Blog Archives

My all-time favorite airline word is “buckle”. My fascination dates back to the classic United on-board safety video with the reassuring blond flight attendant with the 80s hair. (She must have been horrified when United continued to show this video until about 2005…although not as horrified as the female passenger with the 80s hairspray frizz!!)

Anyhow…my favorite line has always been the instructions for the low-IQ passengers about how to release the seat belt: “Just lift the buckle.” But I’ve seen the video 100 times, and the word “buckle” always makes me smile.

Can you believe I’ve wasted precious Blogger storage space on THAT story?

Oh yes…the must-have gift of the season from the Sky Mall catalog: the TimeMug. “The world’s first and only 100% dishwasher safe, time-telling drinkware.” Available with rhinestones, FYI, for that special sweetheart gift. You can just imagine the Chinese container ships loading up with this baby!

(Although I am fascinated by the table lamp that is also a slide projector. #1 how niche a market is that? And #2 who would $250 for it?)

By the way, I think the chatty female retiree next to me is stoned. She smells like the dorm room nextdoor in college.

As I download and process the gazillion pictures we took on our European adventure, I thought I would throw out this tidbit…

Crossing the 40-year mark wasn’t the only milestone on this vacation. On the return trip (somewhere over the Canadian Northern Territories, I believe), I passed the United 1K mark for the first time. One hundred frickin‘ thousand miles in a bit over ten months. ICK.

So, what does it take to make that mark?

• Frankfurt
• Paris
• DC x 5
• Seattle x 4
• Orange County x 3
• Las Vegas x 2
• Chicago x 2
• Raleigh Durham
• Denver
• Atlanta
• Kansas City + Philadelphia
• Miami
• Boston + NYC
• Orlando
• Portland
• LA

FYI, Jeff passed the Premier Executive mark on our return trip–a first for him. Given how little he flies for business, this was truly an extraordinary (and painful) achievement.

Oh, and by the way…I’m curious if anyone can tell me why United calls its 100,000-mile mark “1K”. There must be some historical significance.

Another overcast morning…but our last of the trip. Spent the morning playing with Keegan…expanding his Lego castle to include a Porta Nigra, like we saw a week ago in Trier. Took lots of photos of Keegan, with Cher-like outfit changes…his ninja outfit from Halloween, his knight outfit, his Transformers helmet (Optimus Prime).

Brunch at a Chez RW, a restaurant in a neighboring winery, who’s red-leafed grapevines covered the hillsides…with the Frankfurt skyline far in the distance. We didn’t record the German names of our food, but the dishes were wonderful. A succulent pork dish with dark mushroom and onion sauce. A savory schnitzel with rosemary potatoes. Slight snag…didn’t take credit cards…so had to send Julie back home for four more euros.

An easy drive on the autobahn to Frankfurt airport. Easy checkin. Easy security and passport checks. Time to relax in the Red Carpet lounge…a glass of Reisling and a bottle of German beer.

United 927. Seats 14 A/B. Watched Hairspray (really enjoyed it), Harry Potter (really enjoyed it a second time), and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (so-so diversion).

A delayed flight, but home safe, nonetheless. Glad to be off planes and trains for a short while at least…until that unquenchable wanderlust takes over again 🙂

A light drizzle this morning. Our favorite Patiserie Gabriela (35 Rue des Deux Ponts) was finally open…snapped up a few treats for the day…foutielle avec jambon et fromage, pain aux raisin, pain au chocolat. Our favorite fresh orange juice from nearby Les Vergers de l’Ile Saint Louis (27 Rue des Deux Ponts).

A last minute walk through quiet Ile St. Louis, and then a cab ride to Gare du Nord. Boarded the Thalys train to Köln. Good seats this trip…a table and window…just as we had requested.

The sun came out in Belgium and ducked back under cover before Germany.

Pulled into Köln at dusk under a gray, misty sky. A very helpful (and cute) German ticket person helped us change our tickets to arrive in Mainz…saving Julie a drive to fetch us in Frankfurt. Also shortened our layover by an hour.

Took advantage of our layover for a very quick visit to the impressive cathedral in Köln…literally adjacent to the train station. We tag teamed so that we didn’t drag luggage inside. Dashed-in… oooooo… aaaaaaaah…. listened to a brass band playing reverently. The cathedral is one of those traditional, mammoth, cross-shaped Neo-Gothic structures. Begun in 1248 and completed in 1880. Glad we got a chance to see it.

Boarded the ICE 927 train to Mainz. So clean and efficient compared with the tattered and clunky Thalys trains. A bubbly woman with a soothing laugh punched our tickets. The occasional well-lit Rheinland castle hovered as we sped by.

Arrived into Mainz Hbf. Greeted by Julie and Keegan…Mia just slept. Had to have one last schnitzel from Brauhaus Castel in Mainz-Kastel. Back in Dexheim, Keegan and his Uncle Jeff built a Lego castle…complete with a big tower…and a rathole 🙂