Travel Blog

We have had the opportunity to go to the Matchbox restaurant for happy hour as well as have dinner there. We have always enjoyed happy hour at the Matchbox Restaurant in Palm Springs. The menu is great, the food tastes great and the prices are very good as well for Happy hour. We can highly recommend this location with the exception of windy days because the wind sometimes will blow through the alleyway upstairs which can be unpleasant. Also, the afternoon sun shines on this particular patio and can be quite hot. They do have umbrellas, but until the sun sets behind the mountains the temperature can be very uncomfortable in the afternoons.

They provide heaters as well for those days that are on the cool side and there is a fire pit to keep you warm were you can sit and look out on the small courtyard and Palm Canyon Drive beyond. This is actually a great spot to sit if you like to people-watch. In addition, sometimes there is entertainment on the patio below which you can listen to.

Matchbox Restaurant Palm Springs – Not so Good

We also had dinner at the matchbox in the main restaurant and were less than pleased. Dinner was for nine people and we found that the service was not nearly what it is during happy hour. Whenever you have a group of people, the restaurant only wants to have one bill and they want to automatically add an 18% tip to the bill. This is fine if you receive excellent service.

We did not receive very good service at all, certainly not even close to justifying an 18% tip.  It is our fault for not complaining; however, we were with a large group and did not want to make a scene. I would simply suggest you not go there or negotiate service and tip prior to being served. Once you are in the place, they hold you to ransom and make you pay the full 18% for the tip regardless of the service level.

We would not recommend that you waste your money having dinner at the Matchbox. Actually, we have never really seen this restaurant very busy at all which probably means that other people find it the same way.

Happy hour, on the other hand, is fine and we think that most people will enjoy it very much. It does get busy during happy hour times so if you do decide to go, get there when happy hour begins to get the seat that you really would prefer.

For more information about Palm Springs Restaurants, click here.

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Just visited Manhattan in the Desert Palm Springs for lunch. We arrive shortly after 12 and had to wait for maybe 10 minutes. This gave us lot’s of time to admire the really great looking deserts displayed in the show case near the entrance area. The deserts were truly fabulous looking and if we were not trying to watch our weight we would have had desert with our meal. Maybe next week we will go for coffee and desert!

Manhattan in the Desert Palm Springs – Fabulous Food

There were four of us and we were seated at a large table quite quickly and the service level was fine. We had among us a cob salad, a soup and salad and a sandwich and soup combo.  The soup was split pea soup and it was really quite good. Hot with some small amount of vegetables in it. Tasted great.

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We went to Bill’s Pizza in Palm Springs the other night for happy hour. A friend of ours told us about their happy hour all day on Monday’s and we were thinking of going.

We were walking along Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs during their weekly street fest and the owner was handing out small slices of their pizza. It was so good that it convinced us that we really had to go and why not on happy hour Monday’s?

Happy hour Monday’s means pizza at regular price and draft beer at 75 cents for a 16 oz glass of ice cold beer. Sitting outside on the patio sipping cold beer and eating great pizza is an experience you cannot beat. Add 75 cent beer and it is fantastic. This is for your first beer only, after that it is $2 which is still an excellent price.

Visit Bill’s Pizza Palm Springs

The place is not upscale. It is a pizza place, and frankly with a location on Indian Palm Canyon Drive, it is not in one of the best locations as far as pedestrian traffic is concerned. They have to work a little harder at advertising, but it is well worth the visit. This is a must visit for all pizza and beer lovers.

If you are trying to find Bill’s pizza, the address is 119 S. Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA . They are across the street from Tylers restaurant.

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Northern Ireland Irish Golfer  – Rory McIlroy has become a house hold name. He is recognized virtually around the world now that he has beaten Tiger Woods in Florida. We decided to include this story about him on this blog because it shows just how far Ireland has come, particularly Northern Ireland.  Thirty years ago, with Ireland tied up in the troubles, it is unlikely that a guy like Rory McIlroy would ever have had the opportunity let alone the chance to play golf.

He was able to maintain his concentration and his consistency throughout the event. He beat Tiger by two strokes over all. This was the best final round of golf Tiger has shot since his marriage troubles. He shot a 62 on the final round, but that was not enough to beat Rory McIlroy who shot a 69 on the final round. That is what we mean by being consistent throughout the match. This is tantamount to the level of concentration that he was able to show.

Irish Golfer – Rory McIlroy – In the Limelight

He now gets to bask in the notoriety of being famous in the United States as well as in Ireland. With the prize money he has received from this match and the endorsements that will be coming his way, Rory McIlroy will become a very rich man if he is not already. In fact one of his friends indicated that he already has a million dollars in his account and adding more all of the time. He is 22 years old. Will he have the strength to retain his control. Or will he fall by the way side like so many other famous people with a lot of money?

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We recently visited Peabody’s restaurant in Palm Springs for breakfast the other day. Peabody’s is located at 134 South Palm Canyon Drive in the center of downtown Palm Springs.  It is a good location and when we walk past this particular restaurant in the mornings it is always busy. Some patrons will be enjoying a traditional breakfast, while others will have something fancy, and still, and others will be enjoying an early lunch with a cold beer. They have tables along the sidewalk against the building and also on the sidewalk close to the curb, so you can take your pick of where you want to sit.

Peabody’s Palm Springs – Great Breakfasts

Make no mistake it is a sidewalk cafe, with really great food and a nice atmosphere.  We decided to split the breakfast which most restaurants have no problem with. I ordered an extra coffee and the breakfast came with an extra plate. Everything was fine until breakfast arrived.

We like our eggs fully cooked with the yellow part just a bit runny and the white part firmly cooked. One egg was cooked perfectly, and of course, this is the one that I received. The other one still had runny egg white and this is the one my wife received. She is even pickier than I am when it comes to egg whites being well cooked. We explained to the waiter what the problem was and he said no problem and went off to order another egg.

Confusing Service

Meanwhile, my wife sat there while the toast got cold and the potatoes also got cold. The new egg finally came and it was cooked properly, but now everything else was cold. We tried to explain our frustration with this and to their credit they ordered an entirely new breakfast for us.

So while it was a bit frustrating at first with the food quality and the service,  the restaurant came through with both service and food. They were happy to help us and did their best to make sure that our meal was enjoyable and tasty!

Our Recommendation for Peabody’s Restaurant in Palm Springs

We would definitely recommend Peabody’s restaurant in Palm Springs for breakfast and based on the service we received, for any other meal as well although we have not tried other meals at this particular restaurant.

It is always crowded in the mornings around breakfast time and not so much later on, so obviously, other people besides ourselves feel that they serve great meals during this time. If you have been there, let us know what you think with your comments. We are looking for well-written comments and not just links with no information for our readers.

We have lots more reviews of Palm Springs Restaurants. click here.

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My daughter and I had the fantastic opportunity to take an adventure tour which included Donkey Riding in Puerto Vallarta and much more while in Puerto Vallarta and I just had to write about it. This was an all-day excursion and really was a lot of fun. If you happened to be in Puerto Vallarta, look up Adventure Tours. They have a lot of different tours you can take and based on the one we took it is definitely worth the money.

Tour Begins at the Marina

Our tour started at the marina in Puerto Vallarta near where the tour boats dock every day. We ordered the boat around 9:30 am and headed out into Banderas bay towards a village/beach called Mismaloya. This was a nice ride and it only took approximately 30 minutes to get there. Once we landed, we then got onto jungle trucks that take you up into the mountains above Mismaloya.

These are open canopy trucks that can navigate some of the more difficult roads as you head up the mountain. We drove for maybe half an hour past a tequila factory ( more on that later) until we stopped at the head end of the trail we were going to take further up the mountain on donkeys.

Donkey Riding in Puerto Vallarta

Now, this is where it really starts to get interesting.  There are about 10 of us altogether and we are each paired up with a donkey and then we head off further up the mountain. I ended up being the first one behind the trail leader and my daughter was at the back. Well, that did not last for long. The guides really liked her and got her donkey running up the trail, passed all of us including me, and of course, my donkey not to be outdone, raced after hers.

Well, all of this is ok, except that I cannot reach the stirrups so I am basically bouncing along on top of this donkey on a narrow trail feeling very precarious, on a trail that is maybe 3 feet wide with a steep drop on my right-hand side. I was really wondering if I was going to fall off the donkey and go sliding down the mountain! I did make it but only after holding on for dear life.

Zip Lining in Mexico

Next, we suited up to go zip lining. Basically, you slide a long cable that is tied to several trees on each end. The trees can be 300 feet apart across a ravine or perhaps down the side of a mountain into a pool of water at the base of a waterfall. We did all of this, it was really safe and when you plunge into the water it is exhilarating and cooling at the same time.

The first time you go zip lining it can be a bit scary, however, after the first one, it is really a lot of fun. We did 7 different lines and one was almost straight down into a pool of water! It was also really hot that day so we enjoyed landing in the water. What great fun!

Late Lunch Back at Base Camp

Once we have finished zip lining we headed back to the base camp for something to drink and to eat before heading off by jungle truck back to the marina. Lunch was nice and we got to chat with the guides and our fellow adventure partners.

Visiting a Tequila Factory

Of course on the way back we passed a tequila factory in the jungle and we talked our driver into stopping for a tour. I think this was all planned and expected. The owner of the tequila factory was all ready for us!

He showed us the agave plants and cut a piece from the plant for us to chew on. They are really sweet and really juicy.  Then we saw the fermentation tanks and he explained the entire process to us about making various kinds of tequila.  We also got to sample some tequila of different flavors.

They had 7 bottles of various flavors of tequila which we got to try.  After 7 shots we were all getting a bit tipsy. This is really what he wanted anyway because we were more inclined to purchase some tequila from him.

Interestingly the tequila factory owner had shot for shot with us and after each one he said, ” I love my job”. Not sure how many tours he had given that day, but he looked pretty sober to me!

After our visit to the factory, we headed back to the marina, which took us about an hour and a half by truck. All in all a great day and exciting to boot!

For more information about this beautiful vacation destination, click here.

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One of our readers asked the question about what the physical requirements for rafting were? I guess they were thinking about going white water rafting for the first time. They were perhaps a bit nervous about being able to stay in the raft, or perhaps paddling. They also perhaps worried about carrying a heavy load while portaging or just holding on while you navigate the rapids of any particular river. These are all valid concerns and most rafting guides will address these issues before ever embarking on your white water rafting trip.

What are the physical requirements for rafting?

Well the answer is that it depends. All rivers with rapids were rafting companies offer rafting trips are rated in terms of difficulty and physical requirements. If you want to read more about this rating system, go to White Water rafting river ratings or click here. This page will fill you in on the rating system and provide you with a broad gauge of what to expect for a river that is rated in each group.

Interview the Rafting Company

It also depends on the rafting company and the tour package they offer. Some trips are totally managed by the tour company and you go along for the ride, while others feel that the work of paddling and portaging, camping out is all part of the experience. Some people also look for this type of experience. So if you plan to go rafting, esquire with the tour company about the exact expectations of each participant before you sign up. A class II rapids is basically a floater with little or no experience needed. While a class IV is much more interesting with lots of rapids and most companies will require experience and some physical conditions.

Class I and II will often be able to support seniors and children to give them the experience of rafting without the danger of more challenging rapids in a class III or above kind of trip.

Time of Year

The time of year is also important. Early spring and late fall are going to be colder so you need to wear appropriate clothing. Always bring along an extra set of clothing for everyone. Chances are you will get a bit wet on most trips and drenched on class III or higher. Even on hot summer time days, the weather can be unpredictable and be quite cool along the river in the shade. If you are going on an over night trip, dry clothes in a water proof bag is a must. Unless your gear is being transported separately by car.

Finally spring runoff or storm runoff can change a normally tranquil class II into a raging Class III or IV in minutes. Before you sign up always check conditions. Talk it over with the operator to be sure that you have the physical requirements necessary to handle the conditions. This is especially true for children and seniors.

Rising Gas Prices Affecting Your Vacation Plans

For many of us we are thinking of our summer vacation coming up and wondering if high gas prices will have a negative impact on those plans. Gas prices have increased over 20% in the past few months and there are rumors that prices will go even higher. So how much will your vacation budget need to increase to handle the increase in prices for gasoline if you are going on a driving vacation?

Rising Gas Prices Affecting Your Vacation Plans – Impact on Your Vacation

Let’s assume you are going to drive a 1000 miles on your vacation. Half on the way to your destination and half on the way back. This represents a nice round number and may be short for some people and too long for others. Either way you can prorate the numbers to get a feel for your own cost. In order to understand the cost difference we have to make a number of additional assumptions. Each of these assumptions will be somewhat conservative and you may need to adjust them to match your own vehicle and the price of gasoline in your state.

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Last evening we went to a relatively new restaurant in Palm Springs called Lulu’s. This particular restaurant has been open for about a year now and every night the place seems to be crowded and busy with people having dinner or just out for an evening drink or two.

One of the big attractions is that they advertise that they have happy hour all day long as long as you are sitting at the bar or in the bar area at one of the high topped tables! Imagine happy hour all day long.  They are at 200 S. PALM CANYON DRIVE, in PALM SPRINGS. Apparently, there is also a sister restaurant in Palm Desert, however, we have not been to that one yet.

Sit Outside at Lulu’s Restaurant in Palm Springs

There are tables along the sidewalk as well as inside. There is also a second floor where you can dine privately or with a large group. All of the food that we have tried there so far has been great.

The happy hour menu lists all of the items available at the bar. Prices are generally a couple of dollars less expensive than if were to eat at a table, and you can also order off the regular menu as well while sitting at the bar, however, regular prices also apply. Draft beer was $4, so not a bad price.

We were there on a Sunday night around 8 pm and the place was packed. You know the restaurant serves good food when they can pack them in on a Sunday evening!

Kaiser Grill in Palm Springs

The picture on the left shows the corner they are on and the restaurant across the street from Lulus, which we have not yet tried. They are across the street from the Kaiser Grill which is another great restaurant. All three restaurants were pretty busy so there is lots of competition and reasonable prices. In fact, restaurants that are a bit further away from this particular corner have started offering more lucrative happy hour menus in an effort to stay competitive and attract customers. The Falls Restaurant and the Matchbox are two places that have recently expanded their happy hour menus.

We like going to happy hours and trying the menu out. The prices are correct, and you find out if you like the restaurant or not. Many people feel they do not get their money’s worth or are still hungry. We order another appetizer if we are still hungry. Some places, such as Lulu’s restaurant in Palm Springs, offer discounts on the drinks as well as the food, while in other places, it is only on the price of drinks. We have no preference as long as the food is good.

Stay tuned for more restaurant reviews in this area of Palm Springs. We will go back to Lulu’s restaurant in the future and recommend that you visit this particular restaurant if you are in the area. Your comments are welcome. We will approve linkbacks if you provide us with well-written informative comments about the Palm Springs area.

For lots more posts covering restaurants in Palm Springs, click here.

Last night we went to Zini Cafe Med iterrano in Palm Springs for happy hour. It was also the night that Palm Springs has their weekly Palm Springs street festival. They close South Palm Canyon drive down for about  six blocks and it is then filled with venders on both sides of the road with thousands of people strolling along and visiting all of these venders. This was an excellent time to go to the Zini Cafe Mediterrano. We sat a table along the sidewalk were we could watch the people strolling along and the venders with all of their products.

Happy Hour at the Zini Cafe Mediterrano in Palm Springs

Happy hour starts at 4pm and ends at 6pm, while the street fest begins at 5pm. We arrived sharp at 4 pm, because we wanted to have a choice in tables and we got just the right one for us in our opinion. We sat in a corner along the sidewalk were we could watch everyone, enjoy the scenery with the mountains in the background and also enjoy happy hour. The restaurant, Zini Cafe Mediterrano is located at 140 South Palm Canyon drive in Palm Springs.

Happy Hour Prices at Zini Cafe Med

We found that the prices for beer at $2 was among the best in the area for happy hour. Prices for wine was at $5 per glass which really was not that great a deal. The food was excellent, we had a number of happy hour meals and they were all excellent except for one.

They are all priced at $4 which is not too bad, however they are all relatively small so you really do not get much for $4 . One of the dishes we ordered was humus on crossini which is really just french bread or something like that. It did look nice when it arrived, however there were only two little pieces of bread with humus and a very small slide of cheese on the top.

I said to the waiter, that I could not believe it when he served it. He really looked embarrassed and I could tell he agreed with me. I told him for $4, I should have at least received 4 pieces of  bread with humus. He said he would tell the owner, but I really do not think anything will be done about it.

Location Counts

Overall we really enjoyed the evening. The restaurant was crowded for happy hour and then cleared out around 6pm when happy hour was over. I noticed that it was again crowded later on for dinner which speaks volumes for the restaurant. They have good food and the decor is nice as well. They have white table clothes and cloth napkins which puts it above many of the other restaurants in the area.

We plan to go back later this month for happy hour again. We enjoyed it very much. If you have also been to Zini Cafe Mediterrano, write a comment on this post or your experience at Zini Cafe Mediterrano.

We have lots more reviews of Palm Springs Restaurants. click here.

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We were hiking on the San Andreas fault line the other day as part of our Coachella Valley hike on the McCallum trail. This is something I have always wanted to do and I must admit that it was almost anti climatic. We were standing on what is known as the San Andreas fault. There was really nothing to distinguish the difference from any other area around us.

In fact we visited the welcome center in the background of this picture  at the trail head. I asked how close the fault line was. The answer I received surprised me. We were standing on it. The welcome center was built on top of the fault. But back to our hiking excursion. The welcome center is located in the middle of a stand of palms and is in fact made of palm logs, dating back to 1935.

Coachella Valley Hiking – San Andreas Fault Line

The San Andreas fault runs all the way from Mexico for 700 miles up to San Francisco. It then plunges into the ocean. There are many other known fault lines that run into and away from the San Andreas fault. I wonder when this one is going to give us a big shake?

This area is known as Pushwalla. There are about 10 trails to choose from for hiking all of which are pretty easy compared to some that I have been on. You can get a map and information about the trails at the welcome center. The distance and the difficulty of each are displayed on the map. For example this is just one of the areas in the Coachella Valley.

We selected the McCallum trail which is about 2 miles and runs from one oasis to a second one. There is an actual pond in the middle of the desert. In between is hot dry desert which in itself is interesting. How can there be two different well watered oasis with palm trees in the middle of the desert on top of the San Andreas fault line?

The picture above is taken from on top of a small hill about a mile from the oasis. Which you can see in the background of this picture. It is a nice cool moist area. However there was a suspicious gas bubbling up in the middle of the pond. Never did find out what that was. However the water was crystal clear, no algae at all and no plants growing in the pond. The palm trees were all clustered around the pond.

Hiking Trails

The trail starts off on a boardwalk through the ancient palm trees. Then up into the desert grasses and then finally into the desert proper. We walked 2 miles from one oasis to the other. However it did not feel like two miles at all and the walking was not strenuous what so ever. The temperature was about 75 degrees. Although not that hot, we perspired a lot and needed the water we were carrying.

For those of you who may not be into hiking or are afraid that hiking might be too much due to the difficulty this is an excellent one to take on. You can easily do this one without difficulty. However if you do get tired or you find the heat too much, just turn around and head back to the oasis to cool off.  Always take water with you as well.  This was a short hike and I took a full  bottle with me and found I needed all of it for this short hike. Hence always bring water with you for hiking and even a small snack to give you a bit of energy if needed.

We would lie to have your comments about hiking in this area of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. Please leave well written comments that will be interesting to our readers.

For more posts about hiking, click here.

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The Deauville condo’s in Palm Springs is one of the premier locations to stay at while in Palm Springs if you are looking for a condo to rent with all of the amenities that you need for a great vacation. We have been going to this location for many years now and thoroughly enjoy it.

There are 3 pools at this complex and the picture on the left is the main pool. surrounded by lush grounds, palm trees , lime trees, grapefruit trees and even the odd orange tree, you really cannot ask for more. The pool is heated to 85 degrees year round and there are lots of chairs to relax on to catch the sun’s rays. Palm Springs is in a valley surrounded by mountains. The temperatures are always 10 to 15 degrees hotter than the coast and there is usually blue skies as much as 350 days of the year.

Combine swimming, hot tubs,  tennis, workout room, surface and underground parking with close proximity to downtown and you have the perfect combination. There are also lots of things to do in the area. With 115 golf courses and loads of hiking trails there are lots to do in the area in addition to going to happy hour at the restaurants.

Restaurants and the Spa Casino

There are many restaurants in Palm Springs, several that we have covered on this web site within walking distance. Many offer happy hour from 5 to 6 or until 7 with half price on drinks and appetizers.  There is also the Spa Casino  in downtown Palm Springs within 1 block of the property and easy walking distance. We have spent many evenings at the Spa, playing the slots or just relaxing having a drink while watching sports in the sports bar. check out their Monday night football parties with cheap beer and unlimited buffet while the game is on.

Deauville Palm Springs

This second picture of the pool at the Palm Springs Deauville condos is taken facing west with the mountains in the back ground and the Palm Trees and club house in the foreground.  The depth of the pool is about 4 to 5 feet, perfect for swimming or wading for adults. Children need to be watched for obvious reasons. If you are concerned about too much time in the sun, there are lots of trees and areas you can get in the shade and still enjoy the ambiance of the pool. Last year there were lots of Canadians vacationing around the pool area as well as Americans. Most owners will use their condo at least once a year or more often.

Temperatures and Peak Season

Prime time or peak season for this property is from Jan to Mar. April to May and October to December is considered the shoulder months.  June through September are very warm with pretty much every day over 100 degrees. July and August it is usually 110 to 120 every day. Some people like it that hot while others have a difficult time with these hot temperatures.

The Palm Springs Area

There are 115 golf courses in the area. At least 10 casinos. There is shopping at high end stores as well as the outlets and everything in between. There is lots to do in the area. Palm Springs also has many hiking trails in the area . Some that are easy as well as those that are considered challenging. Take the Tram to the top of the mountain. Hike at 5000 feet elevation among the trees if you feel the need to get away from the heat and the desert.  The city of Palm springs is only at 400 feet elevation. It is sometimes nice to move to higher elevations in the summer time to cool off.

If you have been to Palm Springs or stayed at the Deauville in palm springs and want to leave a comment, please do so. For rental information, you can also rent a unit at the Deauville as well. Click here for more information. Our readers will appreciate it. If you leave a constructive well written comment, we will even approve the link back to your site!

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

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Joining the Goodlife GYM

Well, I have been preaching on this web site about exercising and getting into a habit where you should watch your diet and exercise every day. I gained a little weight over the past few months and I thought it was time to practice what I preached. In our area, there are a number of gyms that we can join, however, Goodlife is close to us and really has an awesome gym with all of the equipment, spinning classes and programs that anyone would need regardless of what shape they are in.

My wife also goes to this gym so it is much easier to go with a partner as well rather than go to a separate gym somewhere else. They make it really easy to join and once you have signed up, they give you a brand new gym bag that says GoodLife on it of course and they also give you a one-hour consultation with an instructor as well. We will talk more about this a bit later, but I want to emphasize that this is something you should take advantage of and really listen to what they have to say. Following their advice can mean the difference between an effective workout vs. working out and not getting much for the effort you put in.

Why I joined the Goodlife Gym

I mentioned earlier that I gained a few pounds. This is true and since it is winter here where we really do not do a lot of outside activity, it is pretty easy to be a couch potato and put the pounds on.  The other reason was that I was sitting in my office trying thinking about topics for this blog and I thought why not talk about my own life and why I needed to join the gym. Practice what you preach and all of that.

It is so easy to do nothing. I am also the type that unless I motivated in some way, I probably will not work out. In my case once I joined the gym and I am paying money every two weeks for the membership, I feel I should get my monies worth out of it. Aside from wanting to lose a few pounds, I will go because I paid for it and do not want to pay for something that I do not lose.

My plans for Exercise

I mentioned earlier about taking advantage of the training session that comes with a new membership. This is something that I strongly recommend that you do. They are going to try to sell you more training sessions, however my advice there is to avoid this unless you really think you would benefit from this type of one on one kind of session. You can get the basics from the initial free first session.

In my case, the plan is the following:

• 40 min’s of cardio on the treadmill and the stair master machine each time.
• On alternating days work the arms and the shoulders, then work the legs and the torso
• Arms – Push-ups, chin-ups, and weight lifting
• Legs – Squats, lunges, and sit-ups along with some weights for the legs
• While lifting weights, you should do 8 reps with the last rep really challenging you to complete. In other words, use the right amount of weight that allows you to just complete 8 reps. Rest, then complete it 2 more times

Going with a Partner

We have talked about this suggestion in other posts, however, this is really important. If you need help to get motivated to go to the gym, then going with a partner is going to help you become more consistent in your workouts. We all have our downtime when we just do not feel like going to the gym. If a partner is also motivated to go, then they are going to encourage you to go and vice versa when they do not feel like it.

This is so important because most of us just lose touch with our plans from time to time and besides it is more fun to go with someone you know than going by yourself all of the time. Be positive and take turns driving or calling each other. If husband and wife are going together this can also work out really well too.

Well in subsequent posts, we will let you know how we do, both with going to the gym and also how much weight we are losing. My objective is to lose 20 pounds! For more information about exercise programs, click here.

Going white water rafting in Costa Rica offers an experience that many other locations in North America cannot offer. Rafting in a tropical environment when it is cold with winter back home is just plain special! The Sarapiqi river offers challenging whitewater conditions as well as abundant flora and fauna. When you are not battling the river, you are floating past a rainforest preserve and jungles filled with a variety of animals and plant life. check out the wildlife such as howler monkeys, iguanas, three toed sloths, a huge variety of frogs as well as a huge variety of plant life. don’t forget the colorful bird life which abounds everywhere. The toucans are almost too plentiful to count!

There are also butterfly sanctuary’s which can be visited as well with guided tours.  Costa Rica offers many other activities in addition to white water rafting including the beach of course, horseback riding, canopy tours and repelling in some areas. there are many activities, but since this web site is more about white water rafting we will provide some more specific information about this sport! For information on Costa Rica’s other activities, we suggest you check out other web sites for specific information on those activities.

White Water Rafting in Costa Rica on the Sarapiqi River

The Sarapiquí River winds through an area known as the land of “Eternal Spring,” which offers some of Costa Rica’s most exotic and lush tropical scenery. The free-flowing river originates from clear mountain streams that wash down through dense rain forests to join the crystal waters of the Sarapiquí river. Dense forests encroach on the river’s sunny banks.

This class III river is a narrow, low-volume river ideal for white-water beginners as well as families. It will be easy to enjoy its moderately flowing rapids interspersed with tranquil stretches. Bird-watchers and nature lovers can enjoy this river as well as you float down tranquil stretches. The river winds its way through lush vegetation providing a habitat for hummingbirds, toucans, woodpeckers and many other native bird species.

Typically guests will be picked up from their San José hotel in a minibus. They are driven approximately two and a half hours to the start of your rafting experience. Some will include a traditional breakfast served at a restaurant along the way. Some companies will include a lunch of sandwiches, fruits and desert on the banks of the river.

Sarapiquí River White-Water Rafting

• Typical Price per person: US$80
• price usually Includes: Transportation, equipment, breakfast and picnic lunch.
• Rafting Trip length: 9 Miles.
• Difficulty: Class III, easy-moderate.
• Minimum age: 8 years old.

This is a great activity to consider if you want to get away from the beaches. Also the crowds of tourists. Maybe you just want to do something different from the traditional beach – dinner – clubbing environment of San Jose.  Before you sign up with any of the white water companies, always confirm what you will receive and ensure that they follow typical safety precautions.  If this is your first time white water rafting, you probably should avoid anything higher than class III category rapids.

Our next post will be White Water Rafting in Mexico, so watch for that post in 2 weeks time!

We have been writing about Belfast and how dangerous it was during what they call the ‘troubles”. We thought it would be a good idea to also talk about what it was like for people working in Belfast at the time. This is based on a true story from a friend of mine. He lived and worked in Belfast for the telephone company. This was prior to emigrating to North America to a safer location for his wife and children. Life has improved a great deal since they left Belfast in the 70’s. But it is still interesting to remember what it was like. This is his story.

Belfast Work Conditions – Armed Guards

From the companies perspective, they had a lot to protect. There was the equipment, there was the service to the community and of course there were the employees and the customers that would visit the premises every day. There were constant threats and several other businesses that were bombed in the neighborhood. So no one was taking any chances at all with any of the assets both human assets and well as non human assets. It was a risky time.

Before going out into an alley which was gated and protected to get cable supplies, the guards would first go out and confirm that everything was safe. Then under their watchful eye the employees who needed to pick up cable or other supplies, would go out to the alley and get what they needed. They minimized the amount of time being outside. Items were brought inside immediately. Imagine working under those conditions and also worrying about your family all of the time.
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We came across a post that lists what the writer felt were the top 10 white water rafting locations in the world. We cannot vouch for these locations since we have never been to any of them. However perhaps readers will be able to comment on them and either agree or propose other locations. Hence please leave your comments.

Top 10 White Water Rafting Locations

We included a brief summary for each and will follow-up with posts about each location.

• Grand Canyon National Park, United States
• Ottawa River, Canada
• Glacier National Park, United States
• Magpie River, Canada
• Pacuare River, Costa Rica
• Futaleufu River, Chile
• Apurimac River, Peru
• Zambezi River, Zimbabwe and Zambia
• White Nile, Uganda
• North Johnstone River, Australia

More Details – Top 10 White Water Rafting Locations

1. Grand Canyon National Park, United States

Sign up for a single or multi-day excursion. On rivers that wind through America’s most astounding natural wonder – the Grand Canyon. Spend hours, days – even weeks – on a professionally guided tour of waterways that range from placid to downright wild. Start at Glen Canyon Dam at the northeast part of the gorge. From there, let your tour director be your guide.

2. Ottawa River, Canada

The Ottawa River does a lot more than distinguish the border between Quebec and Ontario. The behemoth waterway is also Canada’s most popular destination for rafting and kayaking. As a result luke-warm waters attract families. Also die-hard rafters each summer to steer through a valley thought to be more than 175 million years old. For example take the kids for a leisurely paddle. Or put on helmets with more competitive friends and race down the wondrous archipelago at top speed.

3. Glacier National Park, United States

Travelers aiming to combine whitewater rafting with other outdoor excursions need look no further.  The Flathead River in Montana’s Glacier National Park is one of th emost interesting rivers. More than a million acres of preserved ecosystem. Also 700 miles (1,126 km)of walkable trails make this nature lover’s paradise an ideal spot for hiking and, of course, rafting. For example pilot your inflatable vessel along the 158 miles of pure, unadulterated water, sourced directly from the Rocky Mountains.

4. Magpie River, Canada

It’ll take you eight days to steer the escalating rapids of Quebec’s Magpie River. Pitch a tent along this scenic stretch of river and savor its splendor, including the northern lights, in between day-long floats. Grade V rapids – the toughest classification recommended to raft – will greet you at the end of your week-long journey at Magpie Falls, a 125-foot vision of cascading water.

5. Pacuare River, Costa Rica

Also known as the Rio Pacuare, Costa Rica’s Pacuare River is a delightful escape with varying degrees of difficulty that last approximately 67 miles. Divided into the Upper Upper, Upper, and Lower sections, the river’s range of difficulty spans from Grade II to V – perfect for novice and veteran rafters alike. Surrounded completely by acres of lush rainforests, sailing down the Pacuare toward the Caribbean may mean introducing yourself to Costa Rica’s wildlife, like monkeys, exotic birds and jaguars.

6. Futaleufu River, Chile

Arguably the best river in the world for experienced rafters to tackle. Chile’s Futaleufu River offers both spectacular views and intense rapids. The stream, which cascades from lakes in the Los Alerces National Park and the Andes Mountains, is renowned for its deep-blue waters and Grade V drops. Hence it is recommended for skilled rafters with years of experience. The Futaleufu serves up long stretches of excitement at a time like the Wild Mile. There is a series of rapids that’ll keep any athlete on his or her toes – scratch that – seat.

7. Apurimac River, Peru

Earning bragging rights for rafting part of the world’s largest river is reason enough to fly to southern Peru for a rafting trip this year. The Apurimac River sources the Amazon. It provides kayakers and whitewater rafters a chance to see South America’s magnificent wilderness up close. Grade IV rapids – and a four-day commitment – attract skilled rafters with an appreciation for camping and the great outdoors.

8. Zambezi River, Zimbabwe and Zambia

Only expert rafters should attempt to tackle the intense swells and challenging rapids that the Zambezi River is so wildly famous for. It is separated into the upper and middle Zambezi by Victoria Falls. Which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the river is nearly 1,600 miles of nature at its finest. Look for hippopotamuses and crocodiles along calmer stretches of the river. Brace yourself for massive drops and death-defying rapids along the no-nonsense parts, including the Batoka Gorge.

9. White Nile, Uganda

Maneuvering a boat full of rafters along the Bujagali Falls near the mouth of Lake Victoria is an adventure you’ll never forget. The White Nile, a tributary of the actual Nile River, flows through Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Inexpensive rafting companies have set up shop near the most exciting part of the river in Uganda. Combining world-class rafting with an introduction to Africa’s astonishing landscape. Grade V rapids ease into harmonious currents, promising rafters both relaxation and thrills in a single afternoon.

10. North Johnstone River, Australia

The four or six-day expedition along the North Johnstone River in North Queensland’s World Heritage rain forests is considered one of the best travel adventures in the world. Ride a helicopter to the beginning of your unforgettable journey. Wind your way through Grade V rapids and truly amazing scenery. Not for the faint of heart, North Johnstone offers days on end of the most demanding – and rewarding – whitewater rafting out there.

Let us know what you think about these Top 10 White Water Rafting Locations

Puerto Vallarta – Tequila is synonymous with Mexico and Puerto Vallarta lives up to the reputation. Wherever you go, there seems to be tequila being served. So much so that we began to wonder if the Mexicans were trying to loosen up the gringo’s so we would spend more money.  The following are short stories about different places we drank tequila while we traveled around Puerto Vallarta. Tequila is made from the Agave plant shown in the picture to the left. If you have an opportunity to go to a Tequila factory, it is well worth the time. Be prepared you may have to drink some Tequila while taking the tour!

Puerto Vallarta – Tequila and Jewelry Stores

For example one day we followed a bunch of tourists into a jewelry store wondering what all the fuss was about. These were people who had come in on one of the pleasure cruse boats and had the day to explore. We followed them to the back of the store and sure enough we saw what all the interest was about. The store owner was pouring shots of tequila for all his patrons to sample! Loosen them up a bit and maybe they will have a story to tell about how they bought some silver jewelry while sipping tequila!

The Restaurants

The restaurants have a tradition almost, at least that is what it seems like. If you order a meal, it comes first with a shot of tequila. In fact one place we went to provided a bottle of tequila on the table which was about 1/3 full. It was free with the meal. Another offered a shot of tequila every time you ordered a beer. The shot was free, the beer cost a dollar! The food was pretty good too.

The Furniture Stores

Now I do not know if all of them do this, but one furniture store we went to one day sure does. I do not even remember the name of it, however it sells a lot of Mexican furniture and it across from the Starbucks coffee shop on the way downtown from the airport. It is a big store and we decided to go visit it after our morning coffee one day. We crossed the street and went inside after browsing some of the large pieces outside.

As I was looking around I happened to come across a shelf lined with various types of Tequila. One of the salesmen asked me if I would like to try some. He said that his grandfather makes it up in the hills in the jungle and that it was very good. It was 10 in the morning and I really did not feel like starting to drink at that time let alone something that was probably the equivalent of moon shine. I respectfully declined.

Another customer admonished me saying that he had tried it the day before and found it excellent and that there was nothing wrong with it. So at that point I really had no choice but to try a shot. Well it was some of the best tequila I had ever tried. Smooth , rich in flavor and not difficult to drink at all. I could have had another shot, but declined because after all it was only 10 am and I usually try to not drink until at least 12!

Puerto Vallarta – Tequila Factories

So drinking tequila in Mexico is the thing to do. There are many stores were you can buy brand names, however I have found that the restaurants and shops have very good tequila as well. Tequila is made from the Agave plants and I was fortunate enough to go to a tequila factory one day up in the jungles above Mismaloya.

We were given a small tour of the plant, the fermentation tanks and then we had an opportunity to try seven different tequila’s. Our guide drank right along with us and I don’t know how many tours he had given that day, but after seven shots I was feeling it and he must have been too. We all bought some tequila and then headed on our merry way. Fortunately I was not driving and the bus driver only had two shots. I counted !

The town of Tequila

I have never been to this town, however this town was named after the product or maybe the product was named after the town. It apparently is about 3 to 4 hours from Puerto Vallarta and is worth the trip although we ran out of time before we had to leave.

If you go to Puerto Vallarta, you really should take a tour to Tequila and sample some of the best tequila in Mexico.

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Exploding Gas Prices

Once again oil prices are on the rise just in time for the summer vacation in North America and Europe. It feels as if this is a plot against anyone who wants to take a driving vacation. Or fly somewhere for their summer vacation. Anyone who drives to work has already felt the pinch of gasoline prices. They have gone up as much as 20% in the last few months. We are currently on a driving trip across the country. I was wondering just how much the increasing gas prices were going to affect our trip.

Well it turns out that if you take the average price of gas at the time of writing this post as $3.63 and compare it to the price of gasoline at the pump at Christmas time, which was an average of $2.98; our trip is going to cost roughly $200 more in gasoline alone.

Impact of Rising Gas Prices on Our Standard of Living

While this amount is not as much as I expected for a 6000 mile trip, it still adds up when you take into account the other things that also go up at the same time due to increasing prices for gasoline and diesel. When you are travelling across country you begin to realize how large the country really is and also how many trucks there are on the roads. There are literally thousands of them on the road and you begin to realize that much of the fruits and vegetables we enjoy are carried by these trucks. When the cost of diesel goes up so do the prices of our vegetables, the products we purchase and virtually the cost of everything we consume is affected.

We all take a hit on our standard of living when gas prices increase. If you spend it more of your money on filling up the car, there is less money for other things. If everything is going up, inflation begins to raise it’s ugly head and we all fall further behind when it comes to enjoying the quality of life that we are used to. There really is no choice, you either get a raise or you cut back and guess what we have another recession!

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Road Side Check Points in Belfast – Our last post, Airport security in Dublin, talked about armed guards checking documents as you entered the airport building. We were amazed when this happened to us. I was telling this same story to a friend of mine who grew up in Northern Ireland in Belfast. He look at me quite seriously and asked, ” Have you ever had a gun pointed at your head?” This comment really took me by surprise!

I must admit I looked at him with an incredulous look! I really could not believe what he was saying and wondered if I had heard properly. This is a guy who I have known for 20 years. He seemed to be a mild mannered type of person who would never be involved in anything that would require a gun pointed at his head.  I asked him to repeat his question which was the same as he had previously asked. Of course I answered in the negative and wanted to know what he was talking about.

Road Side Check Points in Belfast

Turns out that back in the late 60’s, he was in a car with his wife and small child in the back seat driving somewhere in Belfast. There were all kinds of checkpoints set up by the army to try to control the movement of guns. Also to arrest specific people they were after. When you got to a check point, you rolled a window down in your car. A guard came over to your car and rested the muzzle of his gun on the window of your car pointed directly at your chest. The guard kept the gun pointed at you at all times while peppering you with questions! I guess this was their way of putting pressure on you to see how you would react and whether you would say something you shouldn’t.
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The buses of Puerto Vallarta deserve a special post for a number of reasons which we will describe throughout this post. If you  are from anywhere other than North America or Europe, you might say what is the big deal? Many bus systems simply do not measure up to the service and comfort of North American systems. Heck we even have air conditioning in our buses in the city were I live. The Puerto Vallarta city buses are very inexpensive to use and will take you just about anywhere in the city. They do take some getting used to and the drivers are probably the most skilled on the continent. If you are traveling from once side of the city to another you will have to change buses and pay another fare. With the fares so cheap, it is no big deal.

No Air Conditioning

But the Buses of Puerto Vallarta may not have air conditioning but they do have a lot more in the way of service, friendly drivers and a safe environment to ride the buses. First, though we  need to describe these buses so that readers will know what I am talking about.  They are typically Mercedes buses that were built to be school buses. The picture at the left is pretty typical of a bus in Puerto Vallarta.

They have the route information painted on the windshield and they usually have a large steel bumper on the front to deal with any cars that might get in the way. You have to climb up 2 or 3 steps to get into them and some also have rear exits.  The seats are metal with no cushion at all and the seat backs are often pretty straight. this is not something you would want to ride on for any length of time.

Buses of Puerto Vallarta – Friendly Service

We found that these buses are usually on time. The drivers are friendly and will help you out if you are lost or need to know which bus to take. The roads are pretty rough and these buses receive a lot of punishment. They do shake , rattle and roll to quote an old expression. It is amazing there are not more accidents with the buses and cars. However I think that any car driver knows he will lose the battle. His car will be severely damaged in an accident, while the bus will be barely scratched. The car drivers stay out-of-the-way.

We also found that at night when it is dark, the driver will often drop you off right at the entrance to your home or condo depending on were you live. We sure do not get that in North America.

Safe Environment

In North America, the money exchange of paying for your bus ride has been taken away. Now we use only tickets in the majority of the time. If you do use real money, you must have the exact change or just pay the extra. Puerto Vallarta city bus drivers have a wooden tray with all of the coins and bills arranged in an organized manner. It is right out front for everyone to see. We never heard of anyone trying to steal the money or any incident at all!

It took us awhile to figure out were the bus stops actually were. We found most of them by watching were the buses would stop to let off passengers and take on additional riders. There are simply no bus stop signs so you have to watch and observe. Once you know were the stops are from experience, you just get on with life and enjoy the beautiful weather and the culture.

Buses of Puerto Vallarta – Making Change

Now what is really interesting, is that if you are the last passenger to get on at a stop, the driver already has the bus in motion. The door closes and he is navigating the streets in traffic. This is while he waits for you to get your change out. When you hand him the exact change he just throws it in the pile in the middle of this wooden tray I mentioned. He sorts it out later when he is stopped for a traffic light. If you need change, you might have to wait 30 seconds while he navigates the street and shifts gears about 3 times. Then while driving counts the correct change and hands it to you. All the while you are holding on for dear life. Then must find a seat walking down the aisle in this rocking  and noisy bus.

We found that the buses were noisy, they shook a lot, and they were hot. However if you overlook these things, you find that they offered very good service and very inexpensive rates.  I only tore my shorts once on a metal edge of a seat that somehow had been bent leaving a sharp edge. It is all part of the experience of being in Mexico in Puerto Vallarta!

One of the great things to do in Ottawa during the winter time is to go skating on the Rideau Canal. It begins downtown by the Arts Center , which is just beyond the bridge shown in the picture and if conditions are good you can skate for over two miles all the way to Dows lake!  Rideau Canal Skating in Ottawa. The Canal is part of the Ottawa scene and also occupies a part of history for Canada. It was originally constructed as a transportation channel as a means of defending Canada from the Americans. Later it became a shipping channel and today pleasure boats can travel all of the way from the Ottawa river to  the St Lawrence River near Kingston Ontario in the summer time.

Skating on the Rideau Canal Skating in Ottawa

In the winter time, when temperatures are cold enough the canal will freeze sufficiently to support large crowds of skaters. The National capital commission and the City of Ottawa participate in maintaining the canal. It is flooded nightly, when conditions permit to maintain a smooth skating surface. The canal has become one of the many tourist draws for people coming to Ottawa as well as residents enjoying the canal during winter and summer months. The canal is usually ready around the end of December and skating is to the end of Feb most years. It all depends on the winter temperatures.

The picture above and the picture below were taken around 4:30 in the evening during Feb. The sky is beginning to get dark. Skaters can enjoy skating on the canal all day long and also into the evening up to around 11pm at night. After that skaters are asked to remain off the canal so that it can be flooded and the water allowed to freeze properly before it is skated on. Locals know that pristine ice surfaces are available for skating in the early morning hours on a cold day. Just make sure you are bundled up and have a hot chocolate prior to heading out on the canal.

Changing Rooms

There are change rooms or ice huts as they are called for people to go into and change. These huts are quite large and they are heated as well so if you do get cold, they are a good place to get warm. We recommend that you carry a bag with you to carry your shoes and boots. It is not recommended to leave your boots etc in the huts. There are also benches along the canal were you can stop to rest or to adjust your skates. The city is trying to think of all of the things you might need to ensure that you enjoy Rideau Canal Skating in Ottawa.

In addition to the huts on the canal for changing, there are also venders selling hot chocolate and beaver tails along various locations of the canal. They are open during busier hours. You might want to check for their hours of operation before you go skating on the Rideau Canal. By the way a beaver tail is a flour pastry in the shape of a beaver tail. Usually coated with brown sugar and jam. They are excellent especially when served hot! This is Rideau Canal Skating in Ottawa.

Skate to Work

Some local residents will even use the canal to get to work. They may put on their skates somewhere along the canal. Then  skate to the arts center or to Bank st were they change from their skates into their boots. Then they head to work a block or two away. There are many people who do this on a regular basis when the canal is open for skating. Were else can you live and skate to work ?

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There are many locations for White Water Rafting in Mexico. Also trekking, zip lining and much more in addition to the resorts and the beaches. This is the 3rd post in our series about places to go during the winter in Canada and the Northern US for white water rafting locations.  We also covered white Water rafting in Costa Rica in our last post as another location to consider. Mexico offers just about everything a tourist could want in terms of adventure and excitement. As well as arid conditions or tropical rain forest.

There is the issue of personal safety with all of the drug cartels. However if you go with recognized tourist operators into areas that are not known for violence most people will be fine. We spent 2 months in Peurto Vallarta in 2009 with zero problems and not even a hint of violence! White Water Rafting in Mexico can be fun.

Mexico has amazingly diverse travel destinations with lots of potential for adventure!

For White Water Rafting in Mexico, visit the Sierra Madre in Mexico which offers a variety of steep, technical rivers in the range of difficulty from class II to IV. Travel through more than 100 km of continuous whitewater excitement. Veracruz, Mexico has something for every whitewater paddler, whether you paddle a canoe, kayak, raft or inflatable kayak!

White Water Rafting in Mexico – Veracruz

The state of Veracruz is known as the Whitewater River Rafting Capital of México. The combination of the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains to the west and the large amounts of rainfall in this tropical state on the mountains fills many small streams and fill the rivers. Fast flowing rivers have carved deep and narrow canyons with rapids in the class II to IV level. People from all over the world come to either raft or kayak these excellent rapids.

Jalcomulco and the Antigua River Valley,

Jalcomulco is located in the Sierra Madres between Mexico City and coastal Veracruz. It is one of the best destination for those wishing to test their whitewater skills. This rural village is only a two hour drive from the city of Veracruz. You must drive through the foot hills of the Sierra Madres , past coffee plantations of Coatepec, and down through the Mango plantations of the Antigua River Valley, a spectacular visual introduction to the area.

This historic village sits on the banks of one of the best whitewater rivers in Mexico, surrounded by dense vegetation, abundant wildlife, challenging bike trails, and adrenaline rushing cliffs and gorges.

Jalcomulco borders the Antigua river (the river of the hummingbird) and accommodates rafters with varying levels of experience from beginners to advanced level. Parts of the river range from class II to Class IV rapids and experienced guides in the area will adjust your float adventure according to your level of experience. Always ensure that your be honest about your ability to enable the guides to deliver the right experience for you.

While there are some areas of the river that demand all of your paddling attention, there is plenty of time in other areas to observe the magnificent views. For instance, you will see lush bromeliads hanging from high cliff walls, interspersed with dense forested slopes. There are many colorful bird species to be seen as well across this region, huge bird nests and unique larger birds like the Kingfisher or “Oropendola” fly above as you traverse the waterway.

Rio Filobobos and Rio Actopan

Explore two other well known rivers in the region, the Rio Filobobos and Rio Actopan. If you have an interest in archeology you can visit recently discovered ruins from the banks of the Rio Filobobos.

Rio Actopan Hard to Beat

But for shear excitement the Rio Actopan is hard to beat. More a creek than a river, the crystal clear water of the Rio Actopan runs narrow and swift through a combination of mango plantations and tropical forests. From the river source of Descabezadero, where springs gush out of a fern covered natural limestone amphitheater, 20 km downstream, the river offers almost nonstop Class II and III whitewater. The rapids are perfect for first timers as well as technical and challenging enough for experienced river runners to enjoy.

Other Sports Available

There are also many mountain bike trails in and around Jalcomulco and climbing and rappelling areas. Horse riding adventures and even paintball events are available in this small but exciting locale.

There are several unique attractions such as the hidden waterfall El Salto del Encanto. Explore the recently discovered Totonaca-Huasteca site of El Cuajilote, a fertility ceremonial site.

October has the best whitewater flow for rafters. The river also has year round rafting. The climate is typical “mountain” weather of hot/sunny days and cool evenings. It is also typical for this region to experience a build up of humidity throughout the day. This leads to a tropical rain shower in the evening as the temperature cools.

Our last post discussed baby boomers and exercise. Our theme was get moving, regardless of what kind of exercise it was, just get moving. This post is about Baby Boomers need to Exercise the Brain, which needs to be challenged and exercised. Admittedly, doing physical exercise will help your brain and give it lots of oxygen. This is a good thing for everyone and we strongly encourage the whole “get moving” notion.

But you also need to focus on the brain to keep it alert and capable of getting your through the day, recalling events and names and avoiding the onset of short term memory loss.  Physical exercise is great , but it is not enough.  You need to do things that are going to make you think, make you remember things and to help you solve problems. In effect you need to exercise the brain and do some or all of the things you used to do to maintain its function. You may never have been good at remembering names, but could do addition easily in your head without the aid of a calculator. You will lose that ability unless you continue doing math in your head. Examples include adding up the cash at the cash register and checking your change etc.  We all slow down as the years drag on and so we must do something to stay alert. Your mantra: Baby Boomers need to Exercise the Brain.

What Kinds of Things Can Help Baby Boomers need to Exercise

There many things that people can do to help them stay alert. The worst thing you can do is to allow yourself to vegetate.  Here is a short sample list of  possible suggestions. If you have ideas why not also leave us comments to provide additional assistance to some of our readers.

• Continue working – also helps with your budget
• Volunteer
• Take the lead at work or volunteering – solve problems
• Do Crosswords
• Take on large complex projects
• Read, Write and build blogs on the internet
• Go back to school

These items admittedly are a bit general and obvious, so we know there are lots more. The point is you have to work at it and you have to challenge yourself too. Don’t go easy on yourself, in fact push yourself mentally beyond the limits.

Be Careful of Stress

You can over do the challenge part of this activity.  For example, if you take on a job and it is giving you everything you were looking for in terms of challenge, learning, social , extra money but the stress level is too much, it may be time to move onto something else or reduce your workload. Stress can also cause damage to your body and shorten your life.

Even volunteering can be stressful. Many times I have heard that volunteers start out with a couple of hours a week and gradually it increases to almost a full-time job, without pay and many times without a lot of thanks. In fact many volunteers find that they have lots of people to tell them what to do and how to do it and not enough actual workers.

Either don’t let yourself fall into this kind of situation or if you find that it has happened and causing a lot of stress, back out. Sure you will get complaints, but push back and ask why these same people are not offering more. You are retired and looking for a full and satisfying long term life, not another stress filled job. That is why you retired in the first place.

Well that’s all we have to say on this subject, comments are welcome. For more information about exercise, click here.

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Europe vs. Asia vs. The West? Some people might think that this is off the wall. However, please read this post and provide your opinion. If you divided the world into three competing super power areas, Who do you think they would be and who do you think would be the most powerful? Would it be the United States or China or an amalgamation of the countries of Europe? Perhaps India and the African countries? Who will win the economic War?

Hopefully there will not be a real world war, because then we all lose. Mankind would be sent back to the dark ages, so we will ignore this scenario in this post.

Grouping of Countries

If you lumped North and South America together and called them the “West”. If you lumped all of the European countries together and called them “Europe”. This includes Russia and the countries that made up the USSR along with some of the Muslim countries. And then you have Asia which encompasses China of course, the Koreas and even Pakistan.  Africa and India and the middle East are a collection of countries that might go one way or the other or even form a fourth group. Australia would probably try to adhere to the West initially, but not last long. It would succumb to one of the others economically.

Europe vs. Asia vs. The West – Economic Alliances

I am not talking about war in this post, nor am I talking about domination of one group over an other. What I believe is gradually happening, and it might take 100 years, is that these groups of countries will form into economic alliances. They will come  with supporting war machines that will dominate their part of the world. They will compete with the rest of the world. Right now we are all aiming for open international trade, open skies and all of that stuff, but I believe that is only temporary.
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Back in the early 90’s, I experienced for the first time what it was like to come under the muzzle of  a snub nosed semiautomatic machine gun. Fortunately I was not fully awake to really appreciate the significance of this even until a few hours afterwords. The reason we decided to tell this story here on this blog is that it occurred in Dublin Ireland. It was triggered by a new threat by Irish terrorists at that time.This is about Airport Security in Dublin.

We were entering the airport early in the morning to catch an early flight to England and got a rude awakening! My Family were still half asleep and really not expecting too much in the way of security.

Here is the story and how it affected us, as well as prepared us for the next time it happened which was after 911 in America!

Airport Security in Dublin

We were in Dublin Ireland for a week attending an international Karate tournament. There were about 35 countries attending so it was really a big affair. When we finished with the tournament we had decided to go to the UK. We planned to visit some friends for a few days before returning home. This meant that we left a day early and took a taxi to the airport from our hotel.

By the way we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Dublin. The people were friendly and of course there are lots to see and do while you are in that beautiful city. We got up around 4am in the morning, packed our bags and checked out of the hotel. There was little traffic on the way to the airport. The taxi dropped us off at one of the doors to the main terminal building. We proceeded to enter through the doors on the way to our check in counter.
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Sounds cliche, but the message everyone should be getting is that they need to get moving. It really does not matter what you do as long as you are moving and getting the heart rate up a bit.  When we were young we did not need to worry about exercise too much, we were always doing something. Now baby boomers need to move and increasingly younger people need exercise. We are all just consuming way too much food.

This post will focus on the baby boomers who are retiring in huge numbers and looking forward to easy relaxing days, were life is good and you can pursue your dreams. This is clearly the wrong message and baby boomers really  need to give some serious thought about how they are going to live their lives after they finish work and even before they retire. We believe that you need to not only exercise the body, you also need to continually exercise the brain as well to keep everything in good shape to help you enjoy your retirement. We will discuss exercising the brain in our next post. Watch for it , Baby Boomers need to Exercise the Brain.

Baby Boomers need to Move

The main focus is on keeping moving so that you get exercise. Why is this so important?

An analogy will help to explain.

Think of your arteries as a small stream that flows through your neighborhood. We all have seen them at one time or another. In dry weather when there is little rain, these streams dry up to a trickle and they get clogged with debris that somehow finds its way into the stream bed and plants grow to clog the water flow.  This is your artery while you are sitting on the couch and your heart is not pumping much blood through your arteries.

They is not much blood flow and the arteries become clogged with debris called plaque. Your muscles also shrink and become weak as well. Now when a storm comes along, there is a lot more water and the stream expands to clean out the debris and wash it away. Again this is an example of what your arteries go through when you exercise.

Does it Make a Difference

Your heart pumps more and stronger forcing blood through the arteries and delivering blood and oxygen to the surrounding muscles.  What a difference between the two scenarios? This is why we all have to keep moving doing some kind of exercise at least once a day. Go for a walk, bicycle, go to the gym. Do something for at least 20 minutes a day and build up from there. You will feel stronger in no time and feel much better as a result.

We have included a list of things you can do to get started. If you are just beginning, start small and build up as your strength and stamina improve. Find something you enjoy and stay with it. Pretty soon it will become a habit and if you do not go and exercise your body and mind will tell you that you are missing something. We all want to live to a hundred and be healthy too. Keep moving and you will vastly improve your chances of getting there.

Here is our list for Baby Boomers need to Move

• Walk around the block
• Walk in the park
• Walk up 10 flights of stairs
• Go hiking on trails
• Go to the gym every day
• Do 20 minutes of exercise of some kind every day
• Mix it up so you do not get bored
• Play tennis, squash, hand ball, or racquet ball
• Go biking – any kind of bike – mountain, road bike or high speed bikes
• Play sports
• Do your own work around the home – rake leaves, cut the lawn etc
• Park your car a long way from the mall door
• Walk instead of taking the car

There are probably hundreds of other ways to get some exercise. Just remember the main thing is to keep moving and get your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes a day. And if you really want to improve your chances of living longer cut down on your weight by eating less and eating low calorie foods.  Start by embracing the statement, Baby Boomers need to Move.

Cheeky Monkey’s – There are lot’s of things to do in Puerto Vallarta. One of them is to visit Cheeky Monkey’s in Puerto Vallarta downtown along the Malecon. Apparently there are two locations now. However we have only been to the original location on the 2nd and 3rd floor of a building that faces onto Banderas Bay and the Malecon. For those of you who may not be aware, the Malecon is a strip of walkway that runs for several miles along the ocean front in downtown Puerto Vallarta. This beach with the umbrellas is just off the Malecon and they serve beer and food right on the beach! This is a great place to spend some time soaking up the sun and relaxing.

There are lots of bars and restaurants along the beach as well as in the buildings that align the Malecon. There are also many stores, mostly selling tourist stuff, although there are a few grocery stores as well as schools and jewelry stores if you go a few blocks off the Malecon. In the evenings various entertainers play guitars and jugglers perform. There is always something going on to attract your attention. Some people just love to sit somewhere and watch the people strolling along. Find a place in the shade, it can be really hot sometimes.

What’s So Great about Cheeky Monkeys?

Cheeky Monkeys is one of these bars and attracts a lot of attention for several reasons. First of all its name is unique and kind of engaging. Everyone likes to be able to say they have been to Cheeky Monkey’s. Secondly the prices are really great. Beer costs a dollar and the appetizers and meals are well priced as well. Thirdly it is open  view, there are no windows so you have an unimpeded view of the Malecon and the ocean from either floor. There is no ground floor so you must take the stairs up to the 2nd floor from a side street.

The best part is that it faces west and from the second or third floor you have an unimpeded view of the sunsets on Banderas bay, with palm trees in the foreground and often a ship or two out on the bay. One the things that really endears you to this place if this is not enough already is that while the sun sets into the water, which only takes about 5 minutes, they play music from one of the five tenors. Absolutely fantastic and it brings tears to almost everyone’s eyes.

Stroll Along the Malecon

We would often meet friends at the restaurant, have a few beers, something to eat and watch the sunset. Afterword we would go for a stroll along the Malecon, enjoying the many stalls and people selling various goods. Sometimes there would be entertainment of some sort in one of the plaza’s and sometimes they also had fireworks out over the water.

We found that it was also fun to watch the various people strolling along. Most are tourists, but local people also come out to enjoy the weather and the atmosphere. This is absolutely a great place to spend an evening.

Catch a Bus Home from Cheeky Monkey’s

When we were there the buses would stop running around 10:30. We had to catch the last bus to make sure we could get back to our condo which was in the marina area of Vallarta. We also could easily take a taxi, however why spend the extra money when you can take a bus that would drop us off right in front of the gates to our condo building.

After 10:30, you pretty much need to take a taxi. If you plan to stay downtown and go to the bars, then your only choice is a taxi to get home. I would not recommend driving in Mexico especially if you have been drinking.  Lots of people do, however I just did not want to have to deal with the problems if I ever had an accident.

For more information and details about Puerto Vallarta, click here.

We again visited the Hogansburg Akwesasne Mohawk Casino in late January and decided to provide our readers with a brief update of our experience. Once again the casino lived up to our expectations. Fortunately for us, there was a freezing rain warning and many people decided to stay home. As a result, the casino was not crowded and we had our choice of slot machines. Many times when the Hogansburg Akwesasne Mohawk Casino is crowded, you may not be able to always play the particular slot machine that you want. For more detailed information about the casino,   click here. There is an additional review on another site which you can get to by clicking on this link, Hogansburg Akwesasne Mohawk Casino.

The casino was not very busy on this particular day due to an impending freezing rain warning that was supposed to begin that afternoon. It was very nice to be able to go around the casino and pick whatever slot machine that you wanted to play. This is a casino where patrons are allowed to smoke. The conditions inside the casino were much better as well since there were far fewer people smoking. I only saw one person smoking a cigar which in my mind should not be allowed at all. Fortunately, there is a large nonsmoking area and it was actually busier than the smoking area.

Dinner at Sticks

We had dinner in Sticks this time. This is a sports bar with lots of TV’s around showing various sports and even the Florida primary presidential debate. We had a special deal that cost $24 for two people. You got to choose one starter and 2 appetizers. You only received one side with each appetizer. In retrospect for us, this was not the best deal, but then you learn with each meal. The food was fine, we just felt we should have received more for the money we spent.

Use Your Slot Card, Comp Your Meal

We used our comp dollars to pay for the meal so it did not actually cost anything which was another bonus. All in all, it was a great day since the meal was free and I won a $540 jackpot which more than paid for our trip!

Also, we filled up with gas at the Bears Den gas and deli station along Highway 37. They have added reduced bridge passes for Canadians returning to Canada. When you spend more than $25 you can get a bridge pass for $2 which saves you $1.25 at the toll on the bridge on the way back to Canada. Not a lot and not as good as it was last year, however, every little bit helps.  Cheap gas, bridge pass, and a jackpot with a free meal as well! Not a bad day to go to the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino.

Comments are welcome, particularly those that are of interest to our readers. A well written constructive comment with a link will be approved if it is deemed useful to our readers. For more posts about casinos around the country, click here

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I recently saw a post about the world in chaos and I just had to express my opinion about this concept. It seems that the author feels that the world, every continent and major countries are in chaos at the moment. Hence the post – The ABC’s of World Politics. It can be represented by four letters – A,B,C and D!

• A is for anger
• B is for borrowing
• C is for competitiveness
• D is for deadlock

And I think that this guy who wrote the original post had some real insights here that are worth thinking about. Knowing this information will not solve the problem, but they will help you to understand the big picture of what is going on in the world.  I would add:

• E is for eager
• F is for frustration

Let’s talk about each one and explain what they mean to the original writer and to me another writer who puts his own spin on this topic.
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We visited the Akwesasne Casino in Hogansburg New York the other day. Also, we decided to stay overnight at the Comfort Inn across from the casino. We have stayed there before and had a lot of great things to say about it. We wanted to provide an update regarding the hotel since they are in the middle of making many changes at the hotel. For a more complete review, you can click here.

We really like this hotel for a number of reasons. It is always very clean, they provide WiFi and also the breakfast is always very good.  this time however we found the hotel under construction. They have added another wing onto the hotel to add more rooms and at the same time they are updating the lobby, and the breakfast area and also replacing the wallpaper on all of the halls.

In the end, this will make this hotel even more comfortable to stay at and they will have more rooms. We stayed at the comfort inn on a Thursday night and had no problem getting a reservation late in the day. We decided to stay overnight only as a last-minute decision. On the weekend, the hotel is sold out and so the extra rooms will be welcome.

The construction was only a minor inconvenience to us, however, we would have appreciated it the reservation clerk had warned us ahead of time to manage our expectations. Often they will have a letter in each room informing guests of the construction and what is being done. Unfortunately there was none of this. we spoke to the manager about this and I think will take some of these suggestions and implement them.

Hogansburg Comfort Inn – Great Place to Stay

The Hogansburg Comfort Inn is a great place to stay because of its proximity to the Akwesasne Mohawk casino. For more information about the casino, click here.  When you check in always ask for a AAA discount or seniors discount. This will save you approximately $5 to $10 dollars each night so it is definitely worth it. The other great advantage is that you do not have to pay any federal or state taxes which can save another ten to fifteen dollars.

Once again, except for the construction, we were very happy with our stay at the Comfort Inn. Apparently the construction is to be finished by mid-March much to the gratification of the manager. He is very frustrated with the slowness of the progress. They are pushing them pretty hard to finish the job on time.

If you have comments about the Comfort Inn or the Akwesasne Mohawk casino, please feel free to leave them. Constructive well written comments that benefit our readers will be approved with links as well. We appreciate those comments that will help our readers with their travel decisions.

For more posts about casinos and slot cards, click here.