More Firsts

Madrid surprised us.  Very livable, easy to navigate with so much grand architecture, nice parques and better than reasonably priced.

Until now, my only frame of reference for Spain was Barcelona.  Not a great comparison as the region of Catalunya is in a league of its own economically.

Saw some stunning art at the Reina Sofia (those Dalis!) and Prado (knock our socks off exhibit by the Hispanic Society of America, beautifully and intelligently curated).

Goes without saying, ate some great jamon, tapas and boccadilos.  And you cannot go wrong with chirros and chocolat at any time of the day...

There is a tapas stall at the Mercado de San Miguel (forgot the name, but they are the only ones selling the giant olive types) that has a cava sangria drink (sold in a small champagne flute) that has enough alcohol content to knock you over.

The first time we ordered one each and I assumed it was because I'm a lightweight when it comes to drinking but D felt it after a couple of sips.  The second time we were there, we shared one and both of us were still spinning after.

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Managed to get opening night tickets to Don Giovanni at the Liceu as well as a concert ticket at the Palau many months ago.  Had never attended a performance at either place before.

Ingenious set design for Don Giovanni using modern methods.  I've seen this opera a number of times and their treatment of it at times was even better than the singing, which is saying a lot.

It was almost like they wanted you to just listen, not just look at the main characters and told more of the story visually but silently.  Never experience anything like it before.  Very sophisticated.

Missed the second act due to an untimely metro strike and the need to get back to my apartment to prepare for the flight home the next morning.  But the first half was immensely satisfying.

And the concert the Palau de la Musica did not disappoint either.  The highlight of the main concert hall for many is the glass ceiling.  There is a lovely old time tapas bar behind the modern glass facade of the courtyard that is worth visiting before or after.

Would recommend buying a ticket for anything that happens to be showing, just to get to be in that space.  Tickets are well priced and at times, not much more than the cost of a tour.

This was my 4th visit to Barcelona and a real crime that it took so long for me to embrace the ensaimada with catalan cream... Now I have to make up for lost time.

For the first time ever, Spain has overshadowed France for me.

A First

For the first time in my career, I saw myself making the happy decision to fully retire, in 3D.

To the extent that I followed it up with writing my retirement announcement.  Everything just flowed out.

Followed by finding out all I needed to do legally to wrap things up.  It's all sitting there waiting for a final decision.

The whole scene shocked, as it came quietly and unsolicited, like a deep knowing.

Now what?  It will continue to sit there until I get the next sign, whenever that may be.

Nice 2017

It was sad to see the changes to Nice this spring, as a result of the Bastille night attack.  Last year, the construction on the promenade was nearing completion and the wider walking space felt expansive.

This year, things were dug up again, as the plans were to add barriers in time for July (assuming for high season), to prevent future vehicles from entering and potentially killing more people.

Not only that, there were teams of 4 fully outfitted and armed soldiers all day, patrolling the promenade and the main street (Ave Jean Medecin).  I am sure the men and women are well qualified to respond to any untoward events but my reaction was a very strong "I don't want them here".

I've traveled to places where there were legitimate reasons to be cautious but Nice France does not, for me, come anywhere close to being one of them.  And the feel of the city has perhaps changed permanently with no indication that things will reverse any time soon.

***2nd & 3rd photos from Antibes, France***

In Progress

• All my registered holdings have finally been transferred over to the new account.  Was granted an extension on the "free trades" I was supposed to receive, as well as a reversal of yearly account fees (on top of transfer fee) due to the delay of the whole process.  Finally reaching a customer service agent who was actually capable of doing something and sticking with her has made all the difference.  The first group of settlements are expected to come through next week.
• Reached 7 km on the treadmill rehab.  Goal is 10 km, 3 - 4 times a week.  Slowing adding back rowing and biking on top of body weight exercises (not a joyful experience, have lost so much conditioning).  However, amazing what can happen when I actually follow instructions of icing and stretching...No one to blame but myself.  Am such a poor patient!  Incidentally, seeing "Wonder Woman" has super boosted my motivation -- I expected a great performance from Gal Gadot but wowza..Robin Wright!
• Meeting with a realtor to get an appraisal on our cottage.  Have been getting increasingly disenchanted with sitting in the car for even a few hours.  With the amount of flying I do and being around high densities of people for extended periods of time (why airline lounges are such a wonderful reprieve), I've developed less patience with being on the road.  
• Plus I've turned into a real homebody during my non travel times.  So the idea of driving across the country a couple times a year as a retirement option isn't appealing anymore.  Probably makes no sense, but if I'm going to sit that long, I want to be flying somewhere.  Of course the potential sale opens the whole capital gains can of worms.
• I wish I could say D's work life has settled but it hasn't.  It has escalated once again, not just for him but his whole department.  They cannot seem to find any peace there and everyone is working insane hours.   
• Our summer plans have had to change.  We were supposed to spend the end of it out west.  Got notice that the construction of our building parking lot will not be completed until October.  I refuse to stay in a noisy construction zone.  New plans (tentative still) will involve trekking, so I need to be able to do it.  Not a whole lot of reasonably priced options last minute so if we go, I will be using a bunch of points to get us there.  Already got dinged with cancellation fees on the airfares out west.

Tokyo # 2

Tokyo the second time was fantastic.  Didn't think I could like this city more but it happened.

A tip:  Isetan food hall, Shinjuku... Go right when it opens for an unforgettable welcome. NB:  They do not allow photographs.

I stayed in Ginza this time around.  Even if you are not into high end shopping, it is fun to walk around and admire the design and architecture of the many global flagship brands.

Not ashamed to admit I have 2 more flights, over the next 10 months, booked..and I can't wait.

Impressions of Seoul

I had difficulty with Seoul right off the bat.  Couldn't put my finger on it for a few days.  Felt a strong sense of unhappiness, lack of inner peace, mixed with suffering.  Made me feel un-grounded and uneasy.

It was a startling juxtaposition when you put it up against the backdrop of a modern city, full of high end shops and shoppers.  It was way more than the realization that large wealth gaps exist in many major cities.

The intensity of it felt similar to what I remember from Yangon.  Where I could sense peoples' hunger.  The area I stayed in Seoul, near the Namdaemun Market, felt poor to me and the older people who had businesses and stalls there worked tirelessly, some from 6 am all the way to 9 pm. There were also a number of 24 hour shops and restaurants.

Perhaps it was a coincidence that the flight attendant was surprised I was actually going to Seoul when she assumed I wouldn't need the landing card (never had that happen before).  Even more ironic I think, considering I was on a direct flight to Seoul from JFK, on Korean Air!

A second hint that this wasn't going to be an easy going trip, should have been the samples of make up foundation you receive when you buy a train ticket from the airport into the city.  I had 6 minutes to find my train (almost missed it too!), so never thought beyond it and wasn't able to refuse it either.

As someone who doesn't own a bottle of foundation, it was a bit unnerving to be surrounded by make up shops and people buying bags and bags of it in Myeong-dong.  And the number of young women with 5 - 7 small band aids on their face from having had cosmetic work done working at the metro stations, coffee shops... It had me questioning what world I had landed in.  And not to forget the intensity of analyzing looks from people young and old...

My days started with a morning walk up Namsan park.  Some road paths were rubberized and at 8 am, people were already coming down.  Don't underestimate the older hikers -- They are fast!  The pride is evident there.  Designated days were for sweeping and maintenance.  Many different groups (running, badminton, archery, visually impaired) use various parts and paths.  The archery, was particularly amazing to watch as they shot at targets over groups of trees.

You know where this is heading.  I was quite ignorant of the history of Korea outside of a couple of documentaries of North Korea.  Things would have made more sense had I been better prepared.  I had earmarked the trip as a fun, relaxing week in a modern city, full of conveniences and great food...with little to no work needed.

Instead I felt quite disturbed for the duration due to my ignorance of just how much the people had suffered.  How recent that was.  How disorienting it must be for them to be living at a time of such tremendous growth and pressure to succeed.  The strong focus on cosmetic surgery is an offshoot of that striving.  As are the poverty issues facing the older generation.

Now that I know a little bit more, I want to return and see the city through better eyes, to have another opportunity to process those feelings I remember in a way that makes sense.

(Should you find yourself in Seoul, and in particular Namsan park, consider eating at Mok Myeok San Bang, a well known restaurant located at the start of the Northern Circuit.  I ate their bulgogi bibimbap twice.  It was delicious!  Although they are written up in the 2017 Michelin guide, prices are down to earth.)

(Also, I was supposed to have flown on an A380, same route as the infamous "nut rage" incident. Unfortunately, there was an equipment change so ended up flying on a 747 instead.  Have another opportunity to try for the A380 next year.  For the aviation geeks out there, I'm also scheduled on an A350 later this fall.)

Seoul -- pictures first, narrative to come.

Delays

• D's car ended up needing an additional 3 weeks to get fixed.  The wrong part was ordered and the correct one was on back order... It took a bit of juggling with the loaner car and our other car to make things work.  
• The correct car part cost $400 more than the mere $80 that was quoted...
• To top it all off, the car made dragging noises during right turns on the way home...D was ready to throw it out. 
• But he ended up fixing it (some thin metal shield near the tire was bent).  Funny enough (not really), the dealership, when told about the sound, admitted to noticing it during their (paid) inspection but somehow couldn't figure out what it was...Last time we will be returning there.
• So, I'm 3 months into waiting for the last item to be transferred to my new investment account.  I haven't been used to having to follow up.  Guess I had been spoiled working with only full service brokerages (at a cost, I know) but I never had to worry that something was going to get done quickly, once decisions were made.
• I did vent my frustrations at a customer service agent (via email), knowing full well that he had no authority to make any real decisions.  But I was tired of the standard "Thank you for your patience" replies I had been getting.
• A dead tree needs to be cut down at the cottage this season.  Forgot to get the ball rolling in the spring.  But hopefully it won't take much longer now that it's on my radar.  Would like to get another quote before deciding who to go with.
• I've managed to dodge a number of major travel related delays that you may have read about on the news this year.  It has me re-thinking how closely I calculate my flights home.  Going to build in a bigger buffer as it is all a big numbers game and one day, it will be my time again.     
• My foot/ankle injury from Nepal is still plaguing me.  Quite frustrated with it.  Add to it a wrist and shoulder strain from bad positioning at work, and my workouts have suffered as a consequence.  There has been some improvement, just not fast enough for me.
• Thank goodness I put a lot of fun plans in place this year.  On balance, am definitely coming out way ahead despite what has been written above.  But human nature being what it is, easy to focus solely on the thorns.  

Art Continued

I've been to Rome a few times, the last being about 6 years ago.  A lot has changed since.

The city has been cleaned up (much cleaner than Paris!), made more pedestrian friendly (walk between the Pantheon and Trevi), the monuments restored (didn't remember so much blue in the stonework in the Pantheon -- Gorgeous!), new trendy restaurants and bars have replaced most of the tacky souvenir shops in the core, the city just shone.

My last memory of Rome wasn't overly warm but I wanted to return for the art and the food  It was a long way to go for 4 nights but so happy I made the effort.  Ended up being my best visit ever.  Had a lot of fun and the stay was surprisingly nurturing for my soul.

I didn't want to give too much away so only 1 photos from the Borghese Gallery.  You really need to be in that space in person -- Beyond Outstanding.  Take time to wander around Villa Borghese park while you are there.  Another highly recommended gallery is the Gallerie Nazionali Barberini -- Went twice -- Completely different feel (2nd photo).

Happened to be there during the Maratona di Roma and decided last minute to sign up for their 4 km charity fun run.  It was one of those mega events with upwards of 80000 participants.

The end of that run was at Circo Massimo -- Pretty cool when you think about it!  The skies opened up about a minute after the start and poured rain  (9 C too!), resulting in much laughter as we all got completely drenched in disbelief -- The rest of the days were over 20 C.  Was worth it, as over 9 million Euro was raised for dozens of charities.

It's Over

After much angst, it has been decided that D will not continue to pursue new job opportunities.  Rather than endless dwelling on how much his current position isn't ideal, instead focus on continuing to lay further foundations supporting our current and future life.  

The current reality isn't bad or tragic or truly difficult.  He isn't underpaid.  His ego may be taking a hit right now but there isn't any real harm.  And the cost of creating an upheaval in our life isn't worth the extra amount of income or perceived glory of yet another job conquest.

Income is a driving factor for many of us, me included, up to an extent.  But neither of us are in the early stages of our career or marriage, where you are building and would consider more drastic changes for the sake of more money or career growth.

There comes a time where we just need to put our heads down and finish what we started.  And this is one of those times.  It has taken many years of work to get to this place in our lives where we have a good amount of recreation and freedom.  Why mess with it?

I'm not about to watch it get torn, however temporarily for non necessary reasons.  And do not wish to entertain any more discussion of work changes unless something untoward were to happen.  This topic has been beaten to death over the past decade and it needed to be put to rest.

Life Lately

• Happy that the quote and work for my car repair has finally been completed.  The cost came very close to what I had put aside, so that worked out just fine.  Turned out I had to replace the 2 front bearings as well (included in the quote), which I questioned as our previous symptom experience with similar repairs did not match at all.  
• They were right that it needed it as when they corrected what I felt was the main issue first, there was still some sound.  The most surprising part was finding out that I could have a bearing problem and not feel anything shaking, compared to previous vehicles we have owned.
• Am currently quite captivated by "Captain Fantastic".
• I've been trying hard to squeeze in a return to Palestine this year but it is not looking possible.  Really want to stay at "The Walled Off Hotel".  D questions whether that would be in line with wanting an easier travel year...Hope the hotel continues to operate into 2018+.
• Awaiting 3 more stocks to be transferred to my new investment account.  Sent an inquiry as to why it was taking so long.  I've put investment plans on hold until everything shows up.  Update:  One stock showed up this morning.
• I'm quite enjoying my shorter trips.  Having fun places to look forward to more often.  Energetically feeling quite well and experiencing a high level of focus, despite dealing with a minor head cold right now.
• Looking at a couple of tougher locale flights previously booked way in advance on points.  Not convinced I'll have enough energy to tackle them but have the option to cancel without penalty, so trying not to let its presence pressure me.  Update: Cancelled one of the bookings.  
• I've signed up for a surf camp next winter.  Will give me the impetus to continue training as it kinda scares me quite a bit.  Fortunately there is time to get ready.
• If I want to, there are opportunities to participate in a couple of homestay immersion experiences.  One lifestyle related and the other language related.  
• Unexpected car event occurred recently on my way home (D's car) from a flight in the wee hours of the morning.  The steering wheel became super tough to turn.  Cannot believe I made it home.  Thank goodness I was driving at a quiet time as I could barely stay in my lane when making a turn.  Made it into my driveway just as the steering column completely seized.  
• Vehicle has since been towed to the dealership as refilling the steering fluid (advice from dealership) did not work enough to safely drive it ourselves.  On the way there, one of the tow truck dollies dropped and consequently the one tire dragged and blew up.  You can imagine how the news would have affected us, when the call arrived while we were shopping at a sports store for a warmer sleeping bag for me.
• We now have a loaner car for approximately 4 days while the part is on order.  D's not impressed with the Nissan Sentra.  He claims he can accelerate faster in his mountain bike than that car is capable of...
• Learned something out of this -- Please check your roadside assistance plans carefully.  D switched us to one that came with his credit card a few years ago that looked like it was comparable to what were had at the time.
• But when it came right down to it, we weren't able to request towing up to 250 km to the destination of our choice (dealership), but was only eligible to the nearest authorized mechanic, which could be up to 250 km away... big difference.  Needless to say, we will either be switching back to our old company or self insure.  
• The extra distance to the dealership cost us $155 out of pocket.  Our old plan cost $199 a year.

D & His Career

It's like a bad soap opera.  You can tune in years later and it's the same old theme but the characters are sporting updated clothes and hair.

So despite work being far easier than before and feeling like he is way overpaid for what he has to do, there are a number of items that still bother him.

• He doesn't feel like he is being challenged in the way that was specified at the interview.
• His position has morphed into a role that he wasn't hired to do, due to sudden increases in work load.  Everyone is feeling it in their office right now.  New hires are supposed to start soon...
• He is getting really tired of having to work nights and weekends.  Even a 3 hr stint, done often enough is going to interrupt flow of life.

D knows that I am seriously tired of his various work issues over the last decade.  And I honestly don't think I'll ever understand his field and the chaos that seems to always crop up no matter how calm it is at the start.

He has come to terms that no matter where he works, it will eventually suck.  So, his new thinking is to consider contract for the remaining years of his work with the idea that he might as well get paid more for it as it is going to be bad anyways.  He had already ruled out working contract after full time work ends.

Here's the thing.  The position he has come across will take him consistently out of town for 4 - 5 days a week.   It will always be to one location though, reachable by car but requiring overnights for the duration of the week.

Obviously, I'll have to take on more of the daily housework etc.  Am not keen on the amount of driving he would have to do, especially in the winter.  However he is quite adept at it.  It's more my mental issue.  I'm glad he doesn't have to fly for this job as I really don't believe he is cut out for that type of work travel.

The saga continues...