{"id":2990,"date":"2025-09-30T16:37:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T16:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/?page_id=2990"},"modified":"2025-10-02T15:05:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T15:05:42","slug":"40-years-old-celebration-trip","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/trips\/40-years-old-celebration-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"40 years old celebration trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>During the year 2025, I turned 40, which was celebrated by a great party planned by my family. However, I wanted to do something more. I had for some time been thinking of a Caribbean cruise, like Royal Caribbean. So I started to look for that, found which ship and islands I wanted to go to, and then started to look for flight tickets through Chatflights. Since I wanted to go in a not-too-wide window and fly in business class across the Atlantic, the options weren&#8217;t too many. Hence, the long stay in the USA (and territories).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tour started and ended in Stockholm, of course, and then followed this route:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Miami<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Orlando<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>San Juan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Caribbean\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>St. Thomas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>St. Maarten<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>U.S. Virgin Islands<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dominica<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Barbados<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dallas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Las Vegas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>San Francisco<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>All posts from the trip can be found below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"columns-3 wp-block-post-template is-layout-grid wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-2fc57c17 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3005 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/12\/the-adventure-begins\/\" target=\"_self\" >The adventure begins!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I had prepared everything the night before, since the alarm would go off at 03:30. Passport, wallet, all luggage, clothes, everything was laid out to minimize the risk of forgetting anything in the middle of the night. When the alarm went off, I got up right away, tired but excited! Took a shower, got dressed,&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-12T21:00:00+00:00\">November 12, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3042 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/13\/on-the-road\/\" target=\"_self\" >On the road<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I fell asleep rather quickly, according to my Pixel Watch. The planes didn&#8217;t bother me that much. On the other hand, I&#8217;m still sort of on Swedish time, so I woke up already at 6 and had a hard time going back to sleep. Since the breakfast didn&#8217;t open until 06:30, and I couldn&#8217;t pick&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-13T21:00:00+00:00\">November 13, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3068 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/14\/magical-kingdom-finally\/\" target=\"_self\" >Magic Kingdom, finally!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">When I was at Disney World three years ago, the storm Ian closed the park for my third day. On that day, I was supposed to go to Magic Kingdom, and I had done the three other parks. So this time, it was first on my list. It seems I still haven&#8217;t adjusted timewise, so&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-14T21:00:00+00:00\">November 14, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3161 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/15\/triple-park-day\/\" target=\"_self\" >Triple park day<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Immediately when I got up, I felt the 22k steps from yesterday. Not my usual amount of movement during a day. And when I wasn&#8217;t walking, I was standing, usually in a queue somewhere, just to be able to sit for about two minutes during a ride \ud83d\ude1b This morning, the mobile order worked as&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-15T21:00:00+00:00\">November 15, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3224 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/16\/one-small-step-for-man-one-giant-leap-for-mankind\/\" target=\"_self\" >&#8220;One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind&#8221;<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Apparently, I was a bit tired because I slept all the way until the alarm went off at 7:30. I packed up my stuff, took a shower, and then got to the car. Check out was very easy. I clicked on a couple of buttons in the app, and I could keep the keycard. Programmed&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-16T21:00:00+00:00\">November 16, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3277 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/17\/universal-orlando-resort\/\" target=\"_self\" >Universal Orlando Resort<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">It was almost cold in my room when I woke up this morning. And who is to blame for setting the thermostat too low? \ud83d\ude09 I took a warm shower, and while the hot water was pouring down, I was thinking a few hours forward when I would be standing in a line somewhere, in&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-17T21:00:00+00:00\">November 17, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3329 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/18\/universal-islands-of-adventure\/\" target=\"_self\" >Universal Islands of Adventure<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">This morning, I actually snoozed twice before getting up. Took it quite slow and arrived at the Universal Islands of Adventure first at 9:45.&nbsp;Walked around for a bit, and ended up at The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. It was the same technology as the Transformers, a pod holding eight people over two rows, which then&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-18T21:00:00+00:00\">November 18, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3373 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/19\/universal-epic-universe\/\" target=\"_self\" >Universal Epic Universe<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Today it was time for the newest park at Universal Resort Orlando, the Epic Universe. Early entry opened at 9, so not that early morning, but I got there at 8:25 to have some margins. It started with a queue, which would be the theme of today. At about 8:40, they opened the gates so&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-19T21:00:00+00:00\">November 19, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3449 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/laundry-shopping-short-visit-to-the-park\/\" target=\"_self\" >Laundry, shopping, short visit to the park<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Didn&#8217;t set an alarm for this morning. The plan was to do laundry and then see what happens. So when I woke up, I made my way two floors down to the guest laundry room. I loaded the machine, put in the detergent, and just realized that the machine was broken. Managed to pull out&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-20T21:00:00+00:00\">November 20, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3465 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/21\/leaving-continental-usa\/\" target=\"_self\" >Leaving Continental USA<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">With all the preparations done yesterday and with express checkout, it was really easy to leave the hotel. Click on a link in an email, walk out to the car, use the room key to get out of the parking lot, and on my way to the airport. I stopped on the way to fill&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-21T21:00:00+00:00\">November 21, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3488 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/22\/bon-voyage\/\" target=\"_self\" >Bon voyage<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The night went alright, even though the AC unit turned on and off all night, and some construction work started at 07. I had the pool just outside my window, and I was on the ground floor, so the curtains had to stay closed. Jumped into the shower, which took minutes to get hot water.&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-22T21:00:00+00:00\">November 22, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3523 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/23\/new-island-still-in-the-usa\/\" target=\"_self\" >New island, still in the USA<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Since my scuba diving tour was cancelled, my plan was just to get on shore and explore the large town of Charlotte Amalie, population of about 8,000 according to Wikipedia. But first, I needed breakfast. Apparently, there were three options: room service, \u00e0 la carte at Tides Dining Room, or buffet at Windjammer Marketplace. This&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-23T21:00:00+00:00\">November 23, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3569 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/24\/meeting-relatives-on-the-other-side-of-the-atlantic\/\" target=\"_self\" >Meeting relatives, on the other side of the Atlantic<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">After waking up by the ship docking at the port (the deck just below and in front of my cabin contains lots of the gear used to moor the ship), I left at 9:20 through the gate. My earlier (poor) research said that it was about a 25-minute walk to the place where I should&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-24T21:00:00+00:00\">November 24, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3611 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/25\/st-croix\/\" target=\"_self\" >St Croix<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">After some buffet breakfast, I left the ship at 9:25. On the pier, they offered a shuttle to get to shore, because of the long walk. It was about 200 meters. Doesn&#8217;t get much more &#8220;cruising&#8221; than that, does it? After 15 minutes walking back and forth, I felt that I had &#8220;seen&#8221; what needed&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-25T21:00:00+00:00\">November 25, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3654 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/26\/dominica\/\" target=\"_self\" >Dominica<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Today I tried room service to not have to queue in the buffet since I had a time to adhere to, 8 o&#8217;clock in the main theatre for the excursion. I had the alarm at 7, and had booked the time slot 7-7:30, so just before seven the phone rang, and they gave me a&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-26T21:00:00+00:00\">November 26, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3719 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/27\/barbados\/\" target=\"_self\" >Barbados<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">After a quick breakfast at Windjammer Market (the buffet), I left the ship at 9.\u00a0There were four cruise ships docked, so quite many people in circulation. At least one ship had this as its home port, so people were checking in and out. I had to walk around that operation, but just a couple of&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-27T21:00:00+00:00\">November 27, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3778 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/28\/last-cruise-day\/\" target=\"_self\" >Last cruise day<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Today I did a sleep-in. I had the alarm at 9 and woke up just before it, and slept through the whole night. It was well needed. I took it slow and left for breakfast at 9:45 with a small backpack, and 45 minutes later I was lying in a sunbed at the pool in&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-28T21:00:00+00:00\">November 28, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3805 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/29\/back-at-san-juan\/\" target=\"_self\" >Back at San Juan<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I was awakened by the speaker at 7 o&#8217;clock to say that you could now disembark. Instead, I took a shower, got dressed, stuffed the last items into my backpack, and headed to Tides Restaurant for some breakfast. I was seated at 7:45, had the same server as the first night, and we recognized each&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-29T21:00:00+00:00\">November 29, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3820 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/11\/30\/visiting-spanish-forts\/\" target=\"_self\" >Visiting Spanish forts<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I took a really slow morning. Today&#8217;s plan was to &#8220;do&#8221; Old San Juan and the forts, maybe followed by a quick jump into the ocean. So before I left the hotel, I asked for a beach towel. Should have gotten two; they are not big.&nbsp; Got into an Uber at about 10. The driver&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-30T21:00:00+00:00\">November 30, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3884 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/01\/lets-go-to-the-woods\/\" target=\"_self\" >Lets go to the woods!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">When I decided to stay a couple of days in San Juan after the cruise, I started to look at what to do here. One thing that came high on the list of suggestions was a visit to El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest within the national forest system. So I found a guided tour,&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-01T21:00:00+00:00\">December 1, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3929 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/02\/i-thought-texas-was-supposed-to-be-warm\/\" target=\"_self\" >I thought Texas was supposed to be warm?<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Like almost always, I was ahead of schedule. The Uber was booked for 8:45. At 8:20, I stepped out of the hotel, the check-out process had taken 15 seconds.&nbsp;While waiting, the guy who got his room cleaned out two days ago, he got his stuff back, and the hotel said there had been a misunderstanding.&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-02T21:00:00+00:00\">December 2, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-3961 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/03\/my-first-ever-nba-game\/\" target=\"_self\" >My first ever NBA game!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I woke up early, I probably can&#8217;t blame the shift in timezone, it&#8217;s just one hour. I took a picture through my window in daylight. I went down to the second floor and ate a good breakfast. It&#8217;s nice when it&#8217;s included and somewhat proper. I even got a large waffle! Around 9:30, I left&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-03T21:00:00+00:00\">December 3, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-4031 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/04\/spaceship\/\" target=\"_self\" >Spaceship<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Today&#8217;s main agenda was a visit to the AT&amp;T Stadium, the home field of the Dallas Cowboys, and a guided tour. It&#8217;s actually not in Dallas, but in Arlington. So after breakfast, I walked to EBJ Union Station to take the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) to CentrePort\/DFW Airport Station. Of course, I was there too&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-04T21:00:00+00:00\">December 4, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-4139 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/05\/water-and-ice\/\" target=\"_self\" >Water and ice<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I got up as late as I could and got to breakfast with just 15 minutes until closing. Got back to my room and took it easy for another hour before taking an Uber to the Dallas World Aquarium. The complex was much bigger than I first thought. Several floors and smart walkways, so you&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-05T21:00:00+00:00\">December 5, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-4169 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/06\/vegas-baby\/\" target=\"_self\" >Vegas baby!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">This morning, there was a parade, the Dallas Holiday Parade, that passed right outside my hotel entrance. Already when I checked in a couple of days ago, there were some stands built on the sidewalk and traffic cones, indicating something was going to happen. I had seen both 8:30 and 9:00 as the starting time,&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-06T21:00:00+00:00\">December 6, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-4236 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/07\/raiders-broncos-penn-teller\/\" target=\"_self\" >Raiders, Broncos, Penn &amp; Teller<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I got up at 7, grabbed my laptop, and watched the final Formula 1 race for the season. Congratulations, Lando, on your first world championship!\u00a0 I left the hotel to find some breakfast. Google Gemini had suggested Denny&#8217;s, which is in the same building as my hotel. I also had a coupon from the hotel&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-07T21:00:00+00:00\">December 7, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-4263 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/08\/ill-be-damned\/\" target=\"_self\" >I&#8217;ll be damned<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I had booked to pick up a car at 8, but as usual, I was a bit early. The car wasn&#8217;t ready, apparently, every car had been out yesterday and was still being cleaned. However, he just left for a couple of minutes and then came back with a set of keys. I had reserved&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-08T21:00:00+00:00\">December 8, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-4313 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/09\/escaping-las-vegas\/\" target=\"_self\" >Escaping Las Vegas<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I woke up and couldn&#8217;t fall back asleep. Just kept turning over in the bed for a couple of hours. I had fallen asleep quite late last night and had the alarm for 10 (checkout at 11).&nbsp; Anyhow, so I took the opportunity and used the bathtub I had access to. Unfortunately, it&#8217;s not really&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-09T21:00:00+00:00\">December 9, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-4327 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/10\/exploring-san-francisco\/\" target=\"_self\" >Exploring San Francisco<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I slept so long that I missed the (non-complimentary) breakfast. Felt really good and was well needed. I realized that my hotel is just around the corner for the end station for the Cable Car Californa Line. So I went down and took it from end to end, which took me to the east coast&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-10T21:00:00+00:00\">December 10, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-4375 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/11\/roadtrip-to-the-computer-history-museum\/\" target=\"_self\" >Roadtrip to the Computer History Museum<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">I&#8217;m not sure if it&#8217;s all the windows, or if it&#8217;s poorly isolated, but it&#8217;s a bit cold in my room, to the extent that I use the thermostat to get heating instead of cooling \ud83d\ude42 At 8:00, I was at Hertz to pick up the car I had reserved. The staff asked for a&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-11T21:00:00+00:00\">December 11, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-4431 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/12\/lets-get-lost\/\" target=\"_self\" >Let&#8217;s get lost!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">This morning I had two times to adhere to, first I had to move the car before 9:00, and between 9:30 and 10:00, I had to arrive at the Muir Woods. They have quite limited parking, so you need to make a reservation before going there. I managed to get away in time, but arrived&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-12T21:00:00+00:00\">December 12, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-4485 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/13\/escape-escape-escape\/\" target=\"_self\" >Escape, escape, escape!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">When I woke up this morning, I grabbed my laptop at once and looked to see if anyone had booked the slot I was going for, Gold Rush at 10:40. Still 8 available slots, perfect! I ate two bananas I had left over from yesterday and started walking. It was about half an hour to&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-13T21:00:00+00:00\">December 13, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-4512 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-2025-usa\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2025\/12\/15\/and-so-it-ends\/\" target=\"_self\" >And so it ends&#8230;<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">The last day of my month-long trip to the Americas has finally come. It&#8217;s time to go home. I woke up and packed all my stuff while watching Minions on TV. Checked out at 11:30 and decided to take an Uber. It was cheaper than my cab waiting at home.\u00a0While waiting for the Uber, a&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-15T20:00:00+00:00\">December 15, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>During the year 2025, I turned 40, which was celebrated by a great party planned by my family. However, I wanted to do something more. I had for some time been thinking of a Caribbean cruise, like Royal Caribbean. So I started to look for that, found which ship and islands I wanted to go&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/trips\/40-years-old-celebration-trip\/\" rel=\"bookmark\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">40 years old celebration trip<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2998,"parent":90,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2990","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2990","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2990"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2999,"href":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2990\/revisions\/2999"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/90"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}