Lyn Fuchs's Blog, page 28

Road Babe Dispatch From Cartagena Columbia

One day, something made me wanna go on a trip to somewhere exotic. I went to my room and browsed a bit online. Must first choose a continent. Europe is so expected. After considering, I decided to return to my Latin American roots and visit Colombia. That was just what I needed. I searched for cheap flights and found a good option.


Two days later, I packed my suitcase and drove my car to the airport. I'd never traveled alone, so this was quite an adventure. Got a little disoriented at the airp...

The Dentist Visit From Hell

I was assaulted by my dentist,In the middle of nowhere Mexico, my filling breaks. With no apparent cause, an upper back molar, which for many years has been an amalgamation of tooth, silver and white composite, cracks and crumbles. A razor-sharp ridge and gaping hole remain. I must visit an unfamiliar dentist in a technologically-primitive town to explain my condition in broken Spanish and bizarre gestures that may not be understood.

The dentist's office is located in the garage of the dentist...

Don't Support Contraband Savages

Contraband and Savages are films offering a taste of the drug-smuggling world. Contraband relates a journey on a container ship from Panama to New Orleans with cocaine, counterfeit bills and stolen art aboard. Mark Wahlberg does the deal with Diego Luna against his will and with a death threat hanging over his family. The movie provides a rare look inside these ocean transports, which play a key role in the global economy yet function almost like sovereign nations at sea.

Savages involves brut...

Wandering Mystic Meditation From Home

Five weeks after arriving home, I'm still giving in to false starts and indecision concerning what to share in this meditation. I rely instead on others' words to explain what I've been experiencing.

I'd expected all sorts of creative juice and energy to well forth after attending the Spacious in Spain women's retreat: a week of beach sun and Galician rain followed by a sumptuous week enjoying Paris. 
What has happened instead is a slow and steady trickle of memory that cannot be explained...

The Corn Goddess of the Americas

Just got back from the Guelaguetza festival in Oaxaca City. If you like indigenous dancing (as I do) or if you like something hot and hard pressing into your bum for as long as you can stand it (as Ricky Martin finally admits he does), then this event is for you. The folkloric costumes from all over Oaxaca are authentic and the concrete benches have a genuine precolumbian feel.

Imagine native couples swaying seductively with bundles of amaranth over their shoulders, or prepubescent village boy...

Charlize Theron Clings To Young Adulthood

Young adult is a popular literary genre, a confusing life stage, and the title of a fascinating movie. Charlize Theron's character clings to young adulthood. As an author, she struggles to crank out another sequel for the young adult series that gave her success. As a woman, she refuses to believe married-with-child ex-boyfriend Patrick Wilson is no longer an option.

Comedy and tragedy ensue. Returning to her Minnesota hometown, Charlize buddies up with a genitally-mutilated, masculinity-chall...

Final Solution To The Jewish Problem

Every once in a while, some racist moron loses control of the toxic sludge boiling up from his heart and blurts out: "The damn Jews have taken over Hollywood!"

PC sensitivity police quickly respond with their usual moral clarity: "You can't say that in public!" Maybe it's time for a less-idiotic response to the "Jewish Problem." (Dare I say a "final solution"?)

Long long ago, in a galaxy far far away, European Jews weren't allowed to own land, but were more or less herded into urban ghettos. Th...

Wandering Mystic Meditation From Plovdiv Bulgaria

Plovdiv - I say the name and it feels like melting chocolate in my mouth. Plovdiv - I look out of the window, wondering where to start this thirty-year love story. Plovdiv - I close my eyes and my mind rushes with memories from a time when I was skipping school to enjoy the last sunshine of summer, loosing myself into the streets of the ancient city.  Plovdiv - now I'm here again.
Yes, Plovdiv is my favorite city. I've walked the streets of Paris, thinking of how much she reminds me of Pl...

Primal Wilderness Rambling From Thirumaleguppi India

A night trek in Magalidurga on one weekend, followed by rock-climbing and rappelling sessions in Turali on the next weekend leaves me craving for more. As the Bangalore Mountaineering Club organizers are synonymous with catering to trek and travel addicts like me, I didn't have to think twice before booking a two-day trek to Thirumaleguppi. As I anxiously wait for the departure in Shanthi Sagar Domlur on Friday night at 9:25, I happen to meet some of my travel companions. We chat for a while...

Smooth Getaway Postcard From Salares Spain

The Ruta del Mudéjar passes by Canillas de Aceituno and continues on toward Sedella. You can use the new bypass, which is still not finished but has now acquired a roundabout at the other end. (The bypass was finished after the writing of this article, complete with shiny new barriers and road markings at roundabouts with instructions to stop that locals largely ignore.) Disappointingly, the asphalt lorry seen hanging around suggestively for weeks mysteriously disappeared.

Now is not the time...