Our quest to visit 7 continents, 100 countries, and all 50 states…
Jan 18th, 2010 by Paul
A number of news sources (including this BusinessWeek article) are reporting this morning that Japan Airlines is close to partnering with Delta and joining the SkyTeam Alliance. This would please me greatly as it would improve the scope of SkyTeam in Asia (good for me as a Delta FF, especially since Asia travel will be in our future). And, it would be a stick in the eye of American Airlines, which is my least favorite major carrier (and the only that I refuse to fly).
Two birds. One stone.
Jan 17th, 2010 by Paul
When I’m not actually traveling (which I’m not these days), I like to engage in “virtual travel” to places I’ve been or places I’d like to go. Here’s an article by Paola Singer from the New York Times about traveling to Spain to eat pork.
I have many fond pork-related memories of Spain (and one unfortunate story involving US Customs, a rather large chorizo, and confiscation).
Oh well. Yum, I say.
While I’ve not been to Haiti yet, I deeply empathize with the plight of the people there suffering (yet again in their history) after this devastating earthquake. As a traveler and “citizen of the world,” I think it’s my duty to assist in whatever small way I can. Indeed, it is my responsibility given how fortune—largely by accident of birth—has smiled upon me.
I’m sure we’ll get to Haiti some day soon (indeed, Royal Caribbean is already sending their cruise ships back—along with aid supplies—according to USA Today).
Here’s a list of agencies working in Haiti. Please help, if you can.
Jan 11th, 2010 by Paul
I was recently commenting on a friend’s blog that I’ve thought about starting “Naked Air” to solve some of the airline security issues. Based upon this news article from the BBC, it seems that there is at least some market demand for traveling without trousers.
Jan 9th, 2010 by Paul
We’re thinking about visiting Dubai in 2011 on a 7-night cruise on Royal Caribbean. I don’t actually think that we’ll especially like Dubai. Yet, I’ve been feeling pulled towards it more and more over the past few months. Like the cruise we have planned for this summer, it’s a practical way to leave the baby for a short period of time but hit a lot of new countries (note: the TCC guidelines count each emirate as a separate one).
However, my interest extends beyond mere “country count” greed.
No, I think Dubai is an interesting symbol of the last decade. It’s a sort of microcosm of what went on in the United States, especially in my home state of Florida.
First came the boom with no end in sight.
Then the bubble burst.
Next ensued a financial crisis and bailout.
Earlier this week, Dubai celebrated the opening of the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest skyscraper at 2,717 ft. While some have applauded Dubai’s vision, most have likened it to a modern-day Tower of Babel. Which view is right? Only time will tell.
Yet, I believe this moment marks either a new dawn or fall of night for Dubai.
Either way, I want to check it out.