Getting There...Boston-Nashville-Las Vegas

Lin dropped me at Boston's Logan Airport early at my request. I had two large duffels filled to capacity with boat parts and miscellany. Add to that a carry-on suitcase and a large “purse” which accommodated my new laptop, my iPad, my Kindle and then other less important stuff like my wallet, passport and ticket info. I had my hands full. Remember, I had originally planned to fly directly back to Perth, Australia. Stopping in Las Vegas was not the plan. Luckily Southwest offers two free checked bags up to 50# each (really!) that I was able to check at the curb, no less. I already had my boarding passes and headed straight to the gates. In all the times I've flown out of Boston, I don't think I've ever flown out of its “E” gates, usually reserved for international flights. Something new and different.  

gate e1b

 

The TSA security check line was long, but moved very quickly. A pleasant surprise was the line-up of white rocking chairs facing the planes and runways as I exited Security. Close to my departure gate, I spotted an empty rocker that seemed to call my name (it had a lobster painted on it) and I claimed it in a nanosecond. I sat down, rocked slowly back and forth and began to watch the show.

 

rocking chairs

 

I spotted an AerLingus jet arriving next to the Southwest jet I would be boarding and I couldn't help wonder who might be coming or subsequently leaving on that plane. My Irish-American cousins make the trip to Ireland quite often. They stay in castles and cottages and roam the countryside and I daydreamed that David and I might sail there some day. It's easy to daydream while you're rocking.

 

aer lingus

 

I watched the tons and tons of luggage being shuttled around from plane to plane. No wonder my luggage barely survives one flight before giving up the ghost. These guys are not gentle. Then I spotted two legless, abandoned plastic pink flamingos sitting on the tarmac and wondered what their story was.

 

abandoned pink flamingoes

 

We boarded on time and were off. No drama at all. Though it was open seating and the flight seemed full, I got a great seat close to the front with plenty of room to stow my carry-ons and a good view of the city as we took off. I waved goodbye to beautiful Boston and felt a twinge of regret and sadness in my heart. Next stop … Nashville.

 

leaving boston

 

We arrived early. Figures … I had a 3-hour layover. I've visited Nashville in the past. It's a country music city: Grand Ole Opry, Honky Tonk Highway, Country Music Hall of Fame … nothing open at the airport though. After all, it was after 6PM on a Saturday night. Even the Burger King was closed. I finally found a place for a salad, dawdled a bit over my romaine lettuce and then set out to see whatever there was to see to while away the rest of my layover time. It turned out the comic strip character, Nancy, hailed from Nashville … at least her creator, Ernie Bushmiller did, and there was a display dedicated to her. That took up a good 10 minutes.

 

nancy loves nashville

 

Next, I spotted some art on the ceiling. Entitled Spectrum Wind by Duncan McDaniel, this was a conduit and colored plastic cup artwork funded by Arts at the Airport. Hmm … I stopped to photograph it … looking up to do so. Several people stopped and looked up, too. We shared a few comments. Another 5 minutes gone … just like that.

 

spectrum wind

 

The flight was delayed another 45 minutes. I waited impatiently. I fidgeted. We finally boarded and I got a seat next to an old codger who insisted on talking incessantly ... even when I feigned sleep. Nearly 5 hours later, my left ear numb from the chatterbox next to me, we arrived in Las Vegas. I made my way out of the security area, eyes peeled for that familiar face. And there was David with a big smile and an iPad sign for his arriving passenger. It's good to be home … and home is wherever David is.

 

my sweetie

Home to America

Airports are interesting places, don't you think? Flying home to America from Perth, Australia the other day … half way around the world … through four different airports … afforded me lots of opportunity to observe and ponder. My first thought … air travel is definitely faster than traveling on Nine of Cups. It has taken us 14 years to get to Australia and I got back to America in just 34 hours.

Layovers, within reason that is, don't bother me all that much any more.When I was traveling for business, it was a pain and a waste of time sitting in an airport for hours, but now it's less of an issue. I use the time to observe what's going on around me and check out the displays and wares that airports offer to lure bored, captive passengers into eating, drinking and buying things at escalated prices they probably wouldn't consider under other circumstances. I especially like “Duty Free” shops that charge no tax, but end up being significantly higher priced than if the tax was included. Go figure! I kind of resent the fact that they make you walk through these shops in order to get to the gates.

duty free shop

Sydney Airport is always a good place to lay over. I had five hours to check it out, so I was pretty thorough. Yes, there were all the usual upscale shops like Victoria's Secret, Coach, Ralph Lauren, Burberry and Godiva. I gave them all a pass. I prefer to browse in shops with more unique products and approaches to selling their wares. I enjoy National Geographic and the Discovery store. The Merino Shop, offering the finest in all things wool, had a great display with a bronze sheep shearing statue out front. Truth be told, I wasn't interested in the woollen products in the least, but the the bronze was pretty classy and elaborate for an airport shop. They must do okay.

sheep shearing

Australian Made featured a big kangaroo at the front entry which got my attention. They sold classic Aussie akubra hats and sheepskins, Aussie t-shirts and the usual souvenirs, but the place had a sort of kangaroo-ish flare that distinguished it from all the rest of the souvenir shops.

australian made

Beyond the shops, I love to eavesdrop on conversations as I'm walking along. Snippets of different accents, different languages drift in the air. Sometimes I pick up a word or language I recognize. Other times, I'm at a loss. Women in burkas, guys in shorts and thongs (that's flip-flops for Americans, not skimpy underwear), men in turbans and one in colorful African dress all heading somewhere.

I'm fascinated with the Departure boards that change constantly. Flights to Nadi, Dubai, Delhi, Ho Chi Minh City and all manner of exotic places including Los Angeles, which might be exotic to you if you've never been there. I want to visit them all. I wonder where everyone is going and why. Business, pleasure, home for some emergency?

departure board

Though I didn't buy any, I did see both kangaroo and crocodile jerky on offer. I preferred some Australian licorice for the trip.

kangaroo jerky