Yesterday, I came back from Miami. I woke up at 5am, since my flight was bright and early and I got ready and went to the airport. What a difference from a week ago. Everyone seemed to know where they were going, there weren’t any crazy lines anywhere, and everyone seemed civilized for the most part. I got to my gate on time. I boarded the plane and to my surprise…YES!!! My plane was a 777. I love this plane. I have flown on this plane several times, but I wasn’t aware that American Airlines redid the layout of all the seats. They made Coach Class have similar seats as the ones in First and Business Class. Each seat has their own area and they have three different reclining positions, including one where you lay flat as a bed. Each seat has their own area, so you are never in the way of anybody else. You also have your own TV that allows you to select what you want to watch or listen to on the radio.
My Super Amazing and a Little Messy Seat
A view of beautiful Miami from the plane
Beautiful puffy Florida clouds
It was early, and truly I was not in the mood to watch TV. As soon as we were up in the air, I reclined that baby, laid flat as if I was on my own bed and went to sleep. Truly, truly, I have never seen such a happy flight in my life. I don’t think anybody expected this plane and people were just smiling the whole time. Even the kids were happy because they had ample room to play without bothering their neighbors. It was truly a great experience.
Thick New England clouds
White Boston
Once I woke up and we landed in powdery white Boston, I quickly got off the plane and went over to my car. To find it buried in snow. My car is black, but at that given point it was white. Thankfully, I carry a scraper, took the snow of my windows, turned it on and let it warm up and started on my way.
Driving to Providence was funny. As I was driving, chunks of ice were flying off and hitting other cars. In response to the flying chunks there was a car free zone around my car. Truly they were evading me. I can’t blame them a lot of ice flew off. Then when I arrived at my work’s parking lot, the ice was almost all gone, and I had to brace the cold one more time…ahhhh…New England…thank you for the cold homecoming…hahahahaha
Driving to Providence
Ice on the hood of my car flying off
October 23, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Traveling!!! heheh. traveling is my passion but my time to do so is somewhat limited. i would LOVE to learn how to fly. i wanted to be a pilot growing up. my partner in flight is northwest airlines. i have NEVER ever had bad service with NWA. i consider NWA a friend, for some reason. I would rather pay an extra few hundred dollars to fly NWA than any other carrier. My previous carrier used to be US Airways, but they have burned me a few times. United – love rhapsody in blue, but o’hare is a painful experience. that is where i am going today to a friend’s wedding. but NWA of course. I have traveled to quite a few places but never have i ever flown on AA. Do you like it? I used to enjoy TWA also. My favorite airport is probably seattle. I like it for some reason. I also like Detroit Wayne Co. I also like Charlotte Douglas. As I type this I realize that I am institutionalized NWA addict. My favorite international airport is probably Schipol Amsterdam. what is your favorite airport?
My dad is also in the airplane business, he used to design airplane engines but now does a lot of contract work for his company when organizations are looking for proposals to build engines for their planes. that is how i got interested in airplanes. was your dad a commercial pilot?
one of my favorite ways to pass time is watching planes land slightly removed from the airport. when you look into the sky and you see the lights in the night lined up in the sky 1,2, 3, 4, 5. When i was in school and used to need stress relief i would love drive to the airport and watch airplanes. now i can do it from my balcony, but it is at quite a distance from the airport but the planes go right over my home. have you ever been taxiing on the apron looking out of the window and watching a plane up close landing? and how delicate a process it is? and how the wings vibrate. Oh it is such a rush for me. I have to sit on the window.
I like flying and negotiating the airport more sometimes than the actual vacation.
What is your favorite type of plane? 777? 747? regional jets? embraer? CRJ? L1011? MD80? 727? 767? A320? Have you been on the double decker yet?
October 23, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Wow…you are worse than I am. I love it!!! Well, AA doesn’t have the best service but I love it for some many reasons. Plus, they spoil me and I love that too. And it flies everywhere I need to go, at least for now. My favorite airport??? Hmmm…Probably Frankfurt. I found lots to do there and I had a lot of time to kill. Those Germans are so organized and it was so easy. In the US…hmm…I don’t know if I have favorite airport. They all seem to be dysfunctional in some way. I go to MIA a lot so that one makes sense. But really I don’t know if I have a favorite airport. Planes…well…777 is my favorite so far. I love that thing. Is the best. I get butterflies when I am flying it. Its great. I have been in a double decker. With my dad. And yes he was a commercial pilot. So I got to fly a lot with him when I was little. That was a blast b/c I got to fly a lot in the cockpit.
I can’t believe you like to watch airplanes land. I used to go to MIA and watch the airplanes land all the time. So relaxing. I love it. I agree there is something magnificent about watching an airplane land. I also love it when they are all lined up in the sky. And I always look up to see if I can tell what airline the plane belongs to. My brothers and my dad would point out the models. I have another confession. When my dad used to get home from flying he always smelled like airplane gasoline and for some reason I love that smell. So every time I go to the airport, I inhale and smile.
Chi town…that is a great city. For some odd reason, I have only gone there in the winter. And if you know anything about me, I am not a big fan of the winter. Have some deep dish pizza. Oh delish!
Anywho…have a wonderful time at your friend’s wedding. Do you like weddings??? I have been to 3 this year and I have one more to go. I love them but I need a little break. I am going tomorrow to MIA to my friend’s baccalaureate party. The wedding is in two weeks.
October 24, 2009 at 6:41 am
Frankfurt Airport!!! I have stories galore of that airport. Great memories,funny memories, missed flight memories all kinds of stuff. When I was finishing my first year in university in 1996 I sort of traveled around the world, alone. Well I was in the airport in Frankfurt and was trying to call my parents back home in the States. It was an ordeal. I love the stores and restaurants, but I haven’t been there since 2002 or so.
Now by double decker I meant the a380, not a double decker bus. Have you been on the a380 already? I haven’t been on a 777 but your pictures above make it seem lavish. I like the 747 – I think it is the prettiest plane to look at. Its just a pretty structure. they are SO huge but so graceful and elegant to look at.
I am jealous of you for getting to fly in the cockpit of a plane. This may sound crazy, but when I am up in the air I try to look out of the window and if it is a clear day try to figure out the city that I am flying over. In the USA its not too difficult but I find it awesome that you can see so far. I would love to sit up front with a pilot and know what city the lights in the dark sky on the horizon were luminating… its harder to do it from the side view of a passenger seat and without a map in front of you. I think it is just spectacular to fly over mountains.
Oh what is your favorite part of the actual flying part? Is it sleeping? In flight movie? Landing? talking to your neighbor? Flirting with the attendants? Landing? The snacks? My favorite is takeoff. I get such a rush out of it. I would pay 300$ just for that thrill. My confession is that I love it so much that when I’m in my car and starting from a dead stop, i imagine that i am blasting off a runway.
So chicago is nice. It is certainly chilly but I don’t mind the seasons… I will try to go to Gino’s East for pizza tomorrow for an early lunch. i can go to pizzeria uno anywhere but ginos east, if you’ve never been, is more chicago only. They have an interesting crust that has a cornmeal/ cornbread base that gives it a unique texture. its a nice place. my favorite place in chicago is a place called heaven on seventh which is a cajun food place downtown. I do think chicago is great in the late fall on michigan avenue. true it is cold and windy, but its a neat place when they light it up and shoppers galore before christmas.
Weddings? sick of them. blaah. double blaah. Enjoy your party tomorrow. I have to turn it around tomorrow evening unfortunately for my employment but whatever. Enjoy your party. Have a few mojitos.
i must sleep. good night.
October 24, 2009 at 3:39 pm
How interesting. Frankfurt is a great airport. The funnies thing is that I don’t speak a word of German and the immigration officials always seem to be screaming at me while they tell me I have no idea what. I just smile and say thank you in German. They seem annoyed by my peppiness. hahaha…
Well, yes, the 777 is amazing. I have been in the 747 double decker. But not the A380. I want to def fly the A380 soon. I once flew from Bogota to Madrid on the 747 double decker while my dad was flying it. The entire second floor was empty so it was my playground. Let me tell you, I had a blast. And all the flight attendants were awesome and they just let me play and go up and down the stairwell and jump from row to row. My dad was just laughing. He didn’t even care. I am sure that under new current FAA regulations that will not be permitted by any means.
What do I love the most about flying? Everything…but if probably the flight itself and the landing. I really do enjoy being in the air. I love to look out the window and see what I am flying over. Like you, I like to see what cities or town or terrain or body of water that I am flying over. And I like the landing because usually that means a happy moment. You have gotten to that destination. It is sort like that clip from “Love Actually” where everyone is at the airport. But in general…travel…is a passion for me. My flight this morning was very lively btw. For being at 540am…I’m so tired already…haha..
Chicago…I have only been there three times and everytime for work. Its a great city. I must try Gino’s East next time I go. I do like Michigan Ave, even in the dead of winter. The best part of Chicago is how lively it is, I think. Even when its 0 people are outside living their lives and happy. I like that.
Have a wonderful time at your wedding…
Do you like mojitos? Have you ever been to Miami? If you have, do you like it? I will have a mojito in your name tonight…oh wait…I don’t know your name. Well…in the name that I have baptized you with.
October 24, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Can I ask you another question? Are you from the east coast?
October 24, 2009 at 6:21 pm
yes i am a right coaster who at this moment is very sleepy but glass half full non-hating kind of person.
put your blueberry away and enjoy 78 and mostly cloudy weather
http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USFL0316?lswe=miami%20fl&lwsa=WeatherLocalUndeclared&from=searchbox_typeahead
October 24, 2009 at 8:33 pm
It is warm and I love it…
October 24, 2009 at 7:59 pm
so you do know some limited german if you know how to say thank you! i don’t know how german gets included in the romance languages though, it doesn’t sound very romantic to the ear.
You know one of my most memorable flight experiences was in 1993 when i was on a transatlantic flight from frankfurt actually, to JFK. when the plane landed, everyone clapped. i don’t travel as much transatlantic as you do but the handful of times i’ve been on 7+hour flights, that was the only time i’d heard clapping. have you ever experienced it? it was one of the times that i really felt awesome during a landing. I used to get a teeny tiny bit stressed while landing – I think once upon my childhood the pilot put the left side of the plane down slightly before the right side and the plane jarred a little bit and it was uncomfortable. but now it doesn’t even phase me.
in what sense was your flight lively? i love it when there is a buzz in the cabin and people are enjoying one another. i’m not one to shy away from conversation on planes – i mean, if people obviously aren’t interested in chatting, fine great, i’ll leave you alone – but otherwise it’s always fun to have a bunch of people enjoying some conversation. i’ll tell you my best story some time. i think that when you are sitting on the plane for a while at the gate before it pulls out that increases bonding time among travelers. have you ever flown on southwest? i never have but i heard it is the funnest airline.
oh did you hear about the northwest pilots who overflew their destination?
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/24/us/AP-US-Northwest-Airport-Overflown.html?hp
its hilarious.
chicago……. is probably my favorite city in the world. to me, it is a very negotiable city. it does lack the cosmopolitan feel of NYC or Toronto or say Buenos Aires. People are a little simpler, a little slower. I don’t think Chicago is quite “east coast hate” and neither “west coast love”, but maybe just a happy medium. While I have been to the left coast, I’ve never lived there so I wouldn’t identify with it at all. I just know that there is too much traffic in California. by the way, i really like the crate and barrel store on Michigan Ave. its been a few years since i’ve been but you should check it out when in chicago next.
I have had mojitos and would ask you – how could one not like them? I have been to Miami,and I have been to New England. I don’t love either, and I don’t dislike either
. I do like margaritas and I do like tacos. in fact i really like margaritas. Oh and sangria also. yum. but i also am not a big drinker either.
I have to travel this evening and I really don’t want to. i really dont want to go to this reception either. my coworkers and i are going to the hancock building right now. i wish i had time to appreciate the city. no pizza today
.
540? wow that is early. but you probably got a good deal on the ticket. the earliest i’ve ever departed anywhere was probably 6 am. but i like early early Am flights bc you get to where you are going and have the whole day. yeah, you are tired, and its only 8 am, but you have the whole day in front of you.
oh i was going to tell you one last story. once upon a time i was flying on a united flight between JFK and Heathrow. It was a totally new flight with new flight number and all – in 1999. It was the inaugural flight of this new flight route and everything. Guess how many people were in this 767????? 3. I actually remember because for some reason i got a nose bleed on the flight. it was kind of funny bc i didn’t want to tell anyone…. and i couldn’t get it to stop bleeding!
ok i need to stop typing and socialize.
October 24, 2009 at 8:46 pm
First of, it is not embarrisingly long. I like it…
Second, I might mispell a bit on this entry. This computer in my Miami home doesn’t have automatic spell check and I still haven’t slept.
The flight was lively b/c everyone seem in a good mood and everyone was super chatty. As if it was noon rather than 5am. My seat companions were Dominican and they were going back to the island for 3 weeks after not going for 8 years. They kept chatting and chatting about their lives and how much they hated and loved, all at the same time, the DR. I thought it was funny. I wanted to sleep the whole flight but I couldn’t get that comfortable. So my neighbors just kept me company. They were very nice.
I have been in several flights that applauded. Its funny I think when people do. But in a way it is true, its a great feat when a plane is landed. It always makes me smile when people clap on a landing. Like yay!!! we made it. Hahahaha…I had a few rough landings over the years but so far I have kept my cool. Knock on wood…
Where in Miami did you go? Did you just go to South Beach? Most people do. I like the inland parts better. The local hangouts. Where you see the fusion of cultures and what comes out of it. I love this city b/c is a big melting pot of everything. Music, languages, food, tastes, smells, driving styles, and you can go and on…But its not an easy city. Things are not readily available. You have to search for them. Which in a way makes it better at the end b/c the journey that took you there. I do love Chi town too. Like I said, people there seem happy.
Too bad about the pizza. And more travel. I hope you have a good trip. Wherever that you are going. I’ll be flying back Monday early. I am not a fan of early flights honestly. That in part is b/c I am not a morning person. I do it b/c I have to. And this particular case, I waited too long to get the ticket and I had to take the early flight.
Three people in a 767. Wow, I would have lovedddddddd that. Why didn’t you want to tell anyone about your bleeding nose? Oh poor you! You want to hear something funny. I was on a LAX-MIA flight once and for some odd reason as soon as the plane took off I started feeling weird. Like my stomach was turning. Then all of a sudden I just felt it. Mad dash to the bathroom, I barely made it and I started to vomit. Didn’t even have time to close the door. A flight attendant came by and picked up my hair while I was taking care of business. I kept on apologizing. And she was so sweet to me. I still remember that lady to this day. She took care of me w/out even knowing me…sort of a gross story I know…but I felt that I needed to share it.
Okay, I am going to take a quick power nap. Tonight’s festivities are going to be trying I feel. So what region of the East Coast do you live in?
What was the best part about this wedding you attended? And what was the worst?
I do enjoy our exchanges.
October 24, 2009 at 8:00 pm
damn that is embarrassingly long.
October 25, 2009 at 1:41 am
ok @ airport. loving it. typing on phone. have about 30 minutes to type and nothing else to do.
so i never said i wasn’t from miami, and i never said i wasn’t from new england!!! i just said i’ve been to both places. and they both have their pros and cons. that said, who knows. stop agonizing over who i am and so on. i’ll tell you. i promise. i’m trying to put myself in your shoes and i think it would suck, but thats what you get for having a public blog. the person who we both know in common has vouched for you, and i’m sure that person would vouch for me. the thing is, i need to talk to that person and let him know about this craziness. i think that is fair.
that said, of course i have been to south beach! hasn’t everyone been there?
what were the flight attendants going to do for my bleeding nose? there is nothing really you can do. i think it happened bc of the pressure difference, or maybe i was picking my nose? the 767 was awesome. i think i walked up and down and around and around it. i was enjoying life talking to the other two people, talked with the pilot, attendants, it was a nice experience. ohand the alcohol was free too, i’m not sure if it still is on transatlantic flights – you would probably know better than me. i do remember talking to the pilot about how much money just that one flight would lose for the airline. that was a united flight. and this is a united flight. and the plane is coming up to the gate. and i miss northwest.
what do you mean, things are not readily available in miami? like for instance, what?
why i liked the clapping is because it made me proud of being american. i like you am the child of immigrants and so i do know about different culture. I think the people who really were clapping back on the flight were the people who were coming to america to the very first time and then everyone joined in sort of to welcome them. at least that is how i like to imagine it. some of them came to travel, some of them to work. it was awesome conversation. a few of the guys i remember the expressions on their faces. this guy was telling me about how he had an international license and had never been here and was a bit worried about driving in NYC. I told him that i would have been as well. (I was 16 back then and so just getting my drivers license, but now NY driving is easy you just have to be mean and claim your spot when you want it). Then there was this guy in the seat behind me coming to train as an engineer. he was so excited. he asked me if america was as good as it is in the movies. and if it was like the movie Coming to America! (eddie murphy, arsenio). and i remember sort of realizing how much people kill to come here and how much value people place in this country. of course we have our problems, but at that moment i was proud.
i have a few minutes to board.
quickly the wedding was good. the best part was the food. thats what you go to a wedding for, good food. the catering was really top notch. the bad was that i really didn’t want to leave early, and that is why i didn’t want to go to the reception. who likes leaving a party early you know? another sucky part was that i didn’t know a lot of people, just hung out with the people i work with, which is fun, but its more fun when you know a lot of people at weddings instead of just being one table’s worth of guests.
i enjoy exchanging with you too.
can i ask you a question? do you like swimming in the ocean?
October 25, 2009 at 1:45 am
i can’t tell on this phone how long this one was but i get a sense it was long.
October 25, 2009 at 2:07 am
i officially hate united airlines. bc thats what us east coasters do, we’re haters.
October 25, 2009 at 3:32 am
leaving now yay.
whats in the cup in the first picture of your seat from the flight almost two years ago? looks like coffee.
October 25, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Probably coffee. Last night was interesting. Still trying to recuperate.
How was your flight? i am not a big fan of United either.
I promise I will respond later longer…right now I am trying to get back to normalcy.
Btw…should we take this offline…people can actually read this. Hmm…
I love swimming in general…and what do you like most about Sundays???
October 26, 2009 at 12:20 am
rough night huh? no worries.
my flight was okay. i got in at like 3? I can’t remember. i’ve had a miserable day today though for a variety of reasons. its just been sad. but i think it will get better.
i agree about taking it offline soon. i have a few ideas on doing that, i’ll tell you when you are recovered. anywho, i think i write too much, especially yesterday. i had to do something to pass time.
sundays are great. usually really great. i am an early riser – i like to read the NYTs, watch the cbs early show, then take a nap, then watch football during the fall. i also have a puppy that i like to walk along the water. how about you what do you like about sundays?
ttyl. i hope you feel better and had a good time.
October 26, 2009 at 5:32 am
BTW…I hope your day got better. If not there is always tomorrow. And whatever might have happened know that someway or somehow it will get better.
October 26, 2009 at 5:33 am
And btw…I love the NYT on Sundays. I read it everyday but Sundays its great…
October 26, 2009 at 10:55 am
where would the world be without the nyt magazine?
my day is going to be better today. positive attitude!
i’m glad you got to see your nueva york movie. i am kind of intregued by it now. i read the plot line on wikipedia and maybe i’ll go see it after work. i live next to a theatre. depends, lets see.