No more flying

So our trip has come to an end. I find myself saddened by this whenever I become reminiscent of some of the delightful experiences we had. However, I know that whenever I feel any sense of nostalgia, I can always think about the little perks of being home. Such as, not having to sleep with one eye open for fear of Jamaicans breaking into my room and robbing me. And being able to use shampoo and conditioner for more than one day in a row.
This trip was an amazing experience. I realized just how amazing America really is. many amazWe were able to visit a lot of amazing cities. The climates, people, cultures and landscapes are all so unique and beautiful in their own ways.
I found at least five cities that I could see myself living in at some point in my life. Nick and I were laying down beneath the Washington Memorial after walking for hours on end, and he asked me "If you had to live somewhere for three years, where would you rather live, Seattle or Chicago?" I said "Chicago."
This sparked an interesting game in which we compared the desirability of each city we visited. Here are some of the results of our discussion.

Seattle or Chicago, Mike & Nick: Chicago
Boston or Chicago, Mike: Chicago, Nick: Boston
San Francisco or Boston, Nick: Boston, Mike: San Fran
Vegas or Miami, Nick: Vegas, Mike: Miami
DC or Seattle, Nick: DC, Mike: Seattle
Portland or Vegas: Mike and Nick: Vegas
Portland or Orlando (these were our two least desirable US cities on the trip), Mike and Nick: Portland
Orlando or San Juan PR, Mike & Nick: San Juan
Orlando or Costa Rica, Nick: Orlando, Mike: Costa Rica.

We went on playing this game for quite some time. We came to the conclusion that we both really liked NY, LA, CHI, SEA, BOS and DC. And that we would both rather live without running water in Costa Rica for three years than Orlando. Harsh? I don't think so.

So the next step is cutting together hours and hours of footage. If you think "fun" when you hear this, then you're right. I'm pumped. that's it for now....

The Middle Seat

Mike and Nick discuss the dreaded "Middle Seat."

Seattle on Sundays

Being in the city of Seattle on a fall Sunday has opened my eyes to the hype behind the fans in Seattle. They are the textbook definition of die hard.

Now I am far from a Seattle Seahawks fan. I would even goes as far as to say that I don't particularly like them. That may have started when Giants kicker Jay Feely missed three game winning field goals against Seattle in 2005 causing us to lose the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

Regardless of my prior feelings, I couldn't help but appreciate. Downtown Seattle on Sunday morning. I could not find a single person who was not adorned with Seahawks apparrel. Even the homeless and panhandlers had managed to throw on their Blue and Green attire.

Nick and I contemplating getting tickets for the game until we realized that the minimum we would find was $150 a ticket. I still haggled for the sport of it, stating "$30 cash in hand, I walk." No luck.

My prior NFL tailgating experience consists of thousands of drunk Giants fans screaming at each other and opposing fans in a parking lot in New Jersey for hours.

Seattle's pre-game celebration consists of packed sports bars, a great drum line, peanut vendors, and a small parking lot filled with rowdy fans firing footballs into the crowd at the other end of the parking lot, only to repeatedly hit un-expecting people in the head with that football.

HIGHLIGHTS:

-A mid fifties female Seahawks fan swears that she recalls being intimate with me in the 1970s at a nightclub. (2 mustache points for me.)

-3 Seahawks fans mistake me for the character "Russell Hammond, from Almost Famous." Their words, "STILLWATER! You're the singer from Stillwater!" (another 3 mustache points)

- A tailgating mother insists that we eat her Seahawks rice-crispy-treats. She won't let us leave without them. Who do I hold responsible? (My mustache.)

MY CONCLUSION:

Seattle rocks, has always rocked and will continue to rock like a hippie's bassinet! What rocks harder than Seattle? Seattle on Football Sundays. It felt like a college campus on gameday, only it wasn't a college, it was a city. I will never question the home field advantage of Qwest Field again.

However.....as great and as passionate as Seattle's fans are, they will never, ever compare to the die hard, blue blooded fans of the New York Giants. I've watched two smack talking mid-twenties Eagles fans get ripped from their car windows and slammed down to the Meadowlands pavement they had so cockily rolled over, by two grey haired Giants Fans who's only message or explanation to boys was a calmly stated "watch your mouth."

All in all, I love football, I love America and I love jetBlue for making this trip happen.

-Mike

Pictures from Costa Rica

Costa Rican jungles beaches and more.

Full Itinerary

We've finally finalized our itinerary.

(this is for Mike and Nick. Alex and John's itineraries are a bit different.)

Itinerary:
Sept 8: fly to Las Vegas
Sept 9: Vegas
Sept 10: fly to Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Sept 11: Ft. Lauderdale/ Miami
Sept 12: Ft. Lauderdale/ Miami
Sept 13: fly to San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sept 14: fly to San Jose, Costa Rica
Sept 15: Costa Rica
Sept 16 Costa Rica
Sept 17: fly to Orlando
Sept 18: Orlando
Sept 19: fly to Los Angeles
Sept 20: Los Angeles
Sept 21: Los Angeles
Sept 22: Los Angeles
Sept 23: fly to San Francisco
Sept 24: San Francisco
Sept 25: Fly to Portland, train to Seattle
Sept 26: Seattle
Sept 27: Fly to Boston (Red-eye)
Sept 28: Boston
Sept 29: Boston
Sept 30: Chicago
Oct 1: Chicago
Oct 2: fly to New Orleans
Oct 3: New Orleans
Oct 4: fly to Jamaica
Oct 5: Jamaica
Oct 6: Jamaica
Oct 7: fly to Wash DC
Oct 8: fly to New York

The 4 Travelers

I realized today that I never actually established who the four guys traveling with us are, and what our goals are for that matter. So this is me playing catch up. Let's go alphabetically and start with Alex.

ALEX, is one of my best friends from high school who lives in New York City. When I presented him with this brilliant idea he seemed interested but not overly enthused. I didin't talk to him about it again until I received a call from him on the last day of sales for "All you can Jet" passes, telling me he purchased his pass. Ale

x has made his objectives for this trip abundantly clear. He intends to tan his body beyond the point of racial distinction. He calls this his "Quest for the perfect tan."

JOHN, is my old roommate from prep-school in New Jersey. I only point out the location of the prep school because John embodies everything that is New Jersey. He played football at

Rutgers University and knows more fun facts about the state of New Jersey than any human being should know. When starting a conversation with a new person, he is guaranteed to ask "So what do you think about New Jersey?", within the first four questions. He is genuinely one of the best people I know. And from what I can tell his goals for this trip are simple. Dancing, romancing, singing and prancing. I don't how much validity there is to that, but I wanted something that rhymed.

NICK, is just awesome. He's the youngest of the bunch, but has arguably the most positive attitude out of all of us. I met Nick living in LA and we soon began writing and directing short films together. He's one of the most creative guys I know and when we decided to take this journey he immediately started spitting out brilliant ideas. Nick goals for this trip are quite similar to mine, to produce an entertaining and thought provoking film.

ME (Mike). The second I heard about this promotion I said to myself "I have to do this." It was one of those moments of clarity when I just realized it had to be done. Sort of like when Ferris woke up that morning and decided he was

going to have an amazing day off. Or like when Clark Grizwald realized that he had to take his family to Wallyworld no matter the cost. It was one of those "she will be mine" moments from Wayne's World. I was destined for this. So I rallied the troops and here we are. 13 days into the grea

test trip of my life. My goal is document the journeys we embark on and stories that we create. It is to meet interesting people and learn about life in the process. My goal is to grow as a person while getting some of it on camera. I can only imagine what the second leg of this trip has in store, but I await it eagerly.

-Mike

Notes for Travel: Don't sit in front of Alex

Why the mustache?

Johnny's take on New York City

Reffered by the world as "the city that never sleeps", does that mean that everyone is always awake? because i got tired around 1:30AM!

(Definition) 'Successful Night' - Showing up at perfect time to makeWebster Hall's "Awesome 80's Prom" and not only fit right in with the 80's theme (by sporting my mothers jean jacket, and HER actual jeans from the 1980's and a 'vintage' Ghostbusters T-Shirt with Guady Golden Neck Chain). I am not sure if it were my doodie dance moves or serious good 80's looks, but i was a part of more photographs than Brittney Spears did shaving her head (a literal line to take pictures)! I also recieved 20+ butt squeezes which have only aided in my Hienie Self Confidence! From there packed a small 8 people into my 1995 Maxima ('Time Machine') Dance on the hood at a stop light, Enter McFaddens (Irish Bar) only to be confused for a group of 'Hipsters.' and finishing by DEVOURING McDonalds new #2 (Quarter Pounder w/ CHeese)

Johnny in South Beach

The theory of the Baggage Claim

Pulled over in Hollywood FL

From the top of the Stratosphere

Johnny's take on Costa Rica

Costa Rica is in fact a 3rd world country, do not be confused. the water cannot be trusted and neither can the Beef.

the only true way to enter Costa Rica, is with NO plan at all, just a little bit of elbow grease, and a whole lot of "want to"

Start with a 3 hour drive through the JUNGLE and a stop at POLLO FIESTA which translates to (Chicken Party) where each meal required the killing and cooking of a live chicken!
Jaco Beach: Considered to be one of the worlds most premiere surf sites, and as much as i agree with this, i can also call it the worlds most premiere Bad Brown Sand/Pee Smelling Street/Stray Dog Infested/Homeless Inhabited surf sites! 5 hours of surfing will leave you with 3 things: 1) Chaffed Nipples 2)Bronzed Shoulders with extreme back to butt tan lines and 3) Charlie Horse Prone Legs!

Manuel Antonio: the actual jungle, most beautiful location yet, but also the hardest/windiest/topsie-turbiest road to get there. Even Thomas the little engine that could, would say "screw it" and give up on these hills! the people, very friendly, and the resteraunts........ Gorgeous, simply gorgeous! When you happen to go out to the only location with english speaking tourists are you feel at home, until you walk outside and realize you are in the middle of the rain forrest! sleeping here is over-rated because you are going to be woken up at 4:30AM weather you like it or not, but howling/screaming/angry MONKEYS!

Going from Manuel Antionio to New Brunswick, New Jersey Entails:
45 minute Car Ride to closest town
5 hour bus ride to San Jose Airport
3 hour flight to orlando florida
10 minute monorail to main gate
10 minute monorail to departure gate
2 1/2 hour plane ride to Newark New Jersey
20 minute monorail (Airtran) to NJ Transit Train tracks
45 minute Train ride to New Brunswick, NJ
10 Minute walk to center New Brunswick

doing this will only cost you an arm and a leg, and take a quick 17 hours!
But coming home with Viagra.............. PRICELESS

-John

Johnny's take on Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico: considered by few as America's 51st state, but to steal the words from Belinda Carlisle "ooh heaven is a place on earth"

it only took 14 hours to convince me that: dreams can come true, miracles do happen, Love is possible, and santa claus is real!

Pulling an "All-Nighter" is not just staying up all night, it consists of:

"Questing for the perfect tan," hammocks, eating chicken on the bone that does not look like it is on the bone which is meant to decieve and break teeth, meeting with strangers from the airport, taking part in homeless magic shows, singing 4 hours of Karaoke (which ONLY consists of the great workings of Enrique Iglesies' Bailamos) Lazers (where a weapons check is the same as a genital physical with a happy ending) creating dance cirlces and effectively owning them by "tearing the dance floor", alone time in waterfall style showers, mustache rides, and hotel room dance sessions only to make a 6AM flight

-John

Johnny's take on Miami

Miami has been formerly called "the city where the heat is on" well i find this to be........... completely TRUE!

But please do not ask me, just ask my bronzed nips!
Their beaches, clubs, resteraunts, homes, and people are muy caliente.

On this trip: i ate italiain, enjoyed harvest cheddar sunchips (absolutely delectable) went on a boat (which broke down for 4 hours in biscain bay... at night), had a "brick of curly fries", saw boobies at the beach, witnessed lightning strike a car, crushed chick peas into hummus (spelled right?) and ate it, danced on tables (fell off one), gave my heart to a 45 year old "cougar" (term courtesy of Maxim magazine) who left me a rather flirty voicemail! Found where all hispanics go to celebrate their evenings (Spice), and realized why they are called the miami hurricanes (because there rain storms are freaking hurricaines)

- John

Johnny's Blog from the air

Day 4 (Day 1 for me):
Arrived in Fort Lauderdale at 8 pm, and sat indian style in the middle of baggage claim awaiting my best buds arrival! 4 people managed to completely ignore my positioning and walked directly into me! the boys showed up at 9 and we drove straight to a local italian bistro were i enjoyed (actually did not enjoy) a Meatball "Hot Hero" and three ZephyrHills bottled waters (not poland springs or deer park like they should be)! played atlantic intercoastal grab-ass, and gigglefest until 2 am! then i fell asleep enjoying Superbad (featuring Jonah Hill and Michael Cera)

Day 5 (Day 2 for me):
Woke up at 9 am, only to look myself in the eyes and realize that i was still tired. so..................... i slept until 11! had a bacon, egg and cheese on focaccia bread (because the standard bagel is not thriving in this region) now on route to miami beach where inhibitions are no where to be found, and good times roll like a cd! i will keep you posted!

Day 6 (day 3 for me):
i think i met my future wife today, she is 40 years old and has a 23 year old son (whom i hope to become facebook friends with) we danced for 45 minutes straight in almost kissed 12-14 times! the heat was muy caliente (i believe thats what she kept screaming on the dance floor) let me back track, woke up and did not to eat breakfast (that was my choice) and started my journey to miami beach (south beach) you know the party where the heat is on! went in the ocean twice and peed in the ocean..... twice! had a cheeseburger at the colony motel and i must say it was scrumtulescent, i also enjoy shoe string fries. then drove to the OPA where this electric dance party took place! it was wild and crazy kids featuring omaar gooding! i think today has better defined my life!

Day 2 Update

Rock, Paper Scissors for who sleeps with Mike

Day 9

Day 9:
Getting on the plane to Orlando. Looks like it's the HoJo tonight. Costa Rica gets a 9 out of 10. Or 14 out of 10 for Johnny. (He likes giving bonus points) Saturday we're in LA. Buenos Dias!

Day 7

They just keep getting better and better. Flew from Puerto Rico to Costa Rica today. Rented a car, which took close to 45 minutes because Alex and I decided to haggle with every rental salesman in the airport. Sortly after, got lost in a very shady neighborhood in San Jose.
Finally made it back on the highway and stopped at Fiesta de Pollo. Now I'm not exactly fluent in Spanish but I believe that means chicken party... And what a party it was. We feasted on chickens that were clucking in a pen in the back just hours prior.
As we stopped to eat a parade started down the road we were driving, so upon leaving we joined the procession. Drove through some of the most amazing mountains I've ever seen and finally arrived in Jaco on the beach. Drove around until we found a hotel on the beach that we liked. Jumped in the Ocean and got hammered by enormous waves.

much love,
more to come,
Mike

Day 1 Video Blog

Day 4 update

Friday Day 4:

It doesn't get much crazier than this. Got a late start on the boat. Ran out of oil a mile out in the ocean. Went back in to the marina and filled the oil tank. Head back out to the ocean dodged two heavy thunderstorms and made it to the Grove by 6. Ate oysters, clams and stone crab from the Raw bar. John and I danced aggressively with two women who were slightly older than us.

Got back on the boat right before sundown only to have more oil problems. Drove 8 miles per hour up the inter-coastal from Miami. Ran out of gas in Biscayne Bay. Called the Coast Guard. Swam for an hour in the pitch dark. Had a dance party. Beat boxed and freestyled for a while. Got towed to a 24 hour gas station only to find that they have no gas and there are no other 24 hour gas stations.

Made it home by 1 AM without the boat. Went to Walgreens and bought a Digiorno Pizza. Feasted. Went to bed.

Saturday is proving to be just as eventful.

-Mike

Day 3

At JFK about to head down to Ft. Lauderdale FL. Two days in Vegas has taken it's toll. People don't sleep much there. Trip highlights include Alex winning money. Mike losing money. Nick getting carded for a glass of water. Oh and the $6 buffet that is taking it's toll on my stomach right now. Videos to come tonight.

-Mike

Itinerary as of Sept. 7

Here's the itinerary for the first week.

Sept 8: fly to Las Vegas
Sept 9: Vegas
Sept 10: fly to Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Sept 11: Ft. Lauderdale/ Miami
Sept 12: Ft. Lauderdale/ Miami
Sept 13: fly to San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sept 14: fly to San Jose, Costa Rica
Sept 15: Costa Rica
Sept 16 Costa Rica
Sept 17: fly to Orlando
Sept 18: Orlando
Sept 19: ?

Running aground on a sand bar in Miami

So it's been quite some time since we've posted anything. Largely because we've been super busy on other fun projects. However, as we got back to cutting together this footage into some sort of story, I found this delightful snippet. We run aground on a sand bar in the middle of Port Miami.