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No Trespassing! Normally when I head out on my bike, it’s to a world of lakes, rivers, and wooded areas. Yesterday, I decided to explore a more gritty side of Minneapolis. Under Target Field baseball stadium Refreshment stop at Corner Coffee, Warehouse District Crossing the Mississippi–mind the gaps Some missing boards had been recently replaced:… Continue reading Gnarly Minneapolis

This wobbly 4-minute video shows my Chain of Lakes ride, this week, from Lake of the Isles to the fast-flowing Minnehaha Falls. Interactive Map On the way, I stopped at Lake Harriet’s Bread and Pickle for one of the best breakfast sandwiches in the Cities. The Twin Cities has an amazing network of dedicated bicycle… Continue reading Lake of the Isles to Minnehaha Falls by Bicycle

A co-worker had just returned from a visit to the UK. “How was it?” I asked. “They don’t put ice in the water” was the reply. I’d learned enough about her trip, and about her. Rule when traveling: Avoid making constant comparisons with “back home.” If you don’t follow this rule, you end up bringing… Continue reading Travel Fails: Managing Expectations

Last Fall, I was lost in my thoughts, exploring some quiet back lanes in Istanbul I’ve seen described as “gritty.” Just as I was about to walk into a busier area, someone tugged on my sleeve, stopping me in my tracks.    A bizarre scene unfolded in front of me. First some men in suits… Continue reading Now and Then: Guns n’ Cigarettes

My SIMs from UK, Japan, USA, Turkey Once, while traveling in the UK, T-Mobile billed me $400 for 25MB–that’s $16,000 per GB! This was a surprise as, under that same plan, I had not been charged for data use during previous overseas trips. I asked T-Mobile to waive the charge (they did), but I cancelled… Continue reading Travel Gear: Mobile Internet

I noticed the woman when I was riding the Busan (South Korea) subway at morning commute time, earlier this year. She was middle-aged, and quite unremarkable until she started her morning makeup routine. Seated in the crowded carriage, out came her creams, brushes, and other makeup paraphernalia. She then painstakingly, unselfconsciously transformed her appearance, right… Continue reading Travel Gear: Makeup and Mirror

Minnesota in the summer is just too lovely, so I won’t be traveling far this month. That doesn’t stop me thinking about the mechanics of travel. When I was in Japan earlier this year, handheld electronics hugely contributed to my ability to navigate the geography and the culture. Or, to be more precise, the software… Continue reading Travel Gear: OpenStreetMap

2013 Fearless Bellying up to the bar with Grandma 2011 2009