Mark Michaelis: Travel

My Grayline Driver Guide

Thu, 08 Apr 2004 23:00:00 GMT

Today I took a Grayline bus from the downtown Seattle to SeaTac. It was one of the most entertaining rides I recall taking. The driver spoke non-stop the entire way there. At first this was quite disconcerting but once I started to pay attention I realized that this guy was hilarious. In spite of intentions to get something useful done on the commute I was entirely distracted by his monologue. I have no idea what one would need to do to take this bus ride with this driver but if you get a chance to travel with Ken I think you would find it enjoyable.

Tracking Visited Countries via World66

Mon, 29 Mar 2004 05:22:18 GMT

Here is a view of the world as I have visited it courtesy of www.world66.com.

(Thanks to Chris Kinsman for pointing this out. Very cool!)

Degree Confluence Project

Sat, 19 Jul 2003 01:48:21 GMT

Here is an interesting project:

"The goal of the project is to visit each of the latitude and longitude integer degree intersections in the world, and to take pictures at each location. The pictures and stories will then be posted here."

TSA Recommends Removing Your Shoes at Security

Fri, 18 Jul 2003 19:25:47 GMT

I have traveled enough over the past few months to be rather baffled by the randomness of this rule. I find that certain checkpoints have no problem with my New Balance 804 sneakers and others let me know in unsubtle ways that if I don't remove my shoes before hand I will be searched once I get to the other side. In fact, I have noticed differences at the two different security checkpoints in Spokane (my home airport) even as I had to go through both checkpoints in one day. The first checkpoint insisted that if I didn't take my shoes off before hand I would be searched. The second had no problem with me walking straight through and when I mentioned that the previous gate had insisted they said that was ludicrous and no checkpoint would force me to do anything. Well perhaps they wouldn't force me but if they are going to insist on searching me at the other side where they will "request" I remove my shoes anyway then.... Frankly, this rule puzzles me almost as much as not allowing nail clippers through. Surely I could hide much larger items (assuming no metal of course) in other locations on my person then in the soles of my shoes. Heck, there are false stomachs I could wear in which I could probably place my entire carry on bag. Anyway.... enough of the attitude. I understand it is for my safety, I just wish I had the aptitude to understand.

United to offer e-mail on U.S. flights

Fri, 20 Jun 2003 14:17:48 GMT

Well... this is out of my price range but at least it is starting. Presumably, over time, the prices will drop to be more reasonable.

Traveling to Raleigh, NC

Fri, 23 May 2003 22:40:50 GMT

This week I have been in Raleigh, NC teaching a Programming with C# course. I stayed at the Oakwood Inn Bed & Breakfast in downtown Raleigh.

If you can afford the $100+ price tag I would highly recommend these accommodations. A hotel on the belt-line of Raleigh costs around $96 but if you consider that in addition you still have to pay the cost of an Internet connection and breakfast the price at the bed and breakfast is comparable. Breakfast is superb and is certainly vastly superior to the "free" continental breakfast or even the $10 breakfast provided by the local hotel chains. Given my bourjwar (spell?) tastes I would go as far as to describe the breakfasts and elegant. I stayed in the Pell room, which included a bathroom on suite and a fireplace (which was of little use given the outside temperatures and humidity.)

My dinner restaurants were as follows:

518 West: An Italian restaurant. I was not particularly impressed with this place. The food was OK but not great.
42nd Street Oyster Bar: Certainly better than 518 West and a lot more crowded to. Food was flavorful and unique. This was my first time at an Oyster bar and I enjoyed the experience.
Second Empire: Excellent... Prices were higher (into the 20s for an entrée) but the atmosphere was great. The restaurant is split into find dinning upstairs and a tavern downstairs. However, the "tavern" was still a fine dinning experience when compared with the previous two restaurants and was plenty elegant for my after-work-without-my-wife needs.
Bloomsbury Bistro: Probably not on par with the upstairs of Second Empire but certainly competitive with the "tavern." The rabbit dish was OK but I also got to taste Danny's salmon and that was fantastic. It reminded me of a Thai curry type of flavor. Very good. Desert was great too.

01/08/2003-01/010/2003 Vancouver, BC

Fri, 10 Jan 2003 22:31:40 GMT

I took a trip to Vancouver, BC this week to visit the Itron office (formarly eMoble Data) there. There is not much to report. I stayed in the Marriot by the Airport hotel. I really liked the hotel and at $115 Canadian it is tough to beat the price. I ended up being upgraded to a suite after I requested a room with Internet access. Here is a picture of the room: