Traveling somewhere besides where you live to celebrate a birthday is something that most people have heard of, or probably have done themselves. This usually entails making arrangements a couple of days to a couple of months in advance ( Think reservations, friends coming with you, time off from work, etc). I didn’t do any of this.

The way I saw it was: my birthday just happens to be while I’m traveling. Maybe I will do something to celebrate my birthday, maybe I won’t, because I am having a blast every day. This wasn’t my 21st birthday. This wasn’t my first time celebrating away from Arizona. This wasn’t my first time celebrating away from the USA.  No need to go all out for some huge extravaganza. I was turning 30 after all (Sigh).

Wellll. Thanks to the kindness of a friend here in Krakow, it turned into one of my most memorable birthdays. My friend, neighbor, and amazing dancer (actually one of the world’s best ) Rozalia had invited me out to hang out with some of her friends at a local pub. I will never turn down an opportunity to meet new people and go new places, so I said yes.

We began our night by going to Komisariat Klub. A fun-filled Kazimierz bar, with a theme from the 70s & 80s. Picture disco lights, a small television screen housed in a large wooden frame (if you were born in the 80s or before, you know what I mean), and plenty of decor that tries to look “futuristic” in a not so subtle way. The place was packed, but thanks to Rozalia’s friends, there was a table waiting for us when we arrived.

As with any new group of people, you never know how you will be received. Within minutes there was a whole round of Polish vodka on the table, and we drank to my birthday; that not only set the tone for the night, but also let me know that I was more than welcome. We spent hours drinking, laughing, and having good conversation.

Then the birthday cake came out, complete with candles and everything. Really? How cool is this.  It gets better though.

We then leave Komisariat to go to a “real” Polish dancing club. This wasn’t some pretentious place where people only go to “be seen”, wait for some D-List celebrity to come in, or have to have some outside source come pop things off. No. This place has a spirit all its own. Standing room only, and the whole place is a dance floor.

I am no great dancer. In fact, I usually try to avoid the dance floor at all costs due in large part because of my lack of rhythm and two left feet. Last night different. The alcohol helped with getting on the dance floor, but the main thanks is due to the two lovely women of our group. They are such skilled dancers that they could make a guy like me feel like Fred Astaire for a night.

I ended getting to bed around 06:00. A long night with new friends. Poland is an amazing place, with great people. Thank you for making this a birthday I won’t soon forget!

You Are Awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below. 

Buenos Aires: The Paris of South America

Full Disclosure: I have never been to Paris. Buenos Aires being described as “Paris of South America” is a very popular phrase that comes up when you research the city, but if the point of this nickname is to refer to how European it is, then it is very correct.

When I walked along the tree covered streets of Buenos Aires, I really did feel as though I was in Europe. The people, architecture, and general environment are all heavily influenced by the large Spanish, French, Italian, and Eastern European groups of immigrants that have come to form what the city is today. While you may expect see all monuments to people with Spanish surnames, there are a great deal of very public monuments that are dedicated to Italian, French, Polish, English and Arab citizens of Argentina all throughout the city. Even though the country is majority Catholic, it is not unusual to see Jewish, Muslim, or other Christian places of prayer. In fact, I got to visit the LDS Temple on the outskirts of the city and it was unlike any other I have ever seen. The point I’m trying to make it that Buenos Aires really is a melting pot of different people, and I didn’t see any signs of prejudice against people because of their religion or race.

Getting There

If you are an American, Australian or Canadian citizen, there are a couple of hoops you are going to have to jump through before going to Argentina, but likely nothing like Brazil. Yep, say it with me now: RECIPROCITY. You will have to pay a fee of $160 USD, if you’re American (I’m not sure what it is for Canadians or Australians) and have a receipt printed out before you can even get your boarding pass. I got to the airport in Brazil three hours before my flight and by the time I made it through the line to get to the counter, I was surprised by the insistence of the airline employee to see it. Luckily, the manager was an angel and printed the paper for me (Interesting fact: I was never asked for the receipt by any Argentine official).

Currency

The Argentine Peso (ARS) has an official rate of $1USD for every 8.9 ARS (approximately). I say “official” because there are people who will exchange your US Dollars at a rate of 1:12, but beware: these people aren’t in any kind of official capacity. If you get ripped off, you have no recourse. I didn’t use them, but I was propositioned many times by people on the street and it just didn’t feel right. Come to find out, often times these people will slip in counterfeit bills with the real ones, or just take you around the corner and rob you. I wouldn’t suggest it.

The People

The people are very nice, very fashionable, and seemed to be very educated in etiquette and languages. That being said, they call this the “Paris of South America”, so what would any good Francophile society be without having “higher standards” (I’m being a little sarcastic here). There are some people in Buenos Aires who just think they are better than everyone, as every city has, but they do it big here.

Also, I keep bringing up the European appearance of people, but it was very surprising for me. When you think South America, there’s a certain image that came to mind before I visited, and this was not it at all. Even compared to Rio, there seemed to be much more people that were from Europe. I mean I saw red hair and freckles on a daily basis; not the normal appearance for the city, but just to illustrate my point.

The Food

As a good friend of mine said when he found out I was going to Buenos Aires: “Eat lots of steak. If they ask you if you want chimichurri with it the answer is 1000x YES.” He was not wrong. The first bit of steak I had there was actually from a father/son street vendor team. The steak sandwich was grilled fresh in front of me and it cost right around $2USD. It was amazing! Some of the best steak I have had in a while. Other than steak, you can find anything you are looking for. I would suggest you check out any pizza before you buy it though, because this is one area that Argentine cuisine is definitely lacking (as a whole) in my opinion.

The Places

Palermo: Any of the Palermo neighborhoods is a lot of fun. They are colorful, full of artists, and a favorite amongst tourists and the “hip” fashionable types. A lot of fashion stores here are actually on the same level as their European counterparts, but less known and much less expensive. Palermo is also a great location for nightlife. Keep in mind, the “nightlife” doesn’t begin until at least 11pm. Some bars and clubs don’t open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. Also, don’t think these locations are all techno or hip hop, there are plenty of relaxing wine bars…and the wine from here is world famous.

Teatro Colon: This amazing theater is well worth the 180 Pesos it costs to take the tour. The esthetics, history, and acoustics of this place are amazing. You hear stories of the drama that took place with the architects and painters, as well as why the positions of your seat meant so much. I really felt as if I was being told the story of a soup opera, rather than an actual opera house, but it was all very entertaining. More info here.

Casa Rosada: The “Pink House”. This takes up the whole East Side of the Plaza de Mayo. It is a really interesting sight and kind of weird. I like weird though, because what’s normal?

Plaza de Mayo: Since you came here to see the pink house, you might as well explore the rest of the plaza. This is the home to many of the city government buildings and looks great all lit up at night. No worries about the safety issue at night, plenty of security around.

Tango: You can’t come to Buenos Aires and not enjoy the tango, in one form or another. There are plenty of street performers around the city, as well as whole institutes dedicated to the tango.

Conclusion:

I wish I had more time in Buenos Aires. This place really surprised me. Warm weather, but not much humidity. Beaches. Friendly people. Fun nightlife. Very European. I like it and I recommend it for anyone.

You Are Awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below. 

The Truth About Rio

Rio is a very fun place. A lot of beaches, tropical drinks, and beautiful people; but we have all heard and seen this before. What you don’t hear about is the weather. I assumed it must be quite beautiful for the beaches to always be packed, when the truth is there are times when it was miserable (90F, 90% humidity). YUCK. Maybe I just had unreasonable expectations after having to go through the headache of getting a visa or years of hype from different media sources. I don’t know. Fun place, but far from my favorite.

Getting Here

When you fly into Rio, you get a good view of the city, or rather the beaches and skyline, but it’s not until you drive through the city that you get a true picture of the situation here. Between the airport and where I was staying in the neighborhood of Botafogo, you see where the city is getting ready for the world famous Carnival but you also see the favelas (slums) and smell the polluted bodies of water for miles. Once you get through the many miles of that, and start heading south, things start to look (and smell) a lot better.

Botafogo

Many of you may have not heard of Botafogo Bay, as it isn’t known for it’s beaches, but it is home to the best boating areas in Rio and has a great view of the Sugarloaf Mountain (One of the best panoramic views of the city). Also, there are many restaurants and street vendors open at any time of the day or night.

Copacabana

There’s that song right, “at the Copa, Copacabana”. Well, you weren’t the only one to hear that song. This beautiful beach is HUGE. Highly suggest it for your day(s) at the beach. A ton of people, but there is room for everybody and plenty of chilled coconut for sale to keep you hydrated. Along the boardwalk you find a lot of activities going on: soccer, volleyball, samba, and tons of street vendors. Across the street, there are many hotels, bars, and restaurants (beware: HUGE tourist tax being paid here). During the day and night, there are also many prostitutes here; the later you are out, the more aggressive they become. They usually walk in pairs of two, make advances on you, and have very strong forearms. My first night out going to the different bars in Copacabana, I had to use the pull my way out the grip of more than a couple of these girls. The working girls really aren’t my thing, and they don’t like that answer. So, just know that.

Ipanema

Ipanema is another place that has a song about it, “the girl from Ipanema”. I did meet a couple girls from there, but couldn’t track down “the girl from Ipanema”, sad I know. This is a place that is much smaller than Copacabana, but just as packed. The feel here is that of somewhere in Jamaica. A lot of Rasta themes and a lot of open marijuana use. Be careful here. When I visited there was a large police presence (close to 50 visible officer, many vehicles, and a police helicopter) and large brawl including a large group teenage boys and girls happened. I attempted to enter the water, but couldn’t work my way through the crowded main beach. If you head towards the end of the main area, there are some boulders and on the other side is a much more secluded beach. I recommend this area.

Christ the Redeemer 

This is one of the most famous landmarks in Rio. The giant statue of Jesus Christ on top of a mountain, with his arms out; a symbol of Brazilian Christianity. Look, I’m Catholic and love visiting Holy places, but this place is overrated and overpriced. You go up there and everyone is taking the same picture of them mimicking the outstretched arms. If you think that there will be a good view of the city, there are very few times in a day where that would be correct because of how much pollution there is. Most locals say it’s not worth going up there and I agree. You can see the statue from almost everywhere in the city, pollution permitting, so take a picture from there or go to the Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Sugar Loaf Mountain

The Sugar Loaf Mountain is awesome! Not expensive at all. Fun to ride the cable cars. Good food at both stops along the way. 360 views. Activities. Seriously recommend this place.

Escadaria Selaron

Escadaria Selaron is in the neighborhoods of Lapa and Santa Teresa in Rio de Janeiro. Chilean artist Jorge Selaron began this madness in 1990, and in prophetic way claimed that “this crazy and unique dream will only end on the day of my death” (prophetic because he was found dead on the famous steps in 2013). There are 250 steps, with more than 2000 tiles from over 60 countries. An interesting place indeed.

The Women

Okay. I’m only discussing this because it has come up in every conversation I have had about going to Rio. “Brazilian women are some of the most gorgeous women in the world”. People in Rio don’t have a certain “look”. I could put five different women born and raised in Rio in a line up and all of them could look different. There are people from all over the world: Spanish, Portuguese, Eastern European, Asian, African, Arab. With the weather, diet, and active lifestyle in Rio, there are many very attractive women here. Yes, they don’t wear much clothes (I think more as a necessity because of the weather). Yes, the people of Rio are very open with their sexuality….That being said, this city of nearly 7 million people isn’t a living Latin American rap video. You are going to wish some of these people were wearing more clothes.

Overall

If you do come to Rio, make sure to check out the beaches, food, and nightlife. The people are very warm and welcoming, but English isn’t very widely spoken, so learn some key phrases in Portuguese ( if you have something very specific in mind, make sure to use google translate). I don’t regret coming to Rio, but I don’t think I will be back anytime soon.

You are awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below. 

Beautiful (and humid) Costa Rica

When I first arrived in San Jose, I wasn’t that impressed. The city wasn’t well lit, everywhere seemed to be an industrial area, and there was undoubtedly a rowdy bunch of homeless people in certain parts of the city. All I could think about on the taxi ride over to my hotel was a conversation I had on the plane, where someone described this city as “gritty, in a good way”. It was late at night, I was drenched in sweat (because of the near constant 80% humidity), and I was not seeing ANY of the “good.”

That all changed once I had the chance to explore the city during the day, I was taken back by all of the natural and architectural beauty that this city has to offer. Then it was off to Turrialba for the rest of my stay in Costa Rica.

Turrialba is about an hour and half east of San Jose (approximately half way between San Jose and the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica). With a population of around 35,000 people, it is far from a bustling metropolis, but it was clean and very enjoyable. Turrialba is a great place for people seeking adventure and/or wanting to get away from it all (I wanted both, so it worked out).

Getting there: As with most places in the country, your best bet is to take a bus. Now, being a person who is not a fan of public transportation, that may sound a little weird. Here is the big reasons to take the bus instead of a taxi: Price. What sounds better. A Transtusa Bus ticket, one way: 1,455 Colones ($3USD) or taxi $80-100USD? That’s what I thought.  Speed. Again, this is going to seem counterintuitive to most Americans, but the buses here usually make it to long distance destinations quicker than the average taxi. Why? The buses have stronger engines and can take the mountain roads with more success than taxis. Also, many cities have bus only lanes that make buses your quicker option.  TIP: Since the bus tickets are only $3 a piece, buy two. Each ticket is assigned a seat number, with two seats on each side of the aisle. These seats weren’t designed with the comfort of taller or wider people in mind. Also, personal hygiene is different throughout the world, do you really want to risk a person with lower than expected hygiene sitting next to you and touching you/your clothes for the next hour and half to two hours? Really, it’s $3. Don’t be a tightwad in this instance.

Once you’re there: As I said before, Turrialba isn’t a huge city. However, there is plenty of stores and dining options in the city, a national botanical garden that is like it’s own city, mountains, jungle, water (you get the point). Also, this city happens to be a Mecca of extreme adventure sports (hang gliding, repelling, zip lining, volcano related activities, and of course white water rafting). I only had the chance to go white water rafting because mother nature didn’t cooperate with the other activities; low press storms cancelled hang gliding, flooding knocked a tree onto a zip line, the volcano park was closed due to possible eruption, etc etc etc.

White Water Rafting: This is a must if you come to Costa Rica. There are a few rivers that are home to the Turrialba valley, but none more famous than the Pacuare River. Tourists and locals alike come from all around the country just to take their chances with this river. I can keep writing about it, or I can just show you the video  shot by Steven Rojas (a member of my rafting team). I had a great time, because of the rapids, but also because of the wonderful people that were on the raft with me. They made me feel right at home and I consider them friends. There are many options on which company to choose, but I recommend Adrenalina because they are awesome.

Random thoughts: 

–Currency: The Costa Rica Colon compared to the US Dollar is around 530 Colones to every $1 USD. So, if you want to feel like a real kingpin, look at your balance on the ATM receipt (I’m a millionaire!)…Seriously though, the dollar goes far here unless you are trying to buy imported goods, clothing, or anything with a plug.

-Kindness: The kindness level of Costa Ricans is at or above Kindness Level Canadian. Now, I usually find that hard to deal with, because I don’t think those people are being honest (I know, I know. I’m just a pessimist that way). The reason for this (given to me by a Costa Rican) was that they aren’t “friendly”, as much as they are “non-confrontational”, because there has been no standing army in Costa Rica since 1948. I guess I get the reasoning, but I would have never guessed it.

-Gringo Traps: This country has been influenced by the US and has been home to many ex-pats from North America for a long time. That being said, they know what we like and are more than happy to cater to us. If you are in a place in Costa Rica and wonder “Hmm. Is this a gringo trap?”, I’m here to help you figure it out. Is all the prices in US Dollars only? If you answered yes, you are indeed in a gringo trap. Don’t get me wrong, these places are usually good quality, but also much more expensive than their Costa Rican local counterparts. So, just use your best judgement.

When I travel, I always rent an apartment. Nothing against hostels, but have you seen the movie “hostel”? Really though, I never know if I’m going to like a country or not; the last thing I need is to not like the country AND come back to a shared room with someone I also don’t like.

Like any place rented, I deal with the owners or realtors to pick up the keys and do an inspection. The Almighty is really looking out for me, because all of the people I have dealt with thus far  have been OUTSTANDING, and Costa Rica was no different. The people I rented an apartment from were wonderful. They showed me around town. Gave me the scoop on everything I needed and wanted to know. They really are the difference makers. Thank you all.

You are awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below. 

botafogo bay, brazil. source: http://www.worldofstock.com

Before you start daydreaming about all the beautiful beaches and people in Brazil, remember:

ANYONE WITH A US OR CANADIAN PASSPORT NEEDS A VISA FOR BRAZIL.

On New Years Eve 2014, I sat at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport waiting to board my plane to Costa Rica. I was full of joy. I had spent two holidays at home with friends and family. I was going to spend NYE in a fun place I had never visited before. I had all my travel plans set for Costa Rica and my follow on destination, Brazil. I was feeling pretty carefree.

I don’t know why, but I decided to check the US State Department website for these two countries, and that’s when I saw that Brazil required a tourist visa for entry. No big deal. I had run into other countries where they make you buy one at the airport when you land, or something like that. NOT BRAZIL THOUGH.

Brazil makes anyone using a US or Canadian passport go through a lot of extra steps that many other countries do not. This is an action known as “reciprocity”, which basically means that the government of Brazil believed that the US and Canada makes it hard for their citizens to visit, so they’re going to make it hard for our citizens to visit Brazil (very simplified). So, needless to say, I had something to think about on my five hour flight to Costa Rica.

Fast forward to the 5th of January, which is the day I was told that the Embassy of Brazil in Costa Rica would be open again. What I wasn’t sure about was what I needed for the visa application. I read the online application from the embassy, as well as a bunch of other sources. I came to the conclusion that I did need a yellow fever vaccination (which isn’t true). I went to the local ministry of health in Turrialba, got my paperwork, and headed off to the Embassy in San Jose. After my two hour bus ride there, I was told I would need more documentation and other hoops to jump through. Since the embassy only processes visas until noon, and it was currently 11:30, I would have to come back. I did return the next day, the staff there was very helpful, and I ended up getting my visa.

To save you all the hassle, let me clarify what you will need to complete the visa packet to visit Brazil for tourism (if you’re American).

1) Passport that is valid 6 months past you stay in Brazil, with at least one blank passport page (because the visa is actually placed in your passport).

2) The cover page that you printed after filling out the online visa (“Visa Form Delivery Receipt”).

3) One passport sized photo, with a white background, no facial expression, and nothing covering the face.

4) Proof of travel into and out of Brazil. EX: Printed itineraries of your flight into Brazil and out of Brazil.

5) Proof of lodging while in Brazil. EX: Printed Airbnb itinerary or hotel reservation.

6) Proof of sufficient funds ($100 for every day that you are in Brazil). EX: Most recent bank statement that shows you have that amount of money.

7) AND HERE’S THE KICKER. $160 US Dollars deposited into an account for Brazil. Now, in Costa Rica, these funds can only be deposited in their account at one bank. You will receive a receipt and have to show it as proof of payment to finalize the application.

After all of that, you too may become a proud new owner of a tourist visa to Brazil.

From start to finish, the whole process took me two days to complete and I am very thankful that I received the visa (as I was supposed to apply before I left the US). The staff at the Embassy of Brazil in Costa Rica were very friendly and very competent. I just find the process very cumbersome and wished that there were some kind of warning when booking flights or lodging reservations. Otherwise this could have turned into a very expensive lesson for me.

Be warned and plan ahead. Below is a list of Countries where Americans need visas prior to travel.

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, BRAZIL, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, CHINA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, RUSSIA, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen.

You are awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below. 

The Dangers of Snow

This post has nothing to do with the physical dangers of snow. Here is a link to the physical dangers of snow provided by weather.com, if you want to read about that topic. What dangers I’m talking about are the effects that come along with a day of being snowed in.

Wednesday was the first snow I experienced on my journey thus far, and it led to a day I really didn’t like. Here are the reasons why:

Stuck Inside.

As someone who loves exploring, I really don’t like part of my life being taken away by mother nature. I’ve been in some pretty nasty storms during my adventure and enjoyed it. It was different. I like different. I got wet or dirty, but it provided a new experience and an unique lens in which to see the world around me. Snow storms would be similar, except that it has a prerequisite of cold weather. I dislike cold weather. A LOT.

Besides going out to take some pictures and a quick video, I didn’t go outside at all.

Motivation Was Gone. 

I’ve heard some people talk about heat making them want to do nothing but sleep. I have never experienced that sensation. Cold weather, on the other hand, makes me want to do nothing more than hibernate. On Wednesday I woke up late, I didn’t work out, I didn’t explore. I slept and watched television all day. I was thoroughly disgusted with myself.

In fact, I was so out of it that I forgot to turn the heater on. Which leads to my next point…

Sickness.

I got sick. My throat was a little scratchy on Tuesday and by the end of Wednesday I was officially sick. With all the craziness going on in the world of illness, I decided to self quarantine. I took the Croatian version of Airborne. I drank a lot of hot tea. I did everything I could think of to make the illness go away, but I still ended up losing two days because of it.

Thoughts.

During my travels, I have made sure to do a lot of self examination. What have I done in my life? Where am I going in life? How can I make the world a better place? Why is my stomach making that sound? Things of this nature. Also, before I leave somewhere, I start to have a lot of anxiety because I think I haven’t done enough. Crazy, I know.

Add to that the delusional thoughts that come with being sick, the fogginess that comes after (which I am dealing with while writing this very incoherent post), and it became a perfect storm of weird thoughts and emotions.

CONCLUSION:

I’m not a fan of snow days. They make me feel negative. However, we can only grow to appreciate the light by experiencing the dark.

You are awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below. 

Monaco

Split, Croatia

Monaco 

VS

Split

The best way to sum up the major differences between Monaco and Split are: Location, Cost, and Experience.

Location:

A tale of two cities on different sides of the Italian peninsula.

Monaco – Nestled between the French and Italian Rivieras, this small country (Second smallest country in the world, next to Vatican City) is less than one square mile in total area.

Split – Located on the Eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, this Croatian city is the second largest city in Croatia, with more than eight square miles in total area.

Winner: Monaco.

Cost:

So, if you’re like me, you remember the James Bond films featuring expensive clothes, expensive cars, beautiful people, and luxury establishments in which to enjoy your Martini (shaken, not stirred). Let me tell you, both Monaco and Split have these attributes, but one has a much better exchange rate than the other.

Monaco – Expensive clothes, check. Expensive cars, check. Beautiful people, check. Luxury establishments, check. Add to that the historic areas, yachting experiences, royal residences and you have plenty to do. The question is how much is it going to really cost me?

Monaco uses the Euro as their currency, which has an exchange rate of approximately 1.25 US Dollars for every 1 Euro. Also, because this place has a history as a “luxury destination” for quite a while, the prices are quite horrendous. A cab from Nice (France), where the closest international airport is, will set you back right around $100. Ouch. Also, that cool casino where 007 had his drink of choice in, costs 10 Euros just to get in and you can’t take pictures. Seriously.

The only two categories that were inexpensive were 1) Good food & wine (the stuff was everywhere, so I don’t think they could gouge people and stay competitive) and 2) train tickets (7 Euros could get you almost anywhere on the French or Italian Riviera. Nice trains, too).

Split – Expensive clothes, check. Expensive cars, check. Beautiful people, check. Luxury establishments, check. Split also had historic areas, yachting experiences, and royal residences (from Roman times). Sure, the amount of opulence wasn’t as blatant as it was in Monaco, but it definitely was present.

The currency used in Croatia is the Kuna, which has an exchange rate of approximately 1 US Dollar for every 6 Kuna. The cat is out of the bag about Split being an awesome vacation destination in some of Europe, but definitely not around the whole world. As a rule, I would assume that I could live like a king on $20 a day (excluding lodging). The average four course meal, at a luxury restaurant would sent you back 50-70 Kuna (TIP: Avoid restaurants right on the sea. You will pay for that view), but I would much rather get something fresh from a deli or bakery for 7-10 Kuna and eat on a bench with a great view (even closer to the ocean than any restaurant).

Cabs were still pretty outrageous from the airport to the city, but in every other category this place was amazing.

Winner: Split. 

Experience:

Monaco and Split can be both categorized as “fun in the sun” locations. You have chances of running into celebrities in both places. There are historical sites to explore at both places, if you have nerd tendencies like me. Both destinations make it easy to live an active lifestyle (swimming, biking, hiking, running, etc). The differences are all too apparent though.

Monaco – The people, both year round citizens and visitors. The year round citizens of Monaco are nice people, easy to joke around with and like to have a good time. That being said, you have to remember that they have lived their lives around the ultra-rich of the world (most of whom treat Monaco like their Vegas), and that has an effect on people. Most of the time, the effect is to assume the worst of visitors as a default (or so I was told by locals).

The visitors are a different story. You have no idea what kind of people you will be running into here. There’s every personality  you can think of that visits Monaco, for many reasons, but the wealth aspect seemed to be the dominant theme. The “look at me” factor, as I call it (cars, clothes, jewelry, accessories) are just WAY over done.

Overall, the experience is fun, but the people seem fake in a lot of different ways. Hard to explain, but it didn’t feel warm and welcoming. I did have a great time though.

Split – The people here are amazing! Very warm and welcoming, both citizens and visitors alike. Maybe it was the scenery or the vibrancy of the city life, but the majority of people I met were just great people. The citizens here had great fashion sense, but didn’t rub it in your face. There was luxury everywhere, but it wasn’t over done. If I had to pick a place to have a summer home outside of the US, Split would be on the list.

Winner: Split. 

For me, Split wins every time. Everything and everyone was fun, honest, and welcoming.

Find out more for yourself at http://www.visitmonaco.com and http://www.visitsplit.com/en/1/city-of-split-croatian-tourism-champion

You are awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below. 

Egypt is an amazing place. Below is my honest review of the country, not so much a “things to do and see” guide, but things that really stuck out to me. I can only write what it is like from my prospective, so if you disagree, I happily encourage you to go experience it for yourself.

The Good

The Changes: If you weren’t aware, there was a revolution that took place in recent history. A new government was formed (I’m trying really hard not to digress into my political self here), and an attempt to re-build government services happened. The problem is that while the “revolution” was happening, nothing happened. Government services on almost every level didn’t exist. Fast forward to today: the new president is really on his game (according to the majority of locals I talked with). Roads are getting fixed, mail is being sent, etc. While there is a very well orchestrated campaign attacking this president, I believe that even his most staunch of opponents will agree that things are now getting done.

The Food: All the Egyptian food I tried here was amazing! From Kushari, ful Medames, Om Ali, and my favorite Fatta (which is quite fitting because it is quite fattening). It would really be a disservice for me to try to describe all of them, so I will just refer you to this website…Had it not been for a couple of other dishes disagreeing with my stomach, this would have made the “amazing” category. I will just say, be careful where you eat and always try to get reviews prior to sitting down.

The Bad

The Extortionists: There is a saying that I heard quite often in Cairo, “Everyone gets paid”. This saying was usually following a questioning look from me as to why these people were being paid. Let me explain. When you park somewhere in Cairo, usually there will be some guy mulling around that will come up to the driver and ask him (actually demand) payment. This guy isn’t any kind of parking enforcement; you aren’t parking on his property. So when I asked my friend why he pays him, he explained that if no payment was received, then he might find his car damaged when he came back (keyed, slashed tires, on fire, etc). When I heard this, it automatically made me think of a dozen or so mob movies that had some hoodlum going up to a business owner, offering to “protect” the business for a fee. If the business owner declines, the hoodlum comes back with some of his friends and shows why protection is needed.

This isn’t just happening for parking. This happens at tourist sites, government buildings, etc. What is most unsettling is that I witnessed many times where these thugs would be right next to police doing this. WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS VERY ILLEGAL IN EGYPT. Still, the police don’t want to disturb the status quo (and I’m told that some of them receive compensation for this)…Which leads me to my next category.

The Crooked Police (Not all police): Just like anywhere, there are a couple bad apples that can ruin the name for a whole bunch; it just so happens that the “couple” in Egypt are really bad. The stuff that they turn the other way from is hurting the image of their country very badly. Quite a few locals spoke about how much tourism has declined since the revolution. This is to be expected, to a point; but the average decline quoted was 95%. Let me say that again: 95%. Could you imagine if the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry lost that much in your country? Now, I’m not saying that the crooked police are completely responsible for this, but they certainly aren’t doing anything to help their image. Luckily, the new president is pretty hip to the game and has sent in the military to bolster some of the important areas. While I am usually against any internal deployment of military, you have to look at it through the Egyptian lens, and see why the Egyptian military is the one organization with the best moral compass.

The Traffic: Oh. My. Goodness. Think of any terrible road condition you have witnessed. DOESN’T EVEN COME CLOSE to the “Average Day” in Egypt.

One lane roads being used for three vehicles. Traffic lights not being utilized unless someone is directing traffic. It’s very common for vehicles to go the wrong way on a one way streets. ROUNDABOUTS (Terrible idea no matter what country you’re in). Broken down vehicles being abandoned right where they broke down (sometimes indefinitely. Seriously)…I could go on and on, but I will just sum it up with the understood “logic” while on the street: Vehicles always have the right of way; it is the job of the pedestrian to get out of the way.

TIP: When crossing the road in Egypt, hold your hand out in a “stop” position, always make eye contact before starting across, and NEVER hesitate. You will get hit. It will be seen as your fault. Sucks.

The Amazing

The Places: I’m not going to lecture anyone on the history of Egypt. What I am going to do is point out that this ancient society has influenced almost every major civilization and religion in history. Their architecture, symbolism, and rituals are world renown, and if you look closely at your country or religion, you will find remnants of ancient Egypt.

To actually be in the presence of these historical places is quite mind blowing.

TIP: The pyramids are basically the same in the inside. I would suggest you go inside the Red Pyramid, it’s least expensive. Also, make sure you bring water and prepare for your legs to hate you. There are steps. A LOT OF STEPS.

The People: The majority of Egyptians are great people. They have been through a lot, especially lately. They have hard expressions on their faces, but the warmth of their souls are known the minute you have a conversation with one or ask one for help. The “common person” is quite extraordinary. Hospitality is a staple of life here. I am very thankful for all the people I got to meet, but I am extremely grateful for all those who helped me along the way.

Mina Samir – Egypt Tour Guide: Mina is AMAZING!  My tour guide Mina, is the only one I will recommend in Egypt. His website is: www.msegypttourguide.com. He’s a great guide for the whole country that has worked with journalists from national geographic, group tours, or lone travelers like me. Very reasonably priced, and knows about everything! Mina is so much more than a tour guide, and I consider him a friend.

Conclusion: Visit Egypt, just be smart about it. 

You are awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below. 

The Good, The Bad, & The Amazing

Now that I have had a little while to reflect on my visit in Israel, I wanted to share my overall thoughts on my time there. This won’t be some handy dandy travelers guide, but rather things that stuck out the most in my mind. I can only talk about where I went: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Jericho, Bethlehem, and the Dead Sea. I am not an area expert; only a traveler from the US.

The Good

Security: I’m starting with security because it was the topic I heard voiced the most from all of my friends and family outside of Israel. I never felt un-safe during my trip in Israel. Nobody tried to kidnap me. Nobody harassed me (even when I wore my American flag hat EVERYWHERE). There were two rocket attacks in areas where I was staying, but thanks to the Iron Dome these had little to no effect. There are security forces at most major tourist locations, and the roads are well patrolled (Also, no matter if it was police or military, I never felt threatened. That’s an important distinction because there are places in the world where I worry). Just use common sense and remember bad stuff happens in every city across the world, so keep that in mind when you are making comparisons.

Infrastructure: The infrastructure here is on par with any other Western country. What that means: the urban cities have a lot and the rural cities have less.

Jerusalem and Tel Aviv both have: good roads, many transportation options (taxi, bus, light rail, train, bike/jogging trails, etc), universities, easy to navigate signs (Street signs/places of interest/maps are plentiful and multi-lingual), dinning options (large chain restaurants, mom & pop places, street vendors), lodging options (hotels, hostels, homes for rent), police/fire/ambulance, upscale neighborhoods, poor neighborhoods, public restrooms, many parks, and many entertainment options.

Jericho and Bethlehem (Considered part of the Palestinian territories) have much less than Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The majority of the main roads are alright, but with potholes. The smaller roads are in need of repair or non-existent. Taxis or private vehicles were the only transportation options I observed. I was unaware of any universities. Street signs were mostly in Arabic, places of interest were not well marked (if at all), and there were no maps that I observed. Dining options were only mom & pop places and street vendors. There were only a handful of hotels visible. Police were visible only at tourist locations and in much smaller numbers than their counterparts in Israel. I did not see any fire or ambulance vehicles. There were a small number of nice homes, but no upscale neighborhoods as a whole; the majority were middle class to poor. There weren’t many public restrooms. There was traditional entertainment available (dance halls), but nothing else that I observed.

The Dead Sea is a resort town. Very safe. Not a whole lot to do outside of the resorts or spas.

Government: Regardless of whether you agree with the laws and positions that the government of Israel takes, their ability to come together and address issues in a timely manner is very efficient. Their governing body, The Knesset,  is  diverse: Made up of all the major religions of Israel (Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Drzue), 23%  are women (Higher percentage than the US (18%) and the UK (22%)), and 41% were freshman in 2013 (Keep in mind the Tea Party only resulted in the US Congress having 16% freshman in 2010.

The Israeli government is pro-business, credited with creating one of the best startup ecosystems in the world (Tel Aviv), second only to Silicon Valley.

They are responsive to the people. Tours are given at the Knesset. Activity is available online, in person, and on television.

The Bad

Drivers: Oh my goodness. When I took the hour long taxi ride from the airport to my apartment, I thought I was having a nightmare about being in that game Crazy Taxi. Then I quickly realized it wasn’t just the taxis. The cars, motorcycles, BUSES. Everyone was in a hurry, everyone liked to take shortcuts at high rates of speed, and everyone loved honking their horns. Hitting a car parked in front or behind you wasn’t a big deal.  Drivers did obey traffic lights (most of the time), but if they were driving motorcycles they basically did whatever they wanted. I’m very thankful I didn’t drive any of the time I was there.

Traveling Alone, As a Military Age male: I completely understand security, and I am not upset about all the extra scrutiny I received while going into important places, because Israel was at war and they have many enemies that do try to destroy them on a frequent basis. That being said, I don’t think anyone enjoys spending more than two hours explaining about yourself (not just travel plans, put private information) to a complete stranger at a airport, no matter what the justification. Add to that, you will have to re-explain to their supervisor, show emails/facebook posts/blog posts to corroborate your answers, and have yourself/luggage checked very thoroughly (which resulted in something very valuable to me disappearing). I know this process wasn’t their fault, I know that I fit a profile. I just wasn’t a fan.

Street Vendors: Street vendors being pushy isn’t just an issue here, but there were certain times where it got pretty bad. People approaching you as friendly, then yelling and calling you names if you don’t buy from them. People pounding on your vehicle if you don’t buy from them. I’m not going to describe it much more, because it wasn’t a problem in most places. I will just say it’s always better to ignore them if you don’t want what they’re selling.

The Amazing

The People: The majority of people that you will come into contact with in Israel are AMAZING. They will always help if you are in need. I can’t tell you how many times people went out of their way to help me. Business owners, police, regular people on the street; they were all very friendly. My neighbor (and realtor) Sharon Friedman invited me to dinner with her family twice and took care of everything I could possibly need.

Also, the thing I most admired about the Israeli people is that they refused to be terrorized. If an attack happened somewhere, that place would be filled with people AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE, sometimes just an hour later.

The Places: Most visitors come to Israel for religious reasons, but there really is something for everybody. The history and architecture is so diverse, and beautiful. There are activities ranging from sky diving or romping out in the desert to floating in the Dead Sea or being pampered in one of the many spas throughout the country. You can find a quiet place to reflect (which I did quite a bit) or go take part in the very active nightlife.

Israel is also a major hub for business all around the world, so you can close that big deal or find a new startup to connect with.

Of course, the most famous reason is the places of religious significance. Holy places for Muslims, Christians, and Jews are located all over the country. I suggest you check them out, even if you aren’t religious.

The Weather: I was so surprised how beautiful it was in July and August. I’m from Arizona in the US, which is very hot, almost unbearable during the day if you are outside for long periods of time.  You would expect that Israel would be as well. WRONG. On the average, I would spend between 4 and 5 hours walking everyday, but it was BEAUTIFUL. A light breeze was always present, which made my treks very enjoyable. I spent a whole day at the Dead Sea and barely got a little red on my cheeks and neck, but not burned (which is kinda rare for me).

Conclusion: If you get the chance, go to Israel. 

You are awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below. 

When wars break out in foreign countries, I usually like to do some research and form my own opinion. Unless it is a war where I am personally invested, I don’t publicly voice my opinion, but rather share it with my friends and family if it comes up. I do this because I am not a country specific expert in a lot of countries, and there are always two sides to a story. In the world of asymmetrical, or 4th Generation, warfare it becomes even more difficult to take sides because it is characterized by a nation state not having complete control over combat forces ( i.e. terrorist groups working within one or multiple countries, without necessarily working for those countries ).

There are just a few reasons that I will decide to go public with my opinion, and the top of that list is that an organization has actively tried to end my life. I understand that there is always a back story as to why these groups resort to the tactics that they do, but when you try to kill me and take credit for the attack, I no longer care.

In Iraq, it was Jaysh al-Mahdi. They said we were “occupiers”. They used religious “justification” to target civilians and carry out heinous acts. They had a lot of influence and power in Baghdad. When they actively tried to end my life, regardless of their “justifications”, I made my opinion very clear. I hope and pray for the destruction of Jaysh al-Mahdi, their supporters, and anyone who willingly sides with them. I do this not just for the freedom and safety of those who are oppressed by their group, but because it has become personal for me on the deepest level. That was 2006, and I still feel the same today.

Fast forward to 19 Aug 2014. Sirens blare in Jerusalem at approximately 22:45 as over 50 rockets are fired at Israel. One is intercepted by the Iron Dome over Jerusalem.

When I heard the sirens, and the following “boom”, I knew someone was actively trying to end my life. They may have not said “Hey, we’re aiming for Michael Ritchie, the American visiting Jerusalem”, but they didn’t need to. Once you pull that trigger, set that IED/VBIED, or launch that explosive ordinance towards me, I no longer care. I don’t care about your cause. I don’t care about how much suffering you have gone through in your lifetime. I don’t care about what change you are trying to bring about in the world. I just don’t. All I care about is doing every legal thing possible to bring about the destruction of your organization. Notice I said “legal”, which means regardless of how much I want your organization gone, I will always keep my morals.

In this case, Hamas has publicly claimed responsibility. So, for me, they are in the same category as Jaysh al-Mahdi. *Notice, I didn’t say “all people of the same religion as this group” or “all people in the same area as this group”; If I said that, I would be no better than them. I do not hate the members of Hamas as individual people, as I am called to love all people by my faith, but I sure as hell don’t like them.

So, where do I stand in the current conflict? I STAND AGAINST HAMAS, not for the litany of reasons gone over ad nauseam in the media, but for the most personal of reasons.

*** I want to digress for a minute and say this attack doesn’t change my timeline for leaving Israel. The most admirable thing I have noticed from my visit here is that these people refuse to be terrorized. As I am writing this, 12 hours after the attack: the airport is re-opened, the streets are busy, and people are going on with their daily lives. Unless my country (United States) or Israel says I have to leave, I choose to stay. I refuse to be terrorized.

You are awesome!

-Mike

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Please leave them down below.