You said “We’re still the only country required to remove our shoes to get through security”… wow man, I had to do that a couple of times
in Dubai.

Was that a hassle. Now I wear sports shoes every time I travel there
just to avoid knocking off those metal detector gates and having to
take off my shoes (I had to take off my belt once as well).

Talking about adventure not having to be fun; one trip that tops it
was when I got an instant crush for wakeboarding mid-week (been
off the water for months at that point)… so I searched regional
spots… located one near Dubai… same day convinced my brother to tag along… got the tickets next day…
and in 3 days we were on the plane for a “1 Day Trip”
Off the plane, rented a car… off to the water spot, wakeboarding then jumped into the pool… changed into dry clothes and back to the airport.
And to end it all, the flipping return flight was delayed for 4 hours! We almost passed out at the airport from exhaustion. (yet well worth it)

Wish I could do that more often ‘-)

Yet, here’s the question that bugs me to pieces (more like pisses
me off); how come planes never get faster. I mean technology’s developing so dam fast, yet it takes me 7 hours to get to Thailand (wish it could take 2 hours so I could be there every month)

Travel is always going to be a part of my life. (I prefer to go to fun places like Ireland and Italy, but that ain’t always what ya get.) So I’m going to deal with it. Appreciate the head smack.

Lorrie

I suppose as one gets older, one’s sense of adventure in the physical realm diminishes, though the mental journey expands exponentially. Books, the ‘net and educational dvds provide a great place to spend much of one’s life.

But it is healthy to get back on the road; we just got back from Vegas again and despite the heat we had a blast….so the key is taking nonstop flights when possible, always have carryon and no checked luggage, hire cabs to take you everywhere, and relax and enjoy the ride.

To success,

-ken

“I’ve always wondered , how do they steer the train?” My new college grad (NCState) Amtrak seat companion taught me a lot about travel. I look forward to every trip to provide at least one eye-opening moment. I hope I as able to add something to her education as well.

24 hours by air coast to coast, or 2 days by train from Fort Lauderdale to NYC, can certainly turn you off travelling farther than the mall. Unless you’re collecting for the story bank (and aren’t going to miss the wedding.)

And then there’s the time I was the only passenger on an RJ from Cinci to NY - no interesting companions - but a terrific 2 hour nap.

Happy trails.

BTW How about twitter to give us a blow-by-blow?

I still remember when I was a small boy (not a fully grown kid) that Aeroflot flight from Moscow to Tehran - there were more passengers than seats in the plane, so some people sat down on the floor and I thought that was great fun.

(But I’m not sure if I remember that because it happened or because I had quiet a fantasy…)

The best travels I had were always where I had the least money - sleeping on the beach, under restaurant tables, making friends who took me in, pairing up with a dog, using busses, not taxis.

(I felt like in a Charlie Chaplin movie).

I met this fat guy from Hungary when I was in Greece - he was a painter and had his car STACKED full of his paintings and slept on the front seat.

And lots of other great people - their names now all faded in my memory.

There was more poetry in just one of these days than in all the books I’ve ever read.

I also had the five star convenience once, staying in a former palace-turned hotel (the Kempinski in Istanbul).

The only reason why I would wanna go back there is the food and the heated pool at night. But the food alone is worth going through the trouble of getting rich.

Talking of attitude - I think I’m pretty much blessed with that. Do I enjoy being served 14 hour old food on a seat that’s too small? Nope, not exactly.

But I keep things in perspective (sometimes, that is). Even if you don’t move in time and just compare how we are doing compared to others… who have no electricity. No clean water. No meat (maybe twice a year). No education, no this, no that (we’ve seen it all on TV).

So, what do I think of the lady who’s getting all puffed up when the plane is delayed 2 hours?

I just watch and enjoy the show.