VagabondJim

This will be an ongoing post.  I hope it amuses you as much as it does me.  31May23 My Spanish/Castilian is horribly bad.  But funny.  Today I told a pharmacist I needed something to deal with the "bloody and dried monkeys in my nose."  I meant boogers.  Mono = Monkey; Moco = Booger.  Yes, I did know both words a priori ...honestly!  Thankfully, the monkeys have been dealt with.  And the nose specific monkeycide salve with aloe works.  Those were some nasty and crusty monkeys.  I'm glad to be rid of them. I realized this 12 hours after the fact.  No wonder they looked confused. [Added 01Jun23.  Today at breakfast I tried to recount the episode to the manager as we ate breakfast.  I literally said "Yesterday, I 'am telling' the (using the wrong gendered article) pharmacist (horribly mispronounced) ..."  Tenses are a gaping hole...everything is in the present.  Even that gets bungled frequently.] Re the monkeys that fly from my butt, please read: https:

My post on the plaza with the original cathedral contains some errors. The original post: https://www.vagabondjim.com/2023/05/day-2-quito-pictures-sooner-than-later.html My policy on corrections https://www.vagabondjim.com/2023/05/my-policy-on-errors-omissions-and.html El Panecillo is the SOUTHERN end of town not the Northern. The plaza with the Old Cathedral is NOT named for the former president: it is El Plaza del Gran Siglo XVI - The Plaza of the Grand 16th Century.  The statue in its center is NOT dedicated to the heroes of the day Garcia Moreno was assassinated.  A street nearby was.  The statue is dedicated to the heroes of the 10th of August 1809.  Correct month, entirely incorrect date and year. As best I can tell from the signage, that's the day of an important coup.  I'll hazard a guess that it's related to Ecuador's independence.  That is a GUESS for now. No excuses, only corrections. To add to the context of the plaza.  1 side is city hall (I think),1 side i

 Mistakes happen.   I make them more often than most.  I acknowledge them when I am aware of them. And, a record of them matters.  So when I make a mistake here: It will be acknowledged. The original post will stand as is. A new post with the new information will be created. Both the corrective post and the original will be noted with a link to the other. Both will also link to this page. Fixing and editing solely for clarity will not be noted.  This is about material facts. if you find a mistake, please let me know so I can correct it. Thanks, Jim

Day 2: - 5/31/23  Visiting:: Quito Ecuador Written: Quito, ~1500* This post contains mistakes, corrections can be found at: https://www.vagabondjim.com/2023/05/corrections-31may23.html My policy on corrections: https://www.vagabondjim.com/2023/05/my-policy-on-errors-omissions-and.html Today I swore I'd be easy on my body.  That cannot be done here.  Elevation makes everything work harder.  Unlike La Paz, I do not feel like my head is in a vice and my heart will explode. Yet, I do feel it. Mostly in the form of a very light hyperventilation. My hands and feet tingle a bit at times. I've felt this in Denver so it's not a concern in the least. The other thing is the constant layering and un-layering of clothes. Walking means taking things off quickly. Stopping means adding them back just as quickly. On, off, on off. That's just life in the mountains, I guees. The northern end of Quito (for tourists) is generally considered to be El Panecillo - the (bread) roll.

 https://photos.app.goo.gl/xxjNb8uK15Tf5xYU9

I don't have a home.  No, that is absolutely neither a problem nor a complaint. I was born when Dad ("D") was working on his PhD.  We moved when he had a teaching position, I was 2.  At 10 we moved to greater Cincinnati (actually, Northern Kentucky.)  I left home at 17 and never really returned.  University in Cleveland.  Then I found a job in Chicago. In that period Mom ("M") and Dad moved a few miles to a much nicer house. The new house never had a "Jimmy's Room," as the previous one did.  The original one in KY did.  And one (each) for my sister ("S") and brother ("B").  The move meant I never returned to 'my room.'  Again, not a problem.  It's just a lack of an emotional anchor.  When I'd visit, I'd stay in what had been B's room.  It was never mine; it's still known as his.  S had a room but didn't spend much time there either -- to my knowledge it's referred to as "The Guest Room&qu

  Day 1 - 5/30/23 Destination: Quito (LAX-RDU-MIA-UIO*) Written: 35,000' above the Caribean & in Quito $0.60 per Alleve for dozen alleve in RDU was a good investment.  The headache is gone.  The backache from lugging a backpack around hasn't.  Oh well.  MIA was a mess.  Late arrival (WX.)  35 gates to cross (D17 - D52).  Boarding started before I deplaned from RDU.  People were being far too slow to disembarked even knowing others had tight connections.  Really annoying to watch endless cycles of "You," "No, you!" I hustled.  Group 8 (of 9) was boarding when I got to the gate.  And, the little lady in the wheelchair made the connection before I did.  Uggh. I'm using an old work backpack.  It's great for luigging a laptop and such.  But the bag itself weighs in at 5+ pounds.  And has too many dividers.  It was never going to be The Bag.  No it won't be a bag I use going forward.  Who needs a really good piece of kit?  Everki Atlas 32L - free t

Day 0: - 5/29/23 En-route to: Quito Ecuador Travel: LAX-RDU (MIA-UIO*) Written: in RDU @ 0200 What a long day so far.  I'm writing from Raleigh-Durham at 0200.  The place is empty, I have a headache (but no aspirin).  I'm hungry. Yet, it's been a decent start to my dry run. I am happy. That was supposed to be a "secret dry run" but the secret is out.  Dad called while I was in the quiet area of the LAX Admirals Club (yes, all that flying on American still has some residual benefits - in this case I can use the clubs on international itineraries.)  When I asked to hang on until I was in a place I could chat he asked if I was in a library.  Nope, that was Saturday to print some stuff. I don't lie; I fessed up.  Of course I did.  No, I did not chop down the cherry tree. RDU is empty except for a dozen pax overnighting and 3 dozen security and cleaning folk.  But, I'm indoors.  I was hopeful but did not expect that.  Previous fun at JFK taught me that

It appears I have had a blog since the mid aughts!  Who knew? I sure didn't. Let's dust this thing off.  Let's see where it takes me.  If you want to be a passenger I'm going to insist you wear your seat belt.  Perhaps you should keep some Dramamine handy too. Let's go set some boundaries.  A skill I've lacked for....ever? Let's go push some other boundaries.  Push; bend, don't break 'em. Let's go eat. Let's go walk. Let's go see. Let's go smile. Yes, that's fucking "royal we."  Or, maybe Jimmy just talks in the 3rd person all the time.  Nope, just an incidental case of royal presumption.  This is my blog.  Like Abe said: Of, for, and by Jim. That middle one is pretty important to remember, gang.  Let me be explicit: I am writing this for an audience of one - myself. Critique is welcomed, sought, and appreciated.  Criticism is not. Hold on! Jim (Seamus, Diego , Jakob)* *IFYKYK; Emphasis added as foreshadowing...