Charles Schwab

ATTENTION:  Those friends traveling the world and living abroad!

I know I'm going to sound like an advertisement, but I can't recommend Charles Schwab enough!

I may have mentioned it to a few of you here and there, but this financial has probably saved us over $100 in fees in the last few months!

•  No international ATM fees!  
•  If a foreign financial adds on a fee, they reverse it!
•  No Annual fees!
•  .5% interest on your checking account
•  Excellent online access 24/7
•  You can open an account online!
•  You can transfer funds from your local financial (hopefully Credit Union ;) in the same day and have access to your money a few days later
•  Every time I email or call, I get an immediate response!  Real people!  No holding!  
•  When you open an account, you receive your card and all the information within the same week.

You are required to have/open a "brokerage account" in order to have a checking account with Charlie (we are that close - first name basis!)  But!  You don't have to have any money in it! 

The other draw back - I remember trying to open an account in Thailand and not being able to - you may only be able to open an account in the States - but I'm not entirely sure!

I don't mean to be a total freak about this, I just hate how quickly and how high some of the fees can get while you are abroad just to have access to your money.  I think it is an American thing to want the best bang for your buck.   Rodolfo thought I was being ridiculous opening yet another bank account, but now even HE agrees that Charlie is the way to go!

Even if $2 seems like not so much to take out $50, it adds up extremely fast when you are traveling for an extended amount of time and $2 becomes $200!

I feel extremely adamant that local business/banking is the way to go, but!  In this one case, when you become an international man of mystery, sometimes you need a more international friendly option!  Just a little food for thought!

Running of the bulls!

We are currently visiting the Northern Spanish city of Pamplona!

We got to walk the streets where the bulls run along with hundreds of their friends!
How did it start? They needed to move the bulls from the fields of the country side somehow to the bull fighting ring at the other side of the city! They did this either late at night, or early in the morning when people weren't in the streets.

One year, some crazy dude jumped in with them, the next year, a few more... Now! Hundreds of crazy dudes crazily running with bulls through very tiny streets!  Our friend showed us a particularly tricky corner where an intersection is blocked off with boards and known to be where many a bull smash against the walls to make the turn!  If you try to run drunk, they will definitely pull you out!

The day before the run, everyone wears white and there is a special ceremony. During this ceremony locals tie a red handkerchief around their necks to prepare for the next day.

People in this area used to keep a sunflower at their door to keep bad spirits away. On some doors you still see them.

Sunflowers. Bulls. Breathtaking views. Pamplona rocks!