Los Angeles and Paris Agree on Unique Olympic Hosting Arrangement

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Manuel Marquez, MD has enjoyed significant careers in the fields of medicine and travel, with positions ranging from a medical executive officer with Buenaventura Medical Group (BMG) to his present role as a travel director for Insight Vacations by Destination America. Through his work with the latter company, Manuel Marquez, MD has become an avid fan of international sporting spectacles, such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic games.

While the 2020 Olympics will take place in Tokyo, future editions of the summer games have already been decided. The 2024 and 2028 games were decided in unprecedented fashion. Following a long bidding process that saw the cities of Budapest, Hamburg, Boston, and Rome withdraw from consideration amid cost concerns, Los Angeles and Paris stood as the most likely settings for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Recognizing the need for strong host cities during times of financial uncertainty, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) opted for the first-ever double vote, selecting host cities for both the 33rd and 34th summer Olympiads.

However, the bucking of the Olympic tradition did not end there. Instead of competing for the previously hotly contested 2024 bid, the city of Los Angeles stepped back and allowed Paris, which had lost out on several recent bids, to host the 33rd summer Olympiad. By waiting until 2028, Los Angeles will benefit from a $1.8 billion advance in funds from IOC.

The Three Most Decorated Olympians of All-Time

A former family physician and department chairperson at Buenaventura Medical Group, Manuel Marquez, MD has worked as a tour guide and travel director since 2016. Beyond his professional endeavors, Manuel Marquez, MD

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Olympic Rings By Original author: Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937) 

enjoys watching premier international sporting events, such as the World Cup of Soccer and the Olympics.

Fourteen different athletes have won at least a dozen medals at the Olympics. Below are the three athletes who have won the most medals:

1. Michael Phelps – American swimmer Michael Phelps made his Olympic debut at 15 years old in 2000 and, four years later, won six gold and two bronze medals in what stands as one of the best individual performances in Olympic history. However, he improved upon that in 2008 by winning gold in all eight of the events in which he competed. He added to his total in 2012 and 2016 and retired from the sport with 28 Olympic medals.

2. Larisa Latynina – The most decorated female Olympian of all-time, Larisa Latynina won a combined 18 medals in gymnastics in the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Olympics. The former Soviet gymnast was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1998.

3. Nikolai Andrianov – Also a member of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, Nikolai Andrianov won six gold, three silver, and three bronze medals in individual competition between 1972 and 1980. He also won three team medals for a total of 15 Olympic medals.

 

Exploring Cuenca’s Cliff-Facing Old Town in Spain

Manuel Marquez MDCertified with the International Tour Management Institute, Manuel Marquez, MD is a well-known tour director who works with Insight Vacations by Destination America. One of the destinations Manuel Marquez, MD has led private tours to is Spain, including specifically in Barcelona, Madrid, and Cuenca.

Situated in Castilla-La Mancha, within day-trip distance from Madrid, Cuenca encompasses an ancient walled city on a ridge and a lower new city. At the heart of the old city is a 12th century cathedral that was built on the site of a mosque and represents one of the earliest examples of Gothic architecture in Spain. Numerous additions over the centuries mean that the church now offers an enervating melange of contrasting styles, from Baroque to neo-Gothic.

Another highlight is the stone-hewn Casas Colgadas or “hanging houses” which date back to the 14th century. Precipitously lining the cliffs of the old town, the houses feature distinctive wooden balconies. One highlight for visitors is a casa that has been transformed into an abstract art gallery that perfectly complements the airy setting.

Located across the St Pablo Bridge from the Casas Colgadas, the 16th-century monastery Parador de Cuenca is another “must-see” that has been transformed into gallery space focused on local artist Gustavo Torner and a high-end hotel.

The IFPE 29th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference

 

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IFPE
Image: IFPE.org

A former healthcare provider, Manuel Marquez holds an MD from UCLA Medical School. Now working in the travel and tourism industry, Manuel Marquez, MD, also serves as the treasurer and a board member of the International Forum for Psychoanalytic Education (IFPE)

The 29th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference of the IFPE took place October 25-27, 2018, at the Mayflower Park Hotel in Seattle, Washington. With the theme of “Unsilencing,” the Conference explored “the vicissitudes of expressing ourselves” with a specific focus on the gaps in language and the power of silence – although people may find such silences socially uncomfortable, silence may allow individuals the space they need to think and reencounter speech.

Under the direction of conference chair Rachel Newcombe, the 29th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference sponsored a range of presentations and panels. Topics included race, art, illness, family, feminism, and LGBTQ issues.

Cultural Groups in Croatia

 

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Croatia
Image: travelchannel.com

After 25 years as a family physician, Manuel Marquez, MD, transitioned into a new career as a tour director. Manuel Marquez, MD, has now led groups on tours to locations across the world, including Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina.

Located in Southern Europe on the Adriatic Sea, a part of the Mediterranean Sea, Croatia is home to 4.28 million people. Most of these are of the Croat ethnicity, a group that according to historic records has populated the area since the 9th century.

The broader Croat culture includes a number of sub-cultures, including the Dalmatians, Istrians, and Slavonians. All maintain a strong identification with the Croat culture but are loyal to local variations and expressions, particularly those related to language and food.

Though significantly lower in numbers than the Croats, the Serbs comprise the second-largest ethnic group in Croatia. The percentage of Serbs in Croatia decreased dramatically after the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991, and the group now makes up approximately 4 percent of the country’s population.

The country is also home to those of a number of other ethnicities, including Bosniaks, Albanians, Romani, and Czechs. Each of these groups make up less than 0.8 percent of the national population.

The Preservation of Panamanian Indigenous Tribes

 

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Panamanian Indigenous Tribes
Image: anywhere.com

Manuel Marquez, MD, shares his love of travel and history as a tour director and travel guide. Prior to entering his current profession, the Harvard graduate spent more than 25 years as a primary care physician, medical director, and executive officer with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group and Buenaventura Medical Group. Throughout his career, Dr. Manuel Marquez has supported numerous organizations, including Native Future, a group dedicated to the support of indigenous tribes in Panama.

Established in 2004, Native Future works alongside three indigenous groups – the Wounaan, the Ngabe, and the Bugle – with the goal of improving education and protecting land rights. In addition to preserving the cultures of these native peoples, the organization strives to ensure that the precious ecosystems on which they reside are not lost to exploitative industrialization.

The land rights initiatives established by Native Future have enabled the high school graduation of a Wounaan man, whose testimony aided in the approval of Panama Law 72 to protect native land. The organization has also helped the Wounaan people map their lands and document their protection efforts against clearcutting and other damaging practices.

Thanks in part to the assistance of Native Future, three Wounaan communities have received government-approved titles; six more are awaiting recognition.

Packing for International Travel

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International Travel
Image: whatsgabycooking.com

A certified tour director, Manuel Marquez, MD, has guided travelers through numerous countries across South America, North America, and Europe. Manuel Marquez, MD, has also embarked on many international trips of his own and has accumulated a knowledge base not only of the destinations themselves but also of the necessary logistics a traveler should consider to make the most of their trip.

When visiting international destinations, there are a multitude of variables to consider. Packing can be especially challenging for someone who is not familiar with the climate or temperature of a new destination, so research is helpful. Travelers should also be aware of whether they should bring a power adapter, familiar toiletries, or other necessities that may be difficult to find in a particular location.

Most travelers also prefer not to be taken by surprise when it comes to clothing. It’s not necessary to bring an entire wardrobe; in fact, many find it helpful to choose numerous outfits for a trip and then bring half of what they have laid out. Items that should make the cut are those that the traveler can wear multiple times and layer to create different outfits.

The traveler should also take care to include clothing for different settings. Experienced travelers know to bring one nice outfit and at least one pair of sturdy shoes for every trip, regardless of itinerary.

Bulky items are best worn on the plane, and absolute necessities belong in a carry-on. This is true for medication, a change of clothes, and anything else one could not live without if luggage does not arrive at the same time as the plane. This may not happen, but it is always good to be prepared.

Benefits of Group Travel

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Group Travel
Image: saga.co.uk

As a tour director with Insight Vacations, Manuel Marquez, MD, leads group motor coach tours across the United States, providing on-board commentary throughout the itinerary. During the journey, Manuel Marquez, MD, strives to help each traveler bond with others and make the most of the group experience.

Although many travelers are devotees of independent exploration, a group tour can offer many benefits not available to those who venture out unaccompanied. One of the major benefits is the convenience and comfort of allowing an experienced professional to make decisions about destinations and time frames. This is particularly beneficial when the tour guide is a local expert or has experienced the destination in depth, as such a person can provide a unique kind of informed insight.

The tour leader can also help the group to let go of old habits and embrace new experiences. A traveler may come to a destination that he or she would not have chosen individually, but that reveals unique insights about the country or culture that the group is visiting. A tour leader may also be able to connect the group with special visits or programs to which the tour company has access, though such experiences are not available to members of the general public.

Finally, the group tour provides each traveler with readily available companionship and community. Group members can bond over their visit to a grand and picturesque destination, share their reflections about the day, and even help one another to open up and make new connections.

Insight Vacations – Frogmore Plantation

 

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Insight Vacations
Image: luxurygoldvacations.com

Currently serving as tour director and traveling concierge for Insight Vacations, Manuel Marquez, MD, provides motor coach tours of New England fall foliage, the Mississippi River basin, and Western national parks. Manuel Marquez has also directed tours in Cuba and in New Orleans.

Insight Vacations offers a Southern Grace tour for four days in New Orleans, where spectators visit several local historic sites. One of the stops on the Southern Grace tour in New Orleans is the Frogmore Plantation.

Built in the mid-19th century, Frogmore Plantation is an 1800-acre working cotton plantation that produces 900 bales of cotton per day with its modernized cotton gin manufacturing facility. This tour offers insight into the life of slaves and lessons on the Civil War. Listed as a “must see site” by Rand McNally, Frogmore has also received the Rural Tourism Award and was rated as one of the top three attractions for tourists in the Arkansas/Lousiana/Mississippi tri-state area by Southern Traveler Magazine.

Studies of Hydrothermal Systems Under Yellowstone National Park

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Hydrothermal Systems
Image: nps.gov

Manuel Marquez, MD has had a lengthy career in health care management and currently engages with Travel Corporation-affiliated Insight Vacations as tour director. Among the trips he has led are those taking in the Southwest’s national parks, as well as Yellowstone National Park.

As reported in the New York Times, Yellowstone National Park stands as a hotbed of current research activity, as Danish and American scientists seek to map the system that controls flow of hydrothermal features such as Old Faithful. Research teams have undertaken helicopter flights above Yellowstone, with the aircraft equipped with a large-scale electromagnetic system. Acting in much the same way as an x-ray on the human body, the system pinpoints areas where heated water flows under the land surface.

An area of focus is in understanding major hydrothermal explosions that periodically arise in the park. These involve subterranean pockets of boiling water experiencing an abrupt pressure shift that turns the water into steam and creates activity such as geysers. Researchers expect that this project will further refine their knowledge of how complex volcanic systems operate.