I suppose United Airlines could have screwed up our flight home even more than it did, but overall, the airline did a pretty good job of it without trying that hard. In Shanghai, we learned that the aircraft for the 13-hour flight home had been changed--to a smaller plane. So UA reps are walking through the crowd asking if anyone wants to fly to Chicago the following day. And because the aircraft was ... Read More
Getting To Hangzhou
Initially we thought that it would be great fun to arrive in China in a hot air balloon, but, alas, we didn't have 80 days (or 40 as the case may be), so instead we booked the 14-hour United Airlines Flight 835 (UA835) from Chicago to Shanghai. That was February 1. We later discovered from Bao, the Hangzhou Foreign Languages School liaison, that Flight 835 is the flight most often chosen by arriving ... Read More
A Keen Observation from a Well-Heeled Traveler
You may think this is about money, but it's not; it's about a really great pair of shoes. Keens--most versatile shoes ever My Keens hanging out to dry after being washed. Five years ago I bought a pair of Keen sandals. I think I paid about $95. What I have discovered since then is that these shoes are the greatest and most versatile all-purpose, all-around shoes ever made. They are remarkably durable and ... Read More
On The Way To San Francisco
Hey, everyone. We're headed for San Francisco. Had some interesting encounters today--nothing earth shattering, I guess--but nevertheless interesting. I'll get to that in the posts that follow. Meanwhile, the photo you see of me is in the Phoenix airport as we await our connecting flight from Minneapolis to San Francisco. I travel with a Red Oxx (http://www.redoxx.com) PR5 Safari-Beanos Bag. No wheels on this one, so some ... Read More
I Think I Did It
Well--I packed my bags tonight. I am a modular guy. Got everything I need into one carry-on size suitcase. Well, I won't carry this bag on the aircraft because I carry such things as a pocket knife in my possible bag. Rather, the bag I actually carry on to the aircraft will contain my computer, camera, and other electronic devices. If I ever take my dream trip, which is to start in Trinidad and Tobago and island hop along ... Read More
Mazatlan 2007–Getting There and Through Customs!
Northwest Airlines really makes you pay the price when you cash in Frequent Flyer miles. I took a NWA flight out of Minneapolis to Tuscon, and then got handed off to to AeroLitoral and Aero Mexico. Got on the twin-engine puddle jumper you see in the photo. I had to land three times more in order to make it to Mazatlan. First stop was Hermosillo (pronounced air-mo-SEE-yo). It’s straight south of Tuscon in the state ... Read More