How does one not feel disgusted about a country whose president is openly saying “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again”. This is just embarrassing and dangerous vitriol – spare me the nuances but the majority of this country voted for a such a lunatic is telling. Every day gets worse and worse doesn’t it. Gosh I miss my break already.
Macro
One of my closest friend’s younger brother passed away suddenly over weekend due to cardiac arrest. I got the msg yesterday while in plane and finally was able to connect with him. They lost their mother just 2 years ago – his younger brother was unmarried and was battling a muscular disease though it was not considered lethal. We reminisced a lot about our younger days. I spent practically several hours in their house each evening during 3rd and 4th year of my engineering years. I broke up fights between the brothers multiple times with me and their mom taking same sides usually – it’s hard to act that he is no more even though I never kept touch with him after engineering days. To see my friend going through double tragedy in quick succession makes me sad and just reaffirms that life is just very unpredictable.
Americans who travel abroad are rarely MAGA I feel. As has been the case, Americans abroad are some of the most friendliest and chattiest people you can meet on travel. It was no different this time either in Peru. They always have the best tips and information and they are so always ready to share.
Man it felt so amazing not having to read anything happening in this country and what it’s loony leaders and half its cult are doing. My friend said it best when we were boarding our last flight to dc this morning – “ghinn aati iss desh se”. After very stressful weeks at work, and never ending news about things falling apart it was a much needed relief and break for all of us.
The one vegetarian restaurant that everyone who has been to Cusco recommended to us highly turned out to be the disappointment of the trip. The food was mid but the service was horrendous – and then the server had the nerve to ask us for a tip! He didn’t pay attention to our orders, messed them up, brought food to us before appetizers and drinks – overall was a mess while the other folks struggled to maintain order. Then shows up at end again after everything and says if we wanted to add a tip. We simply said no and paid and left. The way he stormed off our table on saying no was enough for us to justify our decision. So yeah when in Cusco avoid green point vegetarian restaurant!
Cusco looks gorgeous from up above but my god the city is horribly dirty, trash every fucking where and stinks of trash almost everywhere. Glad we got out immediately and will come back to stay only one night later but ugh. I am sure the “nicer” touristy areas are not like that though.
The dunes at Huacachina were absolutely stunning, with many of the dunes towering at 500 meters. Yes meters, not feet. These were absolutely massive and gave you a feeling of being in such a desolate far away land. The sunset from top of one such dune was spectacular. Needless to say way too many Dune references were made.
Oh we also saw cute little useless turnips called ICE loitering around DCA airports. it’s embarrassing – everyone including themselves know they are just walking around doing nothing in particular while getting paid while the TSA guys around them are all working without pay for doing a thankless job.
Just less than a decade ago our trips would start out with us coming in morning, keeping our bags at the hotel coz our booking wouldn’t start till 3pm and then just head out for sightseeing. Now? We book the prior night as well even if we check in next day coz we need a few hours to recharge after night long flights. The first half of day is just chilling to recoup from air travel before we start our sight seeing. Age brings its benefits and wisdom – something we would have considered an unnecessary thing, is now a must have – I.e booking the hotel room for prior night so we have room to check into next morning!
The VA redistricting efforts will fail IMO, more because democrats don’t want it themselves rather than republicans doing a great job of canvassing. If by miracle it passes it mostly will because people have their eyes open but just way democrats are going about it is convincing me that they don’t want it either.