THE TARHEEL CHRONICLE

Danger in Mexico?

A Return Trip to San Miguel de Allende

This was our third trip to Mexico and second visit to San Miguel de Allende. With everything in the news and the events at the US-Mexico border taking place, my friends have been questioning how safe it is to travel to Mexico.

First Visit to Mexico

Our first visit was to Playa del Carmen in February 2013. Our second and third trip were to San Miguel de Allende ten years later. Although we were alert to any signs of danger, there was never a time when we felt unsafe.

Playa del Carmen is a beach town with many tourists. San Miguel, on the other hand, is in the highlands of central Mexico. Both are wonderful places. But we prefer the laid-back atmosphere of San Miguel. That is why we decided to return.

First Trip to San Miguel

There were many differences between our first and second trip.

Our first trip to San Miguel. was in August 2022. We flew via United Airlines from Greensboro, North Carolina to Chicago O’Hare to Houston, Texas to Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. From Leon we took the BajioGo shuttle for the hour and a half ride to our loft on Calle Relox in San Miguel.

Calle Relox is in Zona Centro and close to everything. Our loft was a roomy efficiency apartment with a king size bed and nice en suite bath. It also had AC if you are so inclined. But the most impressive thing was the rooftop terrace. There was a breath-taking view of the entire city.

The month of August is during the rainy season. It rains almost every afternoon and sometimes there are storms at night. There are advantages to this season because everything is green and lush. And the rains cool things off. But carry an umbrella!

Most Recent Visit

Our last trip was in May 2023. This time we flew with Delta Airlines. Our route took us from Greensboro to Atlanta to Mexico City to Leon. From Leon we took a private car to our townhouse on Calle de Aldama.

May is the hottest month of the year in San Miguel. It is dryer, dustier and browner. Although it cools off at night, it gets warm in the afternoons.

My sister accompanied us on this trip. Therefore, we needed something larger than an efficiency apartment. As a result, we rented a two-bedroom townhouse located in a gated cul-de-sac near Parque Juarez in colonia El Parque. It was about a fifteen-minute walk to Zona Centro. However, there were grocery stores, restaurants, and many things nearby.

The Townhouse had two outdoor areas and a rooftop terrace but no AC. However, it had fans and large screened windows that kept the place comfortable for the most part. It was very roomy and nicely decorated and had a fully equipped kitchen. We enjoyed our stay very much.

Is Mexico Safe?

On our first visit to San Miguel, we also spent a few days in Guanajuato City. It is a university town and much smaller than San Miguel. We stayed in a bed-n-breakfast that was exceptional. When we arrived I asked our host, Rafael, about safety. He assured us Guanajuato was safe anytime of day or night.

That has been our experience with each of our visits to Mexico. As with all travel, you must pick the places you visit carefully and always stay alert. But, in Mexico, we have found most everyone to be polite, friendly, and helpful. Our safety has never come into question.

For more information on safety, see the website for for the US Embassy in Mexico.

Tags Mexico

Mexico

Returning To Central Mexico

By Dan Anderson

My wife and I traveled to Mexico for the first time just a few years ago. We went to Playa del Carmen for a few days to enjoy the sun and fun. Recently, in August of 2022, my wife and I spent two weeks in San Miguel de Allende (SMA)and Guanajuato City. It was one of our best vacations ever. I must say we did not know what we had been missing.

As a result, we are returning to the highlands of Mexico. Our approach is a little different for this trip. We are traveling to Mexico City for the first time. And, we are pleased that my sister is coming along. She is very excited to be going to Mexico for the first time. We are thrilled to be returning with her.

Mexico City (CDMX) is our first stop for seven days. For the final three weeks we are staying in SMA and using it as our base.

Preparing For 4 Weeks In Mexico

How To Get Started

Accordingly, we started by doing the necessary research. What kind of research? Travel guides are the best source. You can find them in the library, books stores and online. Lonely Planet is one my favorite travel guides. It has detailed information on most major attractions and some hidden gems. Tripadvisor is another go to place.

One of our major concerns is safety. You hear some alarming things about Mexico. And, there are areas you do not want to go. However, our experience has been nothing but good in the places we have visited. But, be careful and check out any area where you may be thinking of staying.

As a precaution, we do are sightseeing and touring mostly during the day. We try to dress modestly and inconspicuously and wear little or no jewelry. Importantly, it is a good idea to carry minimal cash and only one credit card when you are out and about. These and other valuables should be kept in a front pocket or a fanny pack, never in a shoulder bag or rear pockets. Once you become familiar with your neighborhood, you can relax a bit.

Creating An Itinerary

After we did our research it was time to create our itinerary. Where do we want to go? What do we want to see and experience? Is there anything we want to accomplish (work, etc) ?

Moreover, we want to keep our itinerary flexible because plans have a way of changing once you get to your destination. Below are our tentative plans for Four Weeks In Mexico.

Mexico City (CDMX)

As I previously stated, we are spending our first week in Mexico City. The neighborhood where we picked to stay is called Cuauhtemoc. One of the reasons we selected this area is because it is centrally located and outside the hustle and bustle of the tourist areas.

Below are our plans for Mexico City.

Cultural Visits

Palacio de Bellas Artes
Bosque de Chapultepec (Especially the Zoo)
Castillo de Chapultepec
Xochimilco Floating Gardens
Villa De Guadalupe
Teotihuacan (Ancient Ruins)
Markets
Neighborhoods – Polanco, Condesa, Roma

Cultural Experiences

Mexican life
New friends
The markets
Mexican Food

San Miguel de Allende (SMA)

There is a lot of flexibility built into our three weeks in SMA. It is a wonderful place with many great things to do. It has a great library, excellent cuisine, arts and crafts, historic sites, hot springs and much more. Mostly, we plan to relax and take in the culture. However, I will be working on a travelog of our trip and posting it online.

Making Reservations

Airline Tickets

I made our airlines reservations first because they are the most difficult ones to make. Sometimes it takes considerable effort to get a flight with the best departure and arrival times. Another consideration is the layover between flights. We don’t want a layover so short that we will get stressed about making our next flight. Nor, do we want our layover to be excessively long. Most of all, we want the best flight at the best price. Delta Airlines is our choice for this trip.

A good place to find the best flights and fares, and buy directly from the airline, is Google – Flights.

Accommodations

After making flight reservations it is time to search for accommodations.

For our upcoming trip we need at least two bedrooms and hopefully two bathrooms. In addition, we need a kitchen, a sitting area and hopefully a patio or balcony.

I have had the best luck finding places on Airbnb. Usually, the accommodations there are as stated. A plus is the reviews posted by people who have stayed there before you. I like to make my reservations at least two months in advance because the best places tend to get gone. Vrbo, Booking.com, Hotels.com and Expedia.com are other websites to browse for a place to stay.

Local Transportation

Once we have landed in Mexico, the question becomes how do we we get from the airport to the place where we are staying? You might say, “That’s easy. Take a taxi!”. There are some safety concerns with taking just any taxi. So, we plan to use UBER to get to our apartment.

In the case of SMA, the closest airport is one and a half hours away. The best options are a private car, shuttle bus, or autobus. Last time we elected to take the shuttle bus (from different airport). This time we are taking an autobus from Mexico City because the trip is approximately four hours.

Communications

Normally, I use WIFI at the place I am staying or a public WIFI service when I am abroad. But, this has a downside. You cannot communicate or use many of the features on your smartphone if WIFI access is not available. The plan this time is to activate international roaming with my US cellphone provider. Therefore, I should have WIFI access for UBER outside the airport terminal in Mexico City. Once we get settled, I am going to buy a prepaid SIMS card from Telcel for mobile service. This will provide uninterrupted service at much lower costs while we are in Mexico.

In Conclusion

No matter how well you prepare yourself, something will not go as you planned. That usually happens at least once. These occurrences have the potential to be stressful if you let them. It is best to remain calm and see them as part of your adventure. Most of the time they appear humorous when looking in your rear view mirror.

Bon Voyage!

Tags Mexico, Travel

Travel

Viva Mexico

MEXICO! Best Vacation in a Long Time!

Wonderful Surprise

Mexico was a great surprise to both me and my wife. We had never been to Central Mexico. We spent a week in Playa del Carmen on the Yucatan Peninsula a few years ago. But that was not a true Mexican cultural experience.

Covid19

Like everyone else the Covid19 virus put a big halt to our travel plans in 2020. We did travel to Panama in February of 2020. But, because of border closings we were unable to travel internationally again until March of 2022 when we traveled to Lisbon, Portugal.

Portugal was nice. Lots to see and great food. Our accommodations were excellent and in a great location. But…… it was the wrong time of year. The weather was a little chilly. I kept a slight sniffle while we were there. But mostly we had to be concerned with getting a negative Covid19 test within 24 hours before departure so we could re-enter the US.

Mexico – No Restrictions

Traveling to Mexico was much easier than traveling to Europe. We left Greensboro, NC at 06:30 and arrived at Leon/Guanajuato at 14:45 in the afternoon. There were two short layovers in Chicago and Houston. From the Leon/Guanajuato Airport we took the BajioGo Shuttle for an hour and a half ride to our Airbnb accommodations in San Miguel de Allende (SMA). Most of Mexico is in the Central Time Zone. That means no jetlag!

The Adventure Begins

In Mexico we split our time between San Miguel de Allende (SMA) and Guanajuato City, the capitol city of the state of Guanajuato. Once we arrived at our Airbnb in SMA, the only glitch of our whole trip happened.

The instructions I had printed for entry into our Airbnb did not work! We had no way to contact the owner because we did not have access to Wifi. Hummm – what to do? I asked a gentleman coming out of a villa across the street if there was free wifi available nearby. He thought for a moment and said to try the library down the street and around the corner. Using the library’s wifi I was able to access my Airbnb account and send the owner a message to obtain the instructions for access into our loft apartment. Fortunately, another couple was at the door when we returned. They were having the same problem. Together we deciphered the combination to gain entry and all was well. Whew!

Accommodations in SMA

Our loft apartment was very nice with a large kitchen, a sitting area, and a nice bedroom with ensuite bathroom. The best and most spectacular thing was the rooftop terrace. I just loved sitting up there drinking coffee and watching the sun rise. Having a glass of wine there in the evenings was not bad either. The view was just extraordinary!

Location, Location, Location!

Our Loft was located on Calle Relox about two blocks from the center of San Miguel de Allende. It was convenient to everything. Anything you needed was within a couple of blocks. That included ATMs, a laundry, restaurants, Mercado de Artesanias, Jardin Allende and more. We especially loved the little family owned tienda called Bonanza. It has most everything you need including a deli.

We never got into the restaurant scene. However, we ate at a couple of good restaurants. Interestingly, neither one was Mexican. One was Italian (Antiqua Trattoria Romana). The other one was the Qrquidea Thai. Both were excellent and moderately priced.

We spent a week in San Miquel de Allende (SMA) and then moved to Guanajuato City about an hour and a half north of SMA. We rented a BajioGo shuttle for the trip which cost about $90.00.

On to Guanajuato City

My initial reason for moving was to get closer to the Leon/Guanajuato Airport for our departure back to the US. Guanajuato City is only about 20 minutes away. But once we arrived, I was glad we moved. Guanajuato is very different from SMA. It is smaller, very historic and a university town.

Sanbernabe’ Tres

We stayed at a Bed-n-Breakfast named Sanbernabe’ Tres. It was absolutely wonderful. The location, the accommodations, the pastries in the morning, and the lovely terrace are memorable. Rafael and Veronica, the owners made every effort to make our stay as comfortable as possible. Rafael even arranged our transportation to the airport the day we left. Sanbernabe’ Tres is highly recommended.

Departing Mexico

I was sad to leave Mexico this time. I had read about central Mexico and watched a couple of Youtube videos about SMA. But, otherwise, I did not know much about this region of the country. I am glad we found it. I hope to go back and explore the area more. The biggest challenge is getting my wife back on an airplane. But I am working on it.

Hasta luego! Viva Mexico!

Tags Mexico, Travel, World Heritage Sites

Travel

THINK OF A FLORIDA VACATION? THINK SARGASSUM!

Post author By LittleBoat14
Post date March 21, 2019
2 Comments on THINK OF A FLORIDA VACATION? THINK SARGASSUM!

My wife and I have been taking a winter vacationto South Florida since 2014. Aside from the debris, the beaches have always been very enjoyable, the water clear and blue. What a difference we found this year!

A Shocking Surprise

A Problem For Some Time

Apparently the Sargassum invasion began last year. The Miami Herald reported on July 3, 2018 that seaweed was washing up in mass on South Florida beaches. Professor Chuanmin Hu at the College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, says no one knows where it all came from.

Speculation As To Origins

Speculation is several things may have contributed to this out of control growth of Sargassum. Some of those mentioned are phosphorus sands from the Sahara Desert, fertilizer and silt from river runoff and rising ocean temperatures. According to Juliet Lamb in a piece on the daily.stor.org new hotspots for Sargassum growth have been spotted along the West African coast, at the mouth the Amazon River off the coast of Brazil and in northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Hazards Among The “Sargassum”

Relief In 2019?

There does not appear to be any relief in sight for 2019. Ron Brackett of weather.com stated in an article on January 24, 2019 that researchers say Sargassum blooms this year could top those of 2018.

Call Before You Go!

If you are planning a vacation to Florida (or the Caribbean) I would call ahead to find out what the conditions are on the beaches you plan to visit. Don’t let Sargassum spoil your vacation!

Update On Seaweed Invasion:

A storm came through on March 19,2019 and the Sargassum seaweed seems to have abated somewhat. Time will tell if it is a temporary relief or the end of this menacing issue.

Travel

Traveling in 2018 (The Year Of The Dog).

Post author By LittleBoat14
Post date October 28, 2017
No Comments on Traveling in 2018 (The Year Of The Dog).

A TIME FOR TRAVELING

2018 Earth Dog - Inspires others — The Traveling Dog

I have designated 2018, “the year of the dog”, as a time for traveling. This year, 2017, was was my year to get a few issues sorted out. My wife and I have traveled a little but only to see our kids and do family things like going to the beach. Now there are only two months left in the year. With the holiday season approaching it appears that travel is out of the question before the end of the year. So, it is time to start planning for “the year of the dog” .

GETTING AWAY

Traveling for me is way to escape. The problem with staying close to home is you get intertwined in the lives of friends and family. Don’t get me wrong I love my family and friends and appreciate them very much. But, there is a point at which love and support can change into something that controls your life. It seems everyone has some issue in their life that needs to be resolved.

Scenes like this keep you traveling — Traveling to places like Tulum, Mexico

When I am traveling I feel unencumbered and free to be myself. I would like stay on the road at least six months a year. However, my wife does not have the same love of travel as me. Actually, I think she would never step foot on a plane without encouragement. The good part is when we do travel together we always have a good time and bring back great memories.

WHERE AND WHEN TO GO

Reserving the time for time for traveling is a must — Traveling Calendar

Since I have designated 2018 as a year for traveling, the next step is to decide where, when and how to go. In the past we have created our own itineraries. Once that was done we just caught a plane to the first place on our trip and free lanced it from there. It gives you a lot of freedom to change your itinerary and schedule from day to day.

That is difficult to do with an organized tour. Although you may get more bang for your buck with a tour group, my wife and I prefer to stay in places longer to get a better feel for the local culture. We love meeting new people and hearing about their lives. We love art and historic places too. But that is not our primary focus. We much prefer to immerse ourselves in the local culture. So, touring with a group probably won’t happen. But, I am checking them out.

PLANNED TRIPS

Unfortunately, we are not far along in the planning of where to immerse ourselves next. The only trips we have scheduled for next year are two weeks in February at Hutchinson Island, Florida, near Ft. Pierce and four days in May in Manhattan, Kansas for our grandson Jeff’s college graduation. The rest of the year is wide open.

MAKING THE DECISION

Just pick a place and go for it — Traveling Decisions

I have looked at traveling to Southeast Asia, South America, Central America, Eastern Europe and other places. And, I have researched round the world, transatlantic and shorter cruises. Going somewhere new is always enticing but so is revisiting places that have stuck in your mind. As you can see I am struggling about where to go and what to do next. I will figure it out. That is part of the fun.

There are some good travel blogs that provide a wealth of information from folks who make their living traveling and writing about it. One of my favorites is The Solitary Wanderer by Aleah Phils. There are others like travelFreak by Jeremy Scott Foster and An Epic Education by Jason ( don’t know his last name).

I have read that you should pick somewhere you have not been or ever thought of going for the most rewarding experience. For me that would be sub-Saharan African. One reason I am hesitant to do that is Alaska never appealed to me. I have been there and it still does not appeal to me. Maybe India is in my future.

One thing I do know is that I need to get busy and make plans. If I don’t other things will surely fill my calendar. They always do.

Travel

Seventy Is Just a Number

BIRTHDAYS ARE FUN – OH YEAH?

Wow! I can not believe I was 70 years old a few days ago. When you are 20, seventy seems ancient. When you are 30, seventy is unthinkable. When you are 40, seventy seems a long time away. When you are 50, twenty years doesn’t seem that far. When you are 60, ten years seems like a very short period of time. Hmmm………Wonder what it will feel like to be 80!?

YESTERDAY’S GONE (Who knows about tomorrow)

Where did I put my watch? — Worry! Worry! Worry!

One of the finer things about being 70 years old is that I have learned to have an appreciation for now, the present. The best way to extend your life is to appreciate what life has put before you – at this instant. If you want to make life seem shorter, ponder what the future may hold or keep looking in your rearview mirror. Both bring anxiety to your life and are a waste of precious time and energy. Be thankful for what you have today and move forward with what you have been given.

DON’T HANG ON. LET GO!

It is natural to have thoughts about the past or to project into the future. But, realize that these are just thoughts. You have the power to separate and analyze each one, put it in perspective, and then let it go. Instead of dwelling on any particular thought, recognize your thoughts for what they are – just thoughts. Then, bring your focus back to the present and let everything else go. Don’t let outside influences and emotions take control. Live your life the way you want to live it.

Seventy is a great time to be alive 🙂

“Yeah, it’s a good, good, good time to be alive
This world could throw me anything with you by my side
It’s a crazy, perfect, messed up, beautiful ride
Yeah, it’s a good, good, good time to be alive
It’s a good, good, good time to be alive”

Lady Antebellum

Travel

TRAVEL; When Is The Right Time?

Post author By LittleBoat14
Post date June 6, 2017
No Comments on TRAVEL; When Is The Right Time?

WHEN is the The Right Time to Travel? We all want to pick a time when the weather is perfect and the crowds are small. We want to make sure everything is in order before we leave and that everything will be taken care of while we are gone.

For someone who is young and untethered their pre-travel considerations may be considerably different from someone who is older and has a house or pets to consider. Moreover, there may be someone to whom you are committed and feel obligated to get their buy-in before you jump on a plane to Timbuktu.

STAYING CONNECTED

FOR me, my major concern is my wife, who is very self sufficient. However, leaving for weeks or months makes me a little nervous. I would like to travel with her but she isn’t inclined to wanderlust and hates long international flights. Even though I will miss her, staying connected while traveling is much easier now than it was just a decade ago. It is easy to stay in touch via Facetime, Skype, or Viber.

The internet has made taking care of business while traveling a snap too. You can check your bank account and pay your bills online. If you are an investor and inclined to do business while on the road, no problem. You can even set up a conference video with your stock broker if necessary. All you need is a laptop and a wifi connection. However, you must be aware that private wifi connections have security risk. DO NOT put personal information on any network that you do not feel is secure.

CREATING AN ITINERARY

NOW that your personal issues are in order, what else is there to consider for The Right Time to Travel? First you need an itinerary and a general goal of what you want to accomplish during your travels. If you are going to a place that has distinctive seasonal changes, you may not want to travel when the weather makes traveling uncomfortable. Some destinations may have extreme heat or monsoons at certain times. Others may have bitter cold. It pays to do research before you decide where and when to go.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

ONCE you have picked an itinerary, you must find the visa requirements for the places you plan to visit. Visa requirements vary by country of origin and destination. Some places may only require your passport for entry. But, chances are if you visit several countries you will need a visa in order to enter some of them. Wikipedia is a good place to start to find what the necessary documents are for the places you plan to visit. Securing a visa is usually fairly painless unless you are traveling to a country that is not on good terms with your home country. If a country is unstable politically you may want to avoid it until a later date. You can find information about travel and safety on government websites. The US Department of State and CIA provide that information for US citizens. Naturally, if there are tensions between your country and one to which you are planning to visit, it is NOT The Right Time to Travel.

BUYING YOUR PLANE TICKET

USUALLY I start searching for available flights on travel sites like Expedia, Kayak, or Priceline. The things to look for are: 1.Total time of travel 2. Number of connections 3. Time between connections 3. Time of Arrival. You want to make sure there is enough time between connecting flights for you and your luggage to make the connections. Arrival time is important because you don’t want to arrive in a unfamiliar city at midnight or one o’clock in the morning. Some of the cheaper flights have crazy schedules.

After you know what flights are available, I usually pick one and go straight to the airline website (American, Delta, etc). There are a number of reasons for doing this. First, they are often slightly cheaper. You also have a airline reservation person to fall back on if you need help. The airlines make it easy to purchase flight insurance as well. Lastly, it is easy to change your ticket if necessary (usually for a fee). Taking the online travel site out of the mix tends to simplify the process.

TRAVEL LITE

ANOTHER way to simply your travel is by making a thoughtful packing list. You really don’t need that much to travel comfortably. I usually take a midsize backpack that can function as carry-on luggage and a daypack. In the daypack I carry things like my computer, camera, and other valuables that I don’t want to get damaged or lost. My second bag is a larger backpack with a handle and wheels which I check at the airline counter. It contains most of my clothes and any items that will not pass through the airport security screening . When making a packing list, I look at each item on the list and ask if it is despensable and if I can purchase it while traveling. If the answer is “yes” it comes off the list.

WHAT TO WEAR

WHEN thinking of clothes – think layering. Presuming that you will be traveling in the warmer months, I recommend taking three changes of clothes. It is a good idea to pack a long sleeve shirt and casual pants. Some venues will not allow bare arms or legs. A light jacket, a hat and rain gear are also necessary items. The most important clothing item will be your shoes. You will need comfortable walking shoes for trekking and hiking and a pair of sandals. I like to take a pair of running shoes too. Packing three pair of shoes can be cumbersome. However, I have tied my running shoes to my carry-on backpack and packed my trekking shoes in my checked luggage. I wear the sandals.

HOW TO STAY IN TOUCH

NORMALLY I carry my USA smartphone with me and keep it in airplane mode. I use it at wifi hotspots for information, directions, text, and phone calls via Viber. I am not sure if I will do that next time. Computer, camera, phone. It’s a lot to keep up with.

WHERE TO STAY

MY favorite websites for hotel accommodations are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. Both have comprehensive lists of places to stay for almost any location you might want to visit. The reviews by previous travelers are for the most part quite accurate. I usually make reservations for the first and second place I plan to visit. From there I play it by ear. Once you are in travel mode your itinerary has a tendency to change.

“JUST DO IT”

**THE Right Time to Travel is almost here. You have done your homework. You’re ready to go. The Right Time to Travel is when you board the airplane and fly off to someplace you have never been.**

The Right Time to Travel is NOW!

Travel

Wanderlust – Have you got it?

Post author By LittleBoat14
Post date April 19, 2017

WANDERLUST
“A strong, innate desire to rove or travel about”
Dictionary.com.

How do you know if you have it? Is it something you learn or something to which you are genetically predisposed? These questions are still open for debate. But, If you get bored easily, become anxious with your daily routine and feel more content when you are out traveling experiencing new people and places, you probably have it.

HOW IS WANDERLUST ACQUIRED?

As I sat down to plan my next trip I began to think about why I get these urges for travel and adventure. Why do I feel compelled to see things I have not seen and go places I have never been?

A disappearing town in eastern Wyoming — Main Street, Egerton, Wyoming

A CASE FOR IMPRINTING

For as long as I can remember I have had the desire to see what is just over the hill.
As a kid, I used to get so excited the night before a family vacation that I could not sleep. That was especially true if we were going to Wyoming where my mother spent a good portion of her childhood. We would leave at four or five in morning for the three day journey. Our route carried us through tunnels in the mountains of West Virginia and by large cities like Chicago and St. Louis. We drove past miles and miles of cornfields in Iowa and into the wide open spaces of the West. Most of all, we met new and interesting people. They spoke with an unfamiliar twang and wore different clothes. Some donned Cowboy hats, boots, and large belt buckles. Real Indians were at the rodeos. It was the most exciting time!

Wanderlust imprinting by the media — “Route 66” TV Series

TELEVISION AND MOVIES

(click on names for a sample)

In the 1950s television became common place and was the after dinner entertainment for most families. No longer did you have to travel to see new places. They were bought to you right in your living room. “Route 66” was a series about two guys who traveled on US Highway 66 from Chicago to California in a Corvette convertible. “Adventures in Paradise”, a series created by James A Michener, was the story of two guys who sailed the South Pacific on a schooner named Tiki looking for work and adventure. “Wagon Train” chronicled the lives of people on a wagon train traveling from Missouri to California in the late 1800s. Shows like these whet my appetite for travel and adventure. There were also movies.

My wanderlust was intensified further by full length feature films such as “The African Queen”, “South Pacific” and “Doctor Zhivago”. Was it vacations, TV shows and movies that honed my instincts to wander? Or, was there something else at play?

DRD4-7r (Wanderlust Gene)

Dan Scotti, Lifestyle Writer for Elite Dailey, in his article “The Wanderlust Gene: Why Some People are Born to Travel” says genes could play a part. He states that it has to do with the 7r derivative of the DRD4 gene. Dan gives considerable background on the correlation between the DRD4-7r gene and the heightened desire to explore.

This corresponds closely with the blog post “Is There really a ‘Wanderlust Gene’?” by Map Happy. Although there is doubt that any gene can directly affects someone’s behavior, both blogs site evidence that people with DRD4-7r tend to be bigger risk takers.
According to Map Happy, Robert Moyzis, a biochemistry professor at UC Irvine School of Medicine, says that people with DRD4 have “a ‘blunted’ version of the dopamine receptor”. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that gives us that feeling of well being. This means that these people require more dopamine than others to get that warm fuzzy feeling.

The theory is that people with the ‘blunted” dopamine receptors require more stimulation to get that “warm glow”. Consequently, they seek out new experiences to boost the level of dopamine in the brain and therefore, increase their sense of well being. That could be extrapolated into why some people have Wanderlust while others are content never to wander outside their own neighborhood.

Most everyone agrees that DRD4-7r is only one factor in the Wanderlust equation. There are other variables for sure. I do not know if I have this gene. But, I do know I have an unquenchable desire to travel, see new places and learn new things.

Some people may think of wanderlust as a burden. But, for me, it brings excitement to my life. I can not wait to take my next trip. Let the planning begin!

Tags Genes, Genetics, Movies, Television, Travel, TV, Wanderlust

People Travel

Reflections Of A US Army Veteran

Post author By LittleBoat14
Post date April 6, 2017

RECOGNITION FOR VIETNAM VETS

On Wednesday of March 29, 2017 I attended a tribute to Vietnam veterans sponsored by The Hospice and Palliative Care of Rowan County, North Carolina. It was a nice gesture to a group of Americans who put their lives at risk for their country for a cause that in hindsight was ill conceived. It has only been recently that there has been interest in recognizing these men and women for the sacrifices they made.

COMING HOME

When I left Vietnam February 20, 1968 a couple of hundred soldiers boarded a TWA Boeing 707 in Ben Hoa bound for San Francisco ( I believe). When we arrived back in the United States we were scattered to the wind. Each soldier boarded another flight to wherever home was. There was no reception, no one to shake your hand, no recognition whatsoever. My flight reservations for a domestic flight from California to North Carolina were made before I left Vietnam through a military travel service. When I arrived in the US, I found there was no such flight. I just took the first flight headed east which was to Dallas, Texas. From there I caught a flight to Greensboro, NC where I called my wife and asked her pick me up.

I did not expect a grand homecoming from the military. The one I received from my family was certainly enough. To this day I do not expect any special consideration for my military service. When someone thanks me for my service to my country I get a little embarrassed. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to serve. My life turned around because of my military experience. The training I received helped me gain employment with the former Bell System (AT&T). The GI Bill paid for my first two years of college. AT&T paid the tuition for me to finish my Bachelor’s degree. I had a rewarding career with a great company. Without the US Army that probably would not have happened.

One reason for the lack of ceremony is that troops did not travel to and from Vietnam as a unit. Once the unit arrived in country, soldiers were shuttled in and out via individual orders. From the time you arrived in Vietnam you stayed for one year to the day in most cases. At the end of your tour you returned to a unit somewhere in the US. That meant a soldier could be with a unit under fire within a day or two of arriving in Vietnam. The reverse could happen too. At the end of a soldier’s tour, he could be out in the boonies and two or three days later sitting in his living room at home. It was surreal.

LETTING GO

Some say that Vietnam veterans were snubbed and disrespected when they returned home. That probably happened. But, I did not have that experience. I think the lack of ceremony was due mostly to the logistics of ferrying soldiers in and out Vietnam. No doubt many Vietnam veterans paid a great price and deserved to be recognized for their sacrifice. Vietnam left an indelible mark on all who served there. But, those who have not and can not let go for whatever reason are doomed to further sacrifice.

1st Signal Brigade, Phu Lam, Vietnam 1967

REFLECTIONS OF A TIME PAST

I have had many emotions about Vietnam. I was very scared when I got on a DC3 bound for Chicago and on to Oakland Army Terminal, the staging point for Vietnam. My fear subsided on the flight over until I saw the coastline of Vietnam. Then it returned. At some point it left me altogether. I can not say when. Once I was settled in, there was the boredom of working nights and looking forward to coffee when the mess hall opened at 4AM. There was the adventure of going to the Post Exchange in Cholon and going to the bars with the Vietnamese bar flies. There was the anxiety over the TET Offensive and wondering if I was going to get to leave on schedule. There was the excitement of coming home. There was the feeling of dismay and emptiness seeing the chaos at the American Embassy when Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) fell to the North Vietnamese. There was (and still is) the disillusionment that so many people died and suffered for the pretense of safeguarding freedom and making the world safer.

THE COST OF WAR

Vietnam Memorial – Washington, DC (Picture by Michael Kleinberg)

The stated purpose for getting involved in Vietnam was to stop the spread of “Communism” in Asia before it dominated the world. We now know that Communism would have collapsed on it own without the loss of so many lives. According to the National Archives 58,220 Americans died in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and China. Britannica states the estimates of others killed are as follows: (1). 200,000 to 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers (2). 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers (3). 2 million Vietnamese civilians. That is a total of 3,358,220 people who died during the Vietnam conflict.

As I looked around the room at this recent tribute to Vietnam veterans in Salisbury, NC I felt melancholy. I felt uncomfortable being recognized for something that happened so long ago. I felt I had gone “Back to the Future”. I didn’t want to be there. Many veterans before and after Vietnam have served in wartime. Unfortunately, there are likely to be many more.

Tags Veteran, Veterans, Vietnam War

Travel

Movie: Silver Linings Playbook

Post author By LittleBoat14
Post date February 4, 2016

I DID NOT seek this movie out, which was released in 2012, on purpose. I was lying on the sofa nursing a bug that I caught last weekend. Out of boredom I tuned into NetFlix to see what I could find to watch. I came across this movie named “Silver Linings Playbook”. It was a comedy about a guy who had just been released from a mental hospital. It starred Robert De Niro and some other actors who were not as familiar to me. I thought I needed something to cheer me up. So, I pushed play.

I was hooked immediately. This movie pulls you in from the beginning and leaves you watching the credits at the end wishing for more. I am NOT a movie critic as you have probably guessed. But, i think this movie is well written and superbly casted. The acting is just over the top. Each character is so vivid that you feel as if you know them. I think it is De Niro’s best performance since “The Godfather”

Pat is played by Bradley Cooper. You would swear he really is “bi-polar”. Tiffany, whose life is in a death spiral since the loss of her husband, is played by Jennifer Lawrence who is just outstanding (Oscar for Best Actress). The rest of the supporting cast also gave memorable performances, a great tribute to Director David O. Russell. John Ortiz, who played Ronnie, was exceptional as a guy who appears on the verge of a cerebral stroke from all the stress at work and a demanding wife.

I don’t really remember the release of this movie in 2012. (forgot to watch the Oscars that year I guess) It was nominated for five Oscars with Ms. Lawrence winning Best Actress. There should have been more winners.

If you have Netflix, watch this movie. You won’t feel like you have wasted your time. After I watched it the first time, I recommended it to my wife and watched it with her a second time. I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. There are not many movies I can say that about. Maybe it’s because I can relate to the characters. 🙂

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi673817625?ref_=ttvi_vi_imdb_5