Venice

Buongiorno !

 The famous gondolas (a nice experience -- if you can afford it)

 Watch your step!

Tiny, elaborate Nativity scene within church

Burger King -- with hand blown chandeliers

1st Floor Hostel redux

Two months ago I was in Berlin and one of the places I stayed at was 1st Floor Hostel. It was little changed from my first stay years ago; but that 'little' was immediately noticeable. And an improvement.

First one, the hyper zany '80s color scheme isn't popping outta the walls anymore and, for another, the Reception/Lobby has been rearranged to feel more streamlined and tranquil. They still serve coffee, alcoholic drinks, and breakfast (3 euros); there are sidewalk tables to enjoy the air - or smoke - whilst people-watching. And, every backpacker will appreciate this, the hostel is but steps away from the eastern station Ostkreuz S-Bahn, which, itself, has finally been refurbished with escalators.

My stay and sleep were enjoyable as before (the spartan beds are thick & comfortable and the quiet neighborhood, priceless) and the guy at Reception even vaguely remembered me!

www.1stfloorhostelberlin.de

UK - NO EXIT STAMPS! THEY LIED TO ME & CALLED ME A LIAR

To show you how racists UK immigration are, one of the demerits leveled against granting me entry was the lack of departure, or exit, stamps in my passport from the time I left London when I travelled via bus to Berlin. Their stance was that I, in fact, overstayed my welcome and sneaked out and here was the proof: no Exit stamps!

They dismissed my assertion that the officials didn't stamp my passport as unbelievable and grasping at straws

Only get this: there are no such things as Exit stamps. Blimey, limey sonsofbitches. But you don't have to take my black word for it. Here's a white blogger by the name of Nomadic Matt. Happy reading!

With the deluge of desperate peoples fleeing eastern Europe and Africa for London I like to think the chickens are coming home to roost. 

Even the homeless are materialistic

Wtf lady?!

I can never understand why homeless persons further burden themselves with acquiring more and more shit. They have no place to put it! I snapped this picture in Spain; but have observed the very same, practically identical, thing in Mexico, Puerto Rico, California, Chicago, Miami Beach. (I must say, I don't recall such homelessness in any part of Germany. Beggars and winos, yes, and I presume they're indigent but they don't have a 'tent city' about them).  

Personally, I'm forever discarding stuff - nice stuff because I don't buy junk - from my suitcases in order to make airline baggage allowances as well as to not have to lug 'baggage' from port to port because even though the contents are nice, and, I believe, essential, after a little while of transversing stairs, hills, cobblestone walkways, crowds, etc. I just start to feel like Sisyphus. Maybe the human animal is prone to accumulate irregardless of his wealth or poverty.   

Boorish border patrol (SAN YSIDRO)

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All of this mess regarding the flood of Central American immigrants reminds me of my troubles crossing into U.S. You heard right. See, the border patrol is staffed by assholes and giving people a hard time is what these asshole social rejects do best. And since I'm no illegal immigrant my passage through simply could not be stress free.

I'm still getting paid either way!

In May of this year, crossing the San Ysidro port, a young officer (or whatever the hell they term themselves) named SANDOVAL gave me a lot of lip for requesting a Comment Card because to have simply handed me one would have been, well, too simple a thing to do. When I asked to speak to his boss or supervisor he smarted off that his boss was in "Washington"; but, gathering my unwavering intent on writing a letter, the real icing on the cake came when the braggadocious bastard exclaimed: So what! I'm still getting paid either way! And he repeated it for good measure. I'm still getting paid! 

Doesn't his attitude just say it all. 

He then made a photocopy of my passport for rebuttal purposes to my complaint. A trip to the Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) website provides for complaints to be made in one of two ways: anonymous or non-anonymous. I filled in mine with my name and age because I wanted to get a response on this smartass jerk. (I have the impression they expect persons to write anonymously; that way CBP doesn't have to get back to you and if they don't have to get back to you, then why bother claiming to investigate the complaint? It's a no brainer when you think about it. Govt workers don't want to work. That's why they applied for work in the govt in the first place. Remember: I'm still getting paid! ) 

Weeks went by with nothing but lip service from the Supervisory Program Manager at San Diego's field office, a Mssss Wilson, who, again, requested my name and date of birth.

if they [CBP] don't have to get back to you, then why would they bother to investigate the complaint?

Then, well over a month later, this Wilson chick emails she has a response -- and would like to mail it to me. Say what? All of sudden email wouldn't do?...
See, rather than police the police these cocksuckers want to sweep misdeeds under the rug and, instead, get something on those who complain about pig behaviour. I kindly assured Msssss Wilson it was all right to continue corresponding electronically but that, in lieu of such, she was welcome to address the letter to me via ACLU's San Diego office and provided their street address for her convenience.

Still haven't heard back from the cunt yet. 

Couchsurfing? That's for Pussies

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My reason for stopping with couchsurfing.com - an awesome concept by the way. I actually once met the founder at a henna party in Berlin - is that I'm no pussy. Or, more to the point, that I don't have one. Tis harsh but true -- like castor oil. 

just stick to hostels...it beats the stress of campaigning for a free pillow

Couchsurfing only works for female travellers because far and few between are the folktales where knights rescue dudes in distress, people feel safer letting strange women inside their homes, and hosts readily like the ego-stroke of having lots of females pass through their pad (because, yeah, some of them will open up...even if she has to return to do so; it's a numbers game).

I've had scant success; so scant that I just stick to hostels and small hotels now. It beats the stress of campaigning for a free pillow. California and Germany, with a sum of five cities between them, were the only places in the world where I experienced couchsurfing. Five cities out of a dozen countries, and dozens more locales, does not a positive endorsement make.  

Travelling to America

Travelling with Russians on 4th of July (Los Angeles)

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My holiday started just before dawn, waiting in the dark for the city bus to Venice Beach via ghetto ass downtown. A group of wandering tourists, party of four, approached. Their mother tongue sounded Russian to me (turns out they were citizens of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan taking a day trip from Sacramento); in English, the one turned and politely asked for bus directions to Venice. Easy, I said, I'm going to Venice.

And then we were five.

Once in Venice we parted ways. They headed to the beach and pier and stuff and I, to the muscle pit to get half naked and oiled up. After a few hours they came by to wish me luck and took pictures. I don't use Facebook but am sure I'm on there anyway!

'backstage' in the muscle pit

 bodybuilder with Mexican wrestlers

I see old people

 plenty about which to smile

plenty  

(click pic)

Mr & Ms Muscle Beach (my participation)

I've spent 4th of July in Venice Beach before but 2014 was different. This time I competed.

I wasn't nervous at all

Muscle Beach annually holds three summer holiday contests (open to amateurs) for bodybuilding enthusiasts (and awestruck/gawking passers-by). When I learned legendary bodybuilder Chris Dickerson, a personal favorite of mine, was going to be in attendance for induction into the Hall of Fame (video clip) I was motivated to enter. So excited, in fact, that I cancelled a trip abroad (no easy feat considering today's greedy airline bullshit), increased my focus in the gym, learned to make protein bars, and started regularly working on poses.

The rather exorbitant $80 entry fee is no drop in the bucket for me but, like I said, I was really excited this time and made up my mind to give it the old college try. So I did. Felt a little giddy in the beginning with registration and whatnot; but I stop short of classifying it 'nerves'. I wasn't nervous at all. With the assurance that my posing routine was tight I had but confidence onward. I was in complete command of my posing and breathing -- and took first place in my category!

In addition, the atmosphere among the competitors was admirably sporty. There was NO drama or catty or cocky nonsense backstage. Participants in the Mr & Ms Muscle Beach competition were sociable, approachable, congratulatory to the winners and encouraging to everyone; complimenting each others physiques or posing shorts/bikini; freely asking one another about diet & work-out regiments. As one teen physique competitor shared with me, "I don't think of it as a 'diet' I think of it as a lifestyle." Right on! He showed me his before-after pics and added that now he, not his mother, cooks all his own meals. The vibe could not have been more sportsmanlike and wholesome...a stark contrast to my experience bodybuilding in Mexico. The most consistent thing I overheard spoke to the amateur spirit of Muscle Beach events for their "fun" and "easy-going" comradery. 

PS: I got to meet and speak with Mr Dickerson; a gentleman athlete if ever there was one! He gave me an autographed picture. Also met pro bodybuilder "Marvelous" Melvin Anthony. Yes, it was an all around memorable Fourth of July. Enjoy these backstage snapshots:   

The vibe could not have been more sportsmanlike and wholesome

1 out of 2 ain't bad

  mother of two adult children?!

Wow mama mia! 

Age ain't nothing but a number

 consulting with luchadores

won my 1st Muscle Beach show!

Is Alitalia's FREE cancellation a scam ?

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Alitalia's FREE ticket cancellation is bullshit. Maybe it ain't a scam but it's definitely bullshit.

On May 29th I booked an international flight through their website for a trip flown by AirFrance (as part of the Skyteam several airlines routinely assign flights on 'competing' carriers). When I learned I could not redeem my AirFrance voucher without directly booking via AirFrance I promptly took advantage of the "24-hour FREE cancellation" and cancelled the booking. How promptly? Like within ten minutes prompt!

I was told the money was "frozen" and would take upwards to 72 hours to be refunded to my account. Seventy-two hours + a day and the money was still m.i.a. This time a call to Alitalia customer service hotline - outsourced to Pakistan or India or somewhere - informed me the "frozen" funds might require another 72 hours -- or thirty days!  

My bank and MasterCard proved useless to do anything about getting my money back. MasterCard says it's ultimately up to the bank who says its hands are tied without notice from the merchant who says its hands are tied without notice from the bank.

the money was "frozen" and would take upwards to 72 hours to be refunded

After a chat with a lawyer I learned of Alitalia's out-of-court procedure to handle such disputes without, they hope, having to resort to lawsuits. After four weeks of going back and forth I obliged with a complaint to their Conciliatory Office; And will wait exactly 72 hours for a reply. 

Alitalia has already fucked up 
my summer plans.
Molto grazie for nothing! (No worries: that's why I've retained a lawyer.)

Some asslines now charge for carry-on. Say what?!

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Some Airlines are now charging for carry-on bags. Oh you didn't know? Well...they conveniently neglected to inform consumers on this policy change. Seems enough travellers heeded the suggestion to pack light and forewent flying with bags for cargo. The asslines weren't making money. Solution: rewrite the rules and "make" small carry-ons too big. 

When the official decree  comes out - if it were already so, then all airlines would be subjected to this FAA regulation versus a few - I'm sure it will be attributed to Islamophobic terrorism.  

Click on the above link to get a heads-up on which fuckers have found a new way to nickle-and-dime consumers. 

PS: It doesn't matter if you fly business class either.

@TWPTilden

OneTravel.com (CAVEAT EMPTOR)

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I almost booked via OneTravel.com. Almost.

After several hours spent researching various flight schemes my senses started to twitch over the ACT FAST prompt. I regarded it odd and improbable that so many flights - from a web of different originating and destination airports - repeatedly announced "only 2 tickets left at this price!"
So I typed the company's name with '+ reviews' in the search engine and, lawdy be, was I relieved to have done so. 

200+ consumer complaints & reviews

I'm thankful I am not footloose with my bank card (I'm real tight about ever using it). OneTravel (apart of CheapOAir.com) has a rap sheet of consumer complaints as long as the German autobahn with the most recent review a mere five days past!

It sounds like everyone who has used them regretted it and emphatically warn others to run. Screw caveat emptor; the message is blunt:  

Do not, do not, DO NOT book with 

TravelOne...Just please don't do it!

Roger that. I hear you loud and clear. THANK YOU.

Obama on foreign policy

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Even I've traveled the world enough to know more than this guy on foreign affairs -- and most of Congress, too, many of whom still don't possess a passport!

High cost of living in cheap Mexico

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It may be cheaper to pitch tent in Tijuana but needing to cross the border is hurting my income. And blood pressure. With that sort of bottom line it ain't worth it. This mode of life is for the Mexicans. Next up: Adios to Tijuana.

Sweet home Indiana. (Cover your mouth!)

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There are times I miss Indiana. As a rule, it is during winter season; but the new worthy exception to that rule is a little thing called MERS. Yikes!

HANDICAP ONLY ~ Border crossing (San Ysidro)

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Imagine: You are in standing traffic on a hot, hot day and surrounded by an indefatigable stream of beggars - physically deformed humans, small dirty children, worn mothers, old people, musicians, drunkards - all, ostensibly, selling you stuff to which you make a point of saying no  while trying not to say yes to the equally plentiful legitimate vendors selling ice cream, cold drinks including beer, sweet smelling hot gorditas right off the grill -- and you are stuck in this traffic jam for the next foreseeable hour. At least. More than once you glance over at the drivers around you and say to yourself, I wish I was in a car. Then I'd be there already.

The San Ysidro border crossing, notorious for being America's - if not one of the world's - busiest and most congested ports of entry, has become moreso in the past ten days. The reason being, since two weeks ago, U.S. Border Control took the step of limiting one of their four designated pedestrian lanes to handicap persons only. Even the armchair traveler can well imagine how fewer handicapped persons than non-handicapped persons pass through any sphere of public facilities let alone border crossings. If you guessed the HANDICAP ONLY lane is virtually empty, you are right. If you can guess why American border patrol took this move, I would love to hear it -- because they, the border control, are not forthcoming.*

Until roughly two weeks ago there were four designated lanes: 

1. Handicap/Bus passengers (e.g., people traveling on Greyhound wherein they unboard with all of their belongings, pass through Immigration and then, if not detained, reboard on the other side) 
2. General Public (passport holders)
3. Ready Lane (holders of special identification cards for "rapid" passage such as Mexican citizens who commute daily for work or Americans with passport cards) 
4. Travelers possessing Sentri cards. 

With the elimination of the shared line for charter bus passengers those travelers no longer unboard near the front of the border crossing but, rather, at the back -- like everyone else. As a result the waiting line, which though typically long was infrequently standstill, is now visibly longer round the clock and significantly much, much slower -- round the clock. 

I heard the horror stories of crossing into southern California from Tijuana but, personally and irregardless of the hour I went to the border crossing, I never waited more than fifty minutes to pass through be it on foot or bus. What once consumed an hour - maximum - now drags on for around three hours or more. By some impersonal entity's measure this move from "not so bad" to worse is progress; but not for those of us who stand waiting in line.

the time it takes me to walk through the border crossing from Tijuana a motorist could drive from Los Angeles to southern San Diego

Blake R. is a young American who moved to Tijuana two years ago for the affordable living. He works in a bar in San Diego. He recognizes the change in crossing into San Ysidro. His boss is lenient with minor tardiness too because, like Blake, he also is an expat living in Tijuana. "This is insane! We should've been up at the gate by now," he says, referring to  the demarcation of U.S. soil. He's on his third cigarette since we've been chatting in line. "Before, we were talking and laughing. Now look how quiet everyone is." The change was noticeable. "I feel tired and I haven't done anything...and still got to go to work. This [expletive] sucks! And I have to do this every day...." 

He and so many others. Health and transportation industries now recognize the reality of commuter stress. The US Census Bureau gathers working adults commute an average of 25 minutes each way (not bad, right?) with extreme commutes in the definitive ballpark of 90 minutes upwards. The foot crossing at San Ysidro takes more than twice the time of extreme commute. (Does this warrant an 'extreme, extreme commute' definition?) To put it in perspective, for the time it takes me to walk through the border crossing from Tijuana into California, a motorist could drive from Valporaiso University in Valporaiso, Indiana, to Indiana University in Bloomington in roughly three hours; or, say, from Los Angeles to southern San Diego. According to a psychology study by Stephanie Lynne Morrow the hassle of daily commuting can seem harmless enough (after all not everyone can work from home) but the "impact of chronic exposure to minor stressors over time can be quite deleterious to well-being." She goes on to quote other research that suggests daily hassles "may be even more relevant than actue, dramatic life events in relating to physical and psychological health."

Thankfully my crossing is not a daily one. But I have missed two work assignments owing to the bureaucracy of hurry up-and-wait. Nothing sticks in your crawl like being prepared and making sure every t is crossed and i, dotted just to then be handed another form to be filled out in triplicate. Maria, Blake and I are in our 20s and 30s. Many people in line are much older. I tried asking some of the Mexican elderly near me but they weren't too forthcoming. "Ridiculo" and "gobierno!" was the general verdict as they wagged their heads in dismay. 

In addition to the eeking foot traffic, the border agency - and it is heavily manned - operates only one of their two X-ray machines for all bags, irregardless of size, passing into the United States. As a result the four designated lanes eventually merge into one as each person holding anything must wait his turn to place the bag/suitcase/purse/package on the conveyor belt while four agents sit and watch the screen on the opposite side of the machine. It is hard to comprehend the improvement accomplished in taking more time to complete a task. Then again, maybe, like Blake, I am just too tired to think about. 

*I explained to a few of the idle-looking agents that I was writing a travel piece and, naturally, wanted to submit accurate information for print but none of them imparted anything other than the obvious: there was no more special lane for bus travelers.

Spring Break expose (VIDEO)

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If you have ever been to Spring Break, then you might enjoy this expose presented by Sean Hannity via Jon Stewart:

(VIDEO)

From Lakefront to beachfront

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From snowy, bone-chilling cold ass Chicago

 

to sunny, wonderfully warm and bright Los Angeles

RULES OF TRAVEL

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Book directly with hostels is the best thing a budget traveller can do when securing accommodations. I've always gone this route. But I'm old fashioned like that. For example, I still use travel agencies every now and again. The transaction is more personable and, to put it in a sense, I feel more "taken care of" by the travel agent and a telephone call to the Front Desk than I do by a "click here" button.

"Support the amazing people who make your trip unforgettable, not the corporations who drain your travel fund"

As explained on the poster, for every reservation made: 

1. the customary 10% deposit credit card users agree to is a commission which the hostel never receives AND
2. the booking fee is an additional payment for step you could - and would - easily do on your own. In other words, it's bogus.

This PSA came courtesy of Chicago Getaway Hostel. It was posted on several locations throughout the building. 

(Read about my stay at Chicago Getaway)

Bus drivers on the phone

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Imagine the bus driver on the phone. Or the train engine texting. Or the pilot checking his Facebook updates. Or the court judge cruising porn sites on the bench. Or the pig playing online poker in his patrol car.

Bet you wouldn't like any of those scenarios. And I bet you'd swear you'd speak out against them on the spot, right? In the name of, oh, safety? common sense? survival?

Well in Tepic and Vallarta (towns in the Mexican state of Jalisco) one sees bus drivers (and cab drivers, too) yapping on their phones while speeding through the streets. I've witnessed it in Guadalajara as well. No one says anything. After the Mr Rey Nayar bodybuilding contest in Tepic I caught the city bus back to the bus terminal. The driver was chatting his ass off on the phone. I took a picture.
"Hey! Why you take my picture?" he kept demanding; reasoning, as they always do, "This is Mexico." He was pissed but so what? Fuck him. Even long-distance bus operators (ETN, Primera Plus, Vallarta Plus and, worse of all, Pacifico busline) think nothing of putting the receiver to the ear and blah, blah, blah....

I emailed a complaint to the bus company but nothing came of it (at least no one ever replied). Doesn't surprise me none.

This experience inspired me to write a short story. 

C'mon, readers, I can't be the only soul who has noticed this.... What was your experience like riding the buses in a Third World country?