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Mosul, Iraq Day 2: Overwhelmed

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Mosul, Iraq Day 2: Overwhelmed
Mosul Day 2 is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report. Catch up on all the posts from Iraq.
On day 2 we headed back to the old town, passing by another mosque that was commissioned by Saddam but was never completed.a large building with domes and towers We visited neighborhoods where UNESCO was rebuilding the city. This gave me a sense of optimism and made me believe that maybe there was some hope for humanity. a narrow alleyway with a drain a stone archway with a door open a balcony with a man sitting on a chair a view from a balcony of a building a window with metal bars on the walla room with a tile floor and windowsa building with a balcony a rooftop view of a city a man standing on a balcony with a fence and a city in the background Instead of viewing Mosul as a war zone or the backdrop for an action movie or video game, I tried to imagine it as an old town worth exploring (see Astray in Old Town: Great Places to Get Lost).a building with a palm tree a group of people in hardhats standing in a narrow alley a building with a stone wall and a dirt road a stone building with a door and windows We went to the Assyrian church which is next to the Chaldean church, both of which were destroyed by ISIS. These hallowed grounds were the places that Pope Francis visited in 2021. Despite the efforts to rebuild, much work is needed to restore the churches.a sign on a fencea ruined building with columns and rubble a ruined building with pink pillarsa ruined building with pink pillars a ruined building with columns and archesa broken windows in a buildinga window with a broken window a broken building with rubble in the grounda building with holes in the wall a pile of rocks and a building A further tour of the old town showed more of the havoc that ISIS caused. It is hard to imagine that only a few years ago this place was a killing zone with civilians being used as human shields to advance a hopeless ideology (see ISIS Influence in Istanbul: A Call to Arms for the Arab World).an old building with a broken roof a stone alley way with a doorway and a doorway a stone building with a stone arch a stone doorway in a ruined building a stone archway with carvings a street light in a ruined building a destroyed building in a rocky area a street with buildings in the backgrounda dirt road with rubble on the side of it a rocky landscape with a building and a body of water a building with many windows and a body of water a building with many windows and a rocky hill a ruined building with many windows and rubble a pile of rocks and rocks with a red and white tape
a rocky area with a body of water and a building in the background
The mosque on one side. The destruction on the other.
a body of water with a dock and buildings in the background
Eerie to say the least.
a truck driving down a dirt road
Just a typical day with an armed patrol in an area covered with rubble.
a motorcycle parked on the side of a road The terror has been replaced by NGOs. We visited one that pulled bodies from the rubble and continued to work on restoring what was once a beautiful city. The headquarters were lent to the NGO by a philanthropist who used to deal in the horse trade business. a courtyard with a fountain and a building with columns One interesting story was how from one room in the mansion ISIS was firing at the Iraqi army and the army firing back from another.
a courtyard with a courtyard and a fence
Imagine this was once the scene of a gun battle.
Lunch After that intense morning, it was time for lunch. Lunch was on top of a grocery store. The grocery store had some interesting snacks, but the restaurant was nothing worth writing about, except for the triple caffeinated Arabic coffee. a black car parked in front of a building a group of cereal boxes a group of black cans on a shelf a coffee pot and cups on a wooden tray Overall Half of day two in Mosul can only be described as intense.

Sheraton Samoa: For The Photos (And Room Service)

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Sheraton Samoa: For The Photos (And Room Service)
Sheraton Samoa is part of the Bula! Fiji Hub Trip Report.
Getting There: It costs $20 Samoan talas ($8) to go from the airport to the hotel. It’s only a ten-minute drive.
With an inadequate two nights in Samoa (see I Blew It: Missing Blowholes in Samoa And Tuna in America), I maximized my time by 1) Staying at a hotel near the airport. 2) Staying in a hotel with an idyllic beach. Before diving into #2, let me dispense with the low lights of the hotel. The Room I was upgraded to a suite. It was big but but empty. a room with a couch and a table a room with white furniture and a table a tv on a cabinet a room with two beds and a window Bathroom Standard. a white bathtub in a bathroom a group of bottles and a bag of food on a leaf a shower head in a bathroom Welcome Gift a bottle of wine next to two wine glasses View Staying in the room is not the best use of your time. a large lawn with buildings in the background a grass field with trees and a body of water in the background Pool The pool is not the highlight of the resort. a pool with palm trees and a building Beach Now we’re talking. From one side of the resort to another, there is no shortage of beautiful views.   a beach with plants and watera beach with trees and rocks a beach with a dock and trees a wooden dock on the water a man sitting on a dock looking out to the ocean a palm trees on a sunny day The Floating Island How many photos could I take? a beach with palm trees and a blue sky a woman standing on a rocky island with palm treesa man standing on a rock wall next to palm treesa man standing on rocks near water with palm treesa small island with palm trees in the middle of the ocean a small island with palm trees in the middle of the watera small island with palm trees in the middle of the ocean Room Service I’m not a big fan of room service, but I vividly remember how delicious this meal was. a plate of food with broccoli carrots and potatoes a bowl of soup with vegetables and meat Overall I have nothing left to say. Scroll up and enjoy the photos.

Guns & Butter: Lisbon Travel Guide (Updated Edition)

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Guns & Butter: Lisbon Travel Guide (Updated Edition)
Lisbon Travel Guide is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL from 2018 where I broke my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been. Note: This guide has been updated to reflect the Still The Best Trip Report from August 2023.
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.
Oh, oh I’m falling so I’m taking my time on my ride Taking my time on my ride
The ride is over. I tried to do as much as I could in Lisbon, but there wasn’t enough time, and there wasn’t enough energy after going around the world and back again. Maybe this Travel Guide will be updated in the future but for now, it’s a decent start.

Getting There 

2018: Why not take Ryanair if the price is right? It’s much better than plenty of other discount carriers (see What’s the Worst Discount Carrier?)
a large airplane on the tarmac
2023: I was stuck in Cabo Verde but rescued by Cabo Verde Airlines (see Rescued! Cabo Verde Airlines: Sal to Lisbon).

Staying Here 

I would skip the Radisson Lisbon.
a city with many buildings and trees
That’s not downtown I’m looking at.
2023: Stay at the Hyatt Regency (see Hyatt Regency Lisbon: Perfect Stop in Lisbon for One Night (Or Two)).

See This, Don’t Do That 

I did many Tourist Things. Say yes to Barrio Alto view. Invalid request error occurred.
Say pass on the train up.
a trolley car with graffiti on it
You can make your own decision on where to eat and drink on your rise and descent of the beautiful city.
a tables and chairs outside of a building
Meh…
a piece of fried chicken on a white plate
Chicken.
a cup of coffee and a glass of beer
Great beer.
a street with cars and buildings
a bowl of rice and tomato sauce with a spoon
Comfort food.

Don’t Miss

The best cod I’ve had (see Restaurant Sunflower: Best Seafood Lisbon, Portugal). a plate of food on a table

Don’t Stop The Party 

What’s a travel guide without a party (see Pop In Pub Crawl: Lisbon, Portugal)? a street with tables and chairs in a city a group of people sitting at tables in a street 2023: Do Stop the Party (see Travel Lesson Lisbon: Friend Reunion Led to Missed Flight) a man sitting on a stool with his arm around another man TPOL’s Tip: Java rooftop was the first stop. It is located at Praça Dom Luís I 30, 1200-152 Lisboa, Portugal. TPOL’s Tip: Espumantaria de Cais was the bar on the ‘Pink Street. It is located at R. Nova do Carvalho 39, 1200-291 Lisboa, Portugal.

Get Me Home 

A quick stop in the Priority Pass Lounge and a faster flight on TAP to Madrid, and it was finally time to return to Puerto Rico, flying Iberia of course. a plane on the tarmac
I’ve been thinking too much. Help me.
a tall grass and power lines
God save me.
2023: Off to Cannes.

Hyatt Regency Lisbon: Perfect Stop in Lisbon for One Night (Or Two)

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Hyatt Regency Lisbon: Perfect Stop in Lisbon for One Night (Or Two)
Hyatt Regency Lisbon Hotel Review is part of the Still The Best Trip Report.
I had a one-night stopover in Lisbon, Portugal. After a friend reunion, it turned into two (Travel Lesson Lisbon: Friend Reunion Led to Missed Flight). Fortunately, I was able to nurse my way back to health in this great suite. Location The Hyatt Lisbon is located right on the water and only minutes away from all there is to see and do in Lisbon (see Guns & Butter: Lisbon Travel Guide). Hotel Itself I was very happy there was a Hyatt Regency in Lisbon. It beat the terrible Radisson I stayed in previously (see Radisson Lisbon: No Thank You).a building with stairs leading to a glass door a courtyard with benches and trees Welcome Gift I was not a fan of the wine, but who says no to a gift? a table with a menu and bottles of wine on it Espresso Probably unnecessary before an evening out. a coffee machine plugged into a wall outlet Kitchen  The food in Lisbon is amazing. I see no use for this kitchen. a kitchen with white cabinets and a wood floor Suite Nothing like a brand new hotel. a dining table and chairs in a room a living room with a couch and a tv a tv on the wall a white and black art on a wall View Not much to se’a’ here. a building with balconies and trees and water in the background a building with many balconies a building with many windows Bathroom Nothing like a rain shower, post-belligerence. a bathroom with a mirror and a sink a shower with a shower head and a shower head a group of bottles with dispensers Bedroom Here is my sanctuary: a door with a mirror in it a bedroom with a bed and a table a room with a tv on the wall Overall When I missed my flight, I opened the Hyatt app and was glad that the room was available on points. What a disaster it could have been if I had to move.  

Nebula Projector: Mandatory Travel Technology While in Residency

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Nebula Projector: Mandatory Travel Technology While in Residency

Nebula Projector is part of The Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España Trip Report. Read TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency?. 

Disclaimer: If you buy something with my link, I get paid. 

There are must-haves when living in a foreign country for weeks at a time (see Moving Abroad (Temporarily): An Expert’s Guide for What to Pack). Many are obvious e.g., Wonderboom speaker. Others are not so obvious e.g., a wine saver. By far the best discovery is the Nebula Max, a mini projector that allows me to watch FireTV anywhere I have a blank wall. This came in handy in Madrid because my bedroom did not have a television (see Say No to Airbnb, Show Up Start Living at The Blue Ground). Instead of sitting in bed watching Seinfeld on my laptop, I could see a giant-sized Kramer on my wall. 

 
a glass bottle next to a black cylinder
Smaller than a Spanish water bottle

a box of a black device

a person's feet on a television
The Bluetooth speaker provides the sound.

Overall

Writing this post, I am saddened how dependent I am on Amazon. However, that should not stop you from buying a Nebula. 

To Sua Ocean Trench Samoa: Why I Loath Instagram

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To Sua Ocean Trench Samoa: Why I Loath Instagram
To Sua Ocean Trench Samoa is part of the Bula! Fiji Hub Trip Report.
My takeaway after visiting To Sua Ocean Trench in Samoa is that Instagram has made travel unbearable. There are too many selfies, too many tourists, and too many people in my way. Instead of appreciating this giant swimming hole, the literal translation of To Sua, I was preoccupied with the crowds of people all looking for the perfect photo opp. a rock with white text on it in a grassy area with a blue fencea view of a beach and a body of water from a hill a tree on a hill by the ocean a hole in a green plant
a group of people swimming in a pool
TPOL is here people, get out!
The one deterrent to complete overcrowding was the ladder to access the trench. With only one Achilles (see TPOL Is Down), I was concerned about climbing down. That was not as harrowing as it looks.
a hole in the water with trees and grass
Me going down the ladder.
After some patience, I was able to come away with these photos (for my IG account). a cave with a bridge and trees a hole in the ground with trees and a building in the background TPOL’s Tip: I hired a driver to take me to the trench. That day the roads were flooded making it a wise decision. The cost of the island tour was $97. TPOL’s Tip: It costs $7 to visit the trench. TPOL’s Tip: A rainy day keeps the tourists away.
a person swimming in a river
Victory
a man in a body of water
Over
a man in a body of water with his arms raised
Tourists

Courtyard Marriott Jamaica: For Carnival, Stay at the AC

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Courtyard Marriott Jamaica: For Carnival, Stay at the AC
Courtyard Hotel Review is part of the Carnival Jamaica: TPOL Goes to Candy Land Trip Report.
a building with trees and cars parked on the side of it Carnivals are a money grab (see Capitalism Killed Carnival). To offset the exploitation, it is wise to book a hotel with points. This is difficult to do far in advance (see Jamaica Carnival: Marriott Still Unavailable), but patience is rewarded as the date approaches. I had two choices for my stay in Kingston: the AC Kingston or the Courtyard. While the AC was a newer hotel, the Courtyard was cheaper on points and located right next to the costume pick-up. I went with the latter and here’s what I found: Room  There was a standard room with basic amenities. a room with a bed and chair a blue chair and ottoman in a corner of a room
a large field with buildings and a crane in the background
Not the best view
Bathroom I would prefer an infinity shower for next day hangovers. a bathroom with a mirror and sink a shower with a white curtain and black bottles a group of bottles of shampoo Coffee There was no espresso maker in the room. Worse, the price of an espresso at the bar depended on who was ringing it up. I would ask for a doppio and be charged $6, the price for 2 espressos, or I would be charged $4.50, the price of a double. Imagine my anger when in the middle of the Carnival parade, I discovered that there is a Starbucks at the AC Hotel and that the cost of a double espresso is $2!a tray with coffee maker and cups and water bottles on a table $10 Food & Beverage Credit What would you buy with your food and beverage credit? a bottle of beer on a counter a receipt on a leather surface Bonvoy Appreciation Night  I arrived on a Wednesday. That night there was an open bar for those with Marriott status. That was the highlight of my stay.a patio with a green wall and a table and chairs a bottle of liquor on a table Overall Looking back, I suggest staying at the AC. The hotel is right on the carnival route. There is a Starbucks. And it’s brand new.

Sunday Fun/Run Day: Spring in Madrid

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Sunday Fun/Run Day: Spring in Madrid
Sunday Madrid is part of The Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España Trip Report. Read TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency?
What’s there to do in Madrid on a Sunday when winter turns to spring? My first recommendation is shopping in the Salamanca neighborhood followed by tapas at the endless bars (see Best Tapas Madrid: No Budget Cuts Here). Another excellent option is a run through the city culminating at El Retiro Park.
a large white building with towers and a street and a blue sky with Plaza de Cibeles in the background
Cybele Palace
a group of people in boats in a body of water
Retiro Park
a group of people in boats on a lake
Retiro Park
a group of people walking in front of a gate
Retiro Park
From there, a stop at James Joyce Irish Pub is a healthy addition. a sign on a building Just be sure you support the right team.
TPOL’s Tip: James Joyce is located at C. de Alcalá, 59, Salamanca, 28014 Madrid, Spain After that, why not order a bottle of cava? a bench outside of a buildinga person pouring a glass of champagne a glass of wine and a cup of coffee on a table TPOL’s Tip: El Pabellón del Espejo is located at Paseo de Recoletos, 31 Madrid 28004. Overall My residency in Madrid started with chilly winter nights and mild days. My residency ended at the start of spring, leaving me wanting to return to this great city.  

Qatar World Cup Day 1: USA vs. Netherlands

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Qatar World Cup Day 1: USA vs. Netherlands
World Cup Day 1: USA vs. Netherlands is part of the Qatar World Cup Trip Report.
If you have five nights in Doha, good luck trying to occupy the time (see Guns & Butter: Doha Travel Guide). If you have five nights in Doha during the knockout stage of the World Cup (see The Beautiful Game, A Beautiful Time: World Cup Recap!), you will be thankful there’s not much more to do than see the greatest tournament on earth. QSuites to Doha  Food poisoning/AC flu? In the middle of my QSuites flight from MIA to DOH (see Flight Review MIA-DOH: Qsuites to the World Cup!), I got the chills and felt instantly weak. I had read that both the Dutch team and the US coaches had a flu-like illness. I wondered if I had the same affliction. Arrival Lounge? I flew QSuites for the third time this year (see QSuites: The Best Business Class Flight? & QSuites DOH-MIA: Maybe SQ Is Better). Normally, I would take advantage of the arrival lounge like I did in Abu Dhabi when I flew Etihad or when I went to London on Virgin (see Etihad Arrivals Lounge: Time for a Proper Shave & Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge LHR: Call Me George Jetson). However, the priority was to get back to the room and prepare for the US vs. Netherlands game. Learning from my experience in Milan, where I almost cost myself dinner by stopping for a beer en route to the hotel, this time I recognized there was no time for superficial detours (see Late Night Bite in Milan). Fan Gear?  I did not have a Team USA jersey. All I had was a Team USA Urban Turban (For Sale on clearance here). I could go to a FIFA store and buy one. I should have known better than to go to the Souq Waqif, the fake old town, to try and find one (see Guns & Butter: Doha, Qatar Travel Guide). There was nothing for sale and no Uber to be found. I ended up stuck in interminable traffic in an Uber instead of using the free and perfectly planned bus rides to the stadium (see Qatar 2022: Tremendous World Cup Logistics). TPOL’s Tip: Show up prepared with fan gear. Uber After over an hour in traffic, I could finally see Khalifa Stadium. Perhaps we would make it in time for the national anthem, I thought. Then the Uber made a right turn away from the stadium. We had to go in the opposite direction only to return to where we started. This time, I told the Uber driver to stop. I opted to walk the rest of the way. I did not realize that the entrance was still a long way away. Flu aside, I decided to run and saw other Americans running as well. Chants of “USA! USA!” began to ring out. This was the World Cup excitement that I had come (and overpaid) to see (see The Guide to Buying Tickets for the World Cup And Other Big Events).
a group of people walking in a parking lot
Khalifa International Stadium‎
USA vs. Netherlands  Unfortunately, that was the second-best moment of the night. Upon entering the stadium, I had to run up nine levels. I was only able to record the sound of the national anthem and did not get to see America take the field.
a group of people walking in a building
Another level up and another level up until level 9.
When I arrived at my seats, I thought I would be surrounded by American fans. My plan was to give away the turbans to fellow supporters. Instead, I saw no American fans, just bystanders who had no affinity for either side.a stadium with a football field and people in the stands
The place lacked energy. Even when the Dutch scored, nothing happened. I wondered if this was because I was sitting in the nosebleeds, if this was a result of no alcohol, or if the tickets were given to migrant workers to fill up the stands. I was told that Americans purchased more tickets than any other country. If this was true, where were they? Down 1-0, the game dragged on. With 1 minute left in stoppage time, I was eager to see who would be walking around the concession stands. Of course, within that minute, the Dutch scored again, putting the US and me in a deeper hole.
a sign with two cups on it
$8 for Budweiser Zero
Typically at half-time, there is a buzz around the concourse as the fans sprint to buy food and drinks. This was more of a funeral. I did see Americans but the mood was subdued. Was this really the World Cup? Did I make a mistake by coming?
a group of people in a building
This is the World Cup?
Second Half The second half started and I made my way back to my overpriced seats. There was one fleeting moment of joy when the US scored. Hope didn’t last long as soon after that the Dutch scored to end all chances of a comeback. Watching Team USA is like watching the Lions on Hard Knocks, I had to question where the talent was on this team. They may have the drive but who besides Pullsic and the goalkeeper possessed the pizazz needed to challenge the best of the world? I saw little sign of hope when I watched the US play Iran and was annoyed that I had paid $1300 to see such a lackluster performance in such a blasé environment. On top of that, on this night, I had generated zero buzz for the turbans.
a group of people in a stadium
Beautiful turbans
Argentina vs. Australia The adrenaline was gone. My body was weak but Argentina was playing next. I could not physically get myself to go to another game and I did not have the Wi-Fi capability to look for tickets. Instead of paying for an Uber, I followed the organized signs for the buses. I was impressed that there were busses that went to the next game, busses that went back to central Doha, and busses that went to the Fan Festival, my next stop. a large green field with lights on the side Food It was 9PM, an hour before kickoff. I had not eaten since the flight and was running on empty. I saw a sign that read ‘Fudruckers’. Could this restaurant from my youth still be in existence? I walked from the entrance of the Fan Festival to find out. A half-pound burger and melted cheese later, I had the energy I needed to watch the next match. Fan Festival As I wrote, the logistics of this tournament were perfect. There was an orderly queue to get into the watch zone where my Hayya card was scanned (see Epic Failure: Denied Boarding for the World Cup), followed by a security screening. I walked to the park where the giant screen showed the game was underway. Once again, I found myself surrounded by bystanders but there were zero from Australia and next to none from Argentina. What was this manufactured World Cup? Did they pay people to come out to watch these games? Like the US game, there was one moment of excitement when Argentina scored. The crowd of bots erupted with joy.a large screen with a football field on it At halftime, I had to get out of there. My body wanted to give up, my mind wanted to as well. I was convinced that this was going to be the worst World Cup in history. Before I put the headstone that would read the same, I decided to go to the one place where I thought there would be signs of life: the bar. Metro? This Way Doha is tiny. It is impossible to get lost. During the World Cup, this was reinforced by the funny and helpful guides that chanted out ‘Metro? This way.’ Everyone enjoyed their comedy and it became an ongoing theme throughout the trip.
a group of people walking on a sidewalk with lights
Follow the dull crowd to the metro.
Marriott Marquis Champions Bar The last time I was in Doha, I spent too many nights at Champions Bar. It is one of the few places that is constantly busy and lively. I was able to watch the end of the Argentina game. The Socceroos almost pulled off the upset. Overall Day 1 was a mixture of fun and disappointment. The stop-and-go excitement was consistent throughout my World Cup experience.

Simply The Best: October 2024

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Simply The Best: October 2024
TPOL is the best in travel. And now he is the best in golf (see Breaking 90: TPOL’s Wins the Club Championship** & TPOL Finishes 3rd in Member Guest). Next up is Vlog greatness (DJI Store Barcelona: A Great Upgrade for an Unpublished Vlog). No longer humble, I present the top posts from October.
  1. Mosul, Iraq Day 1: The Best Homemade Food in the World
    a man sitting at a desk
    Mosul is fantastic. The city is alive. The people are lovely. The food is great.
  2. Looking to Avoid Prison? Read the Blog, Mr. Mayor
    a man sitting on a chair with a glass of champagne
    If you’re going to be busted over airline upgrades, make the charge worth it by flying Emirates, SQ, or Cathay
  3. Border Crossing on Foot: Spain to Gibraltar
    a road with a mountain in the background
    Many have speculated if TPOL is in the CIA.
  4. Can Paixano Barcelona: The Best Place on Earth
    a plate of food and a glass of wine
    If you don’t like this place, chances are high that I will not like you.
  5. Muay Thai Medellin: Chapter 3 of My Combat Journey
    a man standing next to another man in a gym
    Do you get sick of shit talking blog readers? Do you want to do something about it?
  6. Mont Bar Barcelona: Am I Michelin Material?
    a plate with food on it
    The cost of this foray into culture was 340 euros for two. Given the laughs, the food, and the experience, it was money well spent.
  7. Guns & Butter: Barcelona Travel Guide
    people in a pool
    Residents of Barcelona: Holster your water guns. While I will do my residency in Barcelona one day, I have no immediate plans of doing so. I prefer Madrid.
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