Travel Blog

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.

It is that time of year again and we are back in Tunica, Mississippi on our annual trip to Tunica and the Tunica Casinos. This time we are staying at the Gold Strike Hotel and Casino for four nights complimentary. This is such a great deal since the rooms are very nice, clean and modern as is the hotel. If you are looking for a place to stay for the night whether you gamble or not this is one of the better hotels to stay at. Tunica is just south of Memphis. It takes about 30 minutes by car to get from Memphis to the closest Tunica Casinos.

Tunica Casinos – Rooms at the Gold Strike In Tunica

Our room at the Gold Strike hotel looks out onto the Mississippi river from the 22nd floor. It is close to the elevators which we like and the room is one of the upgraded rooms with a separate foyer and a large marble bathroom. the only thing lacking is a flat screen TV in the bathroom to match the one in the main bedroom.  This is probably a $150 to $200 room and when you consider it is complimentary, it truly is a great deal. Sure we like to gamble and sometimes we pay for it in losses, but sometimes we also make money and it is a win for us overall.

Two for One Deals at the Buffet

We ate at the buffet this morning. Today is a 2 for one deal when you pay for your meal using your express comp dollars! These are dollars that you receive as you are gambling and can be used for everything from paying for meals to paying for your room if it is not fully complimentary. Several times during the month the Gold Strike offers these two for one deals at the buffet when you use you express comp’s. All you have to do is give them your MLife card, show proper ID such as a driver’s license and they will give you two free buffets which only cost half price when you pay with express comp’s. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

Tunica Casinos – Changes at the Gold Strike

So far we have not noticed any changes at the Gold Strike from last year. There certainly have not been any major upgrades that we saw and the same machines appear to be all in the same places. Many casinos will move machines around and / or install new ones from time to time. So far it does not look like they have done this.

The same is true at the Horseshoe casino run by Harrahs. It is next door to the Gold Strike. Unfortunately the Roadhouse was closed the last time we visited the area. We also visited the Roadhouse Casino next door to the Horseshoe which is also run by Harrahs. We like this small casino. It has introduced a lot of new machines in the last year, many that we like. It kept many of the old stalwarts that we also enjoy. One of the things we like the most about the Roadhouse is that you can order your drink at the machine. all you need to do is type on the slot machine message board. No waiting to flag down a waitress. Just type in your order and your drink is delivered a few minutes later! How great is that?

Summary

Well that completes our update for this visit. Looks like the same old great value and great food, what more could you ask for? Well maybe winning at the slots would help, which we have not done yet. If you have comments about this post , feel free to leave a well written comment. We will be happy to post it to our blog. We will even include your link if it is a good comment. Too many leave junk comments wanting a link and frankly these are all caught by our spam filter.

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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.We recently visited the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino a couple of times in the past month. Either we enjoyed their buffet too many times, or it was not as good. Since this visit, we went back to the new decor and found it much improved. They usually have two kinds of soup, but this time, they only had chili and one soup, which I did not care for. Ok, you can put that down to personal taste; however, some of the other things are starting to make me wonder if it is really as good as I thought it was.

It is a nice buffet, very clean, and a nice selection of food. The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino buffet has all of the basics, so there is no problem with that. They were really busy, and some of the trays were empty; for example, you could not get any spare ribs when we went through the buffet. They may have brought some more out later; however, it was too busy to stand in line again to get to the ribs.

The buffet reopened after being closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prices have increased dramatically, and there are fewer items available. We found the quality to be very good, and there were no line-ups to enter the buffet, as in the past. I guess this reflects the client’s reaction to the increased prices and overall reaction to inflation.

Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Buffet – Deserts

There is a good variety of desserts. However, the crust of the pie is too thick and heavy. Obviously, these pies are not made on-site. However, they just do not appear to be fresh. Maybe I am just disenchanted with the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino. Perhaps because we have been there one too many times, but I do not think so. Another couple who came with us felt that the Rideau Carleton Casino actually had a better buffet. I was really surprised when I heard that since we do not really like this casino’s buffet either. You can read a more complete review of the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino by clicking here.

The buffet costs $1799 at night and $10.00 for lunch, except on senior days when the price of the buffet at lunch is only $5.00. for these prices, one should not complain since the food is quite good. Although it could be improved, at these prices it is more than worth the money.

Crab Legs are not Great.

The last time we went to the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino was a Saturday night, and my wife ordered crab legs, a special on the menu that evening. It cost an extra $5.99. It was not as good as other places where we have had crab legs. The legs were not cracked or precut, so it meant that you really had to fight to get at the meat inside the shells of the legs. We would not order this particular special again, preferring to save our money for better deals and crab legs.

Well, that is about it. Maybe this sounds like a griping session. However, we just did not enjoy the buffet as much as other times. If you have been there and tried the buffet, please leave a comment. Any well-written comment will be approved, with or without a link. We are looking for quality input for our readers.

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.

Most people never have to be concerned about casino win loss statements. However if you do then you are one of the lucky ones who has won a jackpot. You need to file an IRS tax statement to claim some of your money back. Canadians are automatically taxed at source at a rate of 30% on any winnings over $1200 in the United States. We recently had this experience and started with a win of $1329, only to lose $399 to taxes with held at the casino for tax purposes. Apparently Americans do not have to pay the tax up front. They do have to show this gambling income on their tax forms and pay the appropriate taxes. So what does all of this have to do with a casino slot machine win loss statement. You will need one if you want your money back.

Claim Losses against your Jackpot income

Well if you feel that if you lost a great deal of money in the tax year that you won your jackpot, you can claim this loss against the jackpot that you won. You can reduce the amount of tax that you paid. The only way to be able to request a win loss statement is to ask for one from the casino that you play at. To do this you must have used a slot card which identifies you to the casino . It  tracks the amount of money you pay into the machine as well as your winnings. For more information on casino slot cards and all of the benefits of a slot card, click here.

How do I request a Win Loss Statement

As long as you are using a slot card when you are gambling at the slots you will be able to request a casino slot machine win loss statement at the end of each year.  Each casino company is a bit different. however for most, all you have to do is go to their web site and search around until you find a link that tells you how to request a win loss statement. Some allow you to do this online and you can download a pdf almost immediately. In other cases you will have to fill in a form and either send by mail or by fax. Once your request is received, you will receive your report within 5 to 7 business days in most cases.

Surprising Casino Win Loss Statements

Most people know that you might start off with, lets say $50 and during an evening you might win a number of small jackpots which of course you use to continue gambling. On a particularly good night you might turn your original $50 over many times so that it looks like you have gambled maybe $300 or even more. At the end of the night using this example if you finally lost your $50,  your win  loss statement for that day would show you gambled $300, won $250 and lost $50! It is this loss of $50 that you want to claim against your jackpot that you paid tax on. We play nickel machines most of the time and at one casino we apparently played $43 798 and won $43, 502 for a net loss of $296! This was over a period of a year and represented a visit to the casino once a week approximately on average! Amazing but true!

Summarize your Statements of Casino wins and Losses

Request all of your win loss statements from all casinos which you have a slot card for. You can add up the wins and losses for all of these casinos. This will show what your total loss was to justify that the tax deducted should be returned to you. Or at least part of it depending on how big a jackpot you won.

Our next post will discuss in general terms what you need to do with these win loss statements, were to find the tax forms if you are a Canadian and how to arrange to file your taxes with the IRS. We are in the process of doing this for the past year and hope to receive a refund from the IRS.

If you have had experience making claims of this sort, feel free to leave a comment. All comments that we well written and helpful to our readers will be considered for being included with our posts. We will even include a link if requested for quality comments.

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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 recently visited the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino and decided to stay the night at the Comfort Inn next door. Note that the Comfort Inn was purchased by the Akwesasne Casino and renamed “The Players Inn.” Visiting the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino in Hogansburg, New York is so easy when you also stay at the Comfort Inn located next door to the casino. Many casino patrons will arrive around 2 p.m. or later, park at the Hotel, check-in, and then head over to the casino, which is less than a 2-minute walk from the Hotel.

Not only is the casino fun to play, but the Comfort Inn is also clean and close by. We have stayed there a few times and always come away satisfied with the deal we received and having fun as well.If you are planning to go to this area on the weekend and stay at the Hotel, it is a good idea to make your reservation ahead of time since they are often full on the weekends.

For more information on the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, click here.  For more information on the Comfort Inn, click here or at this location as well. The picture shown above is the main entrance to the casino, and the Hotel, which is not in the picture, is located just to the left of the casino.

Akwesasne Mohawk Casino – Things We Like

We thought we would list some of the things we like about the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino and, later, the Comfort Inn Hotel.

• $2.25 beer prices at the slot machines
• $3.50 wine prices at the slot machine
• Smoking area
• Lots of different as well as popular slot machines
• Tables as well as poker room
• Sticks sports bar
• Buffet restaurant
• Steak house
• Fast Food area
• Free help yourself soft drinks
• Friendly and helpful staff

Comfort Inn Hotel (The Players Inn) next to Akwesasne Mohawk Casino

• Right next door to the casino
• Hot breakfast included
• Very clean
• Free WiFi
• Clean rooms
• Well-appointed rooms at competitive rates
• No Federal or State taxes are charged on rooms
• Friendly and helpful staff

Note: As of this writing, the Hotel is undergoing some remodeling, which is supposed to be finished by the end of March 2025. When you make a reservation, they do not always tell you about the construction that is going on.

The casino has also opened its Hotel, which is filled on the weekends. Call ahead to make reservations at either of these locations. They are both very lovely and well worth the money. Note that there is no sales tax when you are staying at either of these hotels.

If you have been to the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino or the Comfort Inn (The Players Inn) beside it, leave your comments so other readers can benefit. Good quality constructive and helpful comments will be approved along with a link if you provide it. Generally speaking, spam comments are deleted by an auto-delete system.

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.

Golfers should pay attention to this post if they plan to golf at the golf course out by the marina in Pureto Vallarta, Mexico! Pureto Vallarta has long been known as a tourist destination. We have a number of friends who live there for most of the year. Downtown Puerto Vallarta is quaint with the Malecon along the ocean and the many bars that line the streets. For us it is a great place to spend the winter away from the snow and ice in Canada. But if you are golfing, there are crocs to watch for on this golf course.

North of downtown Pureto Vallarta is the marina area with upscale condo’s and homes that boasts a marina of course. Along with a shopping center and a golf course. The marina itself is packed with fishing boats available for charter. This is where the luxury liners come into dock for the day. Tuesdays and Thursdays seem to be the prime days for docking of these massive ships with their thousands of passengers.

Pureto Vallarta Golf course

The golf course is slightly further north of the marina and is surrounded by beautiful homes. The golf course, while very nice is unremarkable except for two distinguishing attributes. First there is lot’s if iguana’s that spend their days sleeping in the sun and munching on the grass and flowers that ring the course. Some will grow to at least 5 or 6 feet long and can surprise you when you first see them. Some tourists will mistake them for the crocodiles that also live on this same course.
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Working and living in a foreign country can be exciting and rewarding while at the same time both you and your family will learn a great deal about how other cultures live,  work and play. With a little planning and knowledge of a foreign countries culture and way of doing business your time in the foreign country can be very successful and  rewarding as well.

Investing and Living in a Foreign Country

Here are a few things that you should keep in mind when you’re planning to do business and contemplate living in a foreign country.

Always investigate the number of state-owned companies and privately owned companies in the sphere of business that you plan to operate. Every culture is different and has a different view of when to do business.

• Confirm the general business hours of your company as well as a country that you will be living
• Confirm when lunch usually runs and how long business lunches are typically.
• Management contracts  and negotiations and
• Social activity away from the job context.

Male-female relationships are often handled differently than your own country both on and off the job. Be very careful how you view female to male relationships in a foreign country. Investigate how and when you should use titles and surnames in business, in private situations as well as in public situations.

How to Deal with Hierarchies

Every company as well as society evaluates people by their hierarchy in their business context. You should try to understand both if you will be the host in your country and your position. Understand what the view is and how you should handle yourself in private life versus public life.

You may find that your working space is quite different from the working space that you had in your home country. Check with other in country expats to confirm standards.

Etiquette, protocol and dress code

Multinational companies and most business people are accustomed to dealing with foreigners. There are a few things to keep in mind:

• Should you shake hands with everyone present in a group, both upon arrival and upon departure
• At first acquaintance should you exchange business cards at the beginning of a meeting as an introduction or at the end.
• Confirm the expectation with regards to punctuality and attending meetings
• In many countries, meetings often begin when the main interested parties have arrived
• Confirm the dress code for the company that you work with and where you will be conducting business
• Evaluate when pressure for responses are acceptable and whether it should be subtle or direct
• In many countries the prerequisite for success in business is to meet for drinks with your colleagues after work.
• Often during business lunches, subjects of general interest will probably precede the subject of work.
• If you’re a senior executive, it may be appropriate to invite your staff home  or to a local bar for drinks.
• If you’re invited to a social gathering you may want to find out whether it is acceptable to accept the invitation or reject it
• Giving a gift within many cultures is interpreted in many ways. Always investigate when and how you should provide a gift
• In many countries things are not necessarily as they appear. There will be a method and legitimate way of getting things done in spite of bureaucracy and regulations.

Checklist for living in a foreign country

• Obtain telephone numbers and addresses of all global hotels shopping centers and service agencies
• Investigate if there are any special precautions to be taken with regard to food
• Investigate if there are any special precautions to be taken with respect to drinking the local water
• Obtain addresses and telephone numbers for local restaurants
• Obtain telephone numbers and addresses of theaters and museums

Check out personal security requirements

Security in every country, especially in large cities should be taken very seriously. Use common sense in avoiding risky situations, remember that you are in a busy city.

Avoid, especially at night, carrying valuable jewelry or carrying valuable objects. Try to remember that the assailant is probably as scared as you are and it will not hurt you if you give in to what he is asking for. If you see someone who has run into trouble, do not interfere, but try making plenty of noise to frighten the attacker away.

Avoid places such as tunnels, quiet alleyways, jostling crowds and dark corners. Stay away from the beaches at night and stay away from any slums at anytime of the day. You must investigate the expected behavior between women and men in your host country. You should also investigate social etiquette and protocol. Understand the laws regarding alcohol, drugs and nightlife.

We recently visited Searchlight, Nevada, and went to the  Nugget Casino in Searchlight for lunch. There are two casinos in this little village, one is the Search Light Nevada Nugget Casino and the other is called Terrible’s.

The village of Searchlight is at the intersection of routes 95 and 164 between Boulder City and Laughlin.  There is nothing around for miles. This old mining town is a great spot to stop for gas, perhaps a bite to eat, and also perhaps a bit of gambling.

The address is for those that need it is: 100 N. Hwy. 95, P.O. Box 187, Searchlight, NV 89406 . The phone number is (702)297-1201.

The Searchlight Nugget is a neat little casino with a bar and a small restaurant in the casino. Of course, there are approximately 90 slot machines. The town of Searchlight sports another casino, a gas station, and a school. Also, a small home development and the usual set of trailers make up the small population. People living in Searchlight either work at the local businesses or at the Lake Mohave park a few miles away.

Search Light Nevada Nugget Casino – Restaurant

The restaurant was busy when we stopped. We sat at the counter, since all of the tables were already taken and we also like to sit at the counter as a means of meeting people to learn about the surrounding area.  Well, the food was ok, however we were not overly impressed with the service. It took a long time to get our meal, perhaps because they were already busy when we arrived.

There was one major turn-off for us, and that was the waiters that served us. They were very nice people, friendly and offering good service. They talked to us and inquired where we were from since it was pretty obvious that we were tourists. The thing that turned us off was their teeth. They obviously could not afford a dentist, and as a result, some were missing teeth, and many of the teeth they still had were black. It is not a pretty site to look at when you have your meal and someone is talking and smiling at you with a mouthful of bad teeth.  Some may say we are being snobbish or overly critical; however, it was a shock to us. You just do not expect this when you are in a public restaurant that offers meals, etc. The waiters lived in Searchlight or in a small trailer park a few miles away.

Entertainment

The Searchlight Nugget has 99 slot and video machines, including an old western-style “Mills Black Beauty” cowboy slot machine. The Searchlight Nugget has three gaming tables, a small bar/lounge with an old-time Rock-Ola music box, and a cashier’s cage for change and to pay your restaurant check.

You can also take a 20-mile drive over to Lake Mohave. The area – which is warm year-round – has some of the best water sports and outdoor adventures in the state. You can enjoy nature hikes, cycling, and horseback riding along the shore, or you can rent a Jet Ski, sailboat, motorboat, canoe, or kayak and get on the water. This is a state park, and you will have to pay an entrance fee to enter. The Searchlight Nugget Casino Bar has live entertainment every weekend in the form of local and regional bands.

Reviews of the Nugget Casino in Searchlight

Although we have visited the Nugget Casino in Searchlight, we were also interested in what other people thought of the casino and the restaurant. Many found this to be a quaint little place with good food and a place to spend a few dollars at on the slots.

No one mentioned bad service or any major negatives. It is not a Las Vegas casino, that is for sure, but it is a nice spot to stop over on your way to Vegas, Laughlin, Nevada, or points further south along Route 95. For information and links to Las Vegas casinos, click here.

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There are nine weight loss tips that are a combination of common sense and also supported by various diet professionals. Some involve different ways to eat, or adding certain foods to your diet. Others involve learning new behaviors or strategies to help you stay on track. Either way it involves changes to your daily routine and perseverance in sticking to your diet plan, but they are relatively easier to follow. Bottom line is that you need to make up your mind that you will achieve this goal and lose weight for it to work.  Don’t wait, get started now and follow these Weight Loss Tips.

• Variety Is Overrated
• Have Barley for Breakfast
• Beef Up Your Lunch Salad
• Stock Up on Frozen Vegetables
• Make Yourself a Party Tray
• Turn Down the Thermostat
• Downsize Your Dinnerware
• Go Out for Treats
• Try on Your Skinny Jeans Every Friday

Nine Weight Loss Tips

Variety Is Overrated

Who hasn’t heard the advice to “just take a bite of everything” if you’re at a buffet?

I have done this myself. The problem is when there are over 100 items on a buffet, by the time you take one spoonful of everything, your plate will be overflowing! Also if your favorite foods are on the buffet, you probably will take more and increase your intake.

Be selective and focus on low-calorie food just as if you were at home. Don’t let a buffet boot you off your diet plan!

Have Barley for Breakfast

Barley got its hunger-fighting reputation after Swedish researchers found that eating barley or rye kernels for breakfast kept blood sugar on an even keel. That’s because the carbs in barley and rye kernels are “low glycemic index,” meaning they raise blood sugar more slowly than some other carbohydrate foods. This helps you avoid a spike, and then a drop, in blood sugar, which can leave you feeling famished.

Buy hulled barley, not pearl barley. The Swedish researchers used minimally processed hull barley, and they can’t vouch for the same effects for more processed forms, such as pearl barley.

Beef Up Your Lunch Salad

One of the most common mistakes dieters make is to eat a vegetable salad with little or no dressing for lunch and then they are starving by mid-afternoon. A salad is a great choice if you add some protein and a little fat to help keep you feeling full longer.

Add 3 oz piece of chicken breast, and you’ve added about 26 grams of protein but just 140 calories. Add about two tablespoons of light salad dressing, and your salad may be filling enough to get you through the 3 p.m. hunger slump without hitting the vending machine.

Stock Up on Frozen Vegetables

Sure, fresh vegetables are delicious and nutritious. Preparation of the vegetables is a pain and most consider not worth the time, so they reach for chips instead. Why not buy frozen vegetables that are already chopped and ready to be served. Just heat in the microwave and they are ready!

Make Yourself a Party Tray

A big vegetable platter, maybe with some low-fat dip on the side! Now that is good for you, good to eat and will help you lose weight at the same time. If you have it in the fridge and it is the first thing you see when you open the door, there is a good chance you and your family are going to reach for this party tray first before reaching for anything else.

Turn Down the Thermostat

Spending time in a chilly house — about 61 degrees Fahrenheit — may boost the fat-burning power of the “brown fat” in your body. Brown fat is considered “good” fat, as opposed to regular or white fat, which stores calories and tends to accumulate.  Scandinavian researchers found that exposure to these chilly temperatures boosted the metabolic rate of brown fat 15-fold, helping burn more calories.

Downsize Your Dinnerware

The larger your plate, the more you’re likely to put on it. So serving your meals on smaller plates can help you eat less. Even if you still go back for seconds, there is a strong likelihood that you will eat less overall. You can still use the dinner plates for salads instead.

Go Out for Treats

If you must have a sweet, try not to keep them in the house. Go out instead. Just the mere energy needed to go out is going to dissuade you from heading out to the doughnut shop or the grocery store to buy that special treat. The trip to the fridge or the pantry is much shorter and too hard to resist.

Try on Your Skinny Jeans Every Friday or before you go out for Dinner

Weekends are always a tougher time to stay on diet and Friday mornings try-on will motivate you to watch your eating during the weekend. If you wear them out to dinner, you will be even more motivated, since they are snug and not many people can eat a lot when they are wearing tight clothes. For more information about weight loss, click here.

Surprise, Casey Anthony is back and has resurfaced via video’s on Youtube! found not guilty a few months ago, she immediately went into hiding after being released from jail. She got credit for time served. She did not need to serve any more time for the charges of lying to police which she was found guilty for.

I think we all knew it would only be a matter of time before she emerged again on the news scene. She wants attention from the media and the population who followed her case.

Why Casey Anthony is Back

Why would Casey be in the Media Spotlight Again? There are various theories as to why she would make these videos and release them. According to her lawyers these are video diaries that she is making to record her thoughts and feelings. They are considered private. Her lawyers say that her account was hacked and the videos were distributed over the internet! This might be true however there are a few questions about this particular theory?

Why for example are the names of some people blanked out from the audio? If this was a hack job, why would the hacker care to protect some people? More than likely they would just release the raw video and leave it at that.
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Did you ever wonder what white water rafting companies did in the winter time when the northern rivers were frozen over and it was just too cold to take anyone rafting let alone white water rafting? turns out there are many solutions to this seasonal problem for northern  rafting companies and their employees who know they will be out of work once the season ends. For some of the guides they will be employed during the winter months refurbishing the equipment and restocking to prepare for the following season.

For many others they will be involved in marketing and booking trips for the following spring and summer. Those employees and guides  that are not involved in this off season activity have to find work in other industries such as snow removal, ski instruction or they can  move to another country to continue offering guiding services on rivers in warm climates! Which would you rather do?

Winter White Water Rafting

Well it turns out that some of the large white water rafting companies have operations in several countries. They can move their employees to more southern climates to take advantage of the warmer temperatures. Also the snow birds that flock to the south during the winter months. There still is a slow season during the transition from fall to winter. But that is time for vacation and getting ready for the next season. Many rafting guides get to take advantage of being in a tropical environment and continuing to work in the industry they love. And of course some of the employees just take off for southern climates in the hopes of securing a job with companies in various locations were it is much warmer and pleasant to offer rafting excursions.

One such company is Esprit White Water rafting company. They have operations in Canada as well as in Costa Rica and Mexico.  During the Spring and summer months they offer white water rafting along the Ottawa river and the Petawawa River. Both locations are near the Ontario – Quebec border and the closest main city is of course Ottawa, Ontario. More on these two locations in a moment, however we wanted to focus on winter white water rafting in this post.

White Water Rafting in Mexico

They offer rafting excursions in Costa Rica and also in Mexico. In Mexico, they offer just about everything that you would look for. Although Mexico is known for sun , sand and beaches, there are also some great places to go kayaking. Also canoeing and of course white water rafting. Esprit has put together  some great trips for those snow birds who are looking to get away from the cold winters of the US north and the Canadian winters. Enjoy canoeing, kayaking, rafting, trekking, rappelling, zip-lining, mountain biking, cascading. As well as swimming, ecological interpretation and authentic Mexican culture! More on this in a future post, White Water Rafting in Mexico!

White Water Rafting in Costa Rica

If you are into rain forests, while you are rafting then Costa Rica is the place to go.  there are two coasts to choose from with mountains, rivers and rainforest that will impress and astound you with the beauty of the tropical rain forest as well as the challenging rapids.  This is also a great place to spend a week or two enjoying the hot weather. While cooling off in an adventure tour that offers many interesting tropical plants and wild  life as well as challenging rivers to navigate. More on this in a future post, White Water rafting in Costa Rica!

Rafting on the Ottawa River and the Petawawa River

Just 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa. You can go white eater rafting as well as bungee jumping right into the river! The bungee jump is 200 feet, which they claim to be the highest in North America.  From a 200 foot high limestone cliff you jump into an aqua blue spring fed lagoon. Then spring back almost 16o feet which they also claim is one of the highest in North America.   Esprit offers rafting and bungee jumping from May to October every year on the Ottawa river.

They also offer  white water rafting excursions on the Petawawa River from April to the middle of June. During the spring the river offers class III and IV rapids to challenge the daring and the experts among you.   There are also other rivers that Esprit offers rafting on which include the Kipawa river, the Magnetawan River, the Gatineau River and a number of Expedition Rivers.  Future posts will cover some of these interesting locations.

Belfast Weather in Northern Ireland – Ireland has this reputation for being always cloudy and always wet and also very green. Having been there several times, I can say that it lives up to its reputation. I have been there 3 times, each time for a week, and always in the fall. The sun never poked through the clouds while I was in Dublin Ireland. I hear it is much the same all over Ireland including Belfast in Northern Ireland. Admittedly late fall and early winter are the lowest average months when it comes to sunshine. But you would think that it would shine at some point. Dec only receives on average only 1 hour of sunshine a day. Jan and Feb are not much better with an average of 2 hours. This is far too little for most people to receive the amount of vitamin D they need. So many people will take vitamin D supplements while they are there if it will be for any length of time.

Belfast Weather in Northern Ireland – How Much Rain Does Belfast Receive?

Every month Belfast receives from 2 to 3 inches of rain. Although it did not rain while I was there, it was very damp and cool making it seem much colder than it actually was. As long as you are dressed warmly enough, it is very comfortable.  It does not sound very appealing, however Ireland is famous for being green. It certainly lives up to that reputation. With the rain they get and the limited sunshine, everything responds and grows well. There certainly is no desert areas in or around Belfast , Northern Ireland or around Dublin either for that matter.
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By now most of us know the story of the Teen Mom Shoots Intruder. One of two burglars who tried to enter her home on New Years eve. With the intention of looking for drugs or perhaps worse. Which is what the teen mom, Sarah Dawn McKinley feels would have happened. Apparently both burglars were high on drugs. One at least was carrying a 12 inch hunting knife.

She was on the phone with the dispatcher the entire time. While these bums were trying to break into her home over a 20 minute period. The dispatcher heard the shot as the guy is coming in the door!  Can you imagine being in that girls position? The stress she must have been under.

Teen Mom Shoots Intruder and Defends Baby

She has a small baby who is sleeping in another room and she is armed with a 12 gauge shot-gun! What would you do in this situation?  And were was the father you ask? he passed away on Christmas day from Cancer and was not there to defend his family.

In one story we read, the intruder who was shot had been stalking this young teen 2 years ago and then resumed stalking her when her husband passed away. What a low life! There will be no sympathy for him or his partner who by the way has been charged with murder under Oklahoma laws.

Intruder Charged with Murder

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I just watched an ABC report about new tires sold by all of the major retailers that are old tires sold as new when they are actually many years old. Apparently there is a code on the tire that will tell you when it was manufactured and thus how old it is. ABC did this report that looked at tires sold by Walmart, Sears , Good Year and others that were more than 6 years old. They were brand new, but had sat on the shelf for over 6 years!

Old Tires Sold as New – Exploding tires

Now some of you may be saying so what. I can get a great deal with tires on sale at all of these stores! Apparently rubber like everything else will dry out over time and this makes the tire  more unstable and capable of tearing apart at high speed when it gets hot. Tires will get hot if driven at high speed or even at normal speed when they are under inflated. Add to this a dried out tire and you get something like some of the pictures on the left that we uploaded to this post.

When we were looking for pictures of tires that had exploded, there were also pictures of some really grizzly looking accidents that we did not think appropriate to show on this post. Let us just say that the pictures showed mangled cars and trucks, with people killed or hurt very badly. We are showing three pictures that really demonstrate what happens to a tire when it comes apart at high speeds.

Tire Explosions

The ABC video also showed what happens to people driving a vehicle when the tire explodes. They were anticipating the tire to explode and even those the drivers were also skilled test drivers, many had a very difficult time keep control of the vehicle. In fact one person in a test vehicle could not get control of the car and veered off into the side of the road and overturned the test vehicle.

They were ok, however can you imagine what it would be like for you or I driving at highway speeds and your tire exploded! Many people are killed every year just because of this, so if your tires are older than 6 years which is the recommended age for tires, you may want to consider having them replaced before you go on any long trips or drive on the highway at high speeds!

Examine Your Tires

Take a look at your tires to check just how old they are. I just purchased a new car last year in 2009 and I would expect the tires to also be 2009 tires. Not so! My tires were made in the 24th week of 2007. So now they are 4 years old which is not too bad.  I purchased snow tires two years ago in 2008 for another car. I checked those tires and they were made in January of 1997! Wow , these tires in my mind were only 4 years old and the tread is still excellent on them!
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Puerto Vallarta is a really fantastic place to visit. We spent 2 months there one year and thoroughly enjoyed the culture and the many things to do there. One of the stories that we like to tell is about our ride to a small fishing village out into Banderas bay. We had to take a Water Taxi in Pureto Vallarta to get there. The water taxis run every 30 minutes from the downtown pier to several locations. Including Yelapa which is where we wanted to go. There apparently were no roads so a water taxi is the only way to get from Pureto Vallarta  to Yelapa.

Water Taxi in Pureto Vallarta

You catch the Water Taxi in Pureto Vallarta downtown at one of the small wharf’s along the beach. This particular one is popular for water taxis, fishing boats , fishing. Also for divers who like to dive off the peer and swim to shore. On this particular day the waves are rolling in at about 3 to 4 feet in height. Which is not too bad unless you are getting on a water taxi!.

If you can picture a concrete wharf going out into the water about a 100 feet. At the far end it is approximately 15 feet above the water level. There is a set of concrete stairs that descend into the water. Which the Water Taxi in Pureto Vallarta boats pull up to, to load and unload passengers. Of course these boats ride up and down as the waves crash on shore. They are rising and falling at least 3 to 4 feet for each wave.

Getting onto the Water Taxi in Pureto Vallarta

Now picture trying to get on a boat with two outboard motors , open from stem to stern, with benches for the passengers. There is no gang plank to  walk on. Basically you must time your steps so that you step from the concrete steps that go into the water and step onto the bow of the boat when it reaches it’s highest point. This can be tricky since you only have a few seconds to accomplish this without getting wet. Or having one leg on the boat and the other on the steps and being spread eagled!
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In the U.S., and around the world people are living longer than ever before. There are now about 80,000 centenarians in the US alone, which makes it one of the fastest-growing segments of the population. This means about 1 in 6,000 people are will live to be 100 years old. Live to be 100 years old is actually not such a difficult thing anymore. More people are doing it. We just came back from a party for a centenarian. She looked great and needed a wheelchair, but she made it.

There must be something that we can learn from those who have survived a century or more? Many people are trying to figure this out and studying these people who have made it to 100. It is important to remember too that not only do you want to live long, you also want to have an enjoyable lifestyle at 100 as well. So what have the experts learned so far?

The New England Centenarian study published some information, not too long ago which we have summarized in the following. Note that as more information is learned, the ideas expressed here may change and be updated.

Genes play a critical and complex role in conferring exceptional longevity.

Lifestyle and our attitudes towards our bodies can help our genes or hurt them when it comes to living well into our 80’s, 90’s and even to 100!

• Almost no centenarians are obese. Obesity contributes to the biggest diseases in our country, like diabetes and heart disease.
• Smoking history is rare.
• Centenarians are better able to handle stress than the majority of people.
• 85% of centenarians are women and 15% are men.
• At least 50% of centenarians have first-degree relatives and/or grandparents who also achieve very old age. Again those Genes!

Live to be 100 Years Old – Keep on moving

Scientists in California found that people over 50 that exercised over 5 hours per week lived longer and functioned better physically and cognitively. They tracked participants who ran as an aerobic activity over 20 years to find that they all had “less heart disease, cancer, neurological diseases, and infections.” In other words, “Aerobic exercise keeps the immune system young.” So, if you aren’t moving you are decreasing your lifespan.

Make every calorie count

The standard American diet is very high in calories, typically 2,000 to 3,000 calories. Additionally, the high calories aren’t packed with vital nutrients, but instead sugar and fat.

• Eating a healthy diet doesn’t only mean decreasing your calories, but getting the most nutrition per calorie. The most nutritious foods include vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
• Anti-oxidants: very simply put, an antioxidant is something that prevents or slows down oxidization. In much the same way as oxidation creates rust, causing a breakdown on the surface of an old car, oxidation inside the body causes a breakdown of cells. For instance, cholesterol in our bodies is not necessarily harmful until it becomes oxidized, which then causes it to start clinging to our blood vessels, which can then lead to clogging of our arteries. Antioxidants can help to prevent this. They can also provide other benefits to your skin and hair. Antioxidant vitamins include vitamins A, C and E. The most inexpensive way to get lots of anti-oxidants is to eat grapes or berries.

More Suggestions

• Fish Oil: contains Omega 3s. The typical American diet is missing the great benefits of Omega 3s which are found in high concentrations in fish. Omega-3 fatty acids slow the rate of damage to your genes. And, fish oils have many other protective anti-aging benefits such as decreasing bad cholesterol.
• Vitamin D: The lack of vitamin D can cause inadequate absorption of calcium, resulting in broken or brittle bones. As we age, deficiency in Vitamin D is common. The reason for this is because we make most of our Vitamin D from the sun. Most older individuals aren’t getting outside for long enough periods on a daily basis to make an adequate amount. Also, our skin (where Vitamin D is synthesized), gets less efficient at making Vitamin D altogether as we get older.

Aging is about attitude

If you respect your body, and have a positive optimistic outlook on life, you will tend to look after yourself more, eat the right foods, exercise and your years lived will be extended.

It is never to late to make changes to lifestyle.

As we grow older, it really is about quality of life. We want to be able to do many of the things we have always done and enjoy our families and grandchildren. We do not want to be constrained because we are overweight, or have heart problems or lung problems. Our bodies are really quite fantastic and can recover from many things, so why not give it some help now and focus on improving your lifestyle now! For more information about lifestyle and Live to be 100 Years Old, click here.

We have always wanted to stop at the Route 66 Casino located just west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and we finally did on our last road trip through this part of the southern United States. The Route 66 casino is approximately 20 minutes west of the city. It is a great place to stop for the night if you are traveling,  need gas, or need a room, and it is a good place to sleep. This casino hotel is on Interstate I40 on the south side of the highway, about 10 miles west of Albuquerque.  We stayed there one night and will stay at this hotel again sometime when we are in the area.

This is an Indian run hotel and casino, so there is smoking allowed in the casino, however they do have well equipped non smoking rooms. We also ate breakfast at the restaurant in the morning. The meal was large, at a good price, and the service was excellent. One of the big advantages of staying at this particular hotel is that the Indians have decided not to charge state or federal tax, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay, and it was very reasonable. This was our first time staying at this hotel, so we paid the regular rate. Next time, we hope to pay less since we signed up for a slot card!

Route 66 Casino

More details on this casino follow:

Slot Machines

Route 66 Casino Hotel features more than 1,700 slots in every denomination, from pennies, nickels, and quarters all the way to $5, $10, and $100 high-stakes machines.

Slot machines include:

• Jeff Foxworthy
• Hit the Heights
• Beat the Bandit
• Super Nova
• Diamond Factory
• Sex and the City
• Top Dollar
• Crystal Fortune
• Stargate
• Quick Strike

Table Games

Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette games feature a variety of betting limits for the beginner to the most experienced high roller.

Games like Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em are also available.

Restaurants

Thunder Road Steakhouse, Buffet 66, Johnny Rockets, Main Street, Travel Center (Dairy Queen), and lounge. We ate in the Main Street restaurant and were more than satisfied with our breakfast meal and the service.

What We Liked

Variety of slot machines

Buffet ( they have a buffet, we did not eat there)

Hotel rates are very reasonable, no taxes on your room!

Easy access fromI40

A Safe environment in the casino, hotel, and parking areas

Great stopover point on your way past Albuquerque or points west or east

They also had cheap gas at the time we stopped there as well.

What We Did Not Like

There are no real complaints about the Route 66 hotel and casino other than the fact that they allow smoking in the casino, which most, if not all, casinos do in the US. Some casinos are just better with air circulation than others.

It is a 3.5-star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs

Slot Player Card

They have their own slot players’ card system, and when you sign up for the first time, you usually get a gift.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are several benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Route 66 Hotel & Casino, including a large garage in front of the hotel and a large surface parking lot for thousands of cars.

Directions: This casino hotel is on Interstate 40, on the south side of the highway, about 10 miles west of Albuquerque.

Belfast Ireland has a nice temperate climate with average highs in July and August ranging around 68F and average lows ranging around 50F. The coldest month is January with average temperatures around 43F for the high and 33F as the average low. The Average Weather in Belfast is very enjoyable temperatures for walking and working out side. You may not do a lot of sun bathing in this weather, but it is very pleasant. This is not weather that you can work on a tan. You will need clothes for multiple seasons and weather when you visit so be prepared to take a long more clothes than you might to other destinations. A jacket is a good idea as well to use in the evenings when you are out and about.  A raincoat is also a good idea no matter what time of year that you are visiting Ireland.

Average Weather in Belfast – Sunshine

During May and June, Belfast will average 6 hours of sunshine every day. While July is the warmest month, the average declines to 5 hours. Dec is the darkest month with only 1 hour on average of sunshine. Jan and Feb are not much better with only 2 hours of sunshine on average in Belfast Ireland. Anyone who needs the sun will not like Ireland. There are people who begin to get depressed without sunshine so Ireland with the clouds and rain , may not be the right place for those people. You may even need to take vitamin D supplements to compensate for the lack of sunshine!
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Another reader was wondering if you can go white water rafting any time of year and what the conditions would be. The short answer is yes, however there are some obvious conditions that need to be considered. You also need to make sure that you have the correct equipment. Especially if you are rafting in the fall or spring. The water can be very cold. If you end up in the water hypothermia can set in rapidly causing death. Follow the guides advice. Make sure that you are well equipped for all of the emergencies.

Water Rafting Any Time of Year – Weather is a Big Factor

There are white water rafting trips that are run by tour operators all over the world and so yes you could go rafting anytime during the year. You just need to follow the seasons and you can go rafting. We are planning a post later on that will list the top 10 locations around the world.

Another factor related to weather is the spring run off. During the spring when the snow is melting, many rivers become raging torrents and only the most skilled and dare devil type rafters will brave these conditions.  A class II river in the summer time may become a class V river in the spring

Similarly with storm runoff, many rivers particularly in desert areas can go from a trickle to  a raging torrent in a few hours. Again only the skilled should risk taking on one of these.

Summer Time Flows

Summer time is usually the lowest flow for a river and many rivers are suitable at this time for inexperienced rafters who want to try a class II or III river and not worry about needing the strength or the stamina. Some of these rivers are for floating and swimming while you enjoy the beautiful scenery that abounds.

Storms can be an issue in the summer, so beware of sudden storms that cause the river to rise quickly. Also some dams will release water  to lower upstream lakes and this can increase the flow of water along the river.

Dress Accordingly

In the summer time the air is hot and the water sometimes can be quite warm. However in the spring and fall, the water will be much cooler and the air as well, so you need to ensure that you have the proper gear to keep you warm and avoid hypothermia. Many tour operators will provide wet suits or dry suits for participants to wear in these conditions, either for an additional fee or it will be included in the overall price.

Make sure you take advantage of these since, being cold can really spoil a trip and even risk your life if you get dumped into the water that is not much above freezing, especially in the spring when the river is fed by melting snow and ice.

Check with the Tour Operator for Local Conditions

Always check with the tour operator for the conditions when you book.  Summer time flows could mean a gentle ride down the river, while late spring could mean a more challenging trip. Some locations stop during the summer because the river flows are just to shallow to permit rafting.

So the answer to the questions is that yes you can go white water rafting at all times of the year, with some conditions. Location, weather and time of year are always important in terms of meeting or exceeding your expectations. Call ahead to confirm!

I am a die hard fan of the Tour de France. I have watched every episode of this race for the last three years.  Of course I cannot believe these guys have the stamina and the perseverance that they have. Bbeing able to bike for 200 kilometers. As well as climb several mountains in the process to over 6000 feet! It is July and the race is on again. Don’t miss any of the stages, they are all exciting to watch.

I like to bike on a casual basis. At my own speed and occasionally will travel 40 kilometers during an afternoon on a mountain bike. This is about the limit of what I want to do while enjoying the outdoors and the scenery. I admire these guys and the stamina they have, I am not sure that they really enjoy the scenery and the surrounding countryside. More power to them though, they can do this up to the age of 40 or so and travel around the world biking in some of the best countries and the most challenging terrain. They are in fantastic shape and have conditioned their bodies to deliver the power they need to go at top speeds along the sprints and the straight aways.

Tour de France – Safety

Which brings be to another topic that is a favorite of mine. When I go out biking I wear a helmet and comfortable shorts and t-shirt. It is not adorned with advertising and it is not skin tight, it is comfortable. Why is it that many people who have never raced and never will race feel they have to be dressed up as if they are in the Tour de France? Are they biker wannabee’s?  That is what it seems to me. Why not just go out and enjoy themselves and enjoy nature?

This is the approach that I take. I travel along at around 20 kilometers an hour and take in the scenery while saying hello to fellow riders.I sometimes travel along the road, but most of the time I am on bike paths and routinely I am passed by bikers tearing along at top speed on bike paths were there are toddlers on training wheels and seniors out for a walk. What is this? If you want to go fast go on the road and play chicken with the cars.

Enjoy the Ride

Anyway that’s my attitude. I have been asked several times to go with a friend who likes to go a long ways as fast as he can go. Forget it, wake up and try to enjoy live rather than take a chance killing yourself on some road were you are going to fast on a bike. All you need to do is hit a stone or a pothole and your in deep trouble. I think I will write more articles and posts about this subject on this blog, but that is my opinion for the moment.

If you have comments and agree or disagree with me, please let me know and why. I am sure our readers will find it interesting.