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The Daily
022 | THU 22 JANUARY 2026 | Lodging Nine-month journey, make lodging reservations almost every day. Criteria include: 8 of 10 stars, central location, WiFi, lockers, no age limit (hostel), refundable reservation. Locker: stressful to leave belongings unsecured. Refundable: on long-enough timeline, everything changes. More private rooms than dorms; privacy goes a long way. 021…
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Best of the Worst
Respect that people are busy, precious time. Recognize that much of my writing is too descriptive, not enough story-telling. In other words, much of my writing is crap. Sometimes surprise myself, pleased with ephemeral writing elements. Rather than force readers to wade through the swamp, will post short pieces and excerpts here. Content may be…
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A Country Mile
Oh, the places you will go … and the places I have been … country counting … and why I travel …
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Proud Mary
Conclude two-months of travel in United Kingdom and Ireland. Travel south from Scotland to England, and return to the United States on board Queen Mary 2.
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UK & Ireland
Grab your rain jacket and umbrella … travel to Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland … train, bus, and ferry … oh my!
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BeNeLux
Pencils down … time’s up … conclude 90-days inside the Schengen area … Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, before onward travel to the United Kingdom.
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Baltic Avenue
July travel … more ferries (fairies) … to Sweden and Finland … and onward to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
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Svalbard
New York City to Iceland … and more boats … to Denmark via the Faroe Islands … to Sweden … and onward to Svalbard … 400-miles from the North Pole.
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Gulf between Us
Travel north, along Gulf of Mexico, and return to the United States; visit friends in Texas, and cancel a trip to Virginia.
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Rabies … or not
Finally, north of the equator; travel highlands of Ecuador and Columbia. It is wet season, dodge raindrops, but, not able to dodge a dog bite.
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Galápagos Islands
Traverse the length of Chile, transit Peru (wet season), and onward to Ecuador and Galapagos Islands.
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Rapa Nui
Arrive at southern tip of mainland Chile, via three-day ferry through Patagonia. Travel north to Santiago by bus, and onward to Easter Island.
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Variations on a Theme
How might I organize a collection of essays in ten years hence after traveling to 180 of 200 countries.
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Lost in Translation
Join me for two months in Japan, appreciate high-speed train service from Hokkaido (north) to Okinawa (south), and every place in between.
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Whirled Travel
Second month in Australia; travel south along Queensland and the great barrier reef; Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney, and Canberra.
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Down Under
Two months in Australia; Indian Pacific Train | camper van to Uluru and Alice Springs | motorcycle tour of Tasmania |
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Aotearoa
Kia Ora! One month in New Zealand; north island campervan tour, south island motorcycle tour, and a few trains.
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Promised Land
Wrote about Israel and Palestine during the past year, leading up to, and following my travels; this post consolidates the essays in one location.
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Full Circle
Return full circle to London, where the journey began six-months ago; overland travel from Morocco, Spain, France, to England.
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North Africa
North Africa “desert fox” campaign: Egypt (Sinai, Cairo, Aswan, Nile River, Luxor, Siwa, Alexandria), Tunisia (Tunis, Gabes, Sfax, Monastir, Sousse, Kairouan, El Jem, Mahdia, Bizerte), Morocco (Casablanca, Marrakesh, Rabat, Fez, Tangier).
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Arabian Nights
Visit the Arab states of the Persian Gulf: Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
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Middle East
Welcome to the levant: Beirut Lebanon, Jordan (Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum), Israel (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv), Palestine (Hebron).
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Türkei
Explore western and central Turkey: Pamukkale, Ephesus, Gallipoli, Istanbul, Ankara, Safranbolu, Konya, Cappadocia, Mersin, and Adana.
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Greece
Travel overland from London to Athens, and onward to Cyprus, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, and Rhodes.
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Intermission
What do I do when I am not traveling? 28-days to visit family and friends before flight to London and six months of travel.
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Texas
Introduction: Of all the places where I have lived and worked, enjoy Texas. Houston is a cultural melting pot, and a wonderful “foodie” city. State has a wealth of geographic diversity, and have enjoyed its national and state parks. Its citizens are friendly, and with no state income tax, an affordable place to live. I…
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Mexico
Introduction: Lived four years in Canada, one year in Japan. Third most-traveled country is Mexico, at six months. It’s civil, temperate winter weather, affordable, and available professional services. Yucatan Peninsula: WED 01/25: water taxi from Caye Caulker Belize to Chetumal Mexico, arriving at sunset; much easier to coordinate than trying to cross the land border.…
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Central America
Introduction: There is nothing quite like foreign travel to shatter the illusion of control. Not just control, but also the illusion of knowing, or more appropriately, un-knowing; un-familiar, un-comfortable. The folly of certainty. World travel shatters my false assumptions and behavior patterns; shatters the many ways that I’ve been deceiving myself for years too long.…
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Intentions | 2023
Introduction: I was going to write this post last year. I refrained; reluctant to share something so personal and private. Didn’t want to risk judgment and criticism. Don’t believe in self-help. There is no self; there is nothing to improve. It’s suggested that goals be SMART; specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-specific. Not confident that…
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Year in Review | 2022
Introduction: Traveled nine months this past year; winter in Mexico, summer in Alaska, fall in Maritime Canada. Downtime to visit family and friends for the winter holly-daze. Endpoints: Highlight was traveling through Alaska and Newfoundland. Appreciated twenty hours of daylight; easy to be productive, getting out of bed at sunrise. Appreciated staying at hostels and…
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Fun with Numbers
Introduction: Intention is to be transparent about spending for the past calendar year. Living expenses, excluding income tax, totaled $37,000. Assuming an 11% marginal income tax rate, this level of spending requires income of $42,000, below the US GDP per capita of $70,000. Expenses: Living expense $19,000:– Rent: $11,000 (record hostels and AirBnB as rent…
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Travel | 2023
Introduction: Planning to travel nine months next year, in 2023. Three months during the winter, and six months during the summer. Winter: Fly to Panama at the end of December, visit Central America, travel along the Pan-American Highway via first-class bus. Airfare expensive; used frequent flier miles on United Airlines. January, anticipate passing through Panama,…
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The Marines
1. Introduction: I don’t like pictures of myself, one of the reasons that I don’t have an Instagram feed. Don’t take pictures of myself when traveling, and don’t like posting pictures of myself on the blog. This 29-year old picture is the exception. For the people that find it hard to believe that I served…
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Breaking Bones
1. Background: I was a strict vegetarian for more than a decade. I didn’t want to kill animals. The other motivation was to control my cholesterol, which is elevated for some members in my family. People asked where I would get calcium, response, dark leafy greens. Think about it; where do cows get their calcium…
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CFO Stories
Introduction: Served as CFO in private equity, biotech industry for fifteen years. Purpose here is to reflect and share a few stories, experiences, or anecdotes that stand out. 1. Payroll: Worked at Epocal, in Ottawa Canada. The company nearly went bankrupt, twice. Often times, I would wake up at 2am, wondering how I would fund…
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Atlantic Province
Lived in Ottawa Canada from 2007 – 2011; should have visited Canada’s Atlantic and maritime provinces, but wanted to travel to more “exotic” shores. My intention was to visit the provinces in 2020, but Canada border was closed to tourism for nearly two years. Better late than never, grateful to have visited this beautiful part…
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Trans-Labrador Highway
Monday (August 22nd) woke up early, departed Connecticut 4:00am. Drove Interstate-95 to Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Parked the car, and took the shuttle bus to the ferry terminal. The ferry ride was brief, and arrived on Martha’s Vineyard by 8:00am. Sky was overcast with scattered showers, the air was humid. Local bus from Vineyard Haven to…
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One Year: 52 Pick-up
Lessons learned: During the past year, wrote 52 weekly posts, published every Monday. Often, at least three pages of single-spaced text; over the course of one year, more than 150 pages. I’ve become less afraid of writing; no longer fear writing every morning – like – what am I going to write today. Developed a…
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Playlist: Side B
Introduction: played the clarinet since I was eight years old; received an un-used instrument from a relative. Wanted to play the saxophone, but it was too expensive. My first solo was “Home on the Range” in front of my elementary school peers. In high school, studied clarinet with Ron Krentzman, clarinetist with Hartford Symphony, Andy…
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Trans-Canada Highway
Monday (August 1st), drove seven hours, 375-miles along Highway 16, from Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Edmonton, Alberta; heavy morning fog, due to overnight thunderstorms. Edmonton is the provincial capital, population of 1-million; economy is driven by oil and gas. Arrived in the city center before mid-day, laptop work at local Starbucks; local library was…
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Adaptive Response
* * * * * sensitive subject matter | reader discretion advised * * * * * Part I: background In previous posts, shared that I have struggled with dysthymia – chronic, low-grade depression, for more than half of my life, and have contemplated suicide – suicide ideation – as an escape (mechanism). Dysthymia is…
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Aleutian Islands
Monday (July 18th), six-mile trail run along Chester Creek Trail in Anchorage, followed by laptop work at local Starbucks. After a break in the rain, hiked Flat Top Mountain (4-miles round-trip, 2000-feet elevation gain), outside the city, and one of the most frequently climbed mountains in Alaska, which provides views of Anchorage and Cook Inlet.…
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Fact or Fiction
Last December, published a post on some of my favorite books. This complimentary post, shares some of my favorite works of fiction. The Old Man and the Sea, written by Ernest Hemingway (1951), published (1952); novella received Pulitzer Prize for fiction (1953), and contributed to Hemingway receiving the Nobel Prize for literature (1954). Novella tells…
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Wrangell – St. Elias
Saturday (July 2nd), departed Denali National Park, drove southeast, along Parks Highway and Glenn Highway, towards Glennallen and Copper Center. Enjoyed seeing Denali at sunrise, for the first time, given the prevalence of wildfire smoke. Visited Matanuska Glacier, en route, before stopping at the National Park Visitor Center. Was going to car camp in the…
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Coffee Talk
Enjoy meeting friends for coffee; people, with whom, I enjoy the pleasure of their company. Usually make coffee at home, so meeting in a coffee house is an indelible treat; perhaps an espresso, or Americano, or latte with heavy cream. Listed below are a few people with whom I would enjoy the pleasure of their…
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Prudhoe Bay
Fairbanks: Departed the ferry at Haines Alaska; drove north to Haines Junction, Yukon Territory, Canada. If you blinked your eyes, you could drive through Haines Junction, and miss the town. Planned to stay two days in Haines Junction, allowing a buffer if the ferry was delayed. On Sunday (June 19th), was planning to trail run…
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Writing on the Wall
Writing: For the past year, I made writing a daily habit, a bit like exercising the body, and developing the mind. It’s a process that I follow each morning; recording ideas, editing, and refining. This blog is my sandbox, a place to practice – in safety – without judgment. The blog holds me accountable, as…
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Glaciers
Part I: Mountains Glacier National Park Visited west side of Glacier National Park on Monday (June 6th); hiked several trails, about eight miles. There were scattered showers, my feet were wet, but my body stayed mostly dry. As the park ranger explained to me at the gate, “there is no such thing as a bad…
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Playlist: Side A
Introduction: I don’t have the ability to listen to music and work at the same time; and I don’t often listen to music in the car (either podcast, or just, road noise, as a form of meditation). If I have free time in the evening, and nothing to read, I might pull up some music…
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Evil Clowns
Part I: desert Cloudcroft NM Enjoyed visiting Cloudcroft NM, and staying at Cloudcroft Hostel. Owners did a nice job remodeling a derelict building; there are before and after photos on its website. Owners live on-site, upstairs; they don’t have any employees, similar to the Triple Crown Hostel in Silver City NM, where I visited last…
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Got Pain
Part I: background A migraine is not a headache. I had frequent headaches as a child. I remember going to a neighborhood picnic when I was six years old; I had a bad headache, and had to go to bed after arriving at our friend’s house. My family visited Disney World in Florida when I…
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HTX
Part I: travel Woke up Monday May 9th at 4:00am, out of the house by 4:15am; first light by 5:00am. Dry day, temperate, good day for driving. Drove south on Interstate-95, crossed George Washington Bridge, towards Easton PA, connecting to Interstate-81. Typically fill-up at truck stops (ie. Loves, Flying J, Pilot, etc.), average fuel cost…
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FIRE
Part I: growing up My family wasn’t poor, but we weren’t well off. My parents didn’t have credit cards; if my Mom didn’t have cash in her wallet, we weren’t going to be buying anything. My brothers and I wore hand-me-down clothes from friends and neighbors. Sometimes we received free lunch at school. Growing up,…
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Travel: Summer 2022
Part I: background Returned to United States from Mexico at the end of April; visited family and friends in Connecticut for two weeks. Went running with my brother; got new tires for the car; received second COVID booster. Head to Houston in mid-May to renew auto registration. Part II: driving west Drive to Houston is…
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Breaking Bread
Part I: background Started baking in 2017. Traveled to San Francisco on business, and attended one-day bread baking class at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in Muir Beach CA. Returned home to Houston, cultivated a sourdough starter, and began baking bread every weekend. Good baking is similar to good writing. As Anne Lamott suggests, have…
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Ciudad de Mexico
Tepoztlán Morelos: On Sunday, took the subway (blue line | linea 2) from Hidalgo station at 7:00am, when it opened, to its terminus at Tasquena. Once the subway clears centro, most of the line is above ground. The southern bus terminal is located at its terminus, which takes passengers to destinations south of Mexico City.…
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Quitting
Part I: background Always wanted to teach university. Didn’t want to invest five years to earn PhD; didn’t want to be career academic; after fifteen years as CFO in private equity, biotech industry, believed that I had something to share in the classroom – grey hair and wisdom. But I was wrong. During 2019 sabbatical,…
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San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende: San Miguel is a small colonial town, located in eastern Guanajuato state, in the Bajio mountains, and is named after friar Juan de San Miguel, a martyr for Mexican Independence, and Ignacio Allende. City was named UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) world heritage site in 2008. Economy is…
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Why Charlie Left Us
* * * * * sensitive subject matter | reader discretion advised * * * * * Part I: Why Charlie Left Us In fall 2000, studied for CPA exam. One morning, took a break to read the Sunday paper. Came across this article published in the Hartford Courant (October 1st 2000), written by Mike…
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Guanajuato
San Luis Potosi: Walked to Zacatecas bus station before dawn; cold-front passing through, 40-degrees overnight; hands are cold; eyes are watering. High will only be 60-degrees, likely the coldest day in Mexico to date. El Cerro de la Bufa, the valley summit, is illuminated by the colors of the Mexican flag (white, red, green). Took…
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If you Meet the Buddha
* * * * * sensitive subject matter | reader discretion advised * * * * * Part I: Lion’s Roar | Brad Warner | Why I Didn’t Attempt Suicide | June 15th 2018 Brad Warner on the time he considered suicide – and the different kind of death he chose. I didn’t really know…
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Zacatecas
Aguascalientes: Aguascalientes is the capital of Aguascalientes state, with a population of more than 1.2-million; city is a business hub, and includes a large, joint-venture Nissan automotive plant. Passed through the city for two nights, to break-up the bus trip from Guadalajara to Zacatecas. Woke-up before sunrise in Guadalajara; took light rail from centro to…
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S
* * * * * sensitive subject matter | reader discretion advised * * * * * Part I: S is for suicide.Contemplated suicide for more than half my life.Intention, not to end life.But rather, to end suffering.Suffering.Overwhelming.Suffocating.Drowning. In the United States,suicide is tenth leading cause of death.More than 45,000 people per year.Death by suicide…
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Guadalajara
Guadalajara: Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico, with 1.4-million people, capital of Jalisco state, and is 350-miles west of Mexico City. City has a light rail system, constructed in 1989, with three lines connecting 50 stations; construction of fourth line began last year; daily ridership 250,000 people. City is at 5,000 feet elevation;…
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Way-Seeking Mind
Background: Lived in Ottawa Canada 2007 – 2011; CFO for early-stage, biotech company. Well paid, fancy title, led small team of good people. In 2009, deeply unhappy, despite outward appearance of “success.” If something didn’t change, wouldn’t see 40th birthday. Visited general practitioner for referral, and consulted with a psychologist. It’s been said that the…
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Morelia
Morelia: Morelia is 200-miles west of Mexico City; it is the largest city and capital of Michoacan state, with 750,000 people. City is at 6,300 feet elevation; warm days and cool evenings. City was designated UNESCO world heritage site in 1991, due to its well-preserved colonial buildings, and the layout of its historical center. WED…
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Mountain Climbing
Introduction: David Brooks is a political commentator. You might read his opinion pieces in the New York Times, or see him on PBS News Hour. He also writes books; a person may not agree with what he has to say, but, I find that he often has something interesting to say. This past fall, while…
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Puebla
Puebla: Puebla, 60-miles southeast of Mexico City, is the fourth largest city in Mexico, and lies in a valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. It was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1987, and has the largest Volkswagen production facility outside Germany. Cinco de Mayo, the fifth of May, is an annual celebration commemorating…
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Poetry Slam
Approaching and reading poetry is challenging, at times. It doesn’t always resonate; it hasn’t always resonated; but compelled to expose myself regularly to poetry. Sometimes, only expose myself in small doses. It’s been said that the difference between cure and poison is the dose. Don’t judge myself if poetry resonates, or not; if I “like”…
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Oaxaca
Oaxaca: Oaxaca is a state and city, southeast of Mexico City. Its origins date back to the ancient Aztecs, followed by Spanish colonization in the 1500’s. City is built in a grid layout, around a central square, or zocalo, offering historic buildings, cathedrals, art, and food. Oaxaca was named a UNESCO world heritage site in…
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Hedgehogs, Jet Fuel, and the Meaning of Life
Graduated with an MBA from University of Virginia, Darden School of Business in May 2005. Before joining JetBlue in June, the School asked me to write a one-page essay about my career decision, shared below. It was a high time to join the company. David Neeleman (CEO) and Dave Barger (COO) hosted every new-hire orientation;…
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Mexico City
Intention of this series of bi-weekly posts is to share updates on living in Mexico. Mexico City: TUE December 28th 2021 – TUE January 4th 2022 MON December 27th 2021 My Dad dropped me off at the local train station in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Shoreline East to New Haven, connected with Metro North to Grand…
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Favorite Books
As the New Year approaches, some people like to consider resolutions; other people like to find good books. Bob Bruner was Dean at the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business for a decade; he published his recommended reading list at the end of each year; the list was often thoughtful and well-rounded. I define…
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Travel: Winter 2022
Visiting Mexico after the winter holiday; four months, until the end of April. Flying non-stop on United Airlines, Newark to Mexico City, using frequent flyer miles. Visiting eight colonial cities, including: Puebla, Oaxaca, Morelia, Guadalajara, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, and San Miguel de Allende. Each city is reasonably close; less than four hours apart, by local bus.…
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Healthcare: Next Steps
A. Previous post | summary Last week’s post identified potential solutions to address the US healthcare system. B. Case study One purpose for this series of posts on the healthcare system, was to dig in, do some homework, and evaluate if there was a nascent business opportunity. Entrepreneurship is finding a problem and fixing a…
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Healthcare: Solutions
A. Previous post | summary Last week’s post discussed why US healthcare is more expensive than peer nations. B. Solutions There are solutions to reduce the cost of US healthcare; some are short-term and temporary; others are long-term and structural. The US doesn’t have a uniform healthcare system; it needs a systemic overhaul, not another…
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Healthcare: Discussion
A. Previous post | summary Last week’s post shared policy insights and performance statistics from other nations; the purpose is not to suggest that one nation’s methods are better or worse, but rather, to suggest that there are different ways to address healthcare. Further, the intention is to yield insight and understanding, rather than argument…
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Healthcare: International
A. Previous post | summary Last weeks’ post highlighted key stats and trends in US healthcare industry; this week, will compare US healthcare policy and trends with other leading nations. B. Definitions Socialized healthcare is similar, but not the same as universal healthcare. C. Policy comparison Information provided by Commonwealth Fund, edited by London School…
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Healthcare: Stats
A. Previous post | summary Last week’s post provided background and history on US medical insurance, including agency-provided benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, and ACA. B. Healthcare insurance providers C. Healthcare cost trends D. Who spends healthcare dollars E. Where do healthcare dollars go F. Who funds healthcare expenditures G. Distribution of healthcare expenditures H. How do…
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Healthcare: History
A. Previous post | summary Last week introduced the intention for this series of posts on the US healthcare system. This week’s post provides background on the evolution of the US healthcare system. B. How does insurance work Before reviewing the background of US medical insurance, let us review how other forms of insurance work,…
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Healthcare: Background
A. Introduction: what and why I joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut, in fall 2020, to teach accounting. The University provided outstanding medical benefits; Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance, with access to a good network, and a $2,000 maximum out-of-pocket (single member). My intention was to make a difference in the classroom;…
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Retreat!
I recently finished a one-week individual meditation retreat in Silver City, New Mexico. Silver City is in the southwest corner of the state, 6000 feet above sea level. I wanted to rent a small cabin on AirBnB, but didn’t find anything affordable. However, I did find an affordable room in a retreat house, that used…
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National Parks
It’s been said that “sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.” I enjoy visiting the National Parks. An annual park pass costs $80. If you’re a senior citizen, you may purchase a lifetime park pass for $80. An adult can’t get into Disney…
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Hostels
My friend, Cathy, introduced me to hostels in 2009. I will admit that the experience was a bit of a learning curve; sleeping in a dorm with limited privacy or personal space. I will admit today that my preferred lodging experience is a hostel; when I can’t find a hostel, I look at AirBnB; when…
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Zion Narrows
My first trip to Zion National Park was September 2013; I was visiting the five national parks in Utah, and I didn’t serve the park justice. My second trip to Zion was November 2013; greatly enjoyed hiking Angels Landing, and the Walter’s Wiggles section, one of the classic hikes in the park. My third trip…
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Grand Canyon: R2R2R
I visited Grand Canyon National Park three times in the past decade. The first trip was in March 2013, there was light snow at the rim; I visited the typical visitor viewpoints in the park. The second trip was in October 2016; I hiked down South Kaibab trail and up Bright Angel trail, 16-miles, 5000-feet…
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Travel: Fall 2021
In late May, I visited Great Smokey Mountains National Park in Tennessee; my second visit to the park. Before mid-day, the park became quite crowded; it was difficult to find parking in places, and the hiking trails were congested. I often enjoy visiting the national parks after Labor Day, when many people return to work…
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Zen Centers
I began Zen practice in 2009. Growing up, attended church on Sunday; read the Bible cover-to-cover as an adult. Explored several religious traditions while living and working in Canada, and the tradition that resonated with me the most was Zen Buddhism. When I lived and worked in California, had the opportunity to explore many different…
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Future Travel
There are many places to which I would like to travel; here is a brief list, in no particular order.
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Travel History
I was introduced to world travel by my friend Cathy, from graduate school, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Prior to this, I really didn’t have the financial means to travel. Cathy introduced me to hostels, which remains my preferred lodging choice. Besides being affordable, I appreciate the sense of community with similar-minded people. What…
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garthmonroe 