Curated by Ed Boitano.

Parasite: Park Dong-ik  (Sun-kyun Lee) noticing that very distinct smell of new driver Kim Ki-taek (Kang-ho Song), who had egregiously orchestrated the dismissal of his previous chauffeur.

1917: Lance Corporal Schofield (George MacKay) rises from the dead and staggers to the edge of what was a house, and experiences a dreamlike apocalyptic light show of fire and smoke that makes no more sense than the war in which he serves.

The Irishman: “They wouldn’t dare! They wouldn’t dare!” Al Pacino’s Jimmy Hoffa expressing indignation to Robert Di Niro’s Frank Sheeran upon the hint that he might be knocked off.

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood: The ethereal beauty and innocence of Margot Robbie’s Sharon Tate as she lights up the Playboy mansion, oblivious to the fate that waits her. As it turns out, the joke is on us.

Little Women: Saoirse Ronan as Jo; the pages of her book arrayed on the floor as she moves them around by candlelight.

Ad Astra: The first power surge.

The Irishman: Teamster troops part like the Red Sea as Al Pacino’s Jimmy Hoffa marches through the lines in a red Cossack hat.

The Loudest Voice (TV Mini-Series): Russell Crowe’s remarkable performance as Fox News founder, Roger Ailes, giving this tragic character both depth and nuance.

Us: The arrival of the first doppelganger, which launches Lupita Nyong’o’s tour-de-force performance as both Adelaide Wilson and Red.

Three Subways Scenes of a Different Kind

Marriage Story: Scarlett Johansson’s Nicole and Adam Driver’s Charlie keeping their distance in the subway carriage, with a very distinctive pole in the middle.

Joker: Three men in a subway carriage get their kicks by harassing a lone female passenger, while Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck watches uncomfortably in the front. Unable to subdue his laughter due to an anxiety disorder, the hoodlums readdress their ire on him, pounding Arthur into a bloody pulp. Suddenly, Arthur reveals a borrowed gun and kills all three men. A disturbing precursor of what is to come.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Passengers packed into a subway carriage recognize Mister Rogers, and begin to sing in unison, It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Rogers takes the compliment in stride, he’s used to it, and joins in on the song. Sitting beside him is Matthews Rhys’ Lloyd Vogel, a cynical journalist, assigned to write what he considers a ‘fluff’ piece about Rogers, and begins to realize how popular this man really is.

Parasite: Bong Joon Ho’s stunning mise-en-scène.

Bombshell: Margot Robbie’s Kayla Pospisil being seduced by John Lithgow’s Roger Ailes; a disturbing moment of vulnerability, where she is trapped and at the mercy of someone so powerful.

Two Whispers

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood: Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) finally nails the scene, and receives reaffirming praise from cast and crew. His co-player, a wise-beyond-her-years adolescent played by Julia Butter, whispers to him, ‘That was the best acting I’ve ever seen in my whole life,” moving Dalton to tears.  As she departs, he whispers out loud, “Rick fuckin’ Dalton.”

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Mister Rogers’ (Tom Hanks)  whispered words into the ear of the dying Jerry Vogel (Chris Cooper). Unlike Lost in Translation, later we learn what he said: “I asked him to pray for me. Anyone going through what he is going through must be awfully close to God.”

The Irishman: The fish scene.  The levity beneath the gravity of it all.

Pain and Glory:  The adult Mallo (Antonio Banderas) recognizing the boy in the drawing as himself.

1917: The hand of human kindness when Lance Corporal Schofield (George MacKay)  remembers to shake the hand of Lieutenant Joseph Blake (Richard Madden) after informing him that his brother had died.

Jojo Rabbit:  Jojo  (Roman Griffin Davis) and friend Yorki (Archie Yates), members of Hitler Youth,  find protection by a building as Red Army cannons begin to obliterate Berlin. Yorki, “Definitely not a good time to be a Nazi. I am going home to my mother. I need a cuddle.”

Parasite: The naivety of Park Yeon-kyo (played by Yeo-jeong Jo), mother of the upper class Park family; a ripe field to plunder by the confrontational Kim Ki-jung (Park So Dam), posing as the ultimate authority on art and therapy – topics she has just learned online that that morning – as the perfect teacher for the Park’s troubled son.

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood: Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth becoming a responsible man with Pussycat (Margaret Qualley), a young Manson Family hitchhiker, looking for a little action.

Cliff: “You got some I.D., you know, like, a driver’s license or something?”
Pussycat: [laughing] “Are you joking?”
Cliff: “No, I’m not. I need to see something official that verifies that you’re eighteen, which you don’t have because you’re not.”

Judy: Renée Zellweger’s Judy Garland, penniless at a hotel, her career down the drain; reassures kids that things will be ok.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Rey (played by Daisy Ridley) passing the light saber to Adam Driver’s Finn, using the force.

Joker: Arthur dancing on the car, surrounded by rioting masses.

Ford v Ferrari: Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) takes ‘tough-as-nails’ CEO Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) on a little test run.

Shelby: “Are you ready?”
Ford II: “I was BORN ready!.”

The Irishman: Joe Persci’s understated Russell Bufalino overhearing Frank’s first phone conversation with Jimmy Hoffa: “I hear you paint houses.” Frank replies, “I also do my own carpentry,”  which provokes a rare chuckle from the no nonsense Russell.  After the call ends: Russell, “He likes to talk, don’t he?”  Frank, “I felt like I was talking to General Patton.”

Pain and Glory: Cecilia Roth, long time player in Almodóvar films, steps into the picture as Mallo’s long time assistant, Zulema, and gets his life back together; organizing the return from his descent into the world of procrastination, self-pity and heroin addiction.

Parasite: The Kim family rearranging themselves to steal Wi-Fi.

The Irishman: The banter in a rare sit down between mafia kingpin, Angelo Bruno (Harvey Keitel), and Robert De Niro’s nervous Frank Sheeran about his freelance agreement with a third party to burn Cadillac Linen Service to the ground. An obvious nod to past confusing word-play between Keitel and De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets and Taxi Driver.

Bruno: “You  know who owns the Cadillac Linen Service?”
Frank: “Some Jews in the laundry business. That’s what they told me.”
Bruno: “They own a part of it. Somebody else got an interest in that. You know who?”
Frank: “No”
Bruno: “I do.“
Frank: Who?
Bruno: “No, I do! I own the other part! Not I know somebody who owns the other.”

And finally: A reference to an earlier off screen agreement with Russell and Bruno, which would have had tragic consequences for Frank, as the stoic Russell looks on.

Bruno: “You got a good friend here. You don’t know how good a friend you got.”
Frank: “Oh, I know.”
Bruno: “No, you don’t know.”

Judy: Richard Cordery as MGM studio head Louis B Mayer, dressing down Judy Garland  (Renée Zellweger), showing us the ugly side of real Hollywood glamour: “Your name is Frances Gumm. You’re a fat-ankled, snag-toothed rube from Grand Rapids. Your father was a faggot, and your mother only cares about what I think of you. Now do you remember who you are, Judy?”

Us: Winston Duke’s Gabe Wilson, no longer the macho man in charge, becomes visibly uneasy by the unknown people who stand in his driveway who refuse to leave. “Let’s make some traps or something, like some ‘Home Alone’ type stuff. That way, if they come…”  Adelaide Wilson cutting him off with, “Tell me you did not just reference ‘Home Alone.’”

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood: The pitbull attacking the Manson family.

Marriage Story: Charlie singing “Being Alive,” turning the spotlight on himself for once.

Jojo Rabbit:  Sam Rockwell’s Captain Klenzendorf, gallantly charges into the bloody mayhem between Red Army soldiers and the Volkssturm (Germany’s citizen army) on the streets of Berlin. Dressed to the max in full Nazi regalia, complete with a red silk cape ala  Julius Caesar, moments later we see him and his tattered uniform in a garbage dump of captured men. Soon, Jojo is thrown into the mix.  Klenzendorf  gives him a heartfelt embrace, and then quickly rips off  Jojo’s Hitler Youth garb and condemns him as a Jew for a Russian soldier’s eyes to see. It works. We follow Jojo as he is released to safety, but hear the sound of machine gun fire, sealing Klenzendorf’s fate.

Judy:  Mickey Dean beginning to tire of ageing Judy’s constant need of attention: “Sweetheart, I already said I love you nine times today.” Garland: “Well maybe I need ten or twelve, once an hour, like a cuckoo clock. Cuckoo! I love you!”

Parasite: The Kim family plays a dangerous kind of hide-and-seek when the Park family returns early from a vacation.

Jojo Rabbit: Jojo follows the flight of a butterfly, flying knee length from the ground. The butterfly stops by a pair of resplendent-looking  woman’s shoes, also hanging in the air. He knows those shoes as belonging to his mother (played by Scarlett Johansson). He is unable to look up, knowing his mother is hanging from the rope for her anti-Hitler statements.

Ford v Ferrari:  Ken Miles (Christian Bale) and son Peter (Noah Jupe) enter the showroom to look at the new Ford Mustang. Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas), a pompous Ford Executive, is annoyed that this working-class man and son are spending too much time examining the car.  He charges over to them, taking exception to Peter running his hands on the car.

Leo Beebe: Would you ask him to keep his hands off the paintwork?
Ken Miles: Who are you?
Leo Beebe: Leo Beebe, Senior Executive Vice President, Ford Motor Company. I’m responsible for the launch of the Mustang.
Ken Miles: Ah! At least now we know who’s responsible. Don’t get me wrong, Lenny. It looks fantastic. But inside, it’s a lump of lard, dressed up to fool the public. My advice is, lose the inline-six and that idiotic three-speed, shorten the wheelbase, somehow lose half a ton, and lower the price. But even then, I’d still choose a Chevy Chevelle. And that’s a fucking terrible car.

Artists Doing What They Do Best

Judy: Judy (Renée Zellweger) belting out a heart-wrenching final number that touches the souls of both the club’s audience and theatre attendees of today.

Ford v Ferrari: Race car driver Ken Miles (Christian Bales) tears along the course, occasionally offering words of encouragement to his Ford Shelby.

Jojo Rabbit:  Thomasin McKenzie’s Elsa, the sympathetic Jewish girl Jojo’s mother had been hiding in the attic, steps out into the street for her first breath of freedom. She contemplates the moment, and then settles a past score by slapping Jojo. But, what to do next? They look at one another without a clue. Elsa begins to slowly dance. Jojo joins here and then snaps his finger, and David Bowie’s Heroes (Helden) blasts on the soundtrack, with Bowie, a former Berlin resident, almost screaming the lyrics in German. Their dance intensifies, now in harmonious  movement. The screen turns back and the credits begin to roll, and we see and feel these final words:

“Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final”

— Rainer Maria Rilke

T-Boy Society of Film & Music’s Best Pictures of 2019

Best Picture

1. Parasite: Bong Joon-ho
2. The Irishman: Martin Scorsese
3. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood: Quentin Tarantino
4. Pain and Glory: Pedro Almodóvar
5. 1917: Sam Mendes
6. Joker: Todd Phillips‎
7. Marriage Story: Noah Baumbach
8. Us: Jordan Peele
9. Synonyms: Nadav Lapid
10. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Marielle Heller

Honorable Mention

1. High Life: Claire Denis
2. Little Women: Greta Gerwig
3. The Souvenir: Joanna Hogg
4. The Image Book: Jean-Luc Godard
5. The Dead Don’t Die: Jim Jarmusch
6. An Elephant Sitting Still: Hu Bo
7. Ash Is Purest White: Jia Zhangke
8. Bacurau: Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles
9. Jeannette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc: Bruno Dumont
10. Portrait of a Lady on Fire: Céline Sciamma
11. Uncut Gems: Josh and Benny Safdie
12. Ford Vs Ferrari: James Mangold

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Anna Karina: The French New Wave Icon, Has Died at Age 79

Anna Karina, the Danish-born actress who became a symbol of  La Nouvelle Vague in Jean-Luc Godard’s seven 1960s films, died last month in Paris. Her death was confirmed by France’s culture minister, who said the cause was cancer.

Hanne Karin Bayer was born on Sept. 22, 1940, in Solbjerg, Denmark, a suburban town on the country’s east coast. Her father left the family a year after her birth. Her mother ran a dress shop. Hanne lived with her maternal grandparents for three years and was in foster care for four years but eventually went back to live with her mother. She dropped out of school at 14, sang in cabarets and worked as a television model. At 17, she ran away from home — hitchhiking to Paris — and was discovered by the casting director of an advertising agency while sitting at Les Deux Magots, the fashionable Left Bank cafe. During a photo shoot for Elle magazine, she met fashion designers,  Coco Chanel and Pierre Cardin, who advised her to change her name.

MORE

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Ramblings of My 2020

This is just a laundry list of my activities for 2020 so skip this if you are in a hurry. My intent is to see if you and I can connect in my other levels of interest. Most of you are silent subscribers so it’s a treat when I read your feedback.

INTERNATIONALLY

The new year is here. Many I’ve talked to are glad to be through with 2019 and understandably so. 2019 was a crazy year. I’m surprised nobody has really blamed the media for all the political tensions and violence — they were the ones who benefited from the scare tactics and rumor mongering. Expect an overload of that with this election year. Already I noticed some of the political Youtube videos have suddenly been labeled “restricted” — censorship, here they come. Japan will be hosting the Olympics. That should be interesting.

AT HOME

In case you are interested, here’s what’s in store for me at home.  The pet invasion is our biggest physical challenge. We now have 3 cats and a Corgi. My wife spends more time with the animals than with me. I didn’t know I married Doc. Doolittle. Oh, and our daughter will be moving back home for a while before she moves to Canada to further her studies. We will have a full house.

My wife and I will continue with our Biblical Counseling Course on Thursdays … where we believe in the premise that most of our emotional problems can be cured (not through drugs but) through a refocus on God — who He is, who We are and what is expected of us. If you know anyone needing emotional help, don’t hesitate to ask. We might also start a Bible study group in our home on Wednesday evenings. Invitation is open to all.

BUSINESS

WYNK (What You Need to Know): My marketing, graphic and web design company will continue to help with customized websites and marketing campaigns but this year, I’d like to focus more on book publishing and social media/SEO. One of my favorite clients wants me to design an original board game. That’ll be exciting.

Alpha, my residential property management business will be taking over a new condo complex. The former managers appeared to be charging the residents too much and I’m determined to bring their HOA (Home Owner’s Association) bills down. As our tag line goes: “Bring us your tired, your poor, your disgruntled HOA members and we will give them rest.”

I’d still like to continue doing live caricatures for non-profit organizations. I am one of the most prolific caricaturists in the world (I think I’ve done over 1,700 caricatures in my lifetime) but even this will one day come to an end. Dude, if you don’t have an original “Raoul,” you’re missing out.A day will come and I will do my last caricature because my hands and eyes will no longer coordinate with each other.

I’ve recently been toying with the idea of putting up a new business — producing a special vinaigrette which i concocted. If you like pork chops smothered with vinegar, this is a perfect match. It’s my wife’s favorite food. So far I am in the research and experimental stage. I’ve studied distribution and packaging but I think I might have a problem preserving the spices.

With all of these, I wonder if I will still be able to join my college chums for a week and a half road trip from the West coast to the East coast. We’ve been planning this a few years now. We want to do this before our backs give in, our teeth fall off and our memories wander into the windmills of our minds.

Mama Lou, my aunt, told me (when I was a teenager) that she noticed that I was always busy doing something. I think I am starting to believe her. Isn’t life great?!?

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S. Pasadena, CA for sharing this joke.

Don’s Puns

Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Video: Cheapest Travel Rate

Art of Sierra Madre, CA shared this hard-to-believe discount country. You might want to consider this as you plan your travels this year. Can you guess where it is?

Video: This is 2020

Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA shared this very apt video to welcome the new year.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this:

Here’s another one from Don:

The post Gettin’ Old appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Happy New Year!

Hope you had a good Christmas. Sleepy from the party last night. New Year, here we come!

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for sharing this joke.

Don’s Puns

Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Funny Video

BrassFun

Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this.

You only have a few more days before this doesn’t work anymore.

Thanks to Ray of Burbank, CA who shared this:

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA who shared this:

The post Happy New Year! appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Miracle Amnesia

I think my hernia is growing. It seems to hurt every time I try to get up now. Last week I asked people to pray for a miracle of healing. That got me thinking.

Do we really believe in miracles? Or are we just parroting someone else’s belief? Do YOU believe in miracles?

I was going through the story of Moses in the book of Exodus — you know —- that episode of the movie, The Ten Commandments, where Moses raises his cane and the red sea parts and allows the Israelites to walk on dry land to safety? Now that’s what you call a MIRACLE — an MGM type of miracle … complete with orchestral music and CG effects.

If you were one of those Israelites walking between two raging masses of water, you’d think that vision … that memory would be forever etched in your mind, right? Sadly (except for Moses, Caleb and Joshua) millions of Israelites had a case of Miracle Amnesia.They couldn’t trust God to help them conquer the promised land. They blew it! Instead of faith in God (who already proved Himself) their logical mind took over. They only saw how big and fortified the enemy was and chickened out of the miracle. Because of their unbelief they wandered in the desert for 40 years until they all died off. It was their children led by Caleb and Joshua who entered and took over the land of Canaan.

Again I ask, do you believe in miracles? Some say the parting of the Red Sea never really happened. Some say the Bible isn’t really an accurate historical book. Some say God was different then. So many excuses. So little faith.

I believe the parting of the Red Sea did happen. I believe there are  chariots and armor still buried underneath the Red Sea. I believe that the same God responsible for that miracle then is the same God that will allow a miracle today. So God will heal my hernia? Don’t be silly! I’m not saying He definitely WILL. I’m saying, it’s up to Him. I can only request. He’s not a genie in a bottle who grants my every wish.

You got major problems? Pray! He’s got a lot of  miracles up His sleeve.

But this is just me. TGIF people!

“The smaller your God, the bigger your problem. The bigger your God, the smaller your problem.”
— Anonymous

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Dennis of Riverside, CA for sending this joke.

Video of the Week

Musical Colonoscopy
Sent by Tom of Pasadena,CA

I think I shared this a long time ago. Because of my upcoming surgery this song is closer to my heart … I mean my stomach.

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Heavy Thought of the Week

Sent by Ernie of New Jersey

Parting Shot

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this.

The post 40 Year Difference appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Love is in the air! In need of a few ideas for Valentine’s Day this year? Don’t stress, we’ve got you covered. Here is a list of seven Vancouver Valentine’s Day date night ideas for you and your special someone.

Lot185 Café + Wine Bar’s Four-Course Valentine’s Menu

Lot185 Café + Wine Bar is pleased to offer a delicious four-course dinner menu for Valentine’s Day. Coffee shop by day and wine bar by night, you can find this unique dining experience inside the Vancouver Convention Centre West. The restaurant has beautiful views of Vancouver’s waterfront and Northshore Mountains, the perfect location for you and your Valentine. The dinner is priced at $65 per guest (additional beverages, tax, and gratuity not included), and features delicious menu items such as Pan Seared Quebec Veal Tenderloin, Michel Cluizel Chocolate Mousse, and a complimentary glass of bubbly.

For reservations call, 604-647-7416

Valentine’s Day After Hours at the Vancouver Aquarium

Pucker up for an intimate affair at Vancouver Aquarium’s After Hours this Valentine’s Day.
Vancouver Aquarium® scientists agree that blushing can be considered camouflage when discussing topics such as coral sex. Indulge in an alluring and amusing exploration of the sex lives of aquatic animals during the Valentine’s Day-themed After Hours on Thursday, Feb. 14 at the Vancouver Aquarium, an Ocean Wise® initiative. With a drink in one hand, your partner or pal in the other, get set for a scintillating night. In addition to exploring the Aquarium’s galleries at night, you can also enjoy special programs covering a range of hot topics.

Leave the kids at home; this racy event is suited for an adult audience. Cocktails, beer, and wine will be available for purchase throughout the Aquarium.

Where: Vancouver Aquarium (845 Avison Way)
When: Thursday, Feb. 14 from 6 to 11 p.m.

Purchase your tickets early to have Valentine’s Day plans sealed with a fish and to avoid disappointment (the event often sells out). Tickets are only available online at vanaqua.org/after-hours and are $27 for members and $35 for non-members.

Feather the Love Nest with Juke Fried Chicken

Juke Fried Chicken is giving lovers of its signature southern-inspired fare a delicious way to celebrate Valentine’s Day once again with the return of its popular ‘Let’s Cluck’ fried chicken bouquet on Thursday, February 14.

Available in limited quantities for both pickup and delivery from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. during Valentine’s Day only at both the original Juke (182 Keefer Street) and Little Juke (1074 Davie Street) locations, the Let’s Cluck bouquet swaps flowers for eight mouth-watering pieces of Juke’s trademark gluten-free, crispy fried chicken in decorative wrapping.

Inspired by Ariana Grande’s kiss-off tune, Bar Manager Olivia Povarchook will unveil a special V-Day cocktail, ‘Thank U, Next’. This saucy drink will be available at the Chinatown location from Monday, February 11 to Saturday, February 17.

Orders can be made online at jukefriedchicken.com or via email at

in**@ju**************.com











starting Tuesday, January 29.

Reminisce the Journey of Your Relationship with the Help of Pinnacle Hotels

Feeling nostalgic? Reminisce with your sweetie at one of three Pinnacle Hotel restaurants this Valentine’s Day. Accompanied by live music and beautiful waterfront views, each property is serving up a special menu on Thursday, February 14th to celebrate the occasion.

See the menus here:

P2B bistro & bar
Pier7 restaurant + bar 
The Lobby food + drink

Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar’s Very Special Valentine’s Day Dinner

This intimate one-night-only service features a special multi-course menu featuring the restaurant’s award-winning West Coast-inspired cuisine for $120 per person (tax and gratuity not included). Fire up your palate (and love life) with optional wine pairings selected by Restaurant/Wine Director JP Potters available for an extra $85 per person. Items from the Valentine’s Day menu will also be available à la carte on request.

When: Thursday, February 14 beginning at 5 p.m.

Check out the menu

Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited for both Boulevard locations: call 604-642-2900 or book online

Fall in Love at Burdock & Co

The Main Street eatery invites lovers young and old – as well as family and friends – to cozy up over a multi-course farm-to-table Valentine’s Day feast. The Valentine’s Day menu has been perfected by the “Local Champion” in the 2018 B.C. Restaurant Hall of Fame, Chef Andrea Carlson. The menu features farm-fresh vegetables, ethically-raised meats and sustainable seafood sourced from nearby producers. Tickets to this special dinner cost $80 per person (plus tax and gratuity). There is limited availability, so guests are encouraged to book early!

Tickets can be purchased online through Resy.com

When: Thursday, February 14
Time: 5:30/6 p.m. & 8/8:30 p.m.

Make Valentine’s Day Memorable with a Romantic Dinner at Dockside Restaurant

Granville Island makes a perfect escape from the every day, and Dockside Restaurant’s creative West Coast cuisine, refined waterfront surroundings, and memorable views create an ideal destination for romance on Valentine’s Day.

This year, Valentine’s Day at Dockside will include a three-course table d’hôte dinner, live music by Melanie Dekker, bubbles, and roses, for a very special romantic experience. Executive Chef Mark Crofton and Dockside’s culinary team have created a delicious menu that’s filled with inspired preparations and indulgent flavours. Dishes like Oysters Two Ways, Cornish Game Hen Ballotine, Pork Tenderloin Wellington, and Surf & Turf are rich, inviting, and indulgent. Vegetarian options are available, and every meal finishes with sumptuous house-made desserts for sharing.

Valentine’s Day dinner at Dockside costs $75 per person (tax and gratuity not included) and reservations are highly recommended. For full menu details and reservations, visit www.docksidevancouver.com or call 604-685-7070

Live the Dream on a Romantic Adventure in Africa with African Travel, Inc.

There’s nothing more magnificent than celebrating a special romantic occasion in Africa. Whether you’re planning a honeymoon, wedding or anniversary, you’ll experience the romantic trip of your dreams with African Travel, Inc. by touching an ancient culture, discovering the magic of the wild and relaxing in spectacular luxury.

Who wouldn’t want to celebrate a life milestone with a romantic picnic on the banks of the Zambezi River, sleeping under the stars on the enchanting Kenyan landscapes or listening to the echoes of lion roaring at an oasis camp ground in Botswana?

“Love is a celebration and Africa offers a plethora of romantic experiences that will surely create unforgettable memories,” says Sherwin Banda, president of African Travel, Inc. “Couples who travel with us can relax because every part of their trip is planned, so they can enjoy quality time as they begin a new chapter together.”

African Travel, Inc. specializes in celebratory and romantic travel to all parts of Africa. With this, we create a travel gift registry with all the details of your plans and itinerary. The site can be shared with friends and integrated into their social media platforms. Contributors can simply call or email African Travel, Inc. with their gifts, which can also be posted on the site in weekly updates.

According to a recent article from Vox, gift registries are evolving into something that is more personal and representative of the couple, such as honeymoon or family vacation funds.

Allow your friends and family to give you the gift of love with your registry, so they can travel with you and book the finest hotel accommodations, fine-dining experiences and exceptional safaris. If you have already set-up another registry, you can add the link to your safari vacation itinerary and encourage your friends and family to contribute to help make your travel dreams come true.

Our handcrafted, personalized itineraries will give you the memories of a lifetime, such as a 12-day trip to South Africa where you can discover the magnificent wildlife, scenic ocean views, decadent wines and authentic South African food. Whether you are looking for a safari excursion with a large group, an intimate couples’ massage, or a luxury dinner overlooking the ocean, our travel experts can help you craft your memorable journey.

Your sample celebration journey could include a four-night stay at the 5-star, award-winning hotel, Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa in Cape Town, with luxurious spas, sight-seeing of mountain tops, exclusive wine tours and views of the pristine beaches of Camps Bay. On the following four days you can stay at the Simbambili Game Lodge in the renowned Kruger National Park and go on drives with expert rangers to see astounding wildlife, such as the Big Five, and possibly a leopard from the Sabi Sands, which has the highest concentration of leopard in the world.

You can spend your last four days in paradise while exploring the Bazaruto Archipelago, with the options of reef snorkeling, scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. You’ll be lodging at the blissful Azura Benguerra Island, a protected marine conservation area with pristine beaches and unspoiled coral reefs, where you can soak up blissful vacation memories while lying in the sun on pearl white sand.

No matter how intimate or large your group is, we will work with you on land and air arrangements to ensure that every detail of your trip is taken care of, so your time can be spent enjoying your celebration. We are dedicated to giving you an incredible adventure with the ultimate African experience.

Lovebirds Fly to NYC and Los Angeles for Valentine’s Day

Americans Traveling Internationally Choose Mexico and Canada for Romantic Getaways

New York City and Cancun reign supreme as the most popular domestic and international romantic destinations for Valentine’s Day travel in 2019, with NYC claiming the top spot for the third year running and Cancun for the fifth year in a row.

Los Angeles (#2) jumped from fifth place last year, while newcomers to the top 10 domestic list include Miami (#5) and Phoenix (#9). Las Vegas (#10) fell from second place in 2018, while Seattle (#3), San Francisco (#4), Chicago (#6), Atlanta (#7) and Boston (#8) round out this year’s list.

Americans leaving the country to celebrate are overwhelmingly headed to visit our neighbors to the north and south – with four Mexico and two Canada destinations dominating the list: Cancun (#1), San Jose Del Cabo (#3), Mexico City (#7) and Puerto Vallarta (#8) in Mexico; and Vancouver (#5) and Toronto (#6), Canada. The remaining top 10 international destinations are warm weather locales: San Juan, Puerto Rico (#2); Nassau, Bahamas (#4); Oranjestad, Aruba (#9) and Montego Bay, Jamaica (#10).

Allianz Global Assistance, a leading travel insurance and assistance company, reviewed Americans’ travel plans* for roundtrip flights for two to domestic and international destinations the weekends immediately before and after Valentine’s Day, departing and returning from February 7 – 11 and February 14 – 18, 2019.

“Couples are predominantly heading to warm destinations for this year’s holiday. On a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend, flight delays or cancellations, lost baggage and illness are the last things you want to worry about,” said Daniel Durazo, director of communications and marketing at Allianz Global Assistance USA. “But unexpected travel hiccups can happen anytime and anywhere, whether you’re celebrating in a metropolitan city or on a tropical beach. Luckily, the right travel protection policy can provide peace-of-mind and make travel disruptions easier to handle if they do occur.”

The post Valentine’s in Vancouver, Romantic Adventure in Africa, Flight Etiquette Rules and Valentine Destinations appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Getting Older

Upon an invitation from another couple, my wife and I welcomed 2019 in a night club that played loud 80s music — not my “cup of tea” but I tried to make the most of the situation. Like many other guests, we were dressed for New Year. Mine was an aluminum Terminator-like mask that covered my whole face so I felt practically invisible.

I was an alien observing the crazy earthlings. All around me were intoxicated flashy, sweaty, party animals gyrating to the 80s beat (it’s a great place to get your tinnitus going, I can tell you that). In earlier days, that room would have been filled with second-hand smoke — it was that kind of a place.

I think I’m getting old. These humans looked real stupid. They paid big bucks to be in this overcrowded hall. People bobbed up and down because there was hardly any room to dance. The ladies protected themselves from being touched and the men flailed their arms to reach the “untouchables.” Scotch on the rocks was 90% rock (ice): Ka-ching! for the night club ownersa and Ka-where-did-it-go? for the big spenders. A few fights erupted due to the booze and the claustrophobic atmosphere. A woman dove under a table for safety. One drunk Surfer Dude seemed to have the hots for my wife. I was behind her so I didn’t realize what was happening but my friend did and he told Surfer Dude to back off. I thought the drunk was merely asking her a question — I was oblivious that she needed my protection. I did contemplate using my old judo move I learned from college. Thankfully, the Dude said my mask spooked him out so he moved away. It was a very strange scene: A long time ago I used to be part of this insanity but now I was looking at it with alien eyes wide open. (Hey, I don’t mean to judge you if this is your “thing” — that’s cool. It just isn’t mine.)

On the way home I told my wife that I didn’t want to go back there. I’m glad she was thinking the same thing.

“Getting old.” What does that really mean? Of course, derogatively, it means one is aging: one’s body parts start falling off. But “getting old” also means getting more mature … getting wiser. To have a body that nears its expiration date and a mind that still thinks like a child is a double tragedy. I remember a news clip of a pathetic aging hippie beckoning people to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock with him to relive his youthful hormones. This senior never grew up. He probably never will. (BTW, 2019 is the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock buy your tickets now — NOT!).

With every new year, adding a notch to our longevity here on earth is not an option; But adding a dose of wisdom in the mix — that’s an option we should not miss. That’s a good new year resolution.

TGIF and have a great 2019!

“Maturity is being able to apologize and admit when you’re wrong because you know that your mistakes don’t define you” — Anonymous

Joke of the Week

Our Friday joke of the week comes from: Naomi of North Hollywood, CA

WARNING: Might be insensitive to some.

Video of the Week

One Wedding and a Funeral
Sent by Sam of Los Angeles, CA

This is a classic Mr. Bean video. He’s a modern version of Charlie Chaplin. And like Charlie, Mr. Bean uses no words.

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Heavy Thought of the Week

Sent by Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this

The post Wife Sharing appeared first on Traveling Archive.