Michael Jensen

I thought this would be fun to share. Our Substack newsletter is read by 11,000 folks in all fifty states AND one hundred and twenty-six countries.

I can honestly say I never expected this. (And it's way more people than ever read my books!)

Now to get a penguin in Antarctica to subscribe...

Last Saturday we stumbled into El Encuentro de Danzas en honor al Señor de los Trabajos.

This is a festival where Indigenous groups from Guanajuato and Querétaro celebrate the patron saint of miners in the former mining town of Mineral de Pozos.

It was extraordinary, moving, and beautiful.

Yes, they are imploding because of millions of people who couldn't bring themselves to vote for Kamala. Your crocodile tears are useless and revolting.

In an alternative universe, Kamala won the election, made Oprah head of DOGE, and the U.S. media freaked out, covering it non-stop while Republicans demanded she be impeached.

Meanwhile, here in F*ckeduptopia, it's pretty much “Eh, whatcha gonna do? White boys be white boys.”

The First Time Trump Was Elected, We Left America. Do We Thinks Americans Should Leave Now? It depends.

We wrote this a few months ago, but given what's happening right now, it seems more relevant than ever.

www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com/p/the-first-...

To help balance out the dark of the past couple of days, here are some pictures I took of the lovely flowers that Carla -- our new friend here in Puerto Vallarta -- brought us the other night.

Naturally, I couldn't just take regular photos because, well, I am me.

I got up, stepped out onto our terrace here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and proceeded to watch a huge humpback whale leap out of the water ten times.

So, yeah, no matter what else happens today it's already been a very good day.

(Zoom in, you can actually see the whale making one of its jumps!)

Me reading about RFK’s confirmation hearing.

And pretty much every day for the next four years.

Ummmm....

Adios from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where the sky was endlessly transforming from one vista to the next.

Twenty-Five Years Ago, Alaska Airlines Flight 261 Crashed. I Was a Flight Attendant on a Plane That Flew Over the Wreckage. Two of my friends died. What if it had been me?

This one was tough to write.

www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com/p/twenty-fiv...

Breaking news: insomnia sucks.

Romantic gesture or waaaaaay too much effing pressure?

This chair on our terrace here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is my happy place.

Alas, it's also Brent's, which has led to screaming matches, fisticuffs, and tomorrow at dawn, a duel with scimitars.

Through the Dragon’s Eyes: A Journey Through Bangkok's Chinatown Are you brave enough to face the Dragon of Yaowarat?

This one was a ton of fun to write!

Working on a new edition of Michael Takes Too Many Pictures, which will be all about Bangkok, Thailand's incredible Chinatown. 

I came across these photos of Bangkok's nighttime skyline, which feels like living in a science fiction dream...

The World is on Fire. Is That Another Reason to Become a Digital Nomad? In a world of unprecedented floods, wildfires, drought, heat waves, and hurricanes, does it still make sense to own or rent a home?

Given what's going to happen tomorrow in the U.S. this could be about politics. Alas, it was inspired the recent tragedy in Los Angeles and what we've noticed as we travel the world.

www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com/p/climate-ch...

Well, if Mount Rainier erupts and we are forced to flee for our lives we'll be able to pick up a crispy Cajun chicken sandwich along the way!

Our Airbnb here in Puyallup, Washington, has all kinds of wonderful Christmas decorations including a tree, a wreath, and so forth

Then there's this.

Everytime I see it, I'm reminded of the line from Blade Runner when Rutger Hauer's character says "I've seen things I shouldn't have."

I love the window but only if the row is empty because I just don't fit!

I'm 💯 Team Aisle when I fly. At 6’1” (185 cm), I need as much space as possible or I lose my mind.

But I know some folks are Team Window.

I can't imagine anyone is Team Middle Seat but maybe I'm wrong!

Which are you?

One of the coolest things we did on our recent transatlantic cruise was to visit the magical and mysterious Fanal Forest on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

It might also be the closest I'll ever get to visiting the forests of Middle Earth!

Good night from Oakland, California!

Man, chicken influencers are the WORST!

Everywhere we go, there is some chicken with 500,000 Instagram followers hogging the best photo opportunities and shooting some stupid TikTok about why the chicken crossed the road.

It's chickens like this that give travel writers a bad name!

My United flight has no outlets so I can't charge my phone or my laptop and I’M GONNA DIEEEEEEEE.

Or I can just read.

Bye bye Bermuda! (Bahama, come on pretty mama. Hey, if I have to have that damned song stuck in my head, so do you!)

Good night from Bermuda…

Was it hard for you too hold still that long?

Good morning from the Sky Princess currently in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

I think I need to slow down a bit.

Sailing away from magical Madeira, Portugal!