Disclaimer: I get paid a commission if you use VisaHQ for your foreign visa needs. Otherwise, good luck getting into a foreign country!
I’m going to South America and Africa next month. In order to avoid another visa disaster (China 72-hour Visa-Free Transit Disaster (again)), I went with the experts at VisaHQ for my visas for Bolivia, Tanzania, and Kenya. Besides making sure I have the right papers, I also made sure that I am up to date on my vaccinations. Last time I went to Seychelles, I was a bit anxious when the flight attendant announced that proof of yellow fever immunization is required to enter. As it turned out, it was only required for those coming from countries within Africa.
For this trip, proof of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter Bolivia, a high risk place for yellow fever. In turn, it is also required for entering Tanzania. Specifically, per the CDC’s website, “The government of Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination upon arrival if you are traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever (this does not include the US – see complete list: Countries with risk of yellow fever virus (YFV) transmission.)”
Since I want to see the Salt Flats and since I don’t want to spend another night in deportation limbo, I called the CDC to find a center and schedule an immunization appointment. To my surprise, I found out that there is a shortage of yellow fever shots available in the US. The price quoted reflected the shortage. In New York, a yellow fever shot costs $350. In Montana, the price was still steep but a better deal at $183.
Because I was already turning to the needle, I also decided to get a typhoid shot which was $104. The CDC’s website states that you can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in Tanzania. Specifically, the CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater. Based on the food I dared to sample in Morocco, I would call myself an adventurous eater. And after the experience in Sharm El Sheikh, the last thing I want is another bout of food poisoning.
I decided to pass on the rabies shot and am staying away from the malaria pills. Cholera doesn’t sound like a good time but I won’t be in affected areas.
These aren’t the shots that TPOL is used to taking, but my typhoid and yellow fever vaccinations are more useful than a shot of Patron at last call.
Shots! Stay healthy mis amigos.
Disclaimer: I get paid if you use my affiliate links to buy products I push.
I’m a month away from my South America and Africa adventure. One of the highlights is the Park Hyatt Zanzibar where I will spend my time doing nothing. Of course, I am not in Zanzibar shape after spending my summer golfing. Once again, I am going to the tried and true Tahiti Diet which, combined with TRX ropes, led to great success when I went to Barbados.
For the next month, I am not going to run, I’m not going to lift. I’m only going to do TRX and jump rope. If you have a trip coming up, I suggest you do the same!
Where’s the unsubscribe button? I cannot deal with the onslaught of World of Hyatt emails anymore. From featured Weekend Getaways to places no one wants to go and $20 of off Whole Foods is not enough to keep me from hitting the spam button. At least when SPG sends emails, it sends them regarding points promotions or events that may be interesting.
I’m too lazy to partially unsubscribe (if that’s an option) to these sorts of emails, so I either fully unsubscribe or mark them as spam in the off chance that one of the emails may be of use.
And that’s my complaint of the week. Who else is angry?
Uber was surging when I was in Madrid so I picked Uber One. There are so many variations of Uber that I don’t even know what is what. I was half expecting a self driving car to show up. Instead, a Model T or whatever it is called came by. The car looks polished from inside and out and the driver was smartly dressed in a black suit. Before I discuss the ride, a quick note on Tesla and Elon Musk. I’ve said a lot of negative things about Tesla in the past. The cars could not get off the assembly line in time and were aesthetically unappealing. I was never a big fan of Elon Musk either. His ideas either catch on fire or blow up like Kim Jung Un before they get off the ground. (see Space X explosion and Tesla fires)
The Emblem
I especially hate the Tesla emblem. What is that ugly T? It not timeless like Mercedes or regal like Rolls royce. It looks like the H from Honda.
The Sound System
The sound system was smooth but not crisp like BMW Harman Kardon. Maybe this model didn’t have premium sound.
The Vehicle
The car itself still has a long way to go. The exterior tries to be sporty but it has no identity. Is it going for the Jaguar look or some sporty disaster designed by Ford? The interior looks like it was designed by a GM. The chrome accents are cheap. The massive display is useful for Uber drivers but again, not the greatest in terms of style. The driver’s dash is all electronic. I envision it blanking out over time.
The Ride
While it lacks the sophistication of luxury cars, it impressed by getting off the line quickly and smoothly. This was my first time in a Tesla and the first time using Uber One. The driver knew that I was intrigued by the car and let me take pictures with it after the fact. That was a nice gesture.
Overall Uber One Tesla Experience
I feel better about myself for being environmentally conscious but I don’t think I’ll be buying a Tesla any time soon.
A fun night out can elevate a city from good to great. The evening started with my trembles at Tigre for tapas.
With a healthy buzz, I left Chueca in search of Cavas Bajas, a street lined with restaurants and pubs. Along the way, I stopped for some red wine, garlic shrimp, beer, and cured meats.
Stop 1: El Abuelo
Stop 2: La Latina Neighborhood
When you see the metro stop for La Latina, you know that Cava Baja is close.
Stop 3: Matador
When I arrived, I treated myself to more drinks and cured meats.
Almost Stop 4: Taco Bell
Stop 4: Club Fortuny
Drinking and eating at one tapa bar after another, I knew it was time to take my Madrid experience to the next level. The first club happened to be pre-teen night. Madrid’s spoilest were standing outside a venue smoking cigarettes being cool. I struck up a conversation with a chap who didn’t look like he was twelve. He said he was going to a club called Fortuny. I jumped in the taxi and told the driver to take me there as well.
It was 15 euros to get in and drinks were also pricey but the music was good and the outside patio was packed. After more drinking, dancing, and nonsense talk with whomever would listen, I glanced at my phone to check the time. Somehow it was 4:30AM. It was time for TPOL to call it a night.
Stop 5
I tried to find kebab but had no luck.
Overall
My goal in every city is to eat, drink, and party like a local. The worst thing is when I end up at a tourist trap bar (see Saigon) when I know somewhere in the city, there’s a M1NT Shanghai where people are merry.
Getting There: The address is Calle de las Infantas, 30, 28004. Take the metro line 5 (depending on where you are) to Chueca.
I left Morocco for Madrid. My first order of business was to find a tapas spot. I headed for Tigre, a famous tapas landmark in the happening Chueca neighborhood. Green to the tapas experience, I was intimidated by the yelling of the combo bartender/cooks and chose to hide in the corner until I could figure out how this worked. Mustering up courage, I approached the bar and ordered two beers. Somehow, I managed to knock over a patron’s beer and shatter a glass. I feebly apologized and retreated back to my corner with drinks. Just when I thought I was safe, I found myself locking eyes with the bartender who summoned me over and offered me trays of food. Unsure what to do, I grabbed the plates and went back into hiding. Moments later, more plates were offered. Overwhelmed by the food and noise, I ordered a sangria, downed it, and began to calm down. In the meantime, new customers walked in and I observed how it is supposed to be done.
Here’s what I learned: The tapas are free and the drinks are 5 euros. The madness never ends as the bartender/cook combo insists on feeding you until you’ve had enough and you leave.
As for the actual food, the tapas were okay. I can only eat so many potatoes before I am overwhelmed by starch. The cold cuts were not my thing. The chicken, on the other hand, was very good.
I must’ve spent all of 2016 applying for cards because I’ve been hit with a barrage of annual fees this year. I just cancelled my Barclays JetBlue. Last month I cancelled the Gold Delta SkyMiles business card. Today’s next victim is the Gold Delta SkyMiles personal card. The analysis is the same as before: why pay the $95 annual fee when all I receive is a free checked bag and zone 1 boarding. Unless I am bringing my golf clubs, I never check bags. While zone 1 boarding is nice, I am usually assigned a seat on the back of the plane anyway. I’m in no hurry to get back there.
So there you have it. Another card gets cut. Who’s next?
The $99 annual fee came due on my jetBlue card. I received the JetBlue 30k signup bonus last year and took a points qualifying flight that netted me 105k JetBlue points. A year later, I have to decide whether it is worth keeping the card. The perks of the card include a 10% rebate on all flights taken and 5k in anniversary points. Luckily, the 5k posted to my account before the fee is due. This leaves me to analyze if the 10% rebate makes keeping the card worth the fee.
In the last year, I redeemed 43,000 points by going to Colombia, Barbados, and Trinidad. I received 4,300 back in rebates. This year I have no flights booked on JetBlue and no big plans to go anywhere they fly. Assuming I fly the same amount as I did last year, I would lose 4k in points by not keeping the card. This amount is offset by the fact that the bonus was already credited. As a result, I see no reason to hold onto the card and will save my $99.
I’m sick of paying annual fees and really need a big retention bonus to stick around, something that Barclays hardly ever offers me.
Anyone holding on to his/her card or was lucky enough to get a retention offer?
Man am I glad to be out of Morocco. Spain is much more my speed. Here’s a picture preview of what I did in Madrid during the quick two nights I was there.
TPOL’s Guns & Butter Travel Guide is the best way to see as much as you can in as little time as possible. Here’s how it works: A trip is composed of two factors: Labor And Lazy. The opportunity cost (what is given up) for relaxing and being Lazy is gained by being adventurous in the form of Labor and vice versa. The guide includes inefficient activities i.e., tourist traps that should be avoided and aspirational activities that are worth doing but may be impossible to see given the constraints of time and resources.
The Marrakech Morocco Travel Guide is part of the Round the Atlantic Trip Report.
Overrated! Overrated! That’s the word to describe Marrakech. I almost left after one day but decided to stick it out in order to write this extensive travel guide. Before I get into that, let me tell you why this city is nothing special. Most of it has to do with my bias for the Middle East. My parents are from Iraq and I grew up eating our style of Arabic food, speaking our version of Arabic, and enjoying our cultural traditions. When I go to countries like Morocco or Turkey, I find many similarities between Arabic culture and their cultures. This kinship leads me to expect the same flavors as I would in my parent’s home country. Obviously, this is never the case. The culture is foreign. The language is foreign. And the food, though similar, is also foreign. I find myself comparing how everything is done there to how we would do it: Our kebab is better. Our Arabic is easier to understand. Our people are more beautiful.
This sort of competition is not exclusive to Middle East versus countries like Turkey or Morocco. The same comparisons take place among all countries within the Middle East. Ask five people from five countries in the Middle East who makes the best tabbouleh, and you’ll get five different answers. Ask the same question about who speaks the cleanest Arabic, and you will receive a variety of answers again. Ask anyone where the most beautiful people come from, and they’d be lying if they did not say Iraq. Our Arab superiority or inferiority complex, depending on who you ask, makes it hard for us not to compare everything and simply enjoy the moment.
Having said that, I will try to be positive and point out what you should do if you visit Marrakech.
Medina
Dubai is not the Middle East. It is fake. If you want to see what this region of the world was like before Arab Money, head to the Medina in Marrakech. Beyond the tourist trap restaurants, you will find a city where time has stood still. From detox at the juice bars, to getting lost in the souks, the best time I had in Morocco was in the Medina.
Juice Bar (Must Do)
I now have some idea why people come to Marrakech. It’s not for the food or the Wi-Fi. It’s to detox. After weeks of nonstop drinking, I needed a break from the toxins of alcohol. And nothing is a better cleanse than freshly squeezed fruit. I tried many combinations but my favorite was banana and plum. It goes for 10 dh ($1.05). The OJ is 4 dh ($.42) but make sure you get the freshly paroled variety as there is chatter that the premade one is watered down. I cannot tell you what separates one juice cart from the next. The square is lined with dozens of them with vendors quick to offer free samples and yell at anyone who appears to be thirsty/a tourist. My favorite juiceman had his own isolated stand away from juice row. He was a very serious man who never smiled, but always gave me a little bit extra each time I stopped by for a visit.
There’s always money in the banana stand! Visit my buddy at No 33.Souk Shopping (Maybe)
Walking around the souks is fun. Unlike the markets in Shanghai, I didn’t see anything that I wanted to buy and found the vendors to be less than patient with my fierce negotiation techniques.
Getting Lost (Definitely)
Much like a Vegas casino, the Medina, a city within a city, is a labyrinth built to keep people in. Many guidebooks (WikiTravel being my favorite) encourage travelers going to the Medina to download a map of the Medina. TPOL does not concur. Instead of playing it safe, I recommend wandering around from shop to shop, taking abrupt turns without tracking your location, all in an effort to end up lost. From that point, challenge yourself to find your way back to the square without asking for directions.
Rooftop Restaurants (Skip)
I ate at Zeitoun Cafe. It is a restaurant aimed at tourists, but I did not mind paying the premium for the view of the square and the peace of mind of not having to haggle with the street stall vendors for dinner on my first day of arrival. It was also enjoyable to watch the sun go down over the square from the safety of my perch while sipping a soothing cup of Moroccan mint tea. Of course, I have to add that couscous, Moroccan’s staple cuisine, pales in comparison to Iraqi yellow rice.
CouscousFood Stalls (Must Do)
Why wander around when you can head to the food stalls and eat everything for next to nothing. The web says that many tourists are ripped of at these stalls because they do not inquire about the price or are served and charged for appetizers that they did not order. I did not have that experience. I ate at a bunch of places and anytime there was a discrepancy, they would either take it off the bill or bring me more food. Be aware but don’t be too paranoid.
Lamb eyeballLamb brainMixed grillHamam (Depends)
I skipped the hamam this time because I was with Ms. TPOL, and the baths are segregated by gender. If you can handle being apart from your lover, I highly suggest going to a hamam for a good scrub.
Party
Morocco is not a dry country. There is alcohol and there are many clubs and bars. I only spent one night out in the Hivernage neighborhood. I tried to go to the pool party above Buddha Bar, but they were not serving alcohol because Ramadan was starting one week after the day I arrived.
Hivernage (Must Do)
Go to the Hivernage neighborhood of Marrakech. Instead of souks and snakes, there were normal restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs. Young people flock to this area to eat burgers, have drinks, and smoke argheli. It felt more like Dubai than a conservative country. Having had my fill of lamb tongue, I opted for a burger and pizza. After days of detox, I chose Budweiser over OJ. Needing some nicotine, it was time to smoke.
Cafe Extrablatt has great burgers for a reasonable price.
Arkech Sky Bar is open late. It serves food and alcohol.
A Note on Beer
Flag Speciale is terrible. Stick to Casablanca.
Golf
What’s a trip without golf?
Assoufid Golf Course
The course is in the middle of nowhere. The taxi driver couldn’t find the place. It cost $30 round trip to get to Assoufid, a highly rated golf course. Once you enter the gates, it’s a different world from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. Bring your own balls as 6 of them cost me $25!
Sleep
Chose a riad in the Medina over a chain hotel. Le Meridien was disappointing.
Le Meridien (Skip)
If you do stay at Le Meridien and end up in a standard room, demand a suite. The standard rooms are awful. The hotel will pretend that there are no upgrades but insist on moving. The pool made up for the deficiencies in the hotel. A few local brews and a nice sunset make everything better, as does a decent pizza.
Overall
Despite my gripes, I had a fun time in Marrakech. I wouldn’t go back but maybe you would.
I’m a month away from my South America and Africa adventure. One of the highlights is the Park Hyatt Zanzibar where I will spend my time doing nothing. Of course, I am not in Zanzibar shape after spending my summer golfing. Once again, I am going to the tried and true Tahiti Diet which, combined with TRX ropes, led to great success when I went to Barbados.
For the next month, I am not going to run, I’m not going to lift. I’m only going to do TRX and jump rope. If you have a trip coming up, I suggest you do the same!
The Ride
While it lacks the sophistication of luxury cars, it impressed by getting off the line quickly and smoothly. This was my first time in a Tesla and the first time using Uber One. The driver knew that I was intrigued by the car and let me take pictures with it after the fact. That was a nice gesture.
Overall Uber One Tesla Experience
I feel better about myself for being environmentally conscious but I don’t think I’ll be buying a Tesla any time soon.
Juice Bar (Must Do)
I now have some idea why people come to Marrakech. It’s not for the food or the Wi-Fi. It’s to detox. After weeks of nonstop drinking, I needed a break from the toxins of alcohol. And nothing is a better cleanse than freshly squeezed fruit. I tried many combinations but my favorite was banana and plum. It goes for 10 dh ($1.05). The OJ is 4 dh ($.42) but make sure you get the freshly paroled variety as there is chatter that the premade one is watered down. I cannot tell you what separates one juice cart from the next. The square is lined with dozens of them with vendors quick to offer free samples and yell at anyone who appears to be thirsty/a tourist. My favorite juiceman had his own isolated stand away from juice row. He was a very serious man who never smiled, but always gave me a little bit extra each time I stopped by for a visit.
Getting Lost (Definitely)
Much like a Vegas casino, the Medina, a city within a city, is a labyrinth built to keep people in. Many guidebooks (WikiTravel being my favorite) encourage travelers going to the Medina to download a map of the Medina. TPOL does not concur. Instead of playing it safe, I recommend wandering around from shop to shop, taking abrupt turns without tracking your location, all in an effort to end up lost. From that point, challenge yourself to find your way back to the square without asking for directions.
Rooftop Restaurants (Skip)
I ate at Zeitoun Cafe. It is a restaurant aimed at tourists, but I did not mind paying the premium for the view of the square and the peace of mind of not having to haggle with the street stall vendors for dinner on my first day of arrival. It was also enjoyable to watch the sun go down over the square from the safety of my perch while sipping a soothing cup of Moroccan mint tea. Of course, I have to add that couscous, Moroccan’s staple cuisine, pales in comparison to Iraqi yellow rice.
A Note on Beer
Flag Speciale is terrible. Stick to Casablanca.
