u/Dmlandis59

I’m retired and have traveled extensively thru Mexico, Central America, and South
America, I am fluent in Spanish.

Was thinking of taking 2 to 2 1/2 week trip ( I would take longer but don’t want to be away from family for too long. Idea was to visit La Paz, Mexico and La Paz Bolivia same trip. Would cover desert, jungle, and mountainous regions.

suggested itinerary

1. San Salvador ES. I have only been to airport but understand it has a lot to offer tourists. Had

3). Bolivia - probably 5 - 7 days . majority of time in highlands La Paz but also want to see Santa Cruz if only one day. Would like to see Uyuni probably flying. Concern is altitude and blockade.

4. Finally Asunción Paraguay. 2 days. I know it’s not touristy but this is just to complete bucket list of seeing all S A countries with exception of Venezuela.

Any suggestions? I know I have to pack for hot and cold climates. Also too old for hostels -) I could travel for much longer but I think 2 to 2 1/2
Weeks is just enough for solo travel , Moderate budget $75 - $100 per night hotel .

Gracias-)

When I was in high school in late 1970s, we had 50s days several times a year where girls would wear saddle shoes and guys would look like James Dean. No 60s celebrations as this was too recent.

Does this still exist today? I know 80s nostalgia is big but difficult to imagine a kid dressing up in 2006 style.

Would boomers consider the 1950s to be old timey? What about Gen Z - those in their 20s??

Last night I went to Levi’s Stadium aka San Francisco Bay Area Stadium to see Algeria Jordan game. It was surreal event - people from all around the world celebrating. Everyone seemed very positive and chill. Im from S F and have never attended a 49ers game at Levi’s. How is the vibe and what is the typical audience - very different to World Cup?

Me gusta mucho la Su musica. Cuando oigo la cancion - haste la raiz quiero llorar con emociom.

Switching to English because of spellcheck. First heard this song two months back at a quincenera dance performance and it was so poignant and special.

What artists are like her (Julieta Venegas??) and what songs are similar with guitar and plaintive lyrics. I live in Indio ca and she had show about a year ago at a casino a few miles away. Sorry I didn’t know about her back then.

I am an old gringo in my 60s but am bilingual and love this type of Latin pop music better than anything Taylor swift does .

I’m curious why there is a long line several blocks line in Wednesday morning? Is Trader Joe’s giving away free food??

Buen dia . I would like to do a visit to see 3 cities in Latin America named La Paz. First from California - La Paz, BCS Mexico; next La Paz, Honduras; and finally La Paz, Bolivia.

Thinking of 3 days in Mexico, 3 days in Honduras, and probably a week in Bolivia

Assuming I flew into Palmerola and stayed in Comayagua what would you recommend? I imagine half a day in La Paz. fyi 40 years I was a public health volunteer in Las Lajas municipio de La Libertad for one year. It would be interesting to see the changes there as I have not returned since mid 1980s. Back then Comayagua to Las Lajas was a very rough 5 hour journey on a potholed road in a Landcruiser. I have no idea what the journey is like today.

Any suggestions on 3 nights and 2 days based In Comayagua? I definitely want to see La Paz. I could stay in Tegucigalpa but it seems far from the international airport. In 2009 I visited Tegus and Lago Yajoa. Thanks for your help.

Tambien soy bilingue y podria escribir este mensaje en espanol pero mas facile en ingles -) gracias

Can anyone recommend a Long Beach hotel that has stay and park options? We need 4 rooms for 15 people late August and doing a 5 day cruise.

I had a very bad experience at the Safeway in Portrero Center buying razors and deodorant. Everything is locked up and it takes 5 minutes for someone to come. They took my items and took it to customer service counter and there was no one there. I asked how to check out and no one knew. There is no self checkout. So I left pretty disgruntled.

I did end up going to Grocery Outlet on Bayshore and was quick and much cheaper . And good customer service.

We often go to Daly City or South SF as not everything locked up.

Where do people shop for toiletries or liquor here in the city where it’s not an ordeal to buy items?

I am thinking about trip to both of these countries (I’ve been to all other SA countries with exception of Venezuela and Guyana, Suriname. I am fluent in Spanish. My trip starts in California and then would also like to visit La Paz, Mexico and La Paz, Honduras en route / visiting for a few days in each before going to 3rd La Paz in Bolivia. questions

1. how many days minimum in La Paz - taking into account altitude adjustment. Also any safety concerns with blockades etc?

2 ) I have heard Uyami salt flats are worthwhile. Is there a quick way to get there - flying? I thinn max 5 days in La Paz including Uyumi.

3. Is it worth stopping in Santa Cruz de Sierra for 1 -2 days?

4). Finally what are thoughts on Asunción? Would probably just be 2 days.

Really I am close to 100 countries and these 2 countries are on bucket list. Thanks/ gracias as for any suggestions

Does anyone have to do Mandated Reporter and Sexual Harassment training each year for every district you sub for? I have done it but it seems kind of pointless to do it yearly. I don’t think information changes much. Plus some districts use a different vendor for same topic meaning you have to spend one additional hour and quiz for the same information. It would be nice if State dept of Education maintained a database for all training to avoid duplication and wasted time. Perhaps this exists at least for California

I’ve been seeing the past few seasons of Below Deck in different locations - Seychelles, Australia, Caribbean. It appears that any request for food can be fulfilled - lox and bagels, caviar, all sorts of vegetables, American cereals? I’m curious as to how these provisions can be provided everywhere - I’ve traveled a lot and now many things/ ie lox and bagels cannot be found easily outside USA. Ideas?!

Has anyone done a trip visiting cities with same name - ie Portland, OR to Portland, ME. Or Albany, Oregon to Albany, Ny or Glendale AZ and Ca. Or better yet lived in a town with same name but different state, province, or country.

For myself I’d like to do a peace tour - La Paz, BCS Mexico to La Paz, Honduras to La Paz Bolivia,

Went to Cal back in late 70s/early 80s and live across the Bay, I don’t recognize downtown either with Allen the tall buildings. The only building still there is UC theatre. Even University Hall no more. So are there any old restaurants/ stores still there??

We travel up and down the state between San Francisco and Coachella Valley and I’ve been all over state - at least coastal portion. Driving south on I5 you see the first chapparel up the grapevine. And the geology changes as well- you see the fault activity.

We just drove up 101 from Santa Barbara and once you pass San Marcos Pass you immediately start seeing oaks and grass on the hills. This is more
Typical of central and northern cal.

so is there an actual border between the 2 biomes going from western Santa Barbara County and Kern county? also what plants are found in chapparel?

So is there an

I’ve been doing pilates for 5 plus years around the world and one thing I’ve noticed is how different each class is. some do 100s, some use rings, balls, and weights, some are high impact and some are low . Each class is different except for club pilates.

I also like barre - the combination of cardio, weights, and stretching with small movements is great. I like pure barre but I only wish class pass was accepted by more studios.

Finally I am often the only male and only senior age I’m 65 in classes. I don’t mind but I rarely see men in exercise classes / maybe they’re playing golf but that’s not really exercise -)

I would choose Los Angeles County for its diversity of climate and people . I actually live in San Francisco

I’m retired teacher mainly high school although I have taught 7th grade (2 years) and elementary ( 5th grade - 2 yrs). I sub from time to time but find I actually prefer middle school. Elementary - you have them all day and they require lots of attention. High school - kinda boring - kids just do their thing and little interaction. Middle school kids are kinda of goofy but seem to enjoy talking with teacher.

I actually enjoyed high school much more than middle school as a regular teacher / less management issues and higher level material .

I have traveled a great deal (about 90 countries) and have seen all South American countries with the exception that of Bolivia, Paraguay, and Venezuela. Ideally would like to 3-4 days in the each country staying on one city - but am flexible. I’m retired and am fluent in Spanish. I would be on my own.

Has anyone been to these less known tourist spots? What are pluses snd minuses of each and what were your impressions.

Venezuela is one of the wild cards as of travel advisories . I don’t know if Americans can visit - I probably would do tour in Caracas for 3 days,

Also has anyone done something in the Balkans / ie 3 - 4 days in each country - ie Bosnia, Albania, Serbia??

I can think of 3 pairs

1. Fremont and Rancho Cucamonga- both up scale superb with lots of ethnic diversity and Indian groceries.
2. Indio and San Fernando - both have old time downtowns and are largely Mexican American
3. Healdsburg and Paso Robles - both bougie wine towns.

Comments? Any other pairs?