with a beginning, a middle, and an end. I, and I imagine many others, don't really go for "fill-in-the-blank" affairs. They probably could have tacked another ten minutes or so by putting on a better ending. 

Verdict: I liked this film, but bear in mind it is an acquired taste. Again, it is very dark (this time I mean thematically) and for some might be too much. I can't say that it should be seen in theaters either. Its too damn short. There are some car chase scenes, but I don't know if the action warrants a big-screen experience. Its a good piece of film-making though with some good acting. I'm gonna say see it. Grade: B+

If you liked this movie you might also like: I'm a little stumped on this one. It seems like there would be many films similar to this, and there probably are, but none that strike me at the moment. If you are a really big fan of the bloody violence in this film, then get help. 

October: Welcome Autumn....please don't turn to Winter

Apologies for the slight delay with this "Next Destinations" list. But first I have an announcement............

In the first week of November, I will be travelling to Bangkok, Thailand, and stay for a week. Before coming back state-side, I will spend two nights in Hong Kong. Be sure to come along for the ride, I can't wait for this one......

Getting right down to business:

1) Brasilia, Brazil- Obviously when you think Brazil, you think Rio. Its a natural reaction, and with good reason. If you are a fan of architecture, like myself, Brasilia is definitely one you should direct your attention towards. It a planned city, designed back in the 1950s and became the Brazilian capital in 1960, replacing Rio. Despite its relatively young age, the city is already on the UNESCO World Heritage, primarily due to the designs of the city's main architect, Oscar Neimayer. Just looking at a few images, the city does look quite the spectacle. Brasilia can be quite expensive though, ranking just behind the US' most expensive city, New York. Check out the wikipedia page for an overview: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bras%C3%ADlia and here is a slide-show of 50 buildings in Brasilia, you can cycle through by clicking on the images: http://www.wallpaper.com/gallery/architecture/brasilia-in-pictures-50-years-50-buildings/17051871

2) Naples, Italy- One of my (very few) regrets from my trip to Italy last year was that I did not make it to Naples, or Napoli, in the local language. I concentrated most of my efforts in the north, so now I gotta go back and give the south some love, and Napoli is on my radar, and it should be for others too. It has gotten some bad press lately due to Mafia involvement in the garbage-disposal industry, but the city still looks like it has a lot to offer, and shouldn't be discounted. Not only does it have history and architecture, it is also located along the water. Can't beat that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naples
A 2008 article on travel in Naples. A little outdated, but still useful: http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/travel/27hours.html

3) Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe border- I am running out of places to recommend for Africa (the poor continent really does have it rough, but our tourist dollars should help some of the locals out a bit). I know Zambia and Zimbabwe don't really reach out and grab you, but I have heard that Victoria Falls is one of the most stunning natural scenes a human can come across. I have seen some video of it, and I have to say, I plan on seeing it in person. There appear to be a large number of tourist accommodations in both countries near the falls, and the two closest airports are Victoria Falls airport, on the Zimbabwean side, and in the town of Livingstone in Zambia. For a pretty simple overview and travel tips, check out the wikitravel article: http://wikitravel.org/en/Victoria_Falls#b but take a look also and this webpage, which has a number of photos as well as some handy advice: http://sevennaturalwonders.org/the-original/victoria-falls

4) Guilin, China- I have been to several places in China, but there are also several that I have not been to, but most certainly will. Guilin is one them. The city is located in China's deep south, near the Vietnamese border. You ever seen those stunning images of limestone hills in China? Or a Chinese landscape painting? Yeah, that's Guilin. It is considered China's most beautiful city. There ya have it. The wikipedia page has some images, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilin, as does this travel guide: http://www.chinahighlights.com/guilin/

5) Ljubljana, Slovenia- Ever heard of this place? Ever heard of the country? Slovenia became an independent country from Yugoslavia back in the 90s, but it remains relatively unknown compared with Europe's powerhouses. Don't make the mistake of over-looking it though. It is a very well developed country, and the capital, Ljubljana (pronounced, roughly, Lube-lan-ya) looks like a decent place to visit. Check out wikitravel as a starting point: http://wikitravel.org/en/Ljubljana#b

That does it for now. I plan on seeing a movie or two this weekend, so be on the look out. Failing that, we have some travel coming up soon......you hear that sound? That is the sound of anticipation.

Cheers.

Dayton to Whitesboro: The Thin Red Line

For those of you who might have been worried, I made it back safe and sound. Of course, this was after a mechanical issue delayed my flight, and I had to fly through Atlanta to get to Syracuse. Instead of getting home at 3 o'clock, I got home closer to 8. No worries though, stick a pin in that map, Ohio has been conquered (though it didn't feel like a very conquering experience).

Be sure to come back here tomorrow. I will have a new edition of, you got it, the Official Four Corner's Next Destination List!!!!

Night folks. 

Dayton Day 4: Forget it Adam, its Dayton

It just wasn't meant to be I suppose. Another day in Dayton, another day of what could have been. Yesterday was a miserable day, but today I woke up to sunshine and, get this, warm weather. Dayton is beginning to show its many faces. I was hoping we would get out of meetings early, like just after noon. We finished earlier than I expected, around 11:45, and I was thinking "I might get a chance to enjoy this nice weather, and maybe finally see Dayton's wonders". Wrong.

The work didn't end there. We had to make stops at two other places. But first we needed to grab a quick lunch. Finally, maybe something unique to Dayton. Wanna guess? Burger King. The BK Lounge. The fuckin' King of Kings. You can insert your own punchline here, I am done with the fast-food jokes, there is no point. After lunch, we headed to the first destination, which was actually Wright State University, where we have some work going on. This I was happy about, if you remember  I was planning on checking it out anyway.  Of course we made our way straight for the building we needed to be in, but  I still got a chance to see some of the campus. Its not bad, quite big actually, but some pretty decent architecture. It brought me back to my days prowling around UB's campus, walking around like I owned the place. We crossed through the student union (not bad, bigger than UB's actually, and a better design) and I got to see the inside of a couple of buildings. I was pretty satisfied, despite not getting a longer chance to mosey around. Not enough cute Asian girls either. After that we had to go to a nearby airbase, where we stayed for like 3 hours in a concrete room. Bored to tears and feeling miles away from the nice weather, I contemplated the interesting methods of suicide I could employ. Hanging myself with a computer cord ranked pretty high.

 It wasn't until after four o'clock that we concluded, and while my boss had a dinner banquet to attend, it was down to myself and my two other colleagues for dinner plans, and our options were limited to the places that could be reached on foot (boss took the rental). We decided to meet at six. I though, great, I will rest for a bit, grab a quick dinner, then go do something, the weather is still nice.

I could have eaten alone and did something more fancy, but I didn't want to eat alone really, and the only place that was close that was different from fast food was a place called "Thai Express". I wasn't terribly in the mood for Thai tonight, and generally if a place has "Express" in the name, the food is shit. Just saying. The two guys wanted to eat Subway, so there you have it: Arby's, BK, and Subway, all in three days. Goes beyond pathetic, I am lost for words.

We finished up, I walked back with them to their hotel and rounded off our discussion about how the trip/meetings went. After seeing them off I was thinking, "Alright, time to work off these awful meals and do some walking around, maybe go back to see more of campus". Then it began to pour. Sheets of rain. A deluge. I stared and disbelief and could only mutter "Fuckin' Dayton" under my breath. 

Up bright and early tomorrow for a flight back to Syracuse, and probably even more bad weather and boredom. Might have to do some movie viewing to pass the time. See you in Upstate New York. 

Dayton, Day 3: Soul-Crushing

Horribly dis-heartening. That is Dayton. It is the larger Whitesboro. Perhaps I am being unfair. I probably am actually, there does seem to be more places around here to eat, definitely more than Whitesboro, but most are chains. Its actually quite similar to Amherst, NY. With Wright State University literally right across from my hotel, it actually is very similar to Amherst. Anyway, my lack of mobility is putting a damper on the experience, and well, there is the whole work thing too.

I was in work all day, so nothing substantial to report. For lunch myself and the three other guys from work went for a special treat, Arby's. When the only guy who can drive the rental car (my boss) is a big fast food fan, and refuses to eat ethnic food of any kind (he did say he likes Italian, however.....), you are gonna be in a for some disappointment. After the Arby's failure meal, we were back at it until almost five. After a short rest three out of the four of us met up again and went to local restaurant called Max and Erma's, to meet with two guys from the area involved in our work. I was hoping for something exotic, but it was your typical American restaurant, this one specializing in burgers with all different kinds of shit on them, which is like every-other American joint (basically). I don't know why I got my hopes up, with a name like "Max and Erma's", I should have known they wouldn't be serving dim-sum. With the Arby's still working its magic on me, the thought of eating another large meal brought about visions of hanging myself, so I just settled for a tortilla soup, which was actually very good. We got some pretty decent conversation going for the duration of the meal, and didn't leave until quarter to eight.

And now here I am, again, in the room, with limited options. I settled for watching the highlights of today's football (soccer) games on my computer. Arsenal won, if anyone cares. A ray of light amidst all the despair. Did I mention it was a miserable day today? Rainy and cold basically the whole day. Makes one almost yearn for Whitesboro. Almost. I'm actually very willing to give this place a gander, but I am shackled by a lack of transportation, and work is basically eating into the evenings. It gets dark early, mind. 

Tomorrow we should be finishing up earlier in the afternoon, leaving the rest of the day to ourselves. Now, despite all the depressing images I am probably painting for you, I am not dreading having half a day in Dayton. Provided the weather isn't total garbage like it was today, I think I will take a walk about Wright State's campus, which again is literally across the street. There are no attractions in the vicinity (if there are any in the city and all), and the Air Force museum is too far for me to walk. I would feel a bit weird asking my boss to drop me off there, but he is taking the car to some other matter tomorrow anyway. So, that looks to be a distant hope. But, again, I enjoy college campuses, and even though you hear little about it, Wright State is supposed to be a good school, actually. I figure, again weather permitting, that might be a good way to check out part of Dayton. I don't want to be sitting in the room again (though I should say I haven't done very much of that actually, we have been finishing up business/dinner pretty late). But  we have a good chunk of time tomorrow, and I don't want to spend it hanging out in the room if I don't have to. I can do that kind of thing in Whitesboro.

Dayton: Apocalypse Now, Redux

Okay, okay, I will quit it with the doomsday talk on Dayton, but things still aren't all that rosy. My day started with a lunch (remember, this is all after my previous post, written this morning) with my three traveling companions and a local collaborator. After an hour or so lunch, we went to our scheduled meeting, which took us until after five o'clock. The four of us decided to meet up at six for dinner, so I took my hour leave to change to civilian clothes and rest up, and then we set out for dinner, which was conveniently just up the street: A Quaker Steak and Lube. Yes, what a horribly un-appetizing name. It was alright. Not my idea of a nice travel outing, but we got some chit-chat going over our American comfort food (deep fried pretzels was the appetizer of choice. I tried one. Thoughts of suicide have still not left my head). Our waitress was a real cutie too, I gave her a nice big tip (Hey!, they work hard!) After that, we retired to our rooms.

And here we are!! I spent the evening in my room, just taking it easy and surfing the net. I didn't have much choice. It was already getting dark out, and I have no car, and there isn't much to be had in the vicinity. Some of the other folks we met in the meeting were having their own go at Dayton (Have you seen all the sights Dayton has to offer!? Hahahahah, just kidding, not possible!) Yep, the locals are real riots.

So I have two more full days here. Does Dayton have ANY redeeming qualities? Even if it does, will I get the chance to see them? I have been hearing the ONLY thing is the Air Force Museum, which does sound kind of neat, though I don't generally go for museums. If I get the chance....it may be our only hope.

I gotta be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow for work-related purposes. A work-related dinner is going to follow in the evening. Lets hope its not deep-fried pretzels.

Cheers.

Dayton, Ohio: Apocalypse Now

I can't remember if I passed the word on, but I am in Dayton, Ohio this week until Friday, on business matters. I left Syracuse yesterday, and was supposed to touch down in the Jewel of Ohio (I just made that up) at around 4 pm local time. Yeah, that didn't happen.

I am traveling with three other guys, all government employees, and our noon flight out of Syracuse was delayed something like an hour, meaning we missed our connection in Chicago. Our connection was at 2:05 Chicago time. The next flight to Dayton they could book us on? 7 pm. That meant we had a nice 5-hour wait in Chicago O'Hare. Some of you may know, I have some, shall we say, not inconsiderable travel experience, and, experience tells me that O'Hare is just an awful airport to get stuck in. There are really just a bunch of shitty restaurants, not very interest to stroll around. The one thing it has going for it is that it is big, which means lots of people, who can be muses for people watching (female watching? There was this really cute Asian girl sitting by our gate for the longest time I was tempted to start a charm offensive, but with my boss sitting with me, decided against it).

It was a pretty boring affair. I was the baby-face amongst our group of four, and the other guys were pretty content to just sit around, striking up the occasional conversation. I rued not bringing a deck of cards (four guys, game of pitch anyone?). Of course, our long-layover overlapped with dinner, so we had to settle for airport food. We decided to go to Chili's (yes, we really know how to live). Where our waitress had zero personality, and almost balked at our request for four separate checks (I could see the thought flash behind her eyes to deny us). Surprisingly,it wasn't THAT expensive, considering it was in an airport, and it was the best we could hope for. As the witching hour drew near, our plane was delayed a little bit more, as the crew had to go grab some McDonald's. We eventually made it to Dayton after 10 pm local time. The four of us piled into our tiny rental car, a 20 minute drive through hopping Dayton the only thing between us and our hotels (I stayed and a different place from the other guys, because it has a free breakfast). I wanted to put up a post last night, but, upon walking into my hotel room just before 11 o'clock, after having gotten up at 5:30 that morning and spending all day on the road, I decided just to collapse into my king-size bed.

The initial situation looks bleak. I don't have my own rental car, and the hotel is located basically on a long strip of other hotels. The word I get from other guys isn't promising: "Its basically like Rome, NY, just a bit bigger". Yikes. In Syracuse, we bumped into some other guys from work who were also going to Dayton, but for different reasons. My boss, John, asked them when they were leaving Dayton "Wednesday, just staying for two nights" came the answer. When John told them we were staying until Friday, all they could say was "Sorry". So, yeah, not really a ringing endorsement. But, here at FC we try to make the best of any situation. Hell, I have been enduring Whitesboro for 22 years, and haven't shot up a post office or anything yet. So, I will likely be occupied with work most of the time, but come back to find out what I discover in Dayton.