Don’t leave home without it … travel insurance?

I largely think that insurance is a scam, but it provides one with peace of mind, especially if one is traveling to a less stable country.  Of course, this is not the only reason to purchase travel insurance … often coverage protects against trip and baggage delays, lost luggage, repatriation, medical and dental expenses, and trip cancellation.

I was talking to my travel physician who was telling me that a lot of U.S. insurance plans do not cover expenses outside of the U.S.  So, if you get sick, depending where you are, you may have to spend a lot to get health care and you may not get reimbursed.  And, that does not even include medical repatriation.

Trip cancellations due to weather or bankruptcy is another concern.  Heck, that can happen anywhere.  If I am spending my hard earned money, I sure do want some protection in the event that something bad happens.

I haven’t had to use my travel insurance and hope not to need it, but …

My path into the 21st century

In 2007, I decided to enter the 21st century in terms of cameras.  Up to 2007, I had been using a Nikon FG-20 SLR film camera that my parents bought me in 1985.  I must say that this camera has been reliable and sturdy.  The camera still take good pictures despite some of the automatic features no longer working.  In this 22 year period I had to get the camera repaired only once.  [My full disclosure -- I have no relationship with Nikon].

As digital cameras became more affordable and as quality improved, I swore that I would stick with my old reliable SLR film camera.  However, the pressure to purchase a digital camera began to mount:  

1. I was missing scenic shots [my reliable Nikon FG-20 takes a little time to set the settings in order to take a photograph].
2. The cost of digital SLR cameras have become affordable.
3. While developing film has decreased, it was becoming more difficult to find developers who use matte paper.
4. It was getting complicated and troublesome to digitize prints … why not just start with digital images.
5. Last and most importantly, digital photography does not result in any lost of image quality, even when printing.

So, after many years of consternation, I purchased a digital SLR camera … a Nikon D-80 with a 18-135mm lens.  Shame on me for not getting a digital SLR camera before now.  How many photographs have I missed?  My first trip using the camera, I took over 500 photographs over 4 days.

I still have my Nikon FG-20, but I have not used it since January 2007.  With my digital SLR, I have all the controls that I had with the FG-20 plus many more.

Oh no, McDonald’s … traveling during the holidays

Every other year or so, I am traveling during one of the two major holidays where I can not cook or eat a home prepared meal, but not this year!  I had a delicious home cooked meal … to include smoked turkey, cranberry chutney, kale, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie … all homemade.

I don’t know about you, but if you travel in the United States during Thanksgiving or Christmas, you had better plan ahead.  Check out my earlier post about interesting Thanksgiving dinner and my forthcoming posts about Christmas.  I know some of you do not like planning and want to be spontaneous free spirits, and that’s okay, but you might end up eating at McDonald’s or worst. 

Last year, we were in New York City (NYC) for Thanksgiving and made reservations at Town (awesome restaurant on 56th … between 5th and 6th) at least 2 months in advance.  Cafe Grey (near Central Park in the Time Warner complex) is another great restaurant in NYC.  Both serve American/contemporary cuisines.  [Because I believe in full disclosure, I have no financial relationship with either restaurant.  I just want to let tell everyone about positive dining experiences.]

Traveling abroad is a little easier … of course, you have to worry about their holidays and festivals.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving and if you do not celebrate Thanksgiving, Happy November 22. 

Safe travel to and from your destinations.

Don’t let my smoked turkey thaw

 Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is my least favorite airport.  Today, I am traveling through Atlanta and the dread is mounting.  Of course, I may have an uneventful flight … I hope so, since I am carrying a frozen turkey.  I called the Louisville, Kentucky airport and TSA supposedly said I could bring my frozen turkey as long as I did not have any frozen liquids packed around the bird.  We will see.

Back to Atlanta … it’s not my least favorite airport because it is huge and always busy.  It even does not bother me that my flight typically lands at one end of the airport and my connecting flight is at the other end and I only have thirty minutes to get from gate to gates [Okay, I have to admit I don't like it].  I am not particularly fond of the flight delays either, but what I like the least is the incompetent manner in which the airport seems to be operated. 

1. the staff is at best apathetic, at worst [I don't use that type of language]
2. there seems to be no planning for capacity [during peak hours it seems to make sense to have all the security lines open instead of half]
3. sitting in the plane forever waiting to take off or for a gate to open is no fun

Interesting Thanksgiving dining experiences

As Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, I am recalling some past dining experiences … bad experiences.  I have rated my worst dining experience from the horrible to just plain bad.

1. Chinese food in Columbia, SC.  I don’t remember the name of this place, but it was terrible.  I am not opposed to eating Chinese food on Thanksgiving, provided it is good Chinese food, but this stuff was terrible.  It seemed like a cross between Chinese and soul food.  The first sign of something wrong was the smell.  It did not smell like Chinese.  I think that they were cooking Chinese collards.  I like collards, but not Chinese collards.  I have one positive thing to say … I did not get sick.
2. Another really bad dining experience was Philadelphia.  This was poor planning on our part.  I thought it would be neat to visit Philly one Thanksgiving, not even thinking about dinner.  Bad idea.  After driving around for seemed like forever, we finally found a cafeteria style restaurant.  We thought, “Wow, finally a place to eat.  This place must be good or the only place open … look at the long line.”  We soon learned that there was a long line because it was the only place open.  The most filling mediocre food you will ever fine, especially if you like dry turkey, tasteless stuffing, soggy green bean, and totally forgetful.
3. Probably, more of a disaster than interesting, but we prepared a really nice traditional Thanksgiving dinner for my parents who were visiting us in Lexington, Kentucky.  We had the turkey, stuffing, gravy, vegetables, homemade cranberry relish, breads, and a couple of desserts.  Sometime in the late afternoon we enjoyed a delicious dinner.  For those of you who do not like leftover turkey, we had none … I accidentally broke a glass over the turkey.  Thank goodness for KFC!
4. While not the horror story of my other dining experience, it definitely was interesting … Thanksgiving dinner on Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii.  Duke’s Waikiki is located on Waikiki Beach and was serving both a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner and their regular menu.    Thinking that we would be different, we decided to order Hawaiian food off the menu.  So my Thanksgiving dinner included fish, rice, vegetables, and poi.  Tasty, but not Thanksgiving dinner.  Then again, why risk eating something that they don’t cook all the time.

In closing, I have had far more awesome dining experiences.

Thanksgiving dinner in New York City

Last year, November 2006, I was on my way from Lexington, Kentucky to New York City to spend my Thanksgiving holiday.  New York is one of my favorite cities in North America.  There is so much to do regardless of your taste for entertainment.  While we took advantage of our time in NYC to visit the city and go to the ballet (Nutcracker), one of the highlights of the trip was Thanksgiving dinner at Town, featured in an issue of Town & Country.  If you enjoy a gourmet dining experience where the food is actually delicious, I highly recommend a visit to Town.  The modern ambiance only adds to the dining experience, even if you are not a “modern” person.  The cuisine is American and artful without being weird.  To be honest, I can not remember exactly what I had, except I thought I had died and was in heaven.  One word of caution, the restaurant is hard to find.  We were staying at the Affina 50, 3rd and 50th, and Town is located at 56th, between 5th and 6th.  In other words, we were close, but if you do not know exactly where to go (The Chambers Hotel), Town can be hard to find.  The experience is worth it.  If you are in NYC for Thanksgiving or some other town and you enjoy fine dining.  I recommend Town.