Amazon Lick

So what's going on here in the Amazon? This is a flock of parrots being scared off from a lick by a hawk.

A lick is a place where these birds go to eat dried up mud and have a bath afterward.

Usually licks are found on canyon walls where the red earth of the amazon is exposed. Birds chew the dried up mud because it's a digestion aid.

Magic Mushroom

The Amazon is a must-see, must visit, forget-your-fears-about it type of place.

Before you go, know:

1. Schools of Piranahs don't attack you if you fall into the river.
2. Andacondas don't grab and choke you while you hike in the forest.
3. Malaria won't get you every time. (My doc prescribes me antimalarial meds, taken once a week starting a week before I go and ending four weeks after).

Those and other myths kept me from visiting this place for years. I'll start my little Amazon post section with a harmless mushroom (that is if you don't eat it).

Quirky Quito

Odd Quito architecture.

In some ways Quito is a scrappy little city, where a mismash of architecture meets the soaring heights of the Andes.

Not to be fooled by the San Diego like plan of the city (an if-there's-space-put-up-an-anything-type-of-architectural style); Quito is happening-- tons of upgrades in the Colonial section and hip-and-cool scene developing in the new city.

A great example of how well the renovations work in Quito can be seen in the Patio Andaluz. The place is spotless, the food in the restaurant unique. The only drawback in the colonial section turning upscale is the tripling of prices for a meal.

For a better deal, turn to new town, an area busting with dining possibilities (and thriving nightlife. The restaurants are a quarter of the cost of an American style hotel or a newly refurbished hotel restaurant in the colonial section. Think total tab of $15-20 for two for dinner. The scene varies from all-in-one
Internet/cafe/phonebooth/bakery restaurants to shops that cater to the rough-and-ready Andes/Amazon tour set.

Snow at the Equator

Here I am in Quito, Ecuador, very near the equator. You can see snow from my hotel. The temperature a wonderful 70 degrees, quite a respite from the 115 I suffered through in Palm Springs, CA.

More about Quito coming soon.

New York, New York

With regard to the presidential election of 2008, it seems as if everything is coming up New York. From Bloomberg to Clinton to Giuliani, the New Yorker's are at the gate...on your mark...get set...go!

Why should New York be the breeding grounds of so many presidential aspirants? One only has to go back to the last presidential election to find that a candidate was doomed if he came from anywhere outside of the Heartland.

You would think that a person from New York City would be a great candidate now that Bush is out of the picture. Almost anyone associated with the state has some association with 9/11.

It's as if being from New York City or even New York state has a certain courageous ring to it--an I-survived-and-even-thrived the biggest terrorist attack in the United States kind of aurora. Bush had that aurora cause he was president during the attack. Clinton, Giuliani and Bloomberg have it because of their association with the state and/or city.

McCain, Romney, Edwards and company don't rate with respect to this point.

But what about frontrunner Obama?

Is he above the 9/11 fray? How can he make points with regard to protecting our country when he isn't associated with that stricken day?

Perhaps he'll have to pump some New York into his bloodstream!

New Yorker

New Yorker, yes; but what is this a picture of?

Changes in S.F. Skyline

Here's one of a few new skyscrapers that is making it's way up the S.F. skyline.