Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Why not Rome?

I just read today that an 11-year old boy was able to sneak on a flight to Rome from Manchester. Can't say I've never wished to do the same thing. I wonder how many of us at one point have looked up in the sky and wished we were on a plane going anywhere?

Monday, May 14, 2012

On Foot and Frantic in Fort Lauderdale

"Fort Lauderdale has a metro system!", I excitedly exclaim to myself while googling my airport transit options. I had just returned from the Bahamas and needed to find a way from Miami Lakes to FLL to make my flight back to Austin. A taxi was going to run ~$70 one way, so I was thrilled with my recent discovery. Always a fan of public transportation, I accepted the challenge. Bus to train to plane...easy breezy. I've successfully navigated foreign cities, how hard could Florida be?

I should have known the travel gods were forsaking me when, 15 minutes into my adventure, I was unable to locate the bus stop. Seriously. I had Google-mapped it and had my phone navigation set, but still couldn't find the dang thing. "No worries Amy, minor setback", I try to convince myself. "Skip the bus and walk to the train, you've got this." Game on.

Well, about 1.5 hours later, I'm still walking...in sandals...carrying backpack...pulling roller bag...in approximately 90 degree full on Florida sunshine. I'm dangerously close to missing the airport train, I've got blisters on my feet and the cab company I've called to rescue me can't locate the random (locked) warehouse parking lot I've taken a much needed shade break at.

I hung my head in shame, cursing my stubborn self for putting myself in this position, and prepared to wave my white flag. Just then I looked up, and that's when I saw it. My oasis in the hot, dry, pedestrian unfriendly desert of Ft. Lauderdale...a mortuary. Yes, that's right, I said mortuary. And I couldn't have been happier. I mustered up my last bit of energy and made my way to it's lobby. Its glorious, air-conditioned lobby complete with water fountain and an address that a taxi could actually find. Embracing the irony that a mortuary was my saving grace, I quickly re-hydrated and waited anxiously for my cab.

Fast forward 45 minutes later - one train ride and one incredibly slow shuttle ride completed - I book it to the check-in desk with seconds to spare before my flight is closed. Literally seconds. I beg for mercy and am escorted through security (so this is what first class feels like) while the plane is being held at the gate for me. Murphy's Law in full effect, my bag has to be re-screened "because the computer randomly glitched". Totally frantic at this point, I grab my stuff, head full speed to my gate (a few toes may have been wheeled over - my apologies) and step onto the plane an instant before the door is secured. I sit down and contemplate the lesson in all of this. Next time...tennis shoes!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

bliss


completely alone on a secluded beach,
only the sand flies to keep me occupied. not another soul.
the ocean waves talk to me. 
calming. calling.
white sand. turquoise clouds on the horizon. 
the sea is a brilliant mix of blues and greens I've never seen before. 
almost florescent.
the colors practically beg me to jump in and explore what lies beneath the surface. 
instead I sit. 
on the fluffy white sand. soft as a pillow. 
and take it all in.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Carnival here I come!


When I overheard my co-worker, Janelle, talking about her upcoming trip home to Trinidad for Carnival, I did what every self-respecting travel junkie would do…I invited myself! Fortunately she was willing to let me tag along and so, after several weeks of riding the airfare roller coaster, I booked my ticket from Austin to that little island off the coast of Venezuela known as “Trini”. 



Traveling with locals is always my favorite way to see a new place and Trinidad was no exception. Janelle’s good friend Marissa hosted us and made me feel right at home. 


I’ll admit I was quite intimidated when I opened my pre-ordered costume and saw how tiny it actually was. Not to mention the fact that I was given the wrong one and was now going to have to wear white…not ideal for my mid-Feb ghostly-pale skin. Making the best of it, I squeezed myself in (probably the one and only time I’ve appreciated nylons) and prepared myself for 2 straight days of dancing around the streets of downtown Trinidad. It was like nothing I’d ever seen before; I’ll let the pictures do the talking.



Needless to say, after those two days, I was ready to relax and see the rest of the island. Janelle had to leave, but Marissa and friends were kind enough to take me to the hot spots. We hiked to a waterfall, swam in spring-fed pools, visited family and just took in the beauty of it all….just what the doctor ordered. 

Trinidad 02.12