Adrenaline Junkie

I wrote in my last post that I might be an adventure junkie and I realize that may also mean I am an adrenaline junkie. For as far back as I can remember, I have been one to push the envelope. I like to see how close I can come to the deadline without being late, seeing how far I can put off studying before I prep for the test, etc. I love the rush of cutting it close, and having to figure things out on the fly. I work well under pressure and always feel a lot more accomplished than if I had done it ahead of time. (Actually, I can't confirm that last statement since I can't remember ever completing something well ahead of time!) Maybe I am simply justifying my procrastination and laziness? Nah.

A few days ago was no different. For my international flight from Fort Lauderdale International to Cartagena, Colombia, I decided two hours was more than enough time even though the airline said "arrive at least three hours prior". The luggage weight limit was 40lbs, and I had managed to get it to exactly that. After standing in line for about 15 minutes, a lady with a walkie talkie asked where I was going, and when I said Cartagena she immediately pulled me out of line and put me into a speed lane. Awesome, I like short lines. It turned out to be a very good thing that she had done that because when I got the the counter, Miss Terry with Spirit Airlines asked about my "proof of return or onward journey". Uhhh... oops. I knew that this was a "requirement" but I had done some research and decided it was more of a "suggestion". Wrong answer. None of my charm worked on Terry, so I had to either buy a non-refundable ticket from her, or go sit down with my computer and book something on my own and email it to her. I decided to take the latter route since I didn't feel like throwing away $250 on a ticket I wasn't planning on using. Luckily, the Fort Lauderdale International Airport has free WIFI in terminal 4 so I was able to search for stuff. I had 30 minutes until the baggage cut-off and 45 minutes until they began boarding. Plenty of time.

As it turned out however, that was barely enough time. I couldn't find a bus journey, and it took me a while to find a refundable ticket. With three minutes to cut-off I ran back to Terry and asked her ever-so-kindly to check my bag in while I finished purchasing the ticket. She agreed that was a good idea. But I still needed to email her proof before she would give me my boarding pass. When I finally got back to the counter she was helping a thin, middle-aged man with shoulder length silver hair, adorned in gold jewelry (think Mr. T) and paying for three additional bags from a roll of cash. He described himself as an Independent Business Owner (he left Terry a business card that I was able to see) and he was on his way to Medellín. Hmmm...

By the time I finally got my boarding pass, they had already begun boarding and I still needed to get through security. Thankfully the line was short and there were only three people in front of me to go through the metal detector. Unfortunately, one of them was Mr. Medellín. Between his 15 gold chains, 8 rings, and wrist-full of bracelets, there was no way he was going to make it through. Each time the machine beeped he seemed confused and removed something else from his pocket - a small key, a pack of gum. Finally, after four slow unsuccessful attempts they pulled him aside for additional screening. And off I go! I had just enough time to grab a muffin and a coffee at a kiosk before boarding my plane. Made it again! :)

To date, I have never yet missed a flight, whether traveling for work or for pleasure (knock on wood!) despite many  close calls. Why do I continue to do this to myself? How hard would it be to arrive thirty minutes earlier, or spend ten minutes booking a fake onward journey? Perhaps it's just that I love to travel, and that it is so much more fun when my heart is racing thinking that this just might be the day when I finally miss a flight. :)

(By the way, they never did ask me for any proof of onward travel when I arrived in Cartagena like Terry said they would. I guess it was it was more of a "suggestion" after all!)

On the road again...

Hello again everyone! After three and a half months at home, (and even longer since the last post) I am once again hitting the road. Three and a half months now seems like a long time to have been home, but thankfully it was pretty eventful. I arrived in time for my mother's birthday, I attended two weddings (one being my youngest brother's wedding), I traveled to North Carolina twice - once to visit my new baby niece, and the other to attend my other brother's graduation. I also went to UofA Homecoming, (too bad we couldn't win the game!) partied with a bunch of old friends for Halloween in Phoenix, and attended my dad's big seventies-themed 65th Birthday Bash! I caught up with many old friends and family and even made some new friends. All in all, three and a half months well spent!

Now it is time to hit the road again, destination: South America! I begin the trip in Cartagena, Colombia, and as usual, I haven't planned much. In fact, I arrive to Cartagena not knowing where I will sleep the first night. I will take either the bus or a collective taxi to the center of town and then walk around until I find a good place. I've employed this tactic many times before and it has rarely failed - except that one time in Norway. If I am lucky, I will meet someone on the bus that takes me home with them like the time in Austria! We shall see! I believe adventure is what happens when things don't go according to planned, and if I don't plan anything, then I will ALWAYS have an adventure because it never goes according to planned! :) I might be an adventure junkie.

Here's to the next adventure!

People-watching

I love people-watching. It is probably my favorite sport. Some people hunt crocodiles for fun, I watch people. You can watch the human beast in it's natural habitat, doing things that may not be that interesting at first glance, but upon analysis, can give good insight into the normal practices of the species, and the creature's tribe.

People watching in Paris

People-watching is generally a sport practiced at places with high foot traffic, and with few hiding places. You don't want the creature to simply hide in it's cave the whole time, like the gorillas at the zoo have a tendency to do. Airports and other transit stations are great places for this, but here you may be seeing many foreign species that have been introduced to the location, and are not in fact natives to the region. I like spots where there is a good mix of native and non-native creature-traffic. City centers are often the best for this. I am a huge fan of sitting at an outdoor cafe/restaurant and watching for a few hours while enjoying my food and beverage.

People watching in Morocco

It can be a very cheap sport to practice, but lately, it is getting more and more costly. No, I don't need a new uniform or gear, but the best people watching is done outside, and here in Spain you actually pay MORE to sit outside. You can order the same exact coffee, beer, water, or food, and if you eat it on the terrace, you pay up to 25% more. (In Marrakech, there was one place we had to pay an entrance fee!) At first I found this a little strange. I could go inside, and have nice air conditioning, or pay more to sit in the heat. Hmmm... But it actually makes perfect sense. We are animals that don't like to be caged. If I have to pay a few dollars more to be rid of the bars and chains, it will be done. Not only that, I get to be outside with all the other liberated creatures and watch them carrying out their normal routines.

As I sit here in Seville, Spain, outside a restaurant in 97F/ 36C with 40% humidity, sweating profusely and listening to the construction 30 feet away, I think: those few extra dollars are totally worth it!

Nude Beach Etiquette

One of the coves in Cabo de Gata

Growing up, I learned a lot of etiquette. From my parents, from TV, in university, and at work. Traveling around I've been exposed to cultural differences with regards to etiquette. For example, in the states, people usually order their own meals, and eat from their own plates, however in many countries, communal dishes are ordered and shared, sometimes eating with the hands. In fact, it would be rude to want a plate for yourself. In the last few days, I have been made aware of my ignorance in a whole new area: nude beach etiquette.