tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87333958472302802382024-03-13T05:23:16.895-05:00Traveling in PantsI stood in the living room of the flat in Rio fully packed and ready to head to the airport a good three hours before the flight. In he walked and asked, "Why are you all dressed up?" My response, "I like to travel in pants." And so I will....
After 12 years in the travel industry it's high time I got on the road myself.Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-47469045377718021142008-04-23T14:45:00.006-05:002008-11-30T22:28:02.459-05:00Monday Dinner in le MaraisCAMILLE24, rue des Francs-Bourgeois75003 Paris01 42 72 20 50Dinner in le Marais. Yes, it was a bit of a tourist spot. And, the food was pricey. But, the setting was really wonderful and the staff was more attentive than I've seen in a restaurant in a long time. We waited about 15 minutes for a table, but they were quick to bring us a couple of Kir on the house.Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-4030677961805930572008-04-21T00:38:00.004-05:002008-04-21T00:50:03.464-05:00I Love YouIn Montemarte, "I Love You" in 311 languages.More info....Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-56919283539236354352008-04-21T00:17:00.002-05:002008-04-21T00:24:50.927-05:00Rainy Sunday in ParisJeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-58971472429561140792008-04-20T15:58:00.007-05:002008-04-21T00:04:12.731-05:00To Market on Saturday MorningI'm a bit behind on posts, but things have moved quickly and there's little time to actually post them. But, I did want you to see what the wonderful visit to the local street market in Stephanie's neighborhood yielded us.We were set to buy stuff for our home cooked meal (living on budget.) And, the market was full of amazing things.First we stopped by the butcher where we accomplished two Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-35058902754374575072008-04-20T15:37:00.006-05:002012-05-27T20:29:08.842-05:00I think I've seen this movie before... it was a classic
On Saturday afternoon, Steph and I set out to explore the city. Ever so timely, this month’s Travel+Leisure magazine had a story on “Europe’s Hidden Neighborhoods.” So, after the market we were off to the Abbesses quarter. This is a neighborhood at the foot of Montmarte and below the Sacré Coeur Basilica – both favorite stops in Paris. But the Abbesses wasn’t new. In fact, I remember Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-88800192459567752532008-04-19T04:03:00.007-05:002008-04-20T16:42:51.743-05:00I HOPE that was kidney....I don’t speak French. I took Spanish for four-plus years. (Notice I said, “took” and not “speak”.) But, I didn't take nor do I speak French.However, I’ve always been proud of my ability to speak “Menu French.” I thank my parents for an early education in learning the ins and outs of a French menu.I failed my test last night. As, I should point out, did Stephanie.After a leisurely walk down Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-85309210658390866812008-04-18T17:36:00.002-05:002008-04-18T17:39:16.479-05:00Safe and SoundMade it to Paris safe and sound this morning. Stephanie was kind enough to meet me at the airport. A great (if a bit cold and rainy) day wandering the city and eating... eating... eating. To paraphrase a friend of hers.... "Here's to animal fat and the countries that know how to enjoy it." More pictures and stuff tomorrow.Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-49577524639982043332008-04-17T07:13:00.005-05:002008-04-17T07:22:24.933-05:00BRRRRRR.....I was very excited to spend my first "Springtime in Paris." Hmmm.... not sure this is what I had in mind... Precip TonightApr 17 Showers 45° 80 % FriApr 18 Showers 58°/47° 80 % SatApr 19 Showers 59°/46° 60 % SunApr 20 Partly Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-51076604513001195662008-04-15T15:52:00.006-05:002008-04-17T12:01:10.036-05:00On the Road AgainFriends and Family will know that I've had a bit of downtime on my hands lately. In February I left my role as President & COO of LeisureLogix, LLC. I'm in the midst of the job search which always takes more time than expected.It occurred to me that my friend Stephanie is sitting a few thousand miles away in Paris, also between jobs. So, I called Stephanie and suggested that if she's Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-5664510650041017172007-03-04T20:54:00.000-05:002007-03-05T10:28:08.312-05:00Is This What You've Been Waiting For?I received a few emails lately from some friends who had been avid readers of the blog while I was away. And, they wanted to know when I would be making another posting.OK... my first reaction? Are your lives at such a state that my trivial wanderings through South America have become important to seeing you through your week? Wow.. that's so cool. I mean, really, I started this blog for two Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-35969225589284124862007-03-04T16:11:00.000-05:002007-03-08T10:53:50.879-05:00The MouseSo, we did Disney. I know, I know. Everyone said, "How could you possibly go to a place like Disney when you've just spent a month in South America?" It's as if we're going to see the imitation when I just had 30 days of the real thing. Well, we went for a few reasons:1) My brother, Rick, and his family were there and we wanted to spend some time with them and the kids; 2) I had been lucky Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-39790824214472318642007-02-21T14:04:00.001-05:002007-02-22T07:51:57.932-05:00The Journey Continues...I took a walk through Ipanema early this morning… one last look through town. Its one of my favorite times of day in any city. Before the rush of the day sets in and the streets get crowded. It’s quiet, the sun is coming up and in any other city it would be a great time to get the camera out. (But of course, not here as I’d likely have it stolen pretty quickly.)The residents of Ipanema are Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-83875349602753946272007-02-20T11:47:00.000-05:002007-02-20T12:12:37.846-05:00Bad Blogger, Bad BloggerHow in the world could I go off and enjoy Carnaval weekend and leave you all hanging like that? Bad Blogger, Bad Blogger.Needless to say, enjoy it I have. It's been a whirlwind of fun and I'll come back with more detail, but here's a quick recap.The real signs that Carnaval was in full swing started to show up Thursday night. The usually (and relatively) quiet side streets of Rio started Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-36844207921426405332007-02-15T13:07:00.001-05:002007-02-17T13:17:46.525-05:00BuziosI treasure the memory of that small paradise, where I ran barefooted marveling at the humming-birds, the flamboyants and bougainvilleas… the transparent sea full of sparkling foam that seemed like blue champagne.--- Brigitte BardotThough she may have discovered the place in the 60's, I'm guessing Brigitte Bardot wouldn't recognize Buzios today. While it has the feel of a small resort area, Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-22168889062282099542007-02-15T11:00:00.000-05:002007-02-15T19:15:36.977-05:00Samba SchoolThe place was discreet, though it was the best-known dive in Shiz. It hid behind a façade of paneled-up windows. A couple of Apes roamed the street in front, bouncing troublemakers ahead of time….The door swung open, and they went down a flight of uneven brick steps. At the bottom of the flight was a dwarf in a purple burnoose. He looked at their tickets, and said, “Where are you soft things Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-65440908916167332722007-02-14T07:56:00.000-05:002007-02-14T08:26:10.115-05:00Not That I'm Gloating, But....It looks like a rough couple of days back home as Winter Storm Snarls Air Traffic (USA TODAY). I know the East Coast has seen some cold days in the past few weeks and my sister and her family in Holland Michigan have seen so much cold and snow that there have been weekends when they haven't even left the house. All of their Super Bowl parties were canceled. And, today my brother, Jamie< is Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-27762761051100054732007-02-13T04:35:00.000-05:002007-02-13T04:38:01.547-05:00On the Road AgainWe're off to Buzios today until Thursday. It's a short two-hour ride north of Rio de Janeiro city.All the guide books claim Brigitte Bardot discovered the village with her boyfriend in the 1960's. Today, it's known as Brazil's St. Tropez. I'll keep you posted.Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-26959878196029330322007-02-12T07:42:00.000-05:002007-02-13T16:24:14.599-05:00Carnaval Approaches, Part IIWhen I think of Carnaval in Rio, I think of Roger Moore as James Bond in Moonraker making his way through a wild parade trying to outrun Jaws, the guy with the metal teeth. The crowd is huge. People are in outlandish costumes. Moore gets jostled pushing his way past a sea of revelers in order to get down the street. Drums are beating. People are dancing. It looks like absolute bedlam.... Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-35891328736952553202007-02-09T13:42:00.000-05:002007-02-12T07:21:09.854-05:00Lounge ActI'm not high maintenance. (OK, now that you've stopped laughing...) Really, I can hang with the rest of the unwashed masses. But if I can find the airport lounge, get the hotel room upgrade, sweet-talk my way into Business Class (can anybody do that these days?) well then, hey, I'm gonna do my best. Really, it's purely for professional purposes. I need to experience these things if I'm goingJeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-47803598556711680702007-02-09T08:16:00.000-05:002007-02-12T07:25:39.561-05:00On a Completely Unrelated Note...Has anyone seen this Coldplay video, The Hardest Part? It’s the one with the 84 year-old woman dancing w/ the 25 year-old guy? It’s all over the TV down here. I’m wondering if it’s a local sensation or something they’re playing back in the States. While I guess I'm inspired by the woman’s ability to dance, jump, stretch, move, etc., I am really worried that at some point they’re going to be Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-14797064575490516992007-02-08T17:25:00.000-05:002007-02-12T07:27:02.151-05:00Don't Cry for Me...I flew into Buenos Aires on Tuesday afternoon. It's a wonderful place with some great neighborhoods to explore, great food, friendly people and a devalued currency that makes everything cheap! What more could you want?!My first glimpse of the city was from less than 10,000 feet when we were flying in over the very muddy bay called Rio de la Plata. As I looked off into the distance and began toJeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-91376653792335515502007-02-05T21:52:00.000-05:002007-02-05T22:12:50.074-05:00OK.. I'm a Dope -- And other musings on being naive.I had a great day today which included exploring the Leblon neighborhood which is West of Ipanema. Much more residential and less touristy than Ipanema, it was a fun change of pace. I also went over to the Botanic Gardens -- a short cab ride away. The gardens are adjacent to the Lagoa (or lake) area all of which is very high-end and beautiful. What a peaceful, wonderful afternoon. Quiet in Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-75686320505298747092007-02-03T20:40:00.000-05:002007-02-04T12:06:45.560-05:00First Signs of CarnavalWe were on our way to the beach Saturday when Chris remembered that this was the day that the Banda de Ipanema was to hold their first march in preparation for Carnaval. This is one of the first celebrations of Carnaval and apparently a small indication of what the actual event will be like. I'll have more on Carnaval in a future post, but I wanted to share our fun from yesterday.From my LonelyJeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-61846952920101978212007-02-02T08:47:00.000-05:002007-02-02T09:28:20.589-05:00Onde Esta?I know, since arriving back in Rio on Monday I've all but disappeared from the blog. Take it as a sign that I'm relaxing and enjoying Rio.The weather hadn't been cooperating entirely for the past few days, but that didn't stop me from heading to the beach with my book. On Wednesday I sat down on the beach at 3:00 pm with a very overcast sky and only a few dozen other hard-nosed beachgoers (readJeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733395847230280238.post-83394926363127513922007-01-30T13:18:00.000-05:002007-01-31T08:14:02.135-05:00The Rest of Sao PauloOK… two days later and I’m back online with an update. We arrived back in Rio late Monday night to find the Internet access out. Its back up today on this rainy Tuesday morning.The rest of the weekend in Sao Paulo was as much fun as the first few days. We met up with more friends on Saturday night at a small cocktail party or “Chilling” as I’m told it is called. This is essentially a small Jeff DeKortehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04743834425638754253noreply@blogger.com0