Most Expensive Cities/Airbnb Insurance/Online Passport Renewal

Nomadico issue #110

A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.

The Most Expensive Cities to Live In

The annual Mercer cost of living study is out and it’s always fun to read. This isn’t really applicable to most of us since it measures costs for salaried executives or government workers posted abroad—those people in your book club or biking group paying $12K per month of company money for rent in Barcelona for instance. But it is interesting to see which locations are rising and falling from exchange rate issues or macro economic factors. Cities in Japan and China have gotten cheaper. Mexico City jumped up a lot, while Buenos Aires went the other direction. One trend is clear: if you want to live somewhere expensive and pay a lot for housing, the USA and Switzerland are ready to oblige.

Think Twice About Airbnb Insurance

Similar to when you have a minor fender-bender in your car, you might want to work out payment directly with your Airbnb host if anything gets damaged, rather than letting them file for insurance. The customer profiled in this article spilled some food on the host’s sofa and then got banned from the platform after the host filed an insurance claim. It required a lot of intervention to get the guest (who was also a host) restored.

Chill Out in Lake Toba

When I first started backpacking in the early 1990s, Southeast Asia was full of idyllic spots with small crowds that only backpackers in the know seemed to visit. Many of these are overtourism poster children now, like Ubud, Ko Phi Phi, and Hoi An, but somehow Lake Toba on Sumatra is as chilled out as ever. See the recent report from James at Nomadic Notes here.

Online Passport Renewal for USA Now Open

My wife just had to renew her U.S. passport and after paying for the expedited option and mailing it back, she had a new one in about three weeks. Apparently it’s tough to copy this new hi-tech version because if you use the just-opened online portal to renew and pay, you can hold onto your old passport for a souvenir without sending it to get a hole punched. The site says to not plan any international travel for eight weeks though, so it’s not promising to be speedy.

06/27/24

Ice Boy / The Red Rooster Cookbook

Books That Belong On Paper Issue No. 20

Books That Belong On Paper first appeared on the web as Wink Books and was edited by Carla Sinclair. Sign up here to get the issues a week early in your inbox.

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AN ICE CUBE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURE IN A COMICAL (AND VERY COOL) TALE OF TRANSFORMATION

Ice Boy
by David Ezra Stein
2017, 40 pages, Hardcover

Buy on Amazon

Ice Boy is the story of a ice cube who wants more out of life than to sit in the freezer and wait “to be chosen.” He doesn’t buy his parents’ logic that ending up in a cold compress is the ultimate reward, and so, he sets off for adventure. Little does he know, adventure for an ice cube involves some really big changes! We follow the cube across land, sea, and air and through multiple states of matter as David Ezra Stein’s punny text and fitting watercolor illustrations tell the story of Ice Boy.

Though Stein’s intention was likely to tell a fun, scientifically-informed (and informative) tale of adventure in the face of the status quo, he also succeeds in making a story that can applied to a very different topic. After reading the book with my preschooler, who has been very curious about death lately and particularly interested in and excited by the ideas of reincarnation and the spirit (after watching the fabulous Moana), I used Ice Boy and his shifting physical form as another point of reference for talking about these super hard-to-explain subjects. No matter if he is a solid, liquid, or vapor, Ice Boy is still the same curious, happy-go-lucky boy that he always was. It’s always nice to find a light-hearted, silly story that teaches something about both the physical and metaphysical world, even if it wasn’t trying to!

– Mk Smith Despres

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SOUTHERN COMFORT FOOD RECIPES FROM SUPERSTAR CHEF MARCUS SAMUELSSON’S ICONIC HARLEM RESTAURANT

The Red Rooster Cookbook: The Story of Food and Hustle in Harlem
by Marcus Samuelsson
Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
2016, 384 pages, 7.9 x 1.3 x 10 inches, Hardcover

Buy on Amazon

I always enjoy watching Marcus Samuelsson. Anytime he shows up on Top Chef, Chopped, or any other food show; he exudes joy, and a love for cooking. I haven’t had the pleasure of eating at any of his restaurants, but Red Rooster is definitely on my foodie bucket list. Thankfully The Red Rooster Cookbook will hold me over until I can make a trip to New York.

Samuelsson has led a diverse and interesting life, and Red Rooster reflects that. He was born in Ethiopia, adopted and raised in Sweden, apprenticed in Switzerland and Austria, then came to America to start working in New York, where he became the youngest chef to receive a three-star review from the New York Times. Then, he pivoted from fine dining gastronomy, to open Red Rooster which focused on down-home-soul-food. The recipes found in this book are familiar, but take on Samuelsson’s heritage using ingredients found in Swedish and Ethiopian cuisine.

While you’ll find plenty of mouthwatering recipes in this book, you’ll also read stories and experiences that Samuelsson has had living in Harlem. Each section in the book features different people from the area who have had an influence on Samuelsson’s life. The book does an excellent job capturing the love Samuelsson has for the food, people, and the neighborhood.

– JP LeRoux

06/25/24

Bike Touring

Tools for Possibilities: issue no. 92

Once a week we’ll send out a page from Cool Tools: A Catalog of Possibilities. The tools might be outdated or obsolete, and the links to them may or may not work. We present these vintage recommendations as is because the possibilities they inspire are new. Sign up here to get Tools for Possibilities a week early in your inbox.

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Excellent long-distance bike routes

Adventure Cycling

Invisible to most drivers, there is a 26,000-mile network of long-distance bicycle trails criss-crossing the US. These mapped and designated routes offer travelers researched paths with plenty of information on nearest bike shops, profiles of difficulty, and indicated sleeping possibilities. It all started with Bikecentennial’s 1976 TransAm route, the first to cross the continental US, connecting Oregon and Virginia. Thousands still use this route, now overseen by the non-profit Adventure Cycling.

I once rode a bike across America using my own route (more adventure) but I have followed long sections of other Adventure Cycling routes. Their materials are well-worth the price; you will however have lots of companions — which many enjoy.

Adventure Cycling puts out a pretty good magazine for bicycle long-distance touring (a place to solicit travel companions), runs bike tours, has a decent catalog of touring paraphernalia, and continually pioneers new routes. The newest: the world’s longest mountain bike trail, runs 2,500 miles along the Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. For that kind of amazingly rugged off-the-road trip (which only a few have completed in full), their maps (waterproof) and guides are essential. — KK

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Bicycle-centric maps

Adventure Cycle Maps

For over two months my teenage son and I rode our bikes down the Pacific coast from Canada to Mexico. We followed a route mapped out by Adventure Cycling. The 2,000-mile route is broken into about 80 sections, each annotated with the kind of info you’d like to know on a bike: where the next camp sites are, grocery options, bike shop locations, mileage counts, and most important — elevation contours for the upcoming hills! These maps are printed with full clarity on waterproof paper. The set is extremely well designed, sized at the right scale, and kept current with frequent updates. It was the best bargain of our trip.

While this Pacific route is very popular, Adventure Cycling offers about 20 other long-distance bicycle routes in the US as well. If you are making a long-distance bike ride in America, chances are Adventure Cycling will have a set of maps for you. These maps are miles better than any automobile road map, and in most ways better than Google maps. Ordinarily, I’d shy away from a well-travelled trail, but in this case, the availability of set of Adventure Cycling maps would entice me to follow it.

Their web-based video gives a great overview of the maps’ benefits, and also serve as a manual for using them. — KK

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No-car roads

Rails-to-Trails

Rails-to-Trails (or rail trails) are roads without cars. They are where railways go when they die. Bicycles love them.

Every year 2,000 miles of railways in the US are abandoned. So far, about half of the 300,000 miles railways built by 1916 (the railroad peak) have been taken out of service. Some 13,000 of those miles have been repurposed into bike/hike trails.

Why they’re great: 1) You get paths with flat to gentle slopes, 2) no cars, 3) no strip development, and 4) often passing through small towns. These wide, sculpted, relaxing paths are perfect for hiking, horseback, cross-country skiing, skates and particularly bicycles. While most of the rails-to-trails are less than 5 miles long, there are 10 in the country stretching over 100 miles and at least one that is 225 continuous miles. These longer trails are a big hit — easy, civilized bicycle tours: gentle rides without having to compete with cars. As far as I am concerned, riding bicycles on rail trails is the way to go.

The rails to trails movement began in the mid-west, where most of the abandoned railways were. It has now spread to every state. There are about 1,300 rails-to-trails in the US, with another 1,000 in progress. Backpackers have a network of fabulously signed and maintained long-distance footpath trails; we now have the beginnings of a network of long-distance dedicated bikepaths.

Behind most of this work is the very effective non-profit Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. They publish a magazine, newsletter, and a directory of known rail trails in the US, entitled 1000 Great Rail Trails. It’s a bare bones listing with no traveling information; but it is where you go to browse where rail trails exist in particular states. The same info, in slightly less useful search-mode is available on their supplemental website, TrailLink, which includes a list of the 10 longest rail trails, and introductory orientations to most rail trails.

For utilitarian logistical details, the Conservancy publishes 8 region-specific books. I’ve been using the California one, Rails-to-Trails: California. It covers about 60 rail trails in the state, including several in my own area that I was not aware of. — KK

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On-the-road spoke replacement tool

Next Best Thing 2 Cassette Tool

If you’re on a long distance cycling trip and you break a spoke (a common occurrence) on the right hand side of your rear wheel then you’re in trouble.

To replace these spokes you need to remove the cassette to get access to the hub. Normally this requires a specialized tool, a very large spanner (about 12″) and a large chain whip – all of which are heavy and unwieldy to carry. However, the Next Best Thing 2 is a small and light tool that enables you to remove the cassette using just the leverage of the bike’s chain.

Assuming you have the correct spokes with you (as any serious long distance cyclist would) then you should be good to go again without having to limp in to the next town/bike shop – something I’ve had to do several times over the years.

This is probably in the category of “tool you very rarely use but are extremely grateful when you do.” — Jamie McMahon

06/24/24

Spoken.io/Digital bookshelf/Cordless Tire Inflator

Recomendo - issue #415

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Compare home furnishing prices

I recently discovered Spoken.io, a website that reveals the practice of “white-labeling” in the furniture and home decor industry. White-labeling is when the same generic product is sold by multiple retailers under different brand names and prices. Spoken.io tracks items from over 100 stores, making it easy to compare prices for identical products across retailers like West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Crate & Barrel. The price differences can be substantial, so if you’re furnishing a home, it’s worth checking out to ensure you’re getting the best deal. — MF

Shareable Bookshelf

I used Bookshelf.so to create an interactive bookshelf for free. The easiest way to do this is by exporting and importing your Goodreads list. I then used markup to add links and a favorite quote from each book. I added my personalized bookshelf link to my social media bios, and I would love to see your digital bookshelves if you create one. My bookshelf is comprised solely of my favorite books on Spirit, New Age, Psychedelics, Jungian Psychology, and Mindfulness. — CD

Most convenient tire pump

I’ve tried many ways to keep our car tires inflated, but since we don’t go to gas stations anymore (because EVs), the most convenient way I’ve found to inflate tires (autos and bikes) is with a cheap compact cordless pump that is powered by a cordless tool battery. Since I always have at least one cordless tool battery charged, I can grab this small hand-held, walk to the tire and pump it up instantly. I’m on the Dewalt battery system so I got this no-brand Foduuo Cordless Tire Inflator for $30, that works fine.
— KK

“No Comment” video news

During a trip to Europe 30 years ago, I discovered Euronews and became a fan of its “No Comment” video segments. These segments feature short clips of raw, unedited video footage capturing events from around the world without any narration. The lack of commentary make them more impactful. Recent samples:  “El Salvador transfers 2,000 inmates to mega prison” and “Search for survivors continues after deadly Papua New Guinea landslide.” You can watch more here. — MF

Mathematical objects

Henry Segerman is a mathematician who likes to make clever, remarkable mathematical shapes and 3D print them out into real things. He then makes a youtube explaining their origins. Each beautiful object becomes a mathematical lesson. He favors odd gears, weird knots, unusual shapes. You can watch Segerman videos for very nerdy satisfaction, but to fully close the loop, you can also purchase one of his exquisite objects shown in the videos. I have a few on my shelf. They are both conversation pieces and mathematical proofs, and great gifts for the nerds in your life. — KK.

Underdesk drawers

I have an update to my previous recommendation of self-adhesive hidden desk drawers. Recently, I switched out my Ikea motorized standing desk for a smaller one on caster wheels—which I am very happy with—but, like my previous desk, it does not have any built-in storage. Luckily, I found these under-desk organizers that are larger but just as easy to mount with self-adhesive tape. — CD 

06/23/24

E-bike Tours/Best Travel Sun Hats/Maya Train Report

Nomadico issue #109

A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.

E-bike Tours on the Rise

The Adventure Travel Trade Association polls tour operators each year to gauge the state of the industry and to spot trends. Turns out that electric bikes (e-bikes) for cycling are surging in popularity, especially in Europe. Culinary/gastronomy activities have also been consistently increasing over the past few years. On a more somber note, “Last Chance Travel” appears in the top motivations for adventure travel this year, again showing an awareness of the effects of climate change. And in case you wondered, the median price of an 8-day adventure tour is $2,813 per person. See the full study here.

Sun Hats Guaranteed for Life

I like to recommend companies that produce products made well enough that they can offer a lifetime warranty. Some (not all) of the Tilley Hats have this guarantee sewn in on the label. I just had them honor it with me. It involved a several-step process of sending them photos, getting approved, destroying my hat, then sending those photos with $20 for shipping. After that though, I got a brand new ventilated sun hat of my choice in the mail a week later. I’m getting older, so I think I’m more likely to lose this second Airflo one than wear it out in my lifetime. See the full selection here.

Riding the Maya Train in Mexico

A few months ago I boarded the new Mexican Maya Train in Palenque, Chiapas and rode it all the way to near the Cancun airport, overnighting in Campeche, Merida, and Valladolid on the way. I finally got the video footage organized and put my report together, so you can see the full Maya Train article here (with a video embed) or go straight to the YouTube video here. The train route is not fully finished yet: eventually it will reach past the current endpoint at Playa del Carmen and finish at Lake Bacalar and Chetumal, near Belize.

A Free Ticket to Bansko Nomad Fest

I ran into the nomadic blogger couple that runs RedWhiteAdventures.com when I was in Spain a couple of weeks ago after meeting them the past two years at the Bansko Nomad Fest. I’m not going this year but they are and they’re giving away a free ticket to the event (Starts June 23) to someone through their IG account. Details here.

06/20/24

A Child of Books / Fascinating: The Life of Leonard Nimoy

Books That Belong On Paper Issue No. 19

Books That Belong On Paper first appeared on the web as Wink Books and was edited by Carla Sinclair. Sign up here to get the issues a week early in your inbox.

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A LYRICAL PICTURE BOOK INSPIRING READERS OF ALL AGES TO CREATE, TO QUESTION, TO EXPLORE, AND TO IMAGINE

A Child of Books
by Oliver Jeffers, Sam Winston
Candlewick
2016, 40 pages, 10.4 x 0.4 x 10.6 inches, Hardcover

Buy on Amazon

This book is made up of words. Not just in the obvious way, but also in the illustrations: words from well-known children’s books form shapes, from monsters to clouds. The girl who narrates the book travels across books like Treasure Island and Alice in Wonderland, taking a nervous boy along for the ride. Hers is a world of books, she explains.

Every page here is a visual delight, to be savored by book lovers, typography nerds, or little ones who like pretty, pretty pictures.

– Christine Ro

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A MOVING BIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE LEONARD NIMOY FOR CHILDREN

Fascinating: The Life of Leonard Nimoy
by Richard Michelson, Edel Rodriguez (Illustrator)
Knopf Books for Young Readers
2016, 40 pages, 8.9 x 0.3 x 11.3 inches, Hardcover

Buy on Amazon

Anyone who remembers Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan can’t help but be at least a little choked up recalling the scene in which Spock sacrifices himself for his crew members. He regards Kirk with compassion before quietly delivering his epitaph, “I have been, and always will be, your friend. Live long and prosper.” Author Rich Michelson was fortunate enough to have his own friendship with Leonard Nimoy. Nimoy was a skilled photographer and Michelson was his gallerist, and from that professional relationship the two men became friends.

Fascinating takes a look at Nimoy’s life from his boyhood with his Jewish immigrant family on Boston’s West End, his move to Hollywood and his rise to stardom after claiming the iconic role that he would later eschew, only to embrace once more. The book is clearly a labor of love with the emphasis on love. Nimoy is portrayed here as an outsider with an expansive heart, whose boundless empathy for his friends, family and neighbors ultimately extended to his groundbreaking portrayal of Mr. Spock.

Michelson delivers a sensitive portrait of Nimoy as a struggling outsider, whether as a boy acclimating to his life in America and overcoming his first bout of stage fright or as an emerging actor discovering his voice. These experiences ultimately informed his portrayal of Spock, the alien whom everyone could relate to. Michelson’s book stands as a personal, open-hearted tribute to a man who has been, and always will be, our friend.

– Lee Hollman

06/18/24

What’s in my NOW? — Grey Forge LeFey