Costa Rica --- An Eclectic Impression

Sometimes, my job isn't so bad

I got to spend the past week in Banff in the Canadian Rockies for a workshop.



Our talks took place in the building behind the huge elk, and during the afternoon, we were free for a couple of hours to go hiking or enjoy the swimming pool.

And finally, the evenings were free for a game or foosball or pool.





It turns out Johan Hastad is good at more than just complexity...

Sawadee Capsicum

Inspired by HTGYG.

What Today Ate Mr. Bojangles

At the request of HTGYG here is Mr. Bojangles' favorite food: smelly salmon and stinky tuna with undefined yellowy grossness on top. We alternate this with putrid poultry and vegetables, which mostly seem to consist of chickpeas.

And as an added bonus: What With Today Played Mr. Bojangles:



He actually plays fetch sometimes, pretending that he accidentally pushed the ball in my direction.

Amanda's choice: Xiang Zhong Qing

Tuesday we had dinner with Amanda. This time she chose a Hunan restaurant.

A Hunan specialty is fragrant chicken:

This is a second specialty of the restaurant:

Further we had "Silver fish in XO sauce", a fish which paradoxically turns out to be white:

These shrimp rolls with 湖南腊肉"（hú nán là ròu, smoked pork) and cumin were incredible:

And I bet none of you can come up with a better dessert after such a wonderful meal than crispy green balls: