Bits and Pieces

We decided to keep track of some fun facts during our PigFish travels. This page will be frequently amended and updated as our travels progress. If there is something else you would like to see on this page, just let us know.

Countries visited:

2023:  2 (USA, Greece)

2022:  2 (USA, Mexico)

2021:  2 (USA — although does it really count if you are stuck there?, Spain)

2020: 3 (Colombia, Ecuador, United States).

2019:  8 (Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, USA, Mexico, France, Spain, France, Italy, USA).

2018: 7 (Thailand (X3), Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam).

2015: 19 (Thailand (three times), Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa, England, Wales, Scotland, U.S. (don’t ask), Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Hong Kong (own currency & government equals new country?), Macau (see Hong Kong).

Favorite Country:

2023:

Robert:

Lisa:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  What Lisa said.

Lisa:  This is an easy one, since there are only two to choose from — Spain.

2020:

Robert:  Ecuador.

Lisa:  Colombia.

2019:

Robert: Spain.

Lisa: Spain, which shocked me.  I thought France would be my favorite, but I absolutely fell in love with Spain.

2018:

Robert: Thailand.

Lisa: Cambodia.

2015:

Robert: Vietnam.

Lisa: Cambodia.

Worst Border Crossing:

2022:

2021:  No problems in 2021.

2020:  So, it wasn’t due to crossing the border, but buying emergency charter flights to flee Ecuador after the borders closed wasn’t very fun.

2019: We didn’t have any problems in 2019.

2018: We didn’t have any problems in 2018.

2015: Sixola, Costa Rica to Guabito, Panama.

Cities visited:

2023:  6 (New Orleans, Houston, Athens, Thessaloniki, Kalabaka, Athens, Hereklion)

2022:  23 (New Orleans (LA), Cabo San Lucas, Houston (TX), Beaumont (TX), Chicago (IL), Sikeston (MO), McComb (MS), Chicago (IL), Phoenix (AZ), Green Valley (AZ), Houston (TX), Mexico City (Mexico), Chicago (IL), Milwaukee (WI), Cancun (Mexico), Mattoon (IL), Milwaukee (WI), Minneapolis (MN), Eau Claire (WI), Green Bay (WI), Mequon (WI), Chicago (IL), Madison (WI), Lexington (KY), Cadiz (KY), Memphis (TN), Green Valley (AZ))

2021:  36 (New Orleans (LA), Fort Stockton (TX), Green Valley (AZ), Ozona (TX), Austin (TX), Marion (IL), Chicago (IL), Cadiz (KY), Mount Vernon (IL), Holcombe (WI), Greenwood (IN), Lexington (KY), Sikeston (MO), DeForest (WI), Antigo (WI), Green Bay (WI), Chicago (IL), Natchitoches (LA), Dallas (TX), Magee (MS), Litchfield (IL), Holcombe (WI), Minneapolis (MN), Sioux Falls (SD), Rapid City (SD), Cody (WY), Big Sky (MT), Alpine (WY), Trinidad (CO), Marshall (TX), Austin (TX), Chicago (IL), Madrid, La Herradura, Nerja, Seville, Malaga, Granada, Cordoba, Madrid, New Orleans (LA), Gulf Shores (AL))

2020:  15 (Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena, Minca, Bogota, Quito, Santa Cruz Island, Isabela Island, Santa Cruz Island, San Cristobal, Guayaquil, Miami (FL), Holcombe (WI), Minneapolis (MN), Chicago (IL), Memphis (TN), New Orleans (LA)).

2019: 34 (Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Saigon, Nusa Dua, Legian, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Bangkok, Ao Nang, Khao Lak, Koh Lanta, Ao Nang, Bangkok, Mt. Vernon (IL), Cadiz (KY), Chicago (IL), Nashville (TN), Louisville, Dubuque (IA), Mineapolis (MN), Holcombe (WI), Madison (WI), Chicago (IL), Green Valley (AZ), Puerto Vallarta, Chicago (IL), Paris, Seville, Valencia, Lyon, Marseilles, Bordeaux, Paris, Naples, Monopoli, Florence, Rome, Paris, Chicago (IL), Ft. Myers Beach (FL), Las Vegas (NV), Green Valley (AZ)).

2018: 24 (Bangkok (X2), Legion, Nusa Dua, Ubud, Labuan Bajo, Permuteran, Amed, Seminyak, Singapore, Kuching, Georgetown, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Kata Beach on Phuket, Bophut Beach on Ko Samui, Siem Reap, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Luang Prabang, Hanoi (X2), Mai Chau, Hue, Hoi An (both the beach and the town), Saigon, Nha Trang).

2015: 70 (Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Mandalay, Bagan, Yangon, Phnom Penh (twice), Battambang, Kampot, Kep, Can Tho, Saigon, Ham Tien, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Hoi An, Da Nang, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown, Langkawi, Koh Lipe, Ao Nang (twice), Singapore, Negombo, Dambulla, Kandy, Ella, Tissa, Mirissa, Unawatuna, Bentota, Benoni, Greater Kruger area, Cape Town (twice), Stellenbosch, Mossel Bay, Knysna, Franschoek, Beckington, Cardiff, LLandudno, Langholm, Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow, London, Chicago, San Pedro, Granada, Leon, San Juan del Sur (three times), Playa Santa Dominga, Moyogalpa, Liberia, Monteverde, La Fortuna, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Bocas Town, Boquete, Panama City, Cartagena, Medellin, Bogota, Hong Kong, Macau, Phuket, Koh Lanta).

Favorite Pizza:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  Rocket and prosciutto at Pizzeria Domenica

Lisa:  Margharita at Grosso Pizza in Madrid

2020:

Robert:  Homemade in Minneapolis and New Orleans, especially the pies with potatoes and pesto.

Lisa:  Pizzaiolo in Medellin (seriously, who would have thought Medellin would have such excellent pizza), Young Joni in Minneapolis (they did take out of a par baked pizza which worked perfectly).

2019:

Robert: Pizza 4 P’s in Saigon, Pizza cooked by Robert in Cadiz with local bacon, pretty much any of the pizza in Naples.

Lisa: Pizza 4 P’s in Saigon, Los Muerto’s Brew Pub in Puerto Vallarta, pretty much any of the pizza in Naples.

2018:

Robert: Pizza 4 P’s in Hanoi.

Lisa: Pizza 4 P’s in Hanoi.

2015:

Robert: Luna Cafe in Da Nang.

Lisa: Luna Cafe in Da Nang (the ONLY redeeming thing about Da Nang).

Worst Pizza:

2022:

Robert:  What Lisa said.

Lisa:  The pizza in Grand Teton National Park.  It was awful.

2021:

Robert:

Lisa:

2020:

Robert:  Anything in the Galapagos.

Lisa: Anything in the Galapagos.

2019:

Robert: The “margherita” pizza at Moto in Nashville that had no tomato sauce or basil and had ricotta cheese — we sent it back and asked for a real one.

Lisa: We went to a place called David’s in Vung Tau. The pizza was bad enough that the next visit I ordered pasta. Enough said.  Also, the slice at New York Pizza in Seville — I didn’t even finish it and that is unheard of.  Can’t forget the one in Nashville.  And, the pizza in Lucca was probably the worst pizza of my life.

2018:

Robert: We had some really bad pizza in 2018, but can’t recall the worst.

Lisa: See above.

2015:

Robert: Marco’s in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.

Lisa: Marco’s in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.

Number of Pizzas Eaten by Lisa:

2022:  66 (I had 7 in the first 28 days of the year; I think I have a problem….)

2021: 72

2020:  79

2019: 100

2018: Didn’t keep track

2015: 94

Most Days Lisa Went Without Pizza:

2022:  17 incredibly long days while we were in Cancun.

2021:  It was a week or so while we were out west.

2020:  I think it was 10 or 11.  The streak started in the Galapagos (where the pizza is pretty much uniformly bad and I had pretty much given up on pizza) and then were in lockdown in Guayaquil and didn’t even have an oven in our apartment.  I broke the streak with a frozen pizza in Holcombe.

2019: 9 days in Thailand (in my defense, the Indian food in Thailand is amazing and the pizza not so much).

2018: 16 (April 30-May 16, and it was worth the wait as the pizza at Il Bolognese in Bangkok was quite qood).

2015: Didn’t keep track, but it couldn’t have been very many.

Best Thing We Ate:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  A “cigar” at Eslava in Seville made of squid ink, cuttlefish, bechamel, and seaweed wrapped in pastry.

Lisa:  Flamenquin in Spain.  All over Spain.

2020:

Robert:  Arepas de huevos in Cartagena; ceviche in Cartagena; homemade Vietnamese pork salad.

Lisa:  Arepas de huevos in Cartagena.

2019:

Robert: Goat breast and clams on the XO food tour in Saigon.  Jamon Iberico and pressa in Seville, Spain.

Lisa: Praline tart in Lyon.  Very sweet, but unlike anything I have had before.  Wintermelon and cinnamon sorbetto in Rome.  Pig cheeks and pressa in Seville, Spain.

2018:

Robert: Quail egg omelet with roe on a stick (Bangkok night train market).

Lisa: Falafel at Al Diwan in Seminyak.

2015:

Robert: Samosa salad in Yangon and Kampot pepper crab in Kep and chicken roti in Ella.

Lisa: Cao Lau in Hoi An and Bun thit nuong in Nha Trang.

Craziest Thing We Ate:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:  Grasshoppers, a worm, and a cricket in Mexico City

2021:

Robert:  It so wasn’t a “crazy” kind of year.

Lisa:  What Robert said.

2020:

Robert:  Chigüiro (also called capybara), which is the largest rodent in the world.

Lisa:  Chigüiro.

2019:

Robert: Balut (boiled egg with a duck embryo inside).

Lisa: I stuck to normal food this year….

2018:

Robert: A cube of coagulated blood in a bowl of curry mee in Georgetown.

Lisa: Jerky made from water buffalo (OK, not that crazy, I know….).

2015:

Robert: Rat (Cambodia), field mouse (Vietnam).

Lisa: Rat (Cambodia), field mouse (Vietnam).

Favorite Fruit:

2021:

Robert:  Toad skin melon in Spain.

Lisa:  Toad skin melon in Spain.

2020:

Robert:  Mangosteens in Medellin.

Lisa:  Colombian dragonfruit.

2019:

Robert: Nothing stood out this year.

Lisa: It is still pomelo.

2018:

Robert: Langsat.

Lisa: It is still pomelo.

2015:

Robert: Mangosteen.

Lisa: Pomelo.

Robert’s Favorite Beer (Lisa thinks beer is nasty):

2022:

2021:  Parish Brewing Co. Ghost in the Machine

2020: Inbound Brewing Co Hazy Shades.

2019: East West Summer Hefeweizen in Vietnam.

2018: East West Summer Hefeweizen in Vietnam.

2015: Trade Winds (real Scottish cask ale).

Beers Tried by Robert:

2022:  32 (USA (Chandeleur Island Brewery Lil Smack IPA, Second Line Brewery West Coast Style IPA, Second Line Pour with Vigor, Great Raft Reasonably Corrupt Black Lager, Parish Brewing Company Ghost in the Machine, Parish Brewing Company Envie, Fauberg Brewing Co Dat’Suma, Fauberg Brewing Co Westwego, Fauberg Golden Cypress, Abita Jacamo, Salt Life Lager, Devil’s Harvest IPA, Port Orleans Dorada, Tin Roof Voodoo, Chandeleur Island Brewing Lil’ Miss Sour, Elysian Brewing Space Dust IPA, Ananda IPA, Flying Tiger Brewery Final Resting Place DIPA, Moto Sonora Brewing Co. Victory or Death IPA, Barrio Brewing Co. Hipsterville Hazy IPA, Lakefront IPA, Third Space Upward Spiral, Goose Island Neon Beer Hug, Lakefront River West Stein, Lakefront IPA, Lakefront Hazy Rabbit IPA, Inbound Hazy Shades, Inbound Fruit of the Loop, Modist Noteworthy IPA, The Brewing Project Gunpowder IPA, New Glarus Spotted Cow, Tin Roof Blonde), Mexico (Tecate, Pacifico, Baja Brewing Ale Dorada Cabotella, Dos Equis, Tempus Dorada Cervaceria Primus Golden Ale))

2021:  63 (USA (Urban South Hey! Saison, Urban South Side Line, Urban South Intentional Atmosphere Hazy IPA, Urban South Snowball Juice, Urban South Patterns in the Sound, Urban South Around the Bend Triple IPA, Urban South Atmospheric Intentions Hazy Double IPA, Urban South Disco Ball Dreaming, Urban South Side Walk DIPA, Urban South Lost in the Woods DDH DIPA, Parish Brewing Co. Canebrake, Parish Brewing Co. Ghost in the Machine, Parish Brewing Co. Pure Tropics, Parish Dr. Juice, NOLA Brewing Co. Hoppyright Infringement IPA, Nola Brewing Co. Berliner Weisse Salted Watermelon, Nola Brewing Company Crescent City Connection West Coast IPA, Port Orleans Gleason IPA, Great Raft Commotion APA, Great Raft Rhinestone Life Wheat IPA, Great Raft Brewing Kampai Style, Great Raft Hobbies Include Single Hop IPA, Second Line Brewing Batture Blonde Ale, Gnarly Barley Jucifer IPA, Gnarly Barley Radical Rye IPA, Hi Sign Brewing Wooderson IPA, Revolution Antihero, Half Acre Things We Don’t Say IPA, Michelob Ultra, Equilibrium Brewery Wavelength IPA, Equilibrium Brewery Galaxy Flare DIPA, Zony Mash Tiny Bubbles, Zony Mash Locus Chorus Farmhouse Ale, Zony Mash Rhino Nasti Kellerbier, Flying Tiger Jucee, Flying Tiger Burma Blond Lager, Port Orleans Vice Versa Hazy Juicy IPA, Lakefront Wisconsinite Weiss, New Belgium Summer Bliss, Deep Ellium IPA, Deep Ellium Dallas Blond, Deep Ellum Manic Confidence Haze Enough IPA, Pegasus City Greater Dallas Lager, Rahr & Sons Adios Pantalones Lager, Four Corners Brewing El Grito Lager, St. Arnold Juicy IPA, Manhattan Project Beer Company, Double Half Life Hazy IPA, Three Nations Brewing, Royal Blood Orange Ale, Fernson Lion Paw, Firehouse Brewing Scrumptious IPA, Firehouse Brewing Buffalo Bitters, Snake River Brewing Pako IPA, Snake River Brewing Sprint to Finish IPA, Snake River Brewing Jenny Jake Lager, Flathead Lake Brewing Co. Zero Day Double IPA, Melvin IPA, Cigar City Bewing Jai Ala IPA), Spain (Cruz Campo, Cruz Campo Gran Reserva, Mahou, La Axarca, Victoria Malaga, Domus Regia Pale Ale))

2020: 42 (Colombia (3 Cordilleras Blanca, Andina, Kumbia Rubia, Kumbia Miel, Aguila, Happy Toucan, Happy Coco), Ecuador (Endemica Galapagos, Pilsener, Club Premium), USA (Inbound Brewing Co Hazy Shades, Inbound Brewing Petal Pounder, Surly Hell Lager, Dangerous Man Watermelon Sour, Dangerous Man House IPA, Dangerous Man Heads Up Hazer, Dangerous Man Peanut Butter Porter, Badger Hill Brewing Traitor IPA, Pryes Broadway IPA, Modist Dream Yard IPA, Abita Jockamo Juicy IPA, Abita The Boot, Abita Wrought Iron IPA, Abita Andygator, Urban South Brewery Holy Roller Hazy Juicy IPA, Urban South Paradise Park, Dixie Voodoo Doll Lil’ IPA, Dixie Voodoo Queen Hazy IPA, Tin Roof Juke Joint IPA, Second Line Batture Blonde Ale, Bayou Teche  Swamp Thing IPA, Bayou Teche Cocodrie, Abita Hop 99, Bayou Teche Brewing French Farmhouse Ale, Bayou Teche Brewing Rajin’ Cajuns, Bayou Teche Brewing Cinco de Bayou, Elysian Space Dust IPA, Magic Hat #9, Nola Blonde Ale, Nola Hopitoulas, Second Line Saison, Parish Brewing Ghost in the Machine, Parish Brewing Envie)).

2019: 62 (Vietnam (East West Pale Ale, East West Far East IPA, East West Summer Hefeweizen, East West Saigon Rose, East West Belgian Tippel, East West Triple IPA, East West Saison, East West Modern Belgian Blonde, Heart of Darkness Pitiless Folly, Heart of Darkness Churtz’s Insane, Heart of Darkness Foreign Shores Belgian Tripel, Heart of Darkness Brutal Instinct Brut IPA, Heart of Darkness Hard Ginger Beer, Heart of Darkness Creatures of Darkness New England IPA, Belgo Saison, Belgo Amber, Belgo Black, Belgo Full Moon, Belgo Wit, Bia Craft Summer Crush Ale, Bia Craft Amber Ale, Bia Craft IPA, Bia Craft Triple IPA, Winking Seal Bohemian Bastard, Rooster IPA, Pasteur Street Nitro Jasmine IPA), Indonesia (Kuda Putih, Prost), Thailand (Eleventh Fort IPA), Thailand (Stonehead Gancore IPA, Stonehead Smiling Evil, Stonehead Hazelnut and Chocolate Stour, Chao Siam IPA), USA (37 Flood IPA, Michelob Ultra, Leinenkugal Canoe Paddler), USA (Funkworks Saison, New Belgian Tripel, Goodwood American Pale Ale, Against the Grain Hoppy Saison, Door County Brewing Co Pastoral, Moon Ridge, New Glarus Kid Kolsch, Polygamy Nitro Porter), Mexico (Pacifico, Dos XX Amber, Dos XX Lager, Los Muertos El Jefeweizen, Loba Alfa India Pale Lager, Perro Negro IPA, Ippolita IPA, Chela Libre El Glu IPA), Spain (Cruz Campo Radler, Cruz Campo Pilsner, Merchant IPA, Mahou pilsner, Birra & Blues Rubia, Amstel Radler, Turia Marzen), France (Atlas, Leffe, Charlie Wells Triple Hop IPA), Italy (Menabrea Bionda, Nastro Azzurro, Forst)).

2018: Didn’t keep track.

2015: 103 (Thailand (Singha, Leo, Beer Lao, Tiger, Beer Chang, Siam), Myanmar (Dagon, Mandalay, Myanmar), Cambodia (Cambodia, Angkor, Anchor, Kingdom, Black Panther — he says this one is pretty bad), Vietnam (Red Saigon, Green Saigon, 333, Biere Larue, six beers brewed at Pasteur Street Brewing Company, fresh beer in Hoi An, Legend, the real Budweiser, Beer Hanoi, Bia Hoa Vien, Halidra, fresh beer in Hanoi, Carlsberg), Malaysia (Skol, Faxe), Singapore (some unknown IPA, Raffles), Sri Lanka (Lion, Lion Strong), South Africa (Hansa, Windhoek, Fraser’s Folly, Black Label), England (Old Speckled Hen, Butcombe Bitter), Wales (Nicholson’s Pale Ale, Trooper — made by one of the guys from Iron Maiden, Brains SA, John Smith’s Extra Smooth), Scotland (Belhaven Best, Guinness, Belhaven St. Andrew, Belhaven 80, Trade Winds, Wild Cat, Flying Scotsman, Northern Light, St. Mungo, Punk, Red Ness, Tennant, Boddington’s), U.S. (Founder’s All Day IPA, Revolution Use the Schwartz, Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’, Fist City) Belize (Belikan), Nicaragua (Toña, Erdmann’s IPA, Victoria, El Boom (a small microbrew), Jamaica (also a small microbrew and one of the worse beers Robert has ever tasted), Victoria Frost), Costa Rica (Bavaria, Imperial, Imperial Silver, Bohemia, locally brewed Stout, Costa Rica Craft Brewing Company Libertas blond IPA), Panama (Panama, Balboa, Atlas, Bocas Bewery Amber Ale, Bocas Brewer Cali Pale Ale, Boquete Brewery IPA, Casa Bruja Blond Ale, Casa Bruja IPA, Casa Bruja Tulivieja, Istmo Brew Pub Colon, Istmo Brew Pub Chiriqui, La Rana Dorada Pils, La Rana Dorada Especiale) Colombia (Club Colombia, Aguilar, Apostal IPA, Apostal pils, Bogota Beer Company Chapinero, Pilsen, Poker, Bogota Beer Company Candelaria Clasica, Bogata Beer Company Septmazio, Bogota Beer Company Bacata Blanca), Hong Kong (Kirin Ichiban, Asahi, San Miguel), Thailand (Archa)).

Favorite Bar:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  Bayou Wine Garden in New Orleans.

Lisa:  Bayou Wine Garden in New Orleans.

2020:

Robert:  We weren’t in enough bars in 2020 to have a favorite.

Lisa:  What Robert said.

2019:

Robert: Ayishi Fine Arts Fine Wine in Khao Lak. They had a cheese platter. Enough said.

Lisa: I don’t think I had a favorite bar in 2019.  Lots of fine places, but nothing really stood out.

2018:

Robert: Balthazar Wine Bar in Siem Reap. Good wine, better company.

Lisa: Balthazar Wine Bar in Siem Reap.

2015:

Robert: The Living Room, Kampot and Absinthe Café, Phnom Penh.

Lisa: Yellow Cafe, Langkawi.

Favorite Soft Drink:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert: A ginger lemonade concoction at a Middle Eastern restaurant in Granada, Spain.

Lisa:  Orange Fanta.

2020:

Robert:  Lulo juice in Medellin.

Lisa:  Limonada de coco (basically, a coconut milk and limeade smoothie) in Colombia; fresh strawberry juice in Medellin.

2019:

Robert: Orangina in Europe.  Agua fresca in Puerto Vallarta.

Lisa: Agua fresca in Puerto Vallarta, particularly the hibiscus flavor.

2018:

Robert: Watermelon juice everywhere.

Lisa: Lemon ginger fizz in Ubud (this drink can be really good or really bad) and lime ginger fizz in Chiang Mai and Italian sodas all over.

2015: Didn’t keep track.

Favorite Hotel:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  What Lisa said.

Lisa:  None.  No place we stayed could arise to a “favorite.”

2020:

Robert:  Loma Nevada Minca Hostel in Minca.

Lisa:  Novotel in Medellin.

2019:

Robert: Verona Lanta on Koh Lanta.

Lisa:  Sofitel in Nusa Dua.

2018:

Robert: Sofitel So in Bangkok with the Blue Alcove as a special mention for the best economical hotel.

Lisa: Sofitel So in Bangkok.

2015:

Robert: Sofitel So in Bangkok.

Lisa: Sofitel So in Bangkok.

Worst Hotel:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  Novotel Suites in Malaga.  Who turns the AC off and the heat onwhen it is still 90 degrees out?

Lisa:  21C Museum Hotel in Chicago.  They had a light in the bathroom that went on whenever motion was sensed, even in the middle of the night.

2020:

Robert: Hotel Minca La Casona in Minca.

Lisa: Hotel Minca La Casona in Minca.

2019:

Robert: Ibis Styles Jakarta Airport.

Lisa: Ibis Styles Jakarta Airport.

2018:

Robert: Ahyu Hotel in KL.

Lisa: King Palace in Hanoi.

2015:

Robert: Kaday Aung in Bagan.

Lisa: Kaday Aung in Bagan.

Favorite Excursion:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  Caminito del Rey.

Lisa:  Seeing the dancing horses in Jerez, Spain.

2020:

Robert: Diving at Kicker Rock in the Galapagos.

Lisa: Snorkling at Kicker Rock in the Galapagos; snorkling with sea lions at Isabela Island in the Galapagos.

2019:

Robert: Our trip to Herculeum in Naples, Italy.

Lisa: The food tour we took in Seville, Spain.  I would have never tried pig cheeks if we hadn’t gone on this tour.

2018:

Robert: Flores scuba dive to Manta Point.

Lisa: Didn’t really have one. We didn’t take that many excursions and none of those we took really stood out for me.

2015:

Robert: Hanging out with cheetahs in South Africa.

Lisa: South African safari.

Favorite Beach:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  What Lisa said.

Lisa:  We really didn’t visit beaches in 2021.

2020:

Robert: Didn’t have one.

Lisa: It wasn’t much of a beach year.

2019:

Robert: The beach in Puerto Vallarto.

Lisa: Didn’t really have one — some were good but nothing stood out.

2018:

Robert: Didn’t really have one — some were good but nothing stood out.

Lisa: I’m with Robert on this one.

2015:

Robert: Nha Trang.

Lisa: Nha Trang.

Best dive/snorkel site:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

We didn’t snorkel or dive in 2021.

2020:

Robert: Gordon Rocks in the Galapagos because of the hammerhead sharks.

Lisa: Kicker Rock in the Galapagos because of the turtles.

2019:

Robert: Richeilieu Rock in Thailand because of the sheer number of fish.

Lisa: Didn’t really have one.

2018:

Robert: Manta Point off Flores, Indonesia because of manta rays.

Lisa: Jemeluk Beach near Amed, Bali because we could snorkel from shore and there were tons of cool fish.

2015:

Robert: Hin Daeng off of Koh Lanta, Thailand because of a giant puffer fish and a giant moray eel.

Lisa: A little island near Koh Lanta, Thailand because of a sea snake.

Favorite Experience:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  Nothing really stood out.

Lisa:  Seeing friends in Chicago for the first time after we were all vaccinated.

2020:

Robert: Snorkle through Kicker Rock.

Lisa: Snorkling with sea lions in the Galapagos.

2019:

Robert: Diving Richeilieu Rock in Thailand.

Lisa: Hanging with our friends Ken and Sue in France.

2018:

Robert: Seeing the manta rays in Flores.

Lisa: Watching an orangutan in Borneo.

2015:

Robert: Hanging with cheetahs in South Africa.

Lisa: Watching lions, cheetahs and giraffes in the Greater Kruger area.

Biggest Surprise:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  Spanish vermouth and how wonderful it is.

Lisa:  That so many Americans would refuse to get vaccinated.

2020:

Robert: The let down of the Galapagos.

Lisa: Covid, and not in a good way.

2019:

Robert: The reminder of just how big Paris is during the transit strike when we had to walk everywhere.

Lisa: How much I loved Spain.

2018:

Robert: The extent to which we really enjoyed the city of Kuching in Borneo.

Lisa: Having the best Lebanese food of my life at Al Diwan in Seminyak, of all places.

2015: Didn’t keep track.

Most Miserable Moment:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  Dealing with home renovations.

Lisa:  Realizing we had to leave Spain earlier than planned because of the latest covid outbreak.

2020:

Robert: When the borders closed in Ecuador and trying to get back to the U.S.

Lisa: In a year of misery, how can you pick just one moment?

2019:

Robert:  The death of Robert’s brother.

Lisa:  Same.

2018:

Robert: Feeling absolutely lost at the Shanghai airport trying to figure out how to transfer planes only to realize we had to enter the country, pick up our bags, check in for our next flight, and then go through security again.

Lisa: Having food poisoning in Phuket. Nothing like leaving Robert at a restaurant because I was too sick to stay there.

2015:

Robert: Being wedded to a toilet for 2 days in Bangkok AND in Phnom Penh.

Lisa: Hiking the volcano in Leon (although boarding down made it worth it).

Serious Illnesses:

2022:

Robert:

Lisa:

2021:

Robert:  None.

Lisa:  None.

2020:

Robert: 2 (the flu-like thing that started in Nevada and carried right over into 2020 in Colombia, food poisoning in Medellin).

Lisa: 1 (some flu-like thing in Colombia).

2019:

Robert: 4 (Food poisoning in France, most likely from a bad oyster, and a horrible reaction to the shingles vaccine and a migraine in Arizona and some sort of flu-like thing in Nevada).

Lisa: 2 (food poisoning in Ao Nang and a horrible reaction to the shingles vaccine).

2018:

Robert: 2 (flu in Siem Reap, food poisoning in Luang Prabang).

Lisa: 2 (food poisoning on Phuket, flu in Siem Reap).

2015:

Robert: 2 (food poisoning in Bangkok and Phnom Phen).

Lisa: None.

Things We Wished We Packed (obsolete now):

2020:  A complete kitchen (with an air fryer) for all the months we were stuck in apartments doing nothing but cooking and watching tv.

2019: A chip clip, a carrot grater.

2018: More Q-tips, better shoes.

2017: All purpose tool, corkscrew, can opener (purchased in Ao Nang), sarong (purchased in Koh Lipe), mask/snorkel (not that a mask/snorkel would have fit in our luggage).

What We Missed (obsolete now):

2020:

Robert: What Lisa said, plus new experiences.

Lisa: Bars, restaurants, other people.

2019:

Robert:  Salad bars.

Lisa:  Saltines, salad bars, and toilet seat covers.

2018:

Robert: Our friends, riding bikes, and fancy cocktails.

Lisa: Our friends, match days at AJH.

2015:

Robert: Our pets, our friends, riding bikes, fancy cocktails.

Lisa: Our friends. match days at AJH, Sunday afternoons at Red Door.