A Wandering, Wondering Jew

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

"I'm pretty tired...

I think I'll go home now."

Forrest Gump 1994

I've been in steady motion since April, 2016. I'm not complaining. It's what I do to stave off boredom and sloth. Traveling keeps my mind off the fact, I'm an almost 62 year old single guy in a couples world. Besides, there's not much to blog about if I sit still.

Before you think, Jeff is going mainstream, read Wikipedia's concept of travel.

"The origin of the word "travel" is most likely lost to history. ... It also states that the word comes from Middle English travailen, travelen (which means to torment, labor, strive, journey) and earlier from Old French travailler (which means to work strenuously, toil)."

See? Traveling all the time ain't easy!

That being said, I've learned the hard way (it's always the hard way with me) there's times to just sit still. Its Fall. The nights are too long and the days and too chilly to be camping out in Barley the Van. It's time to return to civilization.

http://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2015/03/big-bend-epiphany.html

So...I'll be stationary for two whole months in Scottsdale, AZ. The city of the pressed designer jean crowd, the Nouveau Riche and assorted other beautiful people. There's so much wealth here the transients wear Gucci shoes when they panhandle.

And now, there's one Wandering Wondering Jew residing here. I won't kid you. I stand out.

It's an experiment. I've rented a comfy condo with a real kitchen complete with a stove and full sized refrigerator. There's a TV in the living room with a gazillion channels. I can recline in a La Z Boy lounger. I can watch "The Voice" and "Dancing with the Stars" too. I will be (for two months) a normal American.

While I'm ensconced in this cushy life, I'll plan out 2017.

Here's some of the highlights for the coming year: New Zealand, World Baseball Classic, Grand Canyon National Park, Southwest Wilderness areas, Colorado for the summer, the Alps in the Fall, etc etc.

Since I don't know nobody here, fun active visitors are most welcome. If you are just fun and not active, there's always Happy Hour and dinner.

Hmmm? I wonder what's on TV tonight?

These photos are from my last six months of travel. No dust was settling under these trail runners...

Cheers from Scottsdale, AZ,

Jeff

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Mr Trump! This blog's for you!

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”,

While attending Public School 97 in the Bronx, Ms. Pagano would ask all her third graders to stand up and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. This is how our day of learning the "Three R's" began. We'd face a limp American flag, with our right hands covering our hearts and drone out this long sentence in a chorus of squeaky voices. We were young and probably weren't aware of it's true meaning.

Now I'm older and I get it. Sure it's an idealized notion of what America is all about, but hey, it's a grand goal to strive for.

I'm a first generation American.

My parents escaped a tyrannical maniac who captured a large sphere of influence. That bad hombre vowed to make his nation great again. He too, utilized a religious group as scapegoats for all the world's ills. He too, singled out others for special treatment I.E. Gays, Gypsies, Political Opponents, Jehovah's Witnesses and Jews. He too, spoke about "Roundups."

Unfortunately, Mr. Hitler's rants became deeds.

My parents barely got out. Clara and Sid met, married and raised three sons. My parents learned English, worked hard, paid taxes and stayed out of trouble. They fulfilled the American Dream. I believe they were model citizens.

Mr. Trump, my humble, middle-class parents would have been appalled at your candidacy. They fled the Old World on a slow boat to the New World to get away from leaders like you.

Now you are making headlines by saying you will not accept November 8th election results if you lose. You claim the election is "rigged" without showing any evidence.

True, we live in a country which guarantees the freedom of speech. But there's limits to this right. Your incendiary comments are the equivalent of screaming "Fire! Fire!" in a crowded movie theater when there is no clear or present danger. This is Irresponsible and unprecedented in a presidential campaign.

Mr. Trump, the U.S. usually has a relatively smooth transitions of power. There's a political tradition of the losing candidate conceding the election and bowing out gracefully.

This election has been nothing like the usual. Basic civility has been jettisoned. The 2016 presidential election has made an episode of the Jerry Springer show look as docile as a Red Hat Society tea party.

Mr. Trump, take the high road if this election doesn't go your way. This election is bigger than you; it's 240 years of democracy at stake. Pay attention to these words spoken by another fellow Republican named Abraham Lincoln.

From Abe's Gettysburg Address:

"and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

If Mr. Lincoln wasn't right, then all those brave men and women interred in our National Cemeteries died in vain.

Mr. Trump, please think about this...

To my other readers:

If you like the ideas behind this blog, feel free to share it.

If you don't, feel free to delete it.

Please vote responsibly,

Jeff

PS. I'll end this post with a recent quote from Senator John McCain.

"I didn’t like the outcome of the 2008 election. But I had a duty to concede, and I did so without reluctance,” he said. “Free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power are the pride of our country, and the envy of much of the world because they are the means to protecting our most cherished values, the right to liberty and equal justice.”

BTW: Senator McCain is a true American Hero. Everyone who serves in our Nation's Military is a hero, whether they were a POW or not.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

My Big Fat Greek...

Journey.

"You can observe a lot by just watching."

Yogi Berra

My trip to the Hellenic Republic was like no other. I arrived with a minimum amount of preparation and very few expectations. It was sort of like traveling in a jam session. I wasn't sure how or where this overseas session would end.

I'm happy to report, it all worked out.

During my time on the island of Naxos, the Big Mac-sized island of Crete and the capital city of Athens, I took mental notes and often Googled to learn more about the people of Greece.

Here's some facts and personal observations:

There's 10.9 million Greeks. In 2015, those nice Greeks entertained an amazing 26.5 million visitors. (I began to refer to Greece as the Mexico of the Mediterranean). Tourism contributes 18% to this economically hurting nation's Gross Domestic Product. Yet, unemployment is the highest in the Eurozone at 23%.

Greeks also score the highest in smoking rates in Europe and the rest of the world. Over 40% inhale cancer sticks. Ashtrays are as prevalent as Sagebrush in the Western US. The Greeks flick ash at the concept of non-smoking areas.

For a people who introduced the World to two major athletic events (the Marathon and the Olympics), they now abhor exercise. I rarely met locals on my many trail meanderings. My Greek Guide Anastasia summed it up this way, "Greeks will only walk if there's a coffee house as the destination." They pace themselves well.

Greeks don't move too fast, except when they get behind the wheel of their tiny sedans. Then these laid back, Raki drinking, olive eating people become the reincarnation of Dale (the Intimidator) Earnhardt. Competitive tailgating seems to be a major sport. Yes, the Greeks lead the Eurozone in accident rates too. In 2015, 1600 citizens lost their lives playing the ultimate game of "Chicken."

But Hey! Nobody's Perfect! I found the Greeks to be friendly, generous and helpful, even though their language was Greek to me! Many speak a passable form of English. They have to. The Greek language and alphabet probably isn't taught in many other countries.

Would I go back to this country of blue skies, white-washed painted villages, warm temperatures and sandy beaches? Heck yes! Although it would be better to arrive as a couple instead of a solo traveler. Towards the end of my trip, I got tired of eating my Greek Salads alone. Greece is a couples destination similar to Hawaii. Singles are as rare as a jogging Greek.