AIRPORT ENCOUNTERS

                                       Sometimes Travel can be Frustrating.

In 1971 or thereabouts. my husband’s ship was going to Hong Kong for R & R and I thought what a great opportunity for me to meet the ship there and do a little sightseeing. On the way the plane landed in Taipei, Taiwan to refuel. We all off loaded the plane into a holding room. We were there for the longest time when they finally told us we could not reboard until the lost flight manifest was found. We couldn’t leave that room or walk around the airport. It a little scary to think that we could be there a very long time, and that maybe I’d never make it to Hong Kong. But about an hour later we did reboard, and we were on our way. We never did know if they actually found the manifest or not, or if it actually really was missing, or if there was some other reason for the delay. Although late arriving in Hong Kong, my husband was at the airport waiting for me.

London’s Heathrow airport is not an easy one to get through. I’ve been through there several times and each time have had some kind of an encounter. After my first trip to Europe, we left for home via Heathrow. After my carryon had been scanned I was asked to step aside. I was puzzled as the bag contained mostly dirty laundry, but I did as asked. The tall, handsome middle-aged Brit said, “I need you to open your bag for me. Embarrassed by the contents of two-week old smelly laundry I inquired, “All right, but why?”

A dark spot showed up on xray and I just need to check it out.” So, there I stood, slowly taking out my dirty laundry putting it on the counter. He was so apologetic and kept saying he was sorry. Eventually I pulled out the two glass bowls I had bought in Amsterdam. I think the agent was delighted that my task was about over, his eyes lit up as he held the bowl saying, “This was the problem. Lead crystal shows up as a dark blob, and it could be a bomb. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience.” I shoved everything back in the bag and was on my way to the departure gate.

Another time my son and I were going through Heathrow on our way to Nairobi, Kenya. My photographer son had about 100 rolls of film in his carry-on bag. We were asked to step aside while the fellow opened every single film canister, and tipped the film out before recapping the canister! The only film that escaped was a sealed blister pack of about 24 rolls. I’m sure they were looking for drugs, and knowing that there wasn’t any, I was annoyed at the delay. But there is nothing one can do, as they hold the power. Coming home we were again routed through Heathrow. I had a walking stick that they insisted I scan, which since it wasn’t hollow I thought was pretty unnecessary.

In addition, the grommets on my son's shoes set off the buzzer, and a foil gum wrapper in my pockets also set it off, so we both had to step aside after emptying our pockets to be wanded.

Transfer time was limited, and it was a long hike from the scanner so we hurriedly gathered our things, and took off down the concourse. We hadn’t gone 150 yards when I suddenly stopped saying, “I left our airline tickets back at the scanner.” My son stayed with the luggage, as I hurried back to the scanner where they insisted I had not left any tickets, Well, I knew I had, and it was pretty easy to surmise that who ever followed me through the scanner had inadvertently picked up my tickets along with his pocket contents..

One trip coming home from Europe my trusty 22-inch roll on was really heavy when I finished packing it, and I even questioned if it would be too heavy to get in the overhead. However I had no problem getting from Budapest to Frankfort where I ran into nothing but nasty girls manning   the gate.

      Unfortunately I got in the shortest of two lines, but it turned out to be a group 


returning home. I was just about to move into the seating area when one of the


 attendants informed me my suitcase was too big to carry on. I stated it had 


done just fine on my previous flight. There was no further discussion as she

 informed me I could check it or I was not boarding the plane.

 

     I was just about to load the suitcase on the conveyor belt when I spied 


some broken down boxes near by. I was thoroughly annoyed as I had many

 gifts and new purchases in my bag that I wanted to arrive home with me. 

I grabbed a box, looked around for a couple empty chairs together and set 

about repacking my suitcase. I managed to get everything I wanted into the 


box leaving my suitcase   full of three weeks of dirty laundry which I put on 


the conveyor belt.

 

     In Houston after retrieving my suitcase and going through customs I again 


repacked my carry on taking the extra time to get everything back in the 


roll-on,then my suitcase and I strolled on to my departure gate, happy to be


 back in the US

BERMUDA"S CHARMS

                                           A Great Destination

     Bermuda is a great cruise destination, although it can easily be reached by plane. A ship provides your accommodations and meals,which on the island can be expensive---no fast food on every street corner! To avoid overwhelming the island with thousands of tourists all at once the number of ships allowed into port at any one time is limited/regulated.

      I'm not much of a big cruise ship advocate. Finding six large cruise ships in port at the same time and everything so crowded you can hardly move is most annoying. Having said that, there are a couple destinations where a cruise is most advantageous---Bermuda and Alaska being among them. Bermuda’s size and isolation has forged a continuity of place and tradition. Parliament was established in 1620. The Bermudians love pomp and circumstance, British tradition, and Bermudian history.

      Pastel colored houses with white roofs along the blush-colored pink beaches and its infamous pink Princess Hotel make Hamilton a picturesque capitol, albeit small town. Bermuda shorts-clad business men are a common sight, as well as shorts-clad policemen. It's the knee-high socks that make the outfit. Personally I like that dress code, especially now that so many places have abandoned their traditional/native dress in favor of western wear.

     Forget renting a car on the 21 square mile archipelago. Traffic has been a problem for decades and car ownership is regulated. Renting a motor bike is your only choice. Hamilton is easily walkable and pubic buses are easy to hop on to get you to your destination.

     The surrounding reefs were treacherous and although Jaun de Bermudez was an accidental arrival in the 1500s the island was not settled until 1684 when Britain claimed it as its first legal offshore colony. In 1995 the residents voted against independence and to keep the Queen as its figurehead leader.

     Its numerous days of sunshine and a warm sub-tropical climate, make the island warm most of the year with December to March being the coolest. Besides the many water activities to keep you busy, Bermuda if full of history and has many other places of interest to visit. Historic St George is a UNESCO site. St. Peter's, the oldest Anglican church still in use in the hemisphere is worth a visit as is Fort Saint Catherine or the Royal Dock Yard. Rent a bike and ride along the Bermuda Railway Trail, or ride the bus to Gibbs Lighthouse (1846) and enjoy the view from the top or stroll the Botanical Gardens. And there is always shopping.

      The picturesque Moongates are one of my favorite things to see as I know of no other like them anywhere. The history of the steel drum is interesting and there is plenty of music and nightlife for everyone. Bermuda is a great vacation destination!