Author: doug

4 nice things about frequent flier miles

boarding-pass

  1. Just 20,000 of them got us from Montevideo to Miami;
  2. “TSA PRECHK” exempts you from the more ludicrous aspects of American Security Theater inspired by the “shoe bomber” and ”liquid bomber” made-for-TV dramas;
  3. Priority AAccess means you can get on the second-rate plane used on the non-competitive MIA-MVD run early enough to find an overhead bin for your carry-on bag;
  4. Between MVD and MIA and LAS (Las Vegas), we have none left to expire.

The last point is not trivial, since 80,000 of my frequent flier miles expired earlier this year.

 

¡Milagro!

OK, not exactly a miracle, but feels like one after buying plastic ice trays that start breaking within a few days: orange ones purchased at Disco supermarket.

orange-ice-tray

Even after ten days in the land of low prices / high expectations (that would be ‘Murka; Uruguay being the land of high prices / low expectations), I still joy in something as simple as cheap orange ice trays that eject intact ice cubes — the entire tray! — and have shown no sign of cracking after several weeks.

Florida sightings

stop

Thanksgiving parade hint for the directionally challenged

 

perseverance

Here’s to the crazy ones …

 

Morbidly obese diners in Vero Beach, Florida

TooJay’s Deli, Vero Beach: fellas, ya don’t hafta order extra fries with that … every single time … honest ….

 

sandhill_cranes

Sandhill cranes in the ‘hood

Not what I had in mind

When we get to Las Vegas, the first thing I need is a cheap phone, so I ordered one to pick up at an AT&T store. Since I don’t know Las Vegas, I clicked on “directions to this store.”

It appears that one more step was required.

att-store

Price shopping

We have two supermarkets in Atlántida, Tienda Inglesa and Disco, the latter a bit more down-scale. Because the wait for a cashier in Disco is often considerably longer, and it’s just a dingier experience overall, I seldom go there, but got inspired to compare prices.

Wine price comparison Uruguay: Tienda Inglesa, Disco
Wow! Quick way to knock 10% off the cost of wine.

I think that might change. A cashier offered that they also give you a further 10% on ten bottles or more, something I’ve certainly never heard at Tienda Inglesa.

Turning the heat to “low”

Gas stoves in Uruguay, generally not matched to the gas sold here
Onions and panceta getting ready for Sunday omelets

Amongst many other curiosities in Uruguay (such as virtually every refrigerator sold with a door that opens to the right, usually not reversible), you’ll probably end up with a gas stove that is not jetted properly for the “Supergas” sold here. Light the burner, turn it back towards “off” slightly, and if it’s the only thing you’re cooking, put some more distance between pan and heat!