In Honor of March 14

It has been many years since I posted here, but, in honor of Pi Day:

A bit of the past....

My Amazon Prime photos popped up today and said here's pictures you took in 2015 on this day. And they are lovely full of vibrant color. It took me a little bit to figure out where I was 3 years ago, but it turns out I was on Vancouver Island, in Victoria British Columbia. Apparently I was in a botanical garden full of these lovely colours. Also I was at the start of the Trans Canada Highway, mile 0. The park even had a peacock.

Does The ALSA bus line in Spain suck?

Hi

Well now I am in Gijón, Spain. It is seemingly a decent enough city on the north coast of Spain. It is a bit difficult to get to from A Coruña, where I was. That's not a big deal I suppose. There is a bus that runs a couple times a day. The bus station in A Coruña was not at all worthwhile. There was no cafeteria and very difficult to get around. Not as good of a facility as one would expect in a city this size.

So normally my experience with the bus line ALSA is pleasant enough, however this time I was forced to pay a bicycle charge for my little Brompton bicycle. The bicycle when folded is smaller than a regular piece of luggage. I got quite upset. It takes up less room and requires no special treatment. But none the less I paid the charge. I had no choice. The ALSA ticket agent where I paid the fee looked at the driver like he was being an absolute jerk as well. Pretty much the whole trip I fumed about how I was going to get on social media and lambast for the company. But, other than this post, I think I will just accept it and move on.  The bus ride itself was okay and the bus was one of the types that had only three seats across so that was good; but it didn't make up for the jerk bus driver.

FWIW, below is a picture of my bike folded by itself and also in its bag. The bike has been accepted without question and without additional fee on every other plane train bus and ferry that it's been on until now with alsa going from coruna to Keyshawn. This includes many other also buses. Okay ranting and venting mode being turned off.

 

Lleida, Spain

So. I am here in Lleida, Spain. I haven't posted to this blog in quite a while. I have been using Instagram and Facebook a bit, but I am not sure those programs are quite what I am after to document my travels. I am @older_mike on Instagram.

Here's some pics from Lleida....

El Paso Train Station - Amtrak

This is the El Paso Amtrak station.  A pleasant well kept affair.

But the well known "burrito lady" wasn't there this time.  Great bean and potato burritos for two bucks each. And you have time to get a couple when you stop here on the train.  She is usually near the main door to the station (between the station and the train).

I was en route to North East Ohio for Thanksgiving and the winter holidays.

First Post

This is the first post on this new blog I thought I would start at WanderingMikeTravels.blogspot.com.  Boy, I have wanted the WanderingMike.com Domain for a while.  I finally got it.  I will link it to this at some point and figure it all out.  I am posting this to my Abueloloco blog as well as the WanderingMikeTravels blog.  The later blog will become the one I use I am guessing.  I think I will start using that one but will let all my readers know if I stop posting here.  Oh well, I guess the key is that I get back to doing this.

But talking about the subject, here is the pic.   I am the only one here on a Sunday night about a week ago.
 

A pleasant little city park in the north central Kansas town of Beloit.  Real middle America.  Folks are nice.  Jeez, even the flies that buzz around seem courteous.  They even have 50 amp outlets,  not that I need one.  They ask you on the entrance, in polite middle America fashion, to limit your stays to 10 days out of 60.  And they almost apologetically ask for a donation.  There is no way I can't both leave a donation and more importantly leave a few dollars with local businesses.

Listening to some oldies.  Wandering on the web.  I guess it is fall now, but I am loving it.