So, What Do You Do?

 "There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want." 
-- Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbs 

It is official: I have finally ordered my new "so, what do you do" cards allowing me to continue my retirement in a stress and drama free lifestyle, to which I have become accustomed. Well, not counting the fact that my wife Brooke alleges that I have discovered new and improved ways of getting on her nerves. To me, I feel as though I have mastered new skills to demonstrate my undying love to and for her; all in only 10 short months.

But, I digress. 

I have said previously that I believe one of the greatest by-products of retirement is flexibility. I have become a wanderluster, I have expanded my foodie palette, and most importantly, I have become a formidable professional sleeper-inner. I am quite literally available for practically anything at anytime (after 10:00 am local time of course). Folks, these are significant skills I am talking about!

Brooke and I often get out and about in Houston attending art gallery openings, checking out new restaurants, or going to our regular haunts. We are very social and friendly, and as a result, we meet many interesting and engaging strangers. Inevitably, the number one question that we are asked by new people we meet is, "So, what do you do?"

Brooke has mentioned to me that she prefers that I NOT say, "Well, I was just released from prison and I am trying to adjust to restaurant food and a free society!" I have solved this perplexing and difficult question to answer by simply ordering my own cards that are self-explanatory. Not to mention what it has done for my street cred!

     

"When a man retires, his wife gets twice the husband but only half the income." 

-- Chi Chi Rodriguez

 

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Wanderlust and a Thirst for Local Knowledge

One Woman's Quest for her CTA (the acronym more traveled) -

Today, Brooke received her official certificate of designation as an official Houston CTA. For those unfamiliar, a CTA is a Certified Tourism Ambassador. I have lived here in Houston for nearly 38 years and Brooke knows more about her adopted city than I will probably ever know. Congratulations Brooke! 

Each day now, Brooke will start several conversations with the seemingly innocuous, "Did you know ___________ about Houston?" Or, "I do not think you know just how significant <insert year> was to the history of Houston?" Which of course I do not know of such significance, but regardless, I act impressed and amazed by her fountain of information. My former most popular response to her, "Yes dear!" has been replaced by the famous phrase coined by the late Johnny Carson, "I did not know that?"

When you are an AirBnB Super Host this certification comes in quite handy when asked uncommon questions like, "Where is the closest grocery store?" or, "Is the water safe to drink?" Seriously, we actually get that question quite frequently and I always quickly hide my Scooby Doo look for fear of offending a guest. Now, if this was <insert year>, that would be an excellent question to ask.

All joking aside, the vast amount of things that Brooke knows about Houston is mind-boggling. She is versed and knowledgeable in truly interesting historical facts that have changed the attitudes (towards Houston) in the minds of nearly every guest that we have had the privilege to host. Houston is richer for her enthusiasm for this great city.

Brooke Candelaria - Houston CTA

Are you curious about any Houston detail? Ask Brooke! Rumor has it that she has taught Alexa and Siri everything they know! She would make the Allen brothers proud. For more information check out VisitHouston.com. 

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Portugal By Any Other Name Would Be "Maravilhoso"

“I've got two places I like to be. Portugal is one.” -- Cliff Richard

  

Castello Alfama as seen from the Topo Restaurant

It is quite simple really, no matter what locations you may have on your travel "bucket list", Portugal should be moved up. After our trip there this month (July 2017), we would argue that Portugal should be in your top 4. Why an oddly unexpected yet even number 4? Combined together, Brooke and I have visited over 100 countries and our undisputed top 4 include 1) Italy, 2) Czech Republic, 3) England and, 4) Portugal.

Portugal is truly "Maravilhoso" (Portuguese for Wonderful). It possesses ALL of the required components to assure an amazing and satisfying vacation, sabbatical, last minute getaway, or even, future retirement destination.

• Affordability in accommodations, transportation, food, and visitor activities

Panorama of our $60 per night flat in Lisbon

•  Great food including worldwide cuisines (seafood is the biggest star) 

 

• Fabulous weather

• A full spectrum of experiences (all in a small package) including, beaches, mountains, lakes, forests, camping, biking, hiking and touring

• Medieval history everywhere - monuments, castles, palaces, churches, museums, parks, plazas, ports     

 

As a nice bonus, my daughter Tahni (who currently lives in Brussels, Belgium) joined us in the beautiful city of Porto. She loves Porto and was an amazing tour guide for our 4 days there.

 A few random pictures from our trip:

Sadly, we witnessed the circle of life while in Porto. A few days before our arrival these two baby seagulls were born in their nest, which was directly outside the hallway window in our flat. Both eventually fell to their deaths 3 stories below before we departed. The mother seagull was very sad and actually "cried" over her loss for several days. Not the best ending to a wonderful trip, but a unavoidable fact of life.

Obrigado (Thanks) Portugal! In the paraphrased words of both Gen. MacArthur and Arnold Schwarzenegger, "We'll be BACK!"

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Headed to the World Cup? Here's how to not get robbed in foreign cities.

Everyone’s seen the video in which a Brazilian woman being interviewed on live TV is rumbled by a thief who brazenly steals her gold necklace on-air.

Having experienced Sao Paulo, which admittedly is not a particularly safe city, I'd like to share a few tips to increase your odds of not getting robbed. Especially if you're headed there for the World Cup.

• The general rule of thumb: don’t be stupid! You know all the usual stuff like never carrying your passport, always having ID, respecting laws and customs, not leaving a drink unattended, etc.

• Constantly scan your environment. Know what/who is in front of/behind/next to you. Don’t walk so close to the street or doorways that you or your belongings can easily disappear. Narrow streets are a dream for thieves on motorcycles. Notice buildings, landmarks and small details: they help keep you safe and alert and could be important if it becomes a crime scene.

• Separate your things. Put a ‘steal’ wallet in your pocket with stuff that you don’t really mind having lifted, including a modest amount of cash. Put your other money in your hidden pocket. If held up, offer the aggressor your fake wallet and your phone if you must.

• Related to the above, take only one credit card with you at a time, leaving others in the safe. Use an ATM during the day, return directly to the hotel and put it in the safe. Ensure you’re not being followed. Get the bell captain or concierge to have an employee accompany you to your room if you're nervous.

• In a taxi, it’s best to put your laptop bag in the trunk. Road-based thieves are often on motorcycles and just want you to open the window and hand over your wallet. They won’t take the time to examine the contents of the trunk.

• Walk confidently and don’t look clumsy or foggy. Head high, good alert posture, purposeful gait. Thieves read body language.

• Leave your bling home. Don’t look expensive. If you have a ‘more money than sense’ air about you, you’re an accident waiting to happen.

• Don’t wear silly heels. Carry them in a bag if you must, but you’ll be thankful for comfortable flat shoes if you have to run.

• Only take the public transportation known to be safe for visitors. In Sao Paulo, the metro is generally okay for anyone to take, but buses are never okay for tourists.

• Malls are generally pretty safe – as long as they have security guards, nice stores and restaurants, video surveillance and families.

• Study up on the place you’re going so you know the usual MO for thieves in that region (e.g., gypsy girls in Rome, young fit men preying upon middle-aged cruise passengers in the Baltics, tandem motorcycle riders in Sao Paulo, thieves who target the Metro in Paris).

• Register with STEP – the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. You’ll receive alerts about the countries/region(s) where you’re traveling, and can receive assistance more quickly from the State Department if you run into trouble.

This isn't a foolproof formula. But in a few decades of travel, I’ve never been robbed (thankfully!). Some of it is sheer luck; most of it is just being alert and practical. And I’ve been to some seriously dodgy places.

Don't let paranoia ruin your trip though - enjoy the travel, and don't be stoopid!

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Sao Paulo: first impressions

Olá, Brasil! Arriving in Sao Paulo, Brazil as a trailing spouse to Greggles provided the excitement of adding another continent to the list, and for me the first time I've been below the equator in 16 years. 

I've been reading up on this sprawling city (3,090 square miles!) with 20 million residents, and the major thread running through it all is ... crime. Oh well - you just cannot openly carry anything of value and you should be okay. And avoid motorcycles, especially those with two riders.

My impressions from our first few hours here ... 

Lots of serious poverty - we're talking desperately poor.

Graffiti everywhere, even in posh neighborhoods.

Traffic. All the time. What do you expect with 20 million residents plus visitors?

Amazing, amazing espresso - thank goodness for our access to the executive lounge at the hotel, with constant access. Coffee helped create this city.

Very meaty culture ... everything is about meat and I'm guessing that vegetarians have to look for options. Churrasco flavored potato chips, even. And what's up with the abundance of white bread? Weird...

And we really need to figure out a few words of Portuguese ... even with the World Cup coming here in a few weeks, signage is not in multiple languages and English is not something you hear a lot.

Portuguese is an interesting language - it sounds like what happens when you put Spanish, Japanese and French in a blender.

We will be venturing out a bit tomorrow, so I look forward to exploring more of local culture and maybe finding a good caipirinha!

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I could give you my word as a Spaniard

"I could give you my word as a Spaniard."

"No good. I've known too many Spaniards."

Greg and I love to quote this from our fave flick The Princess Bride, since he is of Spanish heritage. Plus, it's funny to say it in public because you find out who else is in the Princess Bride Club. 

I was fortunate enough to tag along with Greg to Spain (business for him). We've been to Barcelona previously, and we're fans. 

There's something magical about standing in front of any building or park designed by Antoni Gaudi. 

Or wandering through ancient Roman architecture, losing yourself in the mazed passageways of Barri Gotic, allowing yourself to succumb to the wafting smells of tiny restaurants and dimly lit antique shops. 

Spaniards are fascinating to me anyway, but the barcelonians are a little different and hard to just group with the rest of the country. This happens with other regions too, of course. 

What I like about barcelonians ...

• they tend to be friendlier than other European cultures
• they're social people and enjoy all kinds of interactions, whether it's chatting over a coffee or sharing tapas
• they're very culturally inclined, surrounding themselves with great design
• they love their dogs - a bunch
• they speak both Catalan and Spanish, in most cases
• they don't get a lot of sleep (seeing as dinner time starts around 10 pm...)
• they love to eat!

Yep, Barcelona is a pretty enjoyable place to hang out. And I think if a resident there gave me their word as a Spaniard, I'd be inclined to believe them!

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A sentimental journey

Ever take a trip that includes many moments that trigger your most sentimental self? Our recent vacation in upstate New York proved to be way high on the sentimentality scale, if there is such a thing. For me, this trip was wonderful in that I could recreate some of my childhood, enjoy being in the present moment with loved ones, and also think of a future which I know will change - one which admittedly includes some poignancy. 

For me, the sentimental journey was full of laughter, great weather, superb meals, and long walks with hubby. It was a break to really stop and smell the flowers, deeply inhale the scent of pine trees, and revel in the magic of fireflies hovering over the emerald grass at night - hardly daring to breathe, lest I diffuse the enchantment.

On another level, it was a time to be thankful for all the years I've been fortunate to have with some very special people. Dad is about to turn 98 and his physical health is astonishingly good, thanks to nearly incessant puttering in the yard. It doesn't matter that he doesn't really make a dent in the weeds and that the twigs and branches fall faster than he can get to them. I'm just thankful that my folks have a really big yard for Dad to enjoy. 

My mom is about to turn 79, but you'd never know it. She looks so much younger, acts younger and is super sharp. Dad knows how lucky he is to have her. She keeps everything together for them, and I'm so thankful that Dad has her since his dementia sometimes provides interesting challenges.  

After a thoroughly enjoyable hometown week with the folks, we headed to the Adirondacks where I've always believed my soul truly lives. My family has been going there for more than 40 years, and I've made it there nearly every year of my life. 

Schroon Lake is the town where my aunt and uncle first summered in the 1940s, where everyone would flock there to escape the oppressive New York heat to drink in the cool mountain air. After owning a camp in this town, my aunt and uncle found and purchased a run-down old place and thus adopted the project of Montparnasse, built in 1842. 

Everyone thought they'd taken leave of their senses, but I think it was a brilliant move because that little old house in the bend on the road includes some of the most gorgeous forest, stunning pond frontage and best memories imaginable. 

Even though my uncle is no longer with us, he is very much with us when we're visiting at Schroon Lake. My aunt, who now lives in southern California, on this trip declared this is her last summer at Montparnasse. Hearing her say this made me at first upset, thinking that somehow she's given up, but then I realized that she is just tired. And she misses her best friend. And, after all, she's 95. It's not an easy trip to make anymore. 

I'm sad she can't make it now to the big tree. It's a massive skyscraper of a pine tree with two trunks a mile and a bit up the road from the house. It holds court with its lofty branches over the surrounding forest. My aunt and uncle would make sure that anyone who visited them - anyone they really liked, that is - would be invited to hike up to the big tree. Upon touching the tree with both hands, one would be assured of one day returning to this very special place.   

I guess at the end of the day we're all just sentimental fools. The trick is to balance out not living in the past with accepting a future which must be different. It won't include the same loved ones, but we can always hope and pray we'll end up together in the end. 

And that, gentle reader, is the circle of life. 

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Visiting a mosque in Dubai

Another first: I visited a mosque.  

The Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai is open to non-Islamic people, which is a rarity. It includes an attached cultural center offering impressive public programs. Having never been inside a mosque, I figured a tour might be interesting.

As did 75 other people. We removed our shoes, covered our heads, shuffled in, sat on the floor and listened to a British docent who's been living in Dubai for 21 years explain fundamentals of Islam. 

This mosque was completed in 1979 and holds up to 1300 people. It's government supported, so the funding is secure. Worshipers stand side by side without gaps to prevent evil from entering. There is no VIP section as all are considered equal - the dignitary and the homeless man stand together. Men and women are separated to avoid distractions. The head of the mosque, the Imam, calls everyone to prayer.  

We were told about the five pillars of Islam which are the foundation for Muslim life. Unsurprisingly, our docent emphasized the peace of the religion and repeated a few times that they have nothing to do with radicals. 

The Pillars:
Shahadah - the declaration of faith
Salat - 5x daily prayer facing Mecca, beginning before dawn and ending after sundown
Zakāt - alms-giving as an obligation to help lift up those less fortunate; the tithe is 2.5%
Sawm - fasting (ritual, repentance or ascetic); obligatory in the month of Ramadan (thinking about not eating or drinking water for 12 hours makes my head hurt!)
Hajj - the pilgrimage to Mecca (in Saudi Arabia; birthplace of Muhammad), which every able-bodied Muslim is required to do once in his/her life

Missing a prayer or fast requires the believer to make up for it, so there's a lot of mindfulness involved.  

We learned more about abayas (women's garb) and how they're not as hot as they seem, and the dishdashes men wear (that cool black band on the head was originally used to corral camels so it was highly practical). 

There is the washing ritual, a key preparation for the faith. This explains why the restrooms are constantly flooded with water. Wash hands three times, mouth three times, nose three times, face three times. Wash hands up to elbows three times, once over the hair and behind the ears. Feet and ankles, three times each. If the cycle is broken, you must start again. That's a lot of water in the desert...

At the end of the day, the basic tenets of doing good, helping others, being mindful, improving oneself and repenting for misdeeds is universal - and as a Christian I see the similarities. 

I learned a lot more than I included here, and I know my interpretation is pretty sophomoric, but it was helpful to have a glimpse into a much-aligned faith. It also reinforced to me why I'd fail in Muslim society due to my overly independent and often stubborn behavior, along with an occasional lack of discipline and good judgement. Let's just leave it at that. :-)

 




 

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