I quit my job last December – yeah, I know, I am the only person that I know who’s quit a job in the past year, too.
My old employer offered me COBRA, even though I quit. I’m not sure if this is standard practice but it was a cool move in my book, a nice gesture for a decade of work. Two things kept me from staying with my old policy: 1) Reading the fine print - my insurance company did a pretty shitty job of covering me outside of the USA. 2) $800 a month? You have to be kidding. Where was I going to get $800 a month?
So, I spent a few nights in my underwear, searching online for a travel policy (I do my best work in my underwear – I don’t know why). Insuremytrip.com seemed to be the best place to cross-compare and ultimately I booked through them. I opted for a policy that was less about travel - most travel policies SOUND a lot better than they really are (especially if your electronics are only covered up to $500 and you’re carrying a $2,000 laptop). Instead, I found a generous medical policy that would save my ass from almost anything, including some of the adventure sports that aren’t covered by the travel policies. $80 a month.
I’m going back to the USA on November 23rd. My current policy will cover me for 15 days in my home country, then…guess what? I have nothing. My COBRA’s expired and the concept of paying for USA policy is just…well, presidents have been elected on how ridiculous an idea that is.
The long and the short: I can afford $80 a month for travel insurance and in order to be a happy American…I have to leave America, dumping what money I have in another nation's pockets. Neat, huh?
I saw this near Alexanderplatz and it freaked me out. There's no motor - each person at the bar pedals and somehow this is wired to propel the 'bar' forward. A driver at the front steers (non-drinker) while everyone back gets completely sauced. Fun? YES.
You know those songs that come up once a year on random play? This was one of them. Frente's cover of "Bizarre Love Triangle". I've always loved this take - maybe even more than the original?
Probably one of the coolest and most unique museums I've been to. Check it: http://matadornights.com/ramonesmuseum/
Berlin has way too much good food! I spent a day eating as much as I could. There are some cool pictures here and a rundown of what's good. You'd be surprised at the diversity of food here. Sure, there's big sausage things. But good pizza and thai food too? Hell yes.
I never know how to deal with these surveys/lists. I mean, Vietnam is the #5 happiest place on the planet? Would that be before you eat the chicken that's been laying in the sun for 4 days, after you've seen the dead motorbiker (everywhere) or after you've run out of breath in Saigon (which happens a lot, with that pollution thing).
The following does a good job of deconstructing the Happiest list:
I caught Noah and the Whale this week in Berlin. It was about my eighth time seeing them. They looked tired and beaten...they played like it too. It's hard to watch a band play like this, like the road is catching up with them. The venue was too big for where they're at - they'd have done well to play a packed-out smaller room and fed off the energy. I saw them at Reading and Leeds this month - they killed it. Hopefully they'll pull it together.
I love the new album. Here's a track that gets stuck in my head all day long.I was reading this piece (http://matadorabroad.com/busted-in-nicaragua-a-drug-charge-jail-and-a-narrow-escape-from-hell/) and wondering what I would have done, had I been in the same situation. It's a really solid piece of writing about what happens when Weed Goes Wrong.
I've been researching the most expensive hostels online today and found this place (http://www.theoverstay.com/) for $0.62 a NIGHT. Hostelworld reviews are wretched but man, that's one cheap dorm.
This one will have you thinking about things that you might not want to think about:
"While in the United States and many other countries with majority white populations, whites see whiteness as the default race or no race at all. Being in the majority around which the power structure is created extends privileges many take completely for granted and totally fail to recognize."
My friend is close to winning a trip to Frankfurt Book Fair, to promote one of her guides. She's a great writer and deserves it. PLEASE take a minute to vote for Julie's Guide! Once you're logged in, just click on the stars to vote. http://tiny.cc/O7HNc
Matador's recently started a writing school. Free tuition for one lucky winner: http://thetravelersnotebook.com/photography-q-a/announcing-twitter-contest-for-free-tuition-at-matadoru/
...this dude seems to be really cool. I mean, going on tour on a BIKE? And the charity (World Bicycle Relief) seems like a great cause. http://matadornights.com/attica-attica-ditch-the-van-bike-tour-for-charity/
I didn't plan on talking about 9/11. To anyone, ever. I've traveled so much until then and it's all that anyone asks about. Africa, Southeast Asia, South America...if you say you're from NYC, they ask. Here's photos and my thoughts on the day: http://thetravelersnotebook.com/photo-essay/846-am-911-manhattan/
