To think or overthink

I had a great time catching up with Bill and Lisa last night down at the backstop pub. I was able to talk to them about some of the things that I've been thinking about in terms of travel. Lisa has been following me on this blog. And she had some feedback that was similar to others that I've received from people. 

One of them is not to over research or  overthink travel. But go to another country and to be in the moment. I suppose it is a balance between being prepared and overthinking it. I'm guessing that there were going to be sold anything.

I am guessing that there will be so many things that I will not have researched or anticipated, that there will be plenty of time to be in the moment. The real challenge for me, the real growth for me will be how I respond to it. Whether I get frustrated because I hadn't researched it or anticipated it. Or whether I look upon it as a crossword puzzle and something to be solved. I hope the latter is the case.


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Arriving in Ecuador on June 20, 2015 -- 5:54 a.m.

Tickets in hand. Spent Saturday at REI buying cool stuff for travel. Really kind of splurged on myself. Purchased some excellent walking shoes that in the past would have seemed an extravagance.

But I guess I am worth it. And from a practical standpoint, I will be doing a lot of walking.

I will arrive in Quito. How funny it is that I find a hotel that is run as an educational foundation, wait for it --- run by Willamette University grads.

So here it is --- my first stop in Ecuador 

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Located in the La Tola section of Old Town Quito, Community Hostel is a mere five blocks away from La Plaza Grande, the heart of Colonial Quito’s historic churches, architecture, and sightseeing. We are nestled in an active neighborhood among local wood workers, family businesses, a bustling Ecuadorian local marketplace, private shops, etc. We are a ten-minute walk from two beautiful parks, El Alameda and El Itchimbia, which offer unparalleled views of Quito, beautiful outdoor walking trails, rowboats on the stream, and the famous glass house of Itchimbia. A quick five-minute cab ride away is La Plaza Foch, the busy and active tourist district of New Town Quito ample with restaurants, bars, clubs, and nightlife to satisfy all your partying needs. To relax from your busy night of partying, take a ten-minute cab ride to El Teleferico, where you can take the cable car to see the view of Quito from over 4000m.

The front of Community Hostel

We offer several styles of accommodation to fulfill the needs of every traveler, including dormitory, private, and single gender rooms (female only). Our beds are the most comfortable in Quito, handmade by a local artisan carpenter. Sip on some complimentary tea or coffee from one of our two seated balconies and take in the beauty of an Ecuadorian sunrise or sunset while overlooking the city. Each traveler is provided a large, lockable personal storage drawer underneath your bed to store your items, and rooms are cleaned daily. We offer complementary laptops, fully loaded with skype and internet access, and free wifi within the hostel so that you can quickly and easily keep in touch with your families and loved ones. If you’re hungry you can help yourself to our fully equipped communal kitchen, or take a walk down the road to one of the many local cafes and shops. We also offer communal dinners and breakfasts provided by our foodie staff.

There’s never a dull moment here at Community Hostel. If you’re looking for something to do, join us for one of our many social nights hosted at the hostel. Show off your favorite recipe in a potluck dinner, cozy up for a movie night, or jam out with us in one of our open mics. Come stay with us at Community Hostel! With so many things to see and do, we guarantee you the best experience on the equator! 

Planning on a shower in Mexico City 

before heading to Ecuador

Ok, so this does seem a bit indulgent. (Am I really worth it?) But -- the Aeromexico lounge does come free with the first class tickets, so I can worry less about whether it's an over-indulgence.

I have a three hour layover in Mexico City. The following blog tells me what I have in store.

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Aeromexico hosts two Premier Salons at Mexico D.F. International airport in Terminal 2; one is for international flights and the other is for domestic flights. The two lounges are nearly identical and nothing really stands out between the two. Furthermore, neither one is marked international or domestic so any normal traveler would never know the difference, unless you were denied entry, of course. On my 4 hour layover, I visited both lounges and I will review them as one because honestly they were extremely similar!

Upon entering the lounge, the bilingual staff members were extremely helpful. After checking my boarding pass/credentials they checked my flight status and informed me of the exact time my flight would board and which gate; both information that were missing from my boarding pass by the way. They then were nice enough to check my seat and make sure it was a “comfortable seat”. I had originally selected an exit row, but at this time the staff offered me a seat in my own row. Of course I did not pass it up, but you can read about my initial conundrum here.

The lounge at MEX consists of a large open room with a manned bar in the middle serving up coffee and cocktails of your choice. If you want a homemade margarita or a michelada, it’s yours. If you are avoiding alcohol, try a cappuccino or mocha made by a barista, not by an automated machine like VIP clubs in the USA. The bar consists of many bar stools, so you can sit at the bar and socialize with your amigos. If the bar is not your scene, no worries there are a number of couches and chairs situated throughout the club, all offering top quality comfort while you await your flight. The clubs also offer a small business area and an oversized executive desk with a plethora of plugs, connecting travelers to the highly sought after power! There are also a couple of side rooms both fairly empty when I was visiting, offering more areas to lounge or work from.

The VIP Salon has a number of staff working to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. Unlike anything I’ve seen at other lounges in the skyteam network, lounge attendants follow patrons around like sharks, offering them drinks from the bar, freshly made coffee or food from the self-served area. Don’t worry though, although the lounge attendants watch patrons like hawks, they are not over cumbersome and give your plenty of space, if anything, they are just helpful and want to ensure you do not have to get up, unless you want to.

The self-serve areas in both lounges were offering a variety of breakfast pastries, fresh fruit, yogurt, and high-sugar granola. There was also a full selection of alcohol offering a number of tequilas, beers, and other spirits. It was early in the morning and I was not in the mood to drink, (as my editor says, “what Rocky wasn’t in the mood to drink in an airport?!) however it was nice to see that the offering was there, even at 5am! Alongside of the self-serve area was also a large beverage cooler offering a number of drinks ranging from juices, sodas, beers, and other beverages I’ve never heard of or seen before. There was surely something for everyone no matter what their age.

After having myself a couple lattes and filling up on breakfast, I decided it was time to shower. Even though the flight from LAX to MEX was only 3.5 hours, I felt gross and sweaty from sleeping on the plane and was in much need of a rinse. This was when I actually realized that I was not in the international lounge but the domestic for showers were only available at the International lounge. The lounges are only a few hundred meters apart, so I packed up my belongings and headed over to the other lounge.

This lounge, like I had said before, was almost exactly the same as the other lounge. I asked 

for the showers and they directed me back to the spa. Both lounges offer a spa with overpriced services, but only the one had shower service (free of charge). The shower was great, and very comfortable, however small. Despite this, I was happy to be able to refresh myself in the dinky room, but either way I was happy.

After my shower I went back to the main area of the lounge, enjoyed myself another coffee and then headed towards the gate. The VIP lounges at MEX are more than comfortable and a good place to relax. Be sure to stop by the lounge (either one) on your next trip through MEX!

Tickets in hand -- four months and counting

I remember working for Chancellor Tom Bartlett in the High Ed department. Tom was a pretty serious academic. But he also had this very Zen side to him. When things would go crazy, he would say -- if you don't like the answer, change the question.

So I couldn't get to Ecuador on the airline and route that I wanted. With some help from my favorite travel expert Edie -- she suggested a different approach.

I changed the question. Found an answer I liked and now will be flying Aeromexico to Ecuador in June 19 -- in business class.

I do hope this exercise teaches me to be more flexible. International travel comes with risks and the unexpected and unpredictable. God grant me the grace to laugh when things go crazy -- and respond with a different question.

Another cool thing about my new route to Ecuador is that I will now be traveling through Quito. Along with Cuenca, it was built in the 16th Century and is a world heritage site. So in the next few weeks I will be doing my normal exhaustive research on Quito.

I am actually starting to get excited now.

What can be learned from travel

I learned something I need to learn yesterday.

My preferred flights to Ecuador were not to be found online -- anywhere.

In there place were more expensive and more ridiculous flights and routes.

My preferred route was a 14 hour, all in first class route.

Yesterday -- coach and up to a 36 hour flight with 10 hour layovers in Chicago and other cities.

Oh how I hate to be inconveienced. 

Two good friends counseled me on this. One said, just take a different date.

Then I realized I was just being inflexible.

The other friend said, this is one of the first lessons of travel -- of letting go.

OK, that's two problems Greg has in learning to be a -- a what, vagabond?

Sheesh, talk about the need for attitude adjustment.

Then of course, what do I do next?

Yes -- overcompensate. 

Well maybe I'm not going to Ecuador if it's going to be this much of a hassle.

What a baby.

So let's take a breath.

Put on your big boy attitude.

And let's see how we can work this through -- maybe use some flexibility.

Try and enjoy the challenges that getting outside our comfort zone can bring.

Another idea

So Cuenca will be the first place I land. It's called the Paris of South America. It has a large community of ex-pats -- making it an idea starting place. But at 8,000 feet elevation it has a cooler climate, ironic for being on the Equator.

One thousand feet lower is Loja.  It is warmer. Maybe the perfect climate. But at 200,000 population -- some say it feels too small. I will see for myself. It's on the list.

By Park on December 11, 2013

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Located in the nation’s Southern Sierra, Loja, Ecuador, may very well be one of the country’s most underrated retirement destinations.  Known as the “Valley of Smiles,” it’s a friendly village whose amenities rival, if not exceed, those of some of its more popular counterparts.

Georgia Popplewell

One of the oldest cities in Ecuador, it’s also one of the most pioneering. Loja successfully marries authentic colonial charm with modern conveniences, and it comes with an attractive price tag.  In many ways, Loja, Ecuador, offers its foreign residents the best of both worlds.

And, while the city does receive its fair share of tourists, surprisingly few expats have made it their permanent retirement destination.  This could make it the ideal place for those looking for a more authentic expat experience in a place that doesn’t seem to be headed in too much of a North American direction.

Here are a few things would-be expats should know about undiscovered Loja, Ecuador:

Despite its rural location, it’s incredibly easy to reach and get around in.

Located in the Cuxibamba Valley, Loja is surrounded by lush, green mountains that cascade down into beautiful valleys with rushing rivers.  Its climate and elevation of 6,750 feet above sea level make it the perfect place for growing crops ranging from coffee to plantains to citrus fruits.  Those who want to own a large tract of land or farm can easily find one.

However, Loja itself is a very walkable city.  In fact, most residents find owning a car to be unnecessary for day-to-day life.  Taxis are readily available and inexpensive.  They can shuttle you across town for about a buck or even to other parts of the country. Loja has a modern bus system, as well as jet transport to other major cities in Ecuador via its nearby airport.

Loja, Ecuador, may have the world’s most ideal climate.

With daily temperatures rarely rising much above 70 degrees, you won’t need air conditioning.  Heat is also unnecessary, although the cool nights will require a few extra layers.  This same wardrobe will get you through the entire year, though, as there’s very little seasonal variation.

What fluctuation there is comes in the form of a wet and dry season.  The best weather days are in October to January.  The wettest time is February through May, but the daily afternoon rainbow is likely to make you forget about any inconvenience.

Loja offers modern amenities without compromising any of its authentic details.

Established in 1548, Loja is one of the oldest cities in Ecuador.  Its town squares are full of statues, frescoes, and other remnants of its colonial past.  Original structures, with their arched doorways and wide balconies, stand adjacent to similar new construction designed to complement the city’s historic architecture.  This harmony of old and new is something that Loja intentionally aimed for and achieved beautifully.

Loja established itself as one of Ecuador’s most forward-thinking cities when it became the first to make use of electricity, as early as 1897.  It has continued this trend of well-planned modernization and industrialization, while still maintaining its historic charm.

Visitors to Loja can tour centuries-old churches like the Fatima and Santo Domingo. They also have access to conveniences often found only in much larger cities, including several universities, shopping centers, and hospitals.  Its technology is up to par, and its nightlife rivals some of the country’s liveliest destinations with its restaurants, bars, and other happening hotspots.

The city has also thrived financially as a result of its carefully planned economic development.  It has also been internationally recognized for its efforts to protect its environment and natural resources.

Loja, Ecuador, is the ideal place for optimal cultural immersion.

With a population of about 185,000 people, Loja has a more small-town feel than many of its competing expat destinations.  For comparison the mountain town of Cuenca, located 3 hours north of Loja, has almost double the population at 330,000.

The people of Loja are friendly and social.  The town’s squares function as places to relax, spend some time people-watching, or meet up with friends.  The locals also welcome foreign residents in a way that’s much different than many expat destinations.

Loja has virtually no expat community to speak of.  As a result, immigrants are treated as just another member of the local community.  Not as just another gringo.  While many would-be expats are deterred by cities without an established expat community, others welcome the opportunity to be accepted on their own merits and not pigeonholed into a certain stereotype.

Letting go -- of things, including the things you love.

If there is a favorite place in the world for me -- this is it. Near the cabin of which I own an even smaller part, but still holds so much deep sense of place. Here, where the Salmon River meets the Pacific Ocean, I kayaked with my kids. Overturned and were temporarily marooned on the spit. Explored. Ate. Hugged. Talked. And shared in silence.

I've been fortunate to have come to this place for the past 25 years. I've even told the kids, this is where they should place my ashes.

For the past six years, I've been involved in the preservation and management of Cascade Head Ranch, first as a board member, then as president for two -- often difficult -- years.

I loved it.

But today I notified the Board that I will not seek reelection to the board.

I've given it great thought. Much of who I am is identified with this place. And maybe that is why I need to step back from it -- at least for a while.

As I sort through my "stuff" it is easy to discard things I don't care for, but harder for things I love.

But some distance is needed now for me to get a better sense of my priorities. I know my kids are number one -- but after that.... well, I am not sure anymore.

So part of the trip to Ecuador is just getting some distance. To see the forest rather than the trees.

To reassemble my life based not on habit, but thoughtful choice.