The Hellenic post office is a trip. The US Postal Service could learn a few things. There’s a take-a-number machine at the entrance, electronic, into which you say what service you need. The machine politely spits out a number. I can’t actually read it, but I get the general idea. Then, much like the DMV, … Continue reading Details of daily life in Athens… the Grecian way…
We hired a driver for the day who managed to nightbus that Peugeot through the skinniest spaces. It was an extravagance for what we usually do - I like public transit and going like a local, so we’re usually traipsing around on busses and the like as I giggle with glee at how much we’re … Continue reading “Are you sure you can fit through there…?” I muttered at the driver.
We went to Costco, the only one in NZ. I like going to Costco in various countries, they often have large sizes of the good stuff to take home. Who’s familiar with Freddos? Hah, I got a giant bag. Once again, though, no damn Smarties, but they had tubs of M&Ms - I do NOT … Continue reading Before departing New Zealand…
I can handle the reversal of the car - it’s not a total mirror image, as the pedals are in the same place. So is the manual gear box, but this one’s automatic. However, in this particular vehicle (a hybrid Toyota Corolla), the indicator is on the right, not the left. Every minute or two … Continue reading Driving on the left side isn’t the problem.
Southwest, easyJet, JetStar… what the heck? Is that like a bargain paint color as well? We took JetStar from Auckland to Wellington… that was an experience. Never flown with a 29” seat pitch before. Zowie… if you’re taller than 5’5”, I strongly recommend you find another carrier or at least pay for the exit or … Continue reading Why do cheapo airlines use orange?
I swear I’m beefing up my thigh muscles (not a bad thing, really) with all the ups and downs we’re doing. We decided to go up to the top of Maungawhau (Mount Eden), the highest point in Auckland and a volcano dormant 28,000 years, give or take a decade or two. Somehow, my brain didn’t … Continue reading Who knew New Zealand was so damn hilly??
Eden Park Stadium is amazing. To this Los Angeleno, it’s astonishing to sit in a 43,200 capacity sports arena that has no parking. Your ticket includes public transit… so everyone is expected to ride the bus or the train to get there - the surrounding streets are closed to all but residents - so you … Continue reading Eden Park and an Island
So on a short weekend cruise from San Francisco to Vancouver, we did a celebration for our twenty years since adopting the kids. It was me, Beloved, Granny, our daughter Blondie, her boyfriend, and our son, the Boy. As we adopted them as children, Blondie’s now 30 and the Boy is 26. We decided that… … Continue reading Family suite on the Grand Princess
I was sent on a very last-minute trip to Roswell, NM. One Thursday, I’m minding my own business, then suddenly Sunday I’m on a commuter jet winging from PHX to the city of aliens. It wasn’t so bad flying there from my usual airport, I made it through security just fine, but annoyed as TSA … Continue reading It all started when American forgot to put pre-check on my boarding pass.
Not that I had a choice, mind you – I wore my sneakers early in the morning, when the grass (which grows about two inches overnight) wept so badly as I trod through, my socks got soaked as well. Dammit. It could’ve been God’s retribution for my sins, which to my mind weren’t so bad, … Continue reading Never wear sandals to the dump.
Examining Misadventures 