Monday, May 31, 2004
Epilogue: I'd Rather Be Blue...
And so our Iceland adventure ended, with an otherworldly, refreshing dip in the warm, milky, mineral waters of the Blue Lagoon. It's about 4 feet deep and the floor is sand and white clay-like material. It really seemed to have soothing, beneficent qualities. And now, I must off to sleep my friends
this entry's permalink
Spin Spin Reykjavik
Lava Fields and Ash-and-Snow-Striped Mountains...Our jeep trip yesterday took us inland to the ´southern highlands,´ an endless mountainous expanse of volanic wastland that reminded me of the sets of "Lost in Space," the 1965-68 TV classic, not the cheesy 90s movie. This lasted about 8 hours and included an opportunity to bathe naked in a steaming natural pool with air temperature of 40F and a strong wind. We declined. Over coffee our Icelandic guide (a moonlighting TV cameraman) and a fellow tourist from Denmark gave us an earful about Iraq and US behavior in general. The guide was trying to hit on the tourist, and made a point of dropping me and Mom off first. Lunch was haphazard, they failed to inform us it was bring your own.
In the evening, while Mom rested at the hotel, I took the stick-shift car for a three hour spin around Reykjavik, visiting landmarks, stopping to stroll through the sleepy streets lined with adorable colored houses. I searched for wierd Icelandic food, but to no avail. Guess I wasn´t destined to savor rotten shark and pickled ram´s testicles. Darn. Today, we visit the Blue Lagoon on the way to the airport, should touch down around 6:40pm at JFK and be home at 8pm. Very nice break, and now I can stick shift. Mission accomplished! this entry's permalink
Sunday, May 30, 2004
Iceland is Green, and Greenland is Ice...
Land Man A Lawyer... That´s how you pronounce today´s volcanic destination-scape, Lanmannalaugar. We got up at 7:30am (only a paid excursion could make us stick to this), and will be driven by jeep into Iceland´s formidable interior, starting in the Þjórsárdalur Valley with a stop at the Hjálparfoss waterfall. Also on the menu are active volcanos, bathing pools in lava fields, explosion craters, and spooky volcanic mountains. Full report later. It´s very, very sunny here again today, supposedly a rarity in these parts. Count us as lucky. Hope you´re enjoying the same, wherever you are... "Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?" - Groucho Marx"
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go."
- Oscar Wilde
"In each human heart are a tiger, a pig, an ass and a
nightingale. Diversity of character is due to their unequal
activity." - Dr. Jamrach Holobom
this entry's permalink
Saturday, May 29, 2004
Hrútspungar, Anyone?
Meet #2 of Iceland´s Five Wierdest Things To Eat: Hrútspungar are pickled ram testicles, pictured here, often served pressed into a cake with garlic, as a jam, or as a kind of paté. My guidebook comments: ´Not bad if you don´t think about it too much, especially in paté form. Mom and I ate at Hummerhusið, or Lobster House. That´s not a typo in the restaurant name, but the Icelandic letter for ´th´as in then or those.
It´s 9:30pm. Sun´s still high in the sky. No Golden Circle today, Aaron drove 110km in the wrong direction, over dramatic fjord and mountain seascapes, including a 6-kilometer, 14-dollar ride through a tunnel under the fjord. Pictured left is Reykjavik´s Gay Pride Parade.this entry's permalink
Land Of The Almost Midnight Sun
Lo and behold, it was 10:50pm when the sun slid behind the Reykjavik bay horizon last night. Well past midnight, dim orange light reflected off the low clouds, i.e., civil twilight. We awoke at noon today to another rare partly sunny Iceland day. By 1:30pm we should hit the road. Destination: The Golden Circle. Details to follow!this entry's permalink
Friday, May 28, 2004
Happy Birthday Dave!
My brother-in-law Dave turns 41 tomorrow (Sat May 29). Here´s his wedding picture w my sister Deena, taken October 1, 1988. this entry's permalink
Scissor Spotlight: here´s NME´s on-target review of the Scissor Sisters show I took in with Thomas at the Bowery Ballroom last Sunday. Even better, what they´re all about, plus a vivid and helpful review of their amazing CD.
Impressions of Iceland so far: eerily beautiful, lots of volcanic rock and green tundra, snowy mountains framing deep blue harbors, two-lane strips of highway, and groupings here and there of cheerfully colored little houses, a crayola-box cornucopia of paint aimed at chasing away the arctic blues... Reykjavik and environs are home to half of Iceland´s 250,000 inhabitants. Thus, the population of Chelsea and Greenwich Village occupying an island the size of West Virginia.
Aaron climbs the stick-shift learning curve! My reflexes are kicking in, this was a superb idea. It is, however, just as well that I did my first spin without Mom in tow. That was a 45-minute version of a 10-minute trip, stretched out by infinity missed turns and street names that are all extremely long, similar-sounding, and printed on very small signs : - ) I am happy to report most of my mistakes involve gears, hurting the car, rather than traffic, which would endanger me and other people! A stick-shift car lets you know very quickly when it is unhappy, in the form of a noxious, burning chemical smell which is literally sparks flying around the rubber cords in your gear box.
this entry's permalink
Burning Rubber In Wonderland...
Impressions of Iceland so far: eerily beautiful, lots of volcanic rock and green tundra, snowy mountains framing deep blue harbors, two-lane strips of highway, and groupings here and there of cheerfully colored little houses, a crayola-box cornucopia of paint aimed at chasing away the arctic blues... Reykjavik and environs are home to half of Iceland´s 250,000 inhabitants. Thus, the population of Chelsea and Greenwich Village occupying an island the size of West Virginia. Aaron climbs the stick-shift learning curve! My reflexes are kicking in, this was a superb idea. It is, however, just as well that I did my first spin without Mom in tow. That was a 45-minute version of a 10-minute trip, stretched out by infinity missed turns and street names that are all extremely long, similar-sounding, and printed on very small signs : - ) I am happy to report most of my mistakes involve gears, hurting the car, rather than traffic, which would endanger me and other people! A stick-shift car lets you know very quickly when it is unhappy, in the form of a noxious, burning chemical smell which is literally sparks flying around the rubber cords in your gear box.
this entry's permalink
66 N Getaway
Hey everyone. Arrived in Iceland safe, sound, and jet lagged. It´s 2pm and Mom refuses to get up, arguing, correctly, that it is not morning : - ) Impressions thus far are that Iceland is quite pretty, so far quite sunny, odd-colored volcanic rocks dotted the green tundra as we zipped by many tiny and colorful little towns to Reykjavik, a harbor city facing the ocean and flanked by snow-capped mountains. It´s not unlike Northern Norway, if you´ve ever been there. Hope you´re having a great Memorial Day Weekend everyone. Will write more when I have some decent internet access - this is a stand up terminal, one window only, time limit and confusing keyboard : - ) Better go eat some smoked fish and try to look inconspicuous : - ) Later!this entry's permalink
Thursday, May 27, 2004
From New York, To Chez Björk..
I will be posting from Iceland of course, so that you can accompany my stick-shift midnight sun unrepentant Viking adventure...I love the last day of work before a break...
For company on this junket I've invited along my Mom (pictured below on Arizona's Apache Trail)
this entry's permalink
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Iceland tomorrow night! Here's another picture from my web site's embryonic 'travels' page. Here's a Professkimo (professional eskimo) I encountered on a Norwegian Coastal Voyage from Bergen (60N 5E) to Kirkenes (70N 31E) and back. Next to him is a reindeer. The fur on their antlers sheds, and then the antlers themselves shed. You can buy and eat reindeer sausage in Norway. I tried to bring back some for my JPM office Xmas party, but it was confiscated in customs.. Curses, foiled again!
This trip was in August 2000, and it rained for 9 of the 12 days! The boat was akin to a 'local train,' and between stops and land excursions I felt like I visited every town and village in Norway... except Oslo, which is inland.
Bergen:
Kirkenes, the Norwegian-Russian border
this entry's permalink
This trip was in August 2000, and it rained for 9 of the 12 days! The boat was akin to a 'local train,' and between stops and land excursions I felt like I visited every town and village in Norway... except Oslo, which is inland.
Bergen:
Kirkenes, the Norwegian-Russian border
this entry's permalink
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
The many colors I can use:
this entry's permalink
aliceblue antiquewhite aqua aquamarine azure beige bisque blanchedalmond blue violet burlywood cadet blue chartreuse chocolate coral cornflowerblue cornsilkcrimson cyan darkblue darkcyan darkgoldenrod darkgray darkgreen darkkhaki darkmagenta darkslategray darkturquoise darkviolet deeppink deepskyblue dimgray dodgerblue firebrick forestgreen fuschiagainsboro gold goldenrod gray green greenyellow honeydew hotpink indianred indigo khaki lavender lavenderblush lawngreen lemonchiffonlightsalmon lightseagreen lightskyblue lightslategray lightsteelblue lightyellow lime limegreen magenta maroon mediumaquamarine mediumblue mediumorchid mediumpurple mediumseagreen mediumslateblue mediumspringreen mediumturquoise mediumvioletred midnightblue mintcream mistyrose
this entry's permalink
Small World
Well, Well... Our Scissor Boy sure gets around! Yesterday I learned that Jake Shears aka Jason Sellards, lead singer/songwriter of the brilliant Scissor Sisters (more on them later), dated someone I know, and tried to date a good friend's partner a few years ago while in college (when the partner was still single). I confess I'm a bit envious! Finally recovered from Sunday's revelry. Left me thirsty for more rock shows, and this is looking like a good summer for it. Iceland in two days, Mom arrives tomorrow. Got my ears cleaned out in anticipation : - ) My ear doctor is actually named Dr. Desloge (picture below), a fitting name for a wax Dislodger : - )
this entry's permalink
Monday, May 24, 2004
AWESOME!
Had the enormous pleasure tonight of seeing Scissors Sisters, an exciting and promissing band, play live at Bowery Ballroom. More on this tomorrow (meaning today after 6 hours sleep).¡Buennas Noches!
George Bush's election chances, in my opinion:
this entry's permalink
Saturday, May 22, 2004
"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." - Grouch Marx
"My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the hell she is." - Ellen DeGeneris
"If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner. " - Tallulah Bankhread
"A casual stroll through a lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything." - Nietzche
" Who is General Failure, and why is he reading my hard disk? " - Steven Wright
The Sublime... And The Ridiculous
this entry's permalink
"My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the hell she is." - Ellen DeGeneris
"If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner. " - Tallulah Bankhread
"A casual stroll through a lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything." - Nietzche
" Who is General Failure, and why is he reading my hard disk? " - Steven Wright
The Sublime... And The Ridiculous
this entry's permalink
Friday, May 21, 2004
Stuck In The Mezzo With You
Chelsea's Intermezzo was the setting for a lovely Italian dinner with friends last night. Once my quiet hideaway, Intermezzo has been remodeled into a chic hotspot and a favorite of "Queer Eye" star Carson. 
At least they've dimmed the lighting again to an intimate soft red. Their food is still delicious. Bart and I both had Chicken stuffed with shrimp and asparagus in wine sauce over pesto mashed potatoes. Bart's beau AJ and our friend Will stuck to the exquisite house pasta. this entry's permalink
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Paella Party
Last night I (over)dined at El Quijote, the 75-year-old Spanish restaurant nestled in the equally historic Hotel Chelsea half a block east of my apartment. Joining me were my friend Pat Stumpp and her charming guest, Mariana, who hails from Arequipa, Peru, and happens to work (indirectly) for Bavaria, the beer company I am currently analyzing. Oversized portions are the rule at Quijote, and in an hour I consumed a 3-day caloric allowance, mostly via multiple helpings of Paella Valenciana. And I only ate about 1/3 of what I was served, too. If I had taken home the remains (which Quijote encourages), I would have been eating Paella for days, not a good strategy as bathing suit weather approaches... : - ) Sangria further animated our already lively evening. More about the Venezuelan luncheon later, plenty worth commenting there...
this entry's permalink
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Oil Slick
It's Suit and Tie time... Formal function on today's calendar from 12-2.. I get to hear the spellbinding CEO of Venezuela's state oil company address the scintillating topic: "Venezuelan Energy Sector: Past and Future Of the Venezuelan Oil Industry." This opus will be served with lunch at the Cambridge Room of the Harvard Club. Now, I wonder what the Trachtenberg Family Players could do with these slides... : - ) 
Last weekend I watched "Umberto D," the 1952 Italian classic about an impoverished old man's fight to hold on to dignity in a society that no longer has any use for him. Marvelous movie, centered by a gifted non-actor and stark black and white visuals of a crumbling, war-torn, poverty-stricken Italy during the post-war years.Director De Sica really got the emotions right. You can see the pained and akward looks on the faces of Umberto's friends when he mentions his money woes. The scene at the dog pound is also devastating. Next on my Netflix list is "Close Encounters," which I'm 1/2 hour into and still not very engaged... More to come... Here's the Harvard Club Building, in case you were wondering.
this entry's permalink
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Will I Be Next?
That Special Man, Round Three? With thousands of my gay brothers and sisters tying the knot, I'm realizing how much I miss the companionship and affection of having a boyfriend. Maybe it's time to be a little more pro-active in this department... This is an exciting time. The contrast is amazing when I flash back to the fear and isolation I felt in my teen years, when society was mostly silent or disapproving of homosexuality, and I felt I would always be an outsider and never belong. There were no role models, just contempt and silence. With gay marriage legal, hopefully nobody will have to feel this way again... 
this entry's permalink
Monday, May 17, 2004
And It All Came Together...
When Dad Sang Along
The Trachtenberg Family Players are an unusual act, to say the least! Their 'concept' is writing rock songs, even 'operas', based on slide shows rescued from garage sales and the garbage."OPNAD," for example, celebrates a 1978 McDonald's management conference in song! Daddy Jason Trachtenberg is the lyricist, keyboardist, guitarist, lead singer, and MC. His wife Tina mans the slide projector. Their spunky 10-year old daughter Rachel is a very convincing drummer and sings, too.
Friday my friend Thomas and I caught their act at Northsix in Williamsburgh. That journey in itself merits a posting. We saw their excellent "revue" in which they stood on stage and cooked tortillas for the audience (from Maseca Corn Meal) and introduced their five quirky and clever musical warm-up acts, mostly very good. About 70-80 people attended, seated in varying degrees of comfort on bleachers and the floor. 
this entry's permalink
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Happy Birthday, Christi!
Christi and I went to see Cirque du Soleil's Allegria show on Randall's Island. It was really amazing, colorful, a total delight. We literally darted to her car afterwards to avoid getting soaked. This whole weekend was just beautiful weather in New York - summery, sunny, 80F with a breeze. just lovely.... soon I'll be in Iceland : - ) 
this entry's permalink
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Friday, May 14, 2004
Happy Birthday Doug!
Wherever you are... Which is probably London, but could even be Moscow or Alma-Aty... Here's a picture of Doug relaxing last year among the Karen people in the hills of Northern Thailand...Back In The High Life Again! I'm happy to report that Hertz Rental Corporation has restored my rental privileges! I'm no longer a Hertz pariah! Yahoo! I'm so glad I fought back and defended my rights by hiring a lawyer. There's a object lesson here. What a great way to end a week!
Hey, Hey, We're The Trachenbergs! I'm going to Williamsburgh tonight, to NorthSix, to check out the Trachenberg Family Players, who, in their own words, "are an indie-vaudeville conceptual art-rock pop band that takes vintage slide collections that have been found at estate sales,garage sales,thrift stores,etc., and turn the lives of annonymous strangers into pop-rock musical exposes based on the contents of these slide collections." It sounds like enormous fun. Full report later.
this entry's permalink
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Everybody's talking about it, even in the thatched huts of Lesotho! Aaron's very first ABN research report has finally, finally been published... this entry's permalink
Smells Like Unrat...
Poor Professor Rath. Sure, he's an ill-tempered curmudgeon, but his students tease him mercilessly, calling him "Unrat" instead of Rath, a play on words in German meaning "foul smell." I've been reading this classic German novel, in which the stodgy professor is totally ruined when he becomes obsessed with a cabaret singer named Lola. Only half-way through the book did I realize that this was the basis of the classic 1930 film "The Blue Angel" (see picture) that launched Marlene Dietrich and the song "Falling In Love Again." Decades later, Mel Brooks and Madeleine Khan (playing Lily Von Shtupp) parodied this scene in "Blazing Saddles" with the hilarious musical number, "I'm Tired." Interestingly, Dietrich left Germany in 1933, unable to stomach the nazis, while Emil Jennings, who played the Professor, stayed and became a Nazi progandist. He was disgraced after the war... this entry's permalink
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Summer's Here!
It sure feels that way in NY, with 80 degree mid-day highs and 8pm sunsets... I'm more sleepy than perky, facing a tough work week, what's left of it.. I did finish Dr Strangelove last night, which I appreciated much more than 20 years ago when I first saw it. Peter Sellers is so amazing playing the frustrated President, the hapless British major, and the bizarre ex-Nazi title character. George C Scott and Sterling Hayden also do great turns as a hawkish general and an insane colonel who triggers Armageddon, respectively. My appetite is now whet to see more Peter Sellars. I'd love to see "Mouse That Roared" again, where he plays another three roles, include the Duchess of Grand Fenwick! : - )Here's a Sellers gallery
_(edwards).jpg)
this entry's permalink
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Victory Is Sweet...
They've finally listened to reason! Thanks to my lawyer, that is... I'm happy to report that Hertz is dropping their claim and agreeing that the insurance covered my accident. I think I'll be off their bad list, too.
My sister Deena and her family are going to the San Diego in early June, home of the awesome San Diego Zoo. I was there on New Year's Day, and was amazed by the quality as well as the quantity of this ingeniously designed love letter to animal diversity. I saw at least 30-40 animals I'd never seen before, all of them really spectacular. Here's one:
Changing the subject, this is NOT where my Mom and I will be staying in Iceland on Memorial Day weekend:
this entry's permalink
Monday, May 10, 2004
Good news. Spoke with my lawyer and he thinks Hertz will ultimately admit they were wrong and leave me alone. yay! I asked him also to push to get my Hertz rental privileges back, just on principle. Below is a view of Neah Bay, Washington, close to where my accident happened on August 30, 2003. This is near Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point in the lower 48 states.
this entry's permalink
this entry's permalink
This weekend I spent holed up with DVDs, music, and books on tape. Among the classics viewed was 1964's brilliant "Dr Strangelove," the black comedy about nuclear armageddon featuring Peter Sellars in three different roles. I hadn't seen it since my teen years, and I dare say we've both aged well. Slept only 6 hours last night : - ( so I'm a bit groggy. but, Forward March... this entry's permalink
Sunday, May 09, 2004
Madre, Hay Una Sóla
That's an Argentine Tango that translates as "you only have one Mom" - Happy Mother's Day My Mom is 2,400 miles away in Phoenix, but we will celebrate belatedly in 3 weeks, since I have invited her along for my stick-shift-driving Iceland adventure Memorial Day weekend. So what to do today? Hmmm (or Gmmm, as they say in Russian). Watch a few DVDs (I have Umberto D and Dr Strangelove out from Netflix). Definitely go out for fresh air. Listen to lots of music. Read about the metals and mining industry (my homework). Btw, I was really knocked out by the Spanish film "Open Your Eyes," a mind-bending existential parable about a womanizing rich kid who's disfigured in an accident, the movie Hollywood remade with Tom Cruise as "Vanilla Sky." Full report later. The photo is by MusedPixedFlake, one of my favorite photobloggers. I realized I haven't done Galería in a while. Maybe later. Cheery-o... this entry's permalink
Saturday, May 08, 2004
I just saw a great movie which made its impact in all of 68 minutes: "Yossi and Jagger." It's about two gay Israeli soldiers, one of whom is the commander and slightly more closeted, and their relationship with each other and their fellow soldiers, including two women, one very horny. Many firsts: a gay Israeli movie in the snow, with a modern sensibility. Really unusual and worthwhile. See it.
this entry's permalink
this entry's permalink
Friday, May 07, 2004
Know Your Onion...
You know I only mention The Onion when it's really funny, which it wasn't for a couple of weeks. But this week it's really awesome. Check out the "What Do You Think?" survey about social security's time bomb future and "Darling, You Were Well Worth Nine Goats," a hilarious tribute/love letter by a (cluelessly) medieval rural Moslem to his (long-suffering) wife.To whet your appetite, here's a sample of the survey:
Q.Experts urge Congress that Social Security will become insolvent if action isn't taken. What do you think?
A. "It's a good thing I already have a taste for dog food."
A. "Everybody, relax. We'll be fine as soon as we get our money back from Iraq."
this entry's permalink
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Sink Your Teeth Into This
Juicy delicious pears melt into your mouth in a delicious rush of flavor and texture. It is the time! Treat yourself to a few - the best thing you could possibly due for a jolt of springtime good feeling. good night. love, Aaronthis entry's permalink
Quote of The Day:
"It's no wonder that so many Americans are obsessed with the finale of the sitcom "Friends" right now. They're the only friends we have, and even they're leaving." - Thomas Friedman, in New York Times column of today.
this entry's permalink
"It's no wonder that so many Americans are obsessed with the finale of the sitcom "Friends" right now. They're the only friends we have, and even they're leaving." - Thomas Friedman, in New York Times column of today.
this entry's permalink
Just completed 5 hours of sleep. That red-eye flight came with its own jet lag. : - ) Last night I saw the 1958 film "Look Back In Anger" and was blown away. What a powerful and intense film, visually as well as verbally. Well, I'd better get ready for that skipping and whistling marathon known as work. : - )
this entry's permalink
this entry's permalink
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
"America is ungovernable. Those who serve the revolution plow the sea. The only thing to do in America is emigrate." - Simon Bolívar, father of South American independence, in a particularly depressed moment before his death in 1830
"I must say it's really dreary living in the American Age. Unless, of course, you're an American..." - Jimmy Porter, as played by Richard Burton in "Look Back In Anger," the 1958 movie version of John Osborne's hard-hitting play.this entry's permalink
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Bogotired... : - ) I spent six hours with a beer company. The plant was interesting, huge, ultramodern, and clean, with 60 enormous fermenting vats and a whole hanger full of bottle-filling and bottle-capping machines, very cute. We drove 30 miles north of Bogotá to get there through the 'Savannah'. Then, lunch at "Café Reault," a showroom turned fancy shmancy restaurant, with two full size Renaults among the tables. I had the Robespierre, cubes of steak in brown pepper gravy, served on a bed of mixed lettuce with rich vineagrette dressing. I also had a lite Aguila beer, and earlier I tried a non-alcoholic malt beverage. Now I have 8 hours to kill before my flight, and it's rainy and nasty out. Sightseeing? Not sure yet. Their only NY flights leave at 9am, noon, and 11:59pm redeye. Will be happy to get home.
this entry's permalink
this entry's permalink
Now Bogotá
Bogotyping is Bogotricky on this strangely arranged Bogokeyboard. Arrived last night in rain and darkness. As we walked down the gangway off the plane, the crew turned into an Umbrella Opening and Distribution Assembly Line. Bogotá looked pretty charmless in the dark and rain, but this morning the city is kissed by the equatorial sun and you can see the majestic mountains towering in the horizon. I have one long meeting from 9 to 1 at a beer company, consisting of interviews, a plant tour, and lunch. Then, I have a lot of time on my hands until my 11:59pm flight home. There´s no earlier flight to switch to that isn't too early with layovers elsewhere. I have no more work with me to do, and my local colleagues have no time to hang out with me. I might actually have to do some sightseeing - carefully, with a driver to protect me. We'll see what happens. this entry's permalink
Monday, May 03, 2004
From Caracas, With Images
It's been a short, but pleasant stay. Caracas looks nicer than I'd pictured, sandwiched between two thin mountain ridges the sides of which are dotted with squatter homes. It's urban and congested but also green and tropical. "Venezuela the country and people" is a colorful and chaotic siamese twin brother of "Venezuela the oil company that pays the bills". People seem extremely nice. Local cuisine, alas, is their take on meat and potatoes (meat and plantains?).
My meetings went well, in an hour I'll head out to the airport and hop a plane to Bogota, 630 miles to the southwest and 90 minutes by air. Caracas, btw, is 2120 miles south of New York, about 80% the distance to my family in Phoenix.
Venezuelan Congress, courtyard
Caracas Metropolitan Cathedral
Caracas - Eastern Park
Palace of the Academies (Venezuela's First University)
Where Caracas' poorer residents live...
Caracas has miles of beach...
this entry's permalink
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Into The Wild Blue Yonder
Off I go, on a whirlwind two-day two-country three-interview trip. I've spent most of day preparing after spending most of yesterday lying down in order to recuperate. All that sleep definitely helped. Here's where I'm headed:
Aaron Geek Watch: This will be my 24th trip to South America, my 42nd trip to Latin America, and my 78th Foreign Trip, where I have spent 16 months, 19 months, and 34 months, respectively. I have also travelled 21 times to Europe (8 months total), 18 times to Mexico (3 1/2 months), 7 times to Asia (2 1/2 months), 4 times to the Middle East (3 months), 5 times to Canada (1 1/2 months), and once to Sub-Saharan Africa for 1 week. By country, Mexico leads with 18 visits, followed by Brazil with 17, Argentina with 13, and France with 10. If we rank by days spent per country, Argentina leads wiht 279 days, then Brazil with 115, Mexico with 103, France with 96, Chile with 70, and Israel with 60. Hope you have enjoyed the statistics. Statistics have an appealing tangibility, solidity, and reliability when compared to the murky terrain of human interaction and endeavor. : - ) Let's talk soon. Love, Aaron.
this entry's permalink
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Screw-ups and more screw-ups. got the wrong friggin night for the concert, now I have a major conflict. Shitfuck. I lay in bed all day today trying to kill this bug with rest. Disoriented. Got no work done. At least I had a good language day. This little cartoon amused me.
this entry's permalink
this entry's permalink
