Bucket List

I just got back to my room at the Marriott Cancun Resort in Cancun, Mexico.

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I took the advice of my “crashpad dad,” Jeff, and had the Surf & Turf. I’m thrilled that I did! The piece of prime rib that I just ate was probably the most delicious prime rib I’ve eaten since my first experience with Ruth’s Chris (see post). The lobster tail on the plate next to it was the perfect accompaniment!

If you know me- you know I don’t usually eat out this lavish. Since this is my first time in Cancun (well, my first “official” visit, at least), I thought it was worth it. The only other time I’ve been here doesn’t really count because I didn’t even have the opportunity to stop out of the jetway at the airport (see post). They give me “turns” like that just to tease me and mess with my mind. A “turn”, in my line of work, means you fly away from your base and then back by the end of the day. So you don’t get to stay on a layover/ overnight.

What does this mean? This means I can finally check off bucket list item number 13, which is to go to Cancun. I told the desk clerk that this was my first time here, and she gave me a great room that is right on the ocean! I am amazed at this beautiful view! I was so impressed, in fact, that I walked around and did a live Periscope! The video ended up begin just over 17 minutes long. It’s pretty long, yes, but it gives you a good look at the view a walk around the hotel and grounds. Click here to watch.

I wish I had a long time here, but my alarm is set, and I have to be up pretty early in the morning. Sadly, I’m coming back to the states first thing. I would mind coming down here on my own time and checking into the Marriott for at least a week.

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fullsizeoutput_643eIt’s time to discuss bucket list item number 78: Record an Album. The reason for this is because plans are already underway to accomplish this. Just know that I have no idea what I’m doing. I have been chatting with John Carter of Thirth/Eight Productions, up in Logan, Utah. He and his wife Karen are musical geniuses- I was blessed to record with them a few times while I was attending Utah State University, years ago. I love them and miss them!

So here’s my plan of action (if you’re musical and have spent time in a recording studio, I could use your advice):

  1. Find a studio- √ Done! See the first paragraph of this entry.
  2. Find an accompaniest- √ Done! My awesome buddy Robert Stephenson has agreed to ‘tickle the ivory’ for me. He has accompanied me a few times, years ago. He is amazingly talented! Bonus: He already lives in the same zip code as John’s studio, so I don’t feel quite as horrible for disrupting his family life.
  3. Pick out some songs- I’d like there to be about 10 songs on the finished product. I have about 12 song ideas at the moment, but we’ll have to see what vibe this project takes on. I’m sure some songs will be eliminated and other songs will be added throughout the whole process. I wish I had more original songs. Sadly, I may have only one original on there. I’m just not that talented.
  4. Find a board of directors- This will be a group of people who know my voice and I know will tell me honestly what songs belong or don’t belong on the album. Also, I’ll have them listen to the tracks and ask for feedback.
  5. Organize and prepare songs. I’ve found much of the sheet music already, but there are a couple songs I need to have lifted since the sheet music for those songs doesn’t exist or was never published.
  6. Practice time with Robert.
  7. Studio time with John and Robert.
  8. Ask John to produce the crap out of recorded tracks to make me sound better. 😀
  9. If recordings are good enough for an album, then figure out distribution method. Should we do a physical CD? Should we just do digital? Should we do both? If we do a CD, figure out the artwork and all that… I have a guy in mind but don’t want to ask him until we decide what we want to do.

I’m not really sure how long this will take, but I look forward to learning more about the process and seeing what happens.

Ireland 2: Day 13

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04.22.18 | Galway, Ireland | 20:59

Today was the perfect day to check off another item on my bucket list! I took an eight-hour tour that let me view The Cliffs of Moher! This is one of the most awesome spectacles I have ever seen! The trip was a guided tour, and I made friends with a 19-year-old from Canada named Brendan.

I don’t remember the names of all the places we visited, but there were castles, old graveyards, old churches, and of course, Moher. Here are my pictures from the day trip.

…. and this four-minute video I streamed on Periscope. Click here (language warning initially because Brendan is trying to be funny. Also, sorry about the loud wind sound, but Mother Nature was trying to push us off the cliff to our deaths.).

Ireland 2: Day 7

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Kent Station in Cork

04.16.18 | Cork > Tralee | 09:12

This next leg of my journey is my dear friend Colee’s fault. From the time I met her (in the late 90s, while living in Logan, Utah), she always said she wanted to go to Dingle, Ireland. This is because she grew up in Dingle, Idaho. When I was planning this part of my trip, I remembered her saying this. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t get there before her and rub it in her face? To Dingle, I go! By the way, this is an item on my bucket list!

As with most new places that I visit, I didn’t Google any information. I don’t want the surprise spoiled. I’m pretty sure there’s not much going on in Dingle, though. I’ve been told it’s absolutely beautiful if I’m into hiking. Since I am, let’s just all cross our fingers that the weather allows me to do some exploring over the next two days.

The train doesn’t go all the way to Dingle. For this reason, once I get to Tralee, I’ll have to find the bus that will take me the rest of the way. I’m so glad I decided to keep my phone on during this trip. In the past, I really wanted to avoid any international fees with AT&T, so I kept my phone in airplane mode the entire journey and only connected to WiFi hotspots. I’m really not sure how I survived without my G.P.S. directions.

Tralee > Dingle | 10:58

My train arrived just before the bus to Dingle was scheduled to leave. I was initially planning on waiting in Tralee for about three hours. This means that there is no time to get something to eat.

Dingle, Ireland | 21:39

When I got off the bus, the wind and rain were so strong that my umbrella was instantly destroyed. I’m not talking about just being flipped inside out, but then a bunch of the little metal spokes (I don’t think that’s what they’re really called) got busted. My umbrella is now in umbrella heaven (or maybe umbrella hell, depending on the life it has lead).

I had no way of getting into the hostel, so I walked down the street and found a restaurant called The Wren’s Nest. I enter and order an egg salad sandwich. The guy makes it right there, over a little George Foreman-type grill. There was no kitchen to go in to prepare the food. He just did it right in front of me- it was the weirdest thing!

Scotland 6: Day 42

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04.09.18 | Edinburgh Flat | 13:29

So far, today has been excellent! I found the coolest little cafe for a snack. I wish I’d discovered this place years ago, I’ve probably walked past it at least a hundred times. I got a fruit tart thingy and some hot chocolate. It still amazing me that people take the time to make the little design on top of the hot drinks. I almost hate to drink it, because I don’t want to destroy their artwork.

I went back to see the street performer do his act again. I recorded the entire thing on Periscope, and so it’s about a 45 minute video. I’m not going to upload the entire thing here, but you can definitely check it out. The guy was pretty funny, but you could tell that he’d practiced the same jokes over and over again. Something about his delivery was off. Still, he’s a great performer! To see my Periscope feed (and follow me!) go to https://www.pscp.tv/DavTravels/follow. I’m going to start doing more live videos over there.

So, I’m not much into buying souvenirs, I’ve always looked at the pictures I take as my souvenirs, so I haven’t had to spend very much money on these trips. I decided a few years back that I love skulls. It’s not to the point of obsession or anything like that, but I just think they’re cool. At home, I’ve got a few ceramic skulls from Mexico, and I decided that I would build that collection. Today I bought a new one. To be honest, I wish it was legal to own a human skull.

19:23

Tonight I had dinner at The Witchery. This is my absolute favorite restaurant in Edinburgh. It’s overpriced, with small portions, but it’s all about the ambience! I don’t often eat at fancy restaurants, but it’s fun to get dressed up and go out. This would be the ultimate restaurant to take a date… I’ll have to do that some day.

First Course: Grilled Isle of Mull Scallop, Cauliflower Purée, Curry Sauce, Apple and Coriander
Second Course: Jambonette of Perthshire Guinea Fowl ‘en croute’, sweet corn, basil, potato purée
Third Course: Pear William tarts tatin, star anise, milk ice cream

It is with great sadness that the Edinburgh part of this journey is ending tomorrow morning. Tonight I’m packing up all my stuff, and getting everything ready so in the morning, all I’ll have to do is shower, grab my stuff, and head to the airport.

Even though I’m not quite ready to come home yet, It’s time to go somewhere that I haven’t been in 11 years…

Scotland 6: Day 41

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04.08.18 | Edinburgh, Scotland | 22:28

I don’t have a whole lot to report today. Was a slow Sunday- I walked a lot, but didn’t really go anywhere in particular. I’ve been listening to General Conference, and have been thoroughly enjoying it. Dinner was at this little Italian restaurant that is actually right underneath my flat. It was probably the most amazing one I’ve ever eaten at in my life. Will definitely be back in the future!

Scotland 6: Day 40

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04.07.18 | Edinburgh Flat | 11:05

As per usual, today was a very rainy day. My hopes of headed back up Arthur’s Seat were soon washed away. I decided to declare today a laundry day. I spent most of the morning and afternoon reading or watching movies because the laundromat that I used to use, that was located close by, is now out of business. The next closest one I could find was a good 20-minute walk.

17:09

My legs were killing me, thanks to my hike up Arthur’s Seat yesterday. I was hurting so bad, but I managed to get a massage today, and I’m surprised they were able to get me in at the last moment, especially on the weekend.

21:06

Tonight I went to dinner at The Doric, which is the oldest Gastro-pub in Edinburgh, built in the 1700’s, according to the back of the menu. So- today I made history by simply eating there.

Scotland 6: Day 39

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04.06.18 | Edinburgh, Scotland | 12:20

This morning, I was finally able to hike up to Arthur’s Seat again. I wanted to do it at the beginning of the trip, but we were in that big snowstorm, if. you recall. Even today, there was a lot of mud because of the snow storm we had two days ago. Still, it was a great climb and the views are always so breathtaking! I imagine I’ll climb it at least once more before I leave Edinburgh.

For years now, I have come across Oink, which is a restaurant that has a large, dead hog in the window. In fact, that’s really the only thing the restaurant services, they carve off this hog all day. you can get it as a sandwich if you wish. I finally got an early lunch at the place! It was quite delicious, even though I’m pretty sure that P.E.T.A. wouldn’t approve of the meal- nor the window “decor”.

Scotland 6: Day 38

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04.05.18 | Edinburgh, Scotland | 09:10

I was a little worried that I wouldn’t get much sleep last night. I’m right on High Street, and Scottish people like to drink and be out all night. They were very loud when I was trying to fall asleep, but I put in earplugs and all is well! I slept like a baby!

I woke up to completely clear skies… it feels like springtime (again)! Maybe I still needed a light jacket, but that’s really all. Speaking of jackets, I had an incident where my zipper broke on the one I brought, and so I ended up going to H&M this morning to get a new one. When I get back to the states, I’ll ask my mom if it’s worth fixing, or if I should put it in the D.I. box.

I managed to get a Periscope video while I was outside, and seeing a street performer. He was a pretty funny guy. In the background, you may be able to hear a bagpiper, and then later in the day there was a preacher on a loudspeaker who kept singing the Christmas song, Go Tell It On The Mountain, over and over again. Good times!

Scotland 6: Day 37

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04.04.18 | Glasgow > Edinburgh | 10:52

After I get off of this plane in Edinburgh, it goes on and eventually goes all the way to Penzance, as in, The Pirates of Penzance! Does anyone remember any part of the “legacy” that I left behind at Eastern Arizona College? I wanna sing and dance, I wanna sing and dance, I wanna be a pirate in the Pirates of Penzance… Is this one of those full-circle moments? I think that perhaps it is.

It’s another rainy morning in Glasgow, but not as rainy as it was the last two days. It’s ok, however, because I’m on my way back to Edinburgh, and I’m sure that means it will be sunny and in the 70s. I kid- I checked the weather and it’s pretty much the same, for a couple of days, at least. Still, I’m excited about this Edinburgh round, because I’m doing the AirB&B thing. I have secured a lovely flat, that is right on High Street, up close to Edinburgh Castle. It should be lovely.

Edinburgh, Scotland | 12:24

I called it- the weather in Edinburgh is exactly the same as it was this morning in Glasgow, but colder. The snow has been coming down since I stepped off the train at Waverly Station. I’ll be hanging out in this Starbucks for the next 2 1/2 hours. I’m happy to keep on purchasing herbal teas or even hot chocolate if this is needed to extend my stay. I’m sharing a table with a young girl who is attending university in Cork, Ireland. She is, however, from Fort Worth, Texas. I showed her where my sister Melanie lives on the map and she says that’s not too far from her home. She knows the area well.

She asked me if I’d ever visited my sister, and when I told her that I had, she asked me if I hate Fort Worth- not how I feel about it, but if I hate it. I told her I had nothing against it, but I’m not that type of person who can sit still very long anyway. If I’m not traveling, there needs to at least be a plan for travel. Even a road trip somewhere works perfectly.

15:19

Ok- this apartment is the absolute best location! It’s very close to everything on the old side of the city. I wish I owned it! The first thing I did when I got here (other than using the restroom) was walked around and took some pictures! This place is truly lovely! It’s an older flat, but location, location, location!