How Do Costa Rican Motorcyclists Survive?

During my second trip to Costa Rica to visit in-laws over the holidays, I could not help but consider yet again how it can be possible that any motorcycle riders survive the roads and traffic. Those of us who are used to more recent urbanization, including streets set out in a grid formation, are at

Roosters Need Snooze Buttons

When your rooster crows at the break of dawnLook out your window and I’ll be goneYou’re the reason I’m a-travelin’ on But don’t think twice, it’s all right -BOB DYLAN, Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right While in Costa Rica recently we stayed in a semi-rural area called San Josecito de San Isidro de Heredia.

Robbed by a Canadian Bank at ATM Point in Costa Rica

UPDATE: On February 25, 2022, the missing amount was deposited into my account as a correction. Sometimes things work as they should! My wife and I spent the holiday season in Costa Rica visiting her family. It was my second time there and it is a beautiful country at the best of times, and even

Time to give tourists a break

There are those who would have you believe that the whole pandemic is actually a means for certain nefarious world powers, elected officials, and large corporations to reset how we live. These conspiracy theories usually revolve around the notion of governmental control. Anti-vaxxers lead the charge. Don’t tell me what to do. Well, if there

Inform Restaurants If You Can’t Keep A Reservation

Bars and restaurants in Montreal are slowly getting back to business after the long pandemic-induced close down. It’s not a matter of lifting all restrictions, but enough that indoor eating can resume. Sadly many restaurants couldn’t hang on until things started to reopen and have gone under. Even those establishments that have managed to survive

COVID19 In Our Rear-view Mirror

It’s so close you can almost touch it. But not just yet. I refer to the time when the COVID19 pandemic will be, like Lubbock, Texas in the Mac Davis song, in our rear-view mirrors. I can’t imagine what Mac had against Lubbock, but he was sure pleased to be leaving. Things are getting better

What Part Of Don’t Travel Do You Not Understand?

My next-door neighbour (or neighbor as they prefer), the USA, is a huge country. With a population of some 350 million people, and rising, it is a vast land. It is strong, patriotic, and advanced. Yet it also has one of the highest per-capita rates of COVID-19 in the world. According to Johns Hopkins University

Dublin: History You Can Touch

My wife and I recently took a trip to Ireland. There are so many aspects of this wonderful country that strike the visitor. But perhaps chief among them is the history, both ancient and modern, in which Ireland is steeped. … and you thought Jesus Christ was the only one who rose on Easter One-hundred

Those Lonely Old Self-Quarantine Blues

I’ve got those lonely old self-quarantine blues. I can’t remember when I last wore shoes. I sure am glad the local dep will deliver, But I’m pretty sure it’s not so good for my liver I went to the clinic concerned for my health, Sneezed once and had the waiting room to myself. The doctor

Foolish Young Men Flout COVID19 Warnings

Research shows that young people,  in particular young men, are the least likely to take seriously the whole concept of COVID-19.  We have all seen news coverage of crowded Spring Break beaches in Florida, as well as college kids ignoring restrictions and gathering to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Countless stories of the World Wars relate