 Another trip means another list of things to be annoyed about when traveling. I really wish I didn’t feel inclined to air all the proverbial dirty laundry, but honestly, if people would start behaving with civility while flying, maybe I wouldn’t have to. In no particular order, here are the highlights of another Ryanair-inspired trip out of Tangier and this time to Marseilles, France. 1. While sitting in a cocktail bar, enjoying an adult beverage, it was a bit strange to watch the local football team, one of the top-ranked teams in Ligue 1, have trash thrown out onto their field in France’s second-largest stadium. But that’s exactly what it was: some ticket holders wanted to protest the ownership, so they burned their tickets, napkins, and whatever else they could find. The wind did the rest, and the players played on a field littered with trash. I especially loved watching corner kicks on what might pass for a playground field, as shown by all those ticket stubs. Maybe there was a better way to get your point across, like not going to the game. Don’t buy the tickets, buy food or memorabilia, but sure, burning stuff and potentially hurting the players seems like a good way to get ownership’s attention. 2. Still watching the game, this was a first. I got to watch not one but two players spit on the floor in the hallway leading to their locker room. From my vantage point, this wasn’t a tiled surface, and someone was going to have to clean up this lack of cleanliness. I can’t say that I have ever seen this in any sporting setting, but maybe I have lived a sheltered life. Well played, Marseille players. Maybe you deserved the trash on your field after all.  3. While waiting for the customs line to move more than an inch, I watched a burly, bearded man and his lady friend (maybe his wife) decide to cut the line. I suppose waiting another five to ten minutes wasn’t going to work out in their favour with their Barcelona flight about to depart. Sure, I’ve seen people late for flights, but I've never seen anyone make a scene as this guy did. After some choice words to the attendant, a shouting match ensued. Yep, an actual one where everyone in the line focused our attention on this entitled schmuck who wouldn’t back down. He yelled, yelled some more, and then another attendant came over to remove him from the scene. From what I gathered, he saw another guy jump the line and decided they could as well, since their flight was boarding at that exact moment. That’s where things took an even greater spiral, with the couple escorted around to one of the holding rooms, where more shouting and yelling ensued. Personally, I liked that it wasn’t until several minutes had passed that a police officer even checked in on them. Then again, it was clear they wouldn’t make their flight and would instead get a one-way ticket out of the airport. Note to self, be on time and don’t be an a-hole. 4. On flights to Morocco, the constant back-and-forth of people in the aisles never seems to amaze me. Whether it’s to check on loved ones, figure out where they placed their knapsacks (because God forbid those bags go under the seats), or simply to elbow me in the head, I might need to give up the aisle seat and take my chances in the middle for future flights. Getting off was a nightmare as well, but we can let that settle for a day or two before we share those comments. 5. The random enforcement of the carry-on bag policy at the airport is inspirational. I’m not even sure this is worth explaining; you know what I’m talking about without needing any more words. To help those who don’t... Hmm, will that bag fit in the carrier, or is that bag too big? Oh, wait, that woman seems to have a purse, several duty-free bags in tow, so let’s not stop her, but the guy with the gym size dufflebag, let’s hose him instead. 6. What is it with fountains but not drinking fountains in Aix-en-Provence? The city of a thousand fountains didn’t appear to have any free, public drinking water for this proud American to fill up his bottle. Instead, Aix wanted to drive us into their mediocre, overpriced coffee shops. This is also true about the public restrooms. Save the bus stop near the Police Hotel (I know, cool, huh), there were no public bathrooms, let alone public bathrooms we could use after a small charge. Like the water situation, visitors were forced to use establishments with customer-only bathroom signs. The only place that seemed okay for helping visitors obtain relief was the seminary I found myself exploring.  7. Unlike Spain, which seems afraid to have its churches open during any reasonable time of day, save on Sundays, the churches in Aix-en-Provence were not only open on Friday but also throughout the weekend. All told, in a city of around 150,000 people, I managed to get into seven different Catholic churches. 8. While the Churches in France were open to visitors, at least two parks were locked during the day. Granted, you could get in through one entrance, but unless you had a physical key, there would be no other way to access or use the city’s green space, let alone leave. That was weirder for me than trash on the football field. 9. People walk and then just stop on the streets of Aix for no reason. Even worse, some don’t even see you and will walk straight through you. This happened on multiple occasions with this Yankee using some choice words to figure out why he was now a ghost in this southern French city. Whether it was on the streets, at the markets, or even on sidewalks, I’ve never seen anything like this. Even on a walking trail, some bastard, too caught up in himself, hugged the fence line and, in turn, practically hit me, who was trying to take a photo. I didn’t realize we only live in your world, buddy. 10. Brasseries are great places to get warm, decent meals at a moderate price. More importantly, they are often open for longer hours and, unlike the bulk of fine dining in Aix, aren’t just opening up at 7 or 8 at night.  11. What is the deal with hotels offering an 18-euro breakfast that includes cereal, some croissants, and coffee? Clearly, consumers are willing to pay for this convenience as opposed to walking across the street and buying the same meal at the bakery, or if you are me, at the grocery store for half the price.
12. Aix-en-Provence has a lovely cemetery where one can find the final resting spot for Paul Cezanne. You can also walk across the street to a bona fide amusement park as well. I’m not sure what is cooler or better for helping families heal. 13. Finally, I hear hiking can be amazing in Aix. Just be ready for unhelpful signs, and my favorite, no updates on what’s opened or closed. Yeah, that three-hour round-trip hike to the cliffs would have been a tad different had the cliffs actually been open. Well-played area.
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 Cádiz on the Atlantic Ocean It’s time to come clean and just share the truth. That’s right, traveling in Spain sucks. Yep, not even going to sugarcoat it: for me, it downright blows giant monkey chunks. I know what a positive way to start a travel blog, but honestly, what’s the point in lying or misleading you on the ease, or lack thereof, of getting around in Southern Spain? After my recent weekend trip to Cádiz, I thought it might be different, but no chance. Now I can report on either direction when leaving the small port city of Tarifa. Before I do just that, let’s backtrack a hair to almost two years ago, when, while researching the possibility of moving to Tangier, I was under the impression that it would be a user-friendly, travel-rich experience getting to Spain and, in turn, Europe. For that matter, my future colleagues even mentioned how close we were to Spain, just 10km away. The Ferry Fiasco: When 10 Kilometers Feels Like 10 Hours We weren't looking for the Bull but we found him! Certainly, that means easy access, right? Let’s look at the ferry service for starters. When I first moved to Tangier, I believe there were three companies operating daily routes from Tangier to Tarifa. We are now down to two. Last spring, many people I know were stranded on the Tarifa side when FDS just decided to call it quits. There was no advance notice, on a holiday weekend no less, and people had to figure out how to get back to Morocco or Spain. Talk about a headache, right? Thankfully, I didn’t get slapped around by that fiasco, but on recent trips, the ferry hasn’t been on time once, and on the weekend adventure to Cádiz, they outright canceled our scheduled time without any notice. Sheesh, my friend and I were practically running from the bus station on the other side of town to make the ferry, only to see the sign for the newest schedule. God forbid you actually update your website in the morning or send out prompt notifications. I still feel for those schleps who had car reservations and were waiting in line, not knowing what their immediate options were. With winter underway, rain and wind are common. Again, ferry service is spotty, and while I understand canceling some trips due to wind, outrightly canceling an entire weekend (days in advance) without being open to a change in the forecast can be frustrating. I can still see the sun now and the gentle kiss of nothing in the air, for that entire Saturday morning where no ferries ran across the sea. Let’s presume the ferry is running on time and you don’t have your own personal vehicle to wander the Spanish countryside. This leaves you in a bit of quandry. If you are staying in Tarifa, life is wonderful. But if you want to get to Gibraltar, get ready to figure out the bus schedule. Sure, it’s only thirty miles away, but it might as well be two hundred miles based on travel possibilities. Planes, Trains, and… Wait, Where Are the Trains The entire trip was planned to see this one church An Uber or Bolt will run you a tab well over $60, depending on whether they want to scam you that day. I’m not criticizing those companies because I use them ALL THE TIME in the Baltics and in Poland. No, I’m simply stating it’s not cheap to go a short distance. While your app might say it has service, that’s not always the case. For example, we decided to take a Bolt from Tarifa to Cádiz because the app said it would cost around $65.00, which seemed reasonable given it’s 55 miles away. But when I clicked on drivers, there were none, period. I could schedule a drive, thirty minutes out, and magically the price went to $150.00. No joking here. It was practically the same price, without the wait, taking a local taxi there. All told, we paid around $175.00, which is bloody absurd. Honestly!!!! You might be asking yourself, why didn’t you just take the bus. Funny, you mention that, we arrived at 11:30 am, and the bus wasn’t going that way until three or four in the afternoon. With only an overnight trip planned, we were going to spend a chunk of the afternoon just getting to Cádiz. We weren’t willing to do that on this trip, but in hindsight, had I known the Bolt fare was going to change, we likely would have reevaluated our plans. Now, the bus is reasonable if the times work for you. For each ticket, it might have worked out to $15.00 each. But on our return trip, we had two options and had to plan the ferry around those times. A two-hour trip through the Spanish countryside is fun, but only if the bus is running on time and, of course, not trying to get us into an accident by passing slower vehicles on a two-lane road. Overpriced Croissants and Paper-Thin Walls The best reason to visit this part of Spain was this Mexican restaurant Southern Spain is a weird beast. It’s off the beaten path; there are no trains unless you are starting in Cádiz and heading north, or in Algeciras doing the same. Let’s assume you get to your destination, wherever that may be. Even though you are in a more remote part of the country, the cost of hotels or apartments is going to become a big surprise, and not for a good reason. I probably have been spoiled by my travels in central and eastern Europe, or, for that matter, by smaller cities in England, where I feel there is so much more value in what I spend. Breakfasts? This is the wrong country, as far as I can see, to get a proper breakfast. This isn’t an American talking, but an expat traveler who has been traveling in Europe for several years. I have yet to stay at a moderately priced place that isn’t ripping me off for a croissant, coffee, orange juice, and a few slices of deli meat. There’s a reason I went to the supermarket in Madrid the night before my flight back to the States: to get breakfast. It’s cheaper and, in some cases, of higher quality. For our Cádiz overnight, the bowl of granola was great, but what else were you offering? Sure, there was a croissant, but you know, in Italy, they at least put the cakes and sweets out to get you moving in the morning. In Poland, you might get an entire spread with eggs made to your liking, sausages, and a variety of deli meats, cheese, and bread to start the day. England, we all know a full English breakfast is fantastic and the norm up there. Spain, not so much, at least not for twelve or fifteen euros a pop. Granted, I could be totally off base, but now with six trips to the southern part of the country, my experiences say otherwise. I can easily segue this to restaurants as well. Paying in euros means higher traveling costs, especially if you are used to paying in dollars or dirhams. Sure, those tacos might be 1 euro and 50 cents, but since they're micro-sized, you’ll need to buy several more, and before you know it, dinner is getting expensive. Alcohol and other food courses are not as inexpensive as they seem when you do a real comparison of size and value. Americans who don’t know any better, who are traveling in Spain for the first time, think it’s quite the deal, but it’s not if you run the numbers. Putting food, drinks, transportation, and accommodation aside, one should also be prepared for the fact that daily life in Spain is geared toward locals, not tourists on a weekend or a week-long retreat. They still follow the siesta, and if you are an avid churchgoer, good luck finding an open church on the weekend that is either not charging a fee to get in or is open at any time other than mass on Sunday. Aside from Cádiz’s cathedral, there weren’t any other viable options on a Saturday for prayer and reflection, let alone taking in the interior beauty of these churches. A few places of worship were open during regular weekday hours, but that doesn’t help weekend travel warriors. Finally, if you value a good night’s sleep, this could be the wrong area to enjoy one, simply because many accommodations have thin walls, thinner windows, and a nightlife where locals are out until three or four in the morning. Spain is a social place to begin with, so if that doesn’t bother you, great. Otherwise, you’ve been warned. Don’t misunderstand me, I’ve had some good times in Tarifa, especially when I spent Easter weekend looking over the harbor in what really was a private estate. The lights of the port were far enough away to take in the stars, and the wind was blustery enough to keep things quiet and peaceful. Then again, trying to get to Gibraltar or Cádiz was less than ideal and not economical for a day trip or an overnight stay. I, for one, know I won’t be taking the ferry anytime soon, nor wandering the countryside. It’s far more entertaining to try to catch a flight to Malaga, whether in the early morning hours or late at night. Yep, that’s a much better plan, or is it?  Here’s some exciting news to share — the follow-up to Rusty Star is ready for your eyes. Double Cross is out now. Check out the description below and grab your copy. The book is available in ebook and paperback formats. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Rusty Star is currently $0.99 for the next few weeks. Enjoy both books, and as always, I’d love to hear what you think. Three ghosts. Two murders. One man running out of second chances.Haunted by the death of the woman he loved, former Navy investigator Russell Stokes is barely holding it together when an old service friend drags him into the cold. Tommy Delaney is wanted for a brutal double murder in northern New Hampshire—and he insists he’s innocent. Heading north, Stokes finds more than he bargained for: a town that guards its secrets, a trail of blood, and a plea from his former mentor, Rear Admiral Radner, to find Grace—the missing daughter of Stokes’s estranged former commanding officer, whose actions forced him to resign his commission. As the murders and Grace’s disappearance twist together, Stokes is forced to confront loyalty, guilt, and corruption in ways he never imagined. Every choice tests his conscience, every lead reveals a betrayal, and every step brings him closer to the truth—and to the ghosts he can’t outrun. Double Cross: A Stokes Case Novel is a gripping, fast-paced New England thriller of loss, redemption, and the thin line between justice and obsession.  This translation app needs some love. Let’s mark this day in history as the moment I came to the conclusion that AI, while beneficial, is going to become a giant pain in my buttocks.
Now, granted, I’ve already had my run-ins with ChatGPT, asking it to follow specific instructions only to have it bark back something entirely different. More on that in a moment, but today is the last straw. Honestly, I didn’t ask for my emails to be summarized by AI, and I most definitely didn’t ask AI to start summarizing articles I click on, either. This madness has to stop. I’m sure this will strike a nerve, but did I ask Google, Yahoo, or any of the search sites to give me a bloody summary for any article I wish to read? There’s the key right? I want to read the article; I don’t need help summarizing a news story like I’m some uneducated schmuck who can’t think for myself. Excuse the language, but it does upset me quite a bit, not only as a person but as an educator. This isn’t about saving time; it's about taking away the process of reading and thinking. One of the central aspects of developing critical thinking skills, at least in my upbringing, was reading not only for fun but also for research. I remember it well: going to the library with a general topic and then having to figure out which books and other resources might have a viable lead for what I was writing about. There was pleasure in flipping through the different cards, using the Dewey Decimal System, and then pulling various texts; hopefully, so I could find what I needed for my research paper. Things got a bit easier by the time I was in college, with actual search databases at the library, replacing the card system, but one still had to have an idea what they were looking for and what type of resource would work best. For example, how many people know how to use a microfiche and have actually revisited old newspaper articles? There is something pleasurable about figuring out things for yourself. If there isn't, you might not appreciate learning at all. Back to research, there was a real process for requesting books from other libraries, whether virtually or in physical hard copies, and we are now moving away from this entirely. I, for one, understand how easy it is to look up things simply by typing a question into Google or another search engine, or, if you are really lazy, by asking ChatGPT. Most people don’t even know that they can disable the AI searches by typing -AI. I know I do this all the time because the information isn’t always correct, the sources can be sketchy, and what are we teaching others, especially young people, about research and letting them figure things out if they are simply clicking on the first link they see? Or in this case, not even clicking on the link, but looking at the summary. I remember telling my students ten years ago that they could use Wikipedia for informational research, but they would need to then gather additional information and sources directly from the references cited at the end of the Wikipedia article. I felt this was a compromise of sorts, yet it still forced them to do some fact-finding. I won’t get started on teaching them not to copy and paste, as that's a different issue entirely. But now, it’s all just a mess. Recently, I disabled email summarization and nudges on my email account because, for whatever reason, people must be SO BUSY that they can’t tell for themselves which ones to open or follow up on, and what their previous email exchanges were about. Perhaps there is some real value to this, but for an individual who prides himself on remembering emails and their subjects, it’s offensive, and for younger individuals, it denies them more reading and the ability to differentiate one topic from another. While I’m sure some people will find substantial value in this, perhaps the current US President, who wants crib notes on various topics, this is going to only perpetuate the decline in reading, the ability to process information, and, for that matter, decrease attention spans (which is already at an all-time low). I understand I’m being dramatic on this issue, but there’s a reason a population of people have gone back to basic phones. There’s too much being thrown at everyone right now, and with information overload, AI is only making it worse. A perfect example supporting this is how teachers around the world are using AI to develop their lesson plans or to create problem sets or worksheets. God forbid they actually look at a textbook or draw on the resources provided by their school or district. No, we’ll just use this AI bot to decide what Sally and Jonny will complete today. Even better, we’ll have it generate a pacing guide, even though the program can’t account for differentiation or the fact that we are working with little human beings. Maybe it’s not ChatGPT, or AI for that matter, that is upsetting me, or my colleagues around the world, but the fact that many of them have decided that these online resources are better than textbooks and curriculum guides created by people far more knowledgeable than they are. That could very well be the case and is a rant for a different time. The fact remains that AI is leading people to take shortcuts that aren’t always in their best interest. If you ever listen to my joys of making book covers, you know there are certain areas that are just easier to complete by paying people to do them, as opposed to thinking that AI is the one-stop shop for everything now. Back to the original topic and my reason for writing this blog: what really bothers me is that tech companies aren't even giving us the opportunity to say no. They are competing with one another to offer the latest and greatest and are simply automating these AI tools. By not giving us the initial choice and a series of clicks to disengage these features, they are making it seem like this current medium is the best way to do things. I would go as far as to say, they might need to look in the mirror and decide if ease is really saving time, and if it is really creating the proper mental space and environment, not only for adults but for all learners. That’s my food for thought today. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe all of this change is a good thing, but then again, at least I can read a map, remember a phone number, and send an email without being prompted that it’s time to follow up. |
Meet Mr. Jon- a traveler at heart who loves a good story and walk. Jonathan has over twenty years experience in independent publishing. While he prides himself on crafting a good story, nothing truly beats an adventure and a camera. 
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