Blog

While I’m busy clearing out some missed photos from the last several weeks, I wanted to share some images from my family weekend in St. Michaels in late December. These are some of more artistic shots from that chilly weekend. As you can see from the icicles in the third photo…the temps were frigid…but inside we had a roaring fire.

Well, I am happy to report that my technical (and psychological) barriers to blog posting have been resolved…or at least minimized…and I can begin to catch back up on some recent trips.

So, first off, is a colorful trip to Las Vegas last week for the Consumer Electronics Show. I had the great fortune to try out the Bellagio, which has always been on my must-try list. With the dip in attendance this year at CES, the rates at some of the premium hotels were quite aggressive…a silver lining I suppose.

One interesting bit of timing was that I arrived in time to catch the final day of the hotel’s Christmas display in their flower conservatory. On Tuesday, it was a festive winter wonderland…and the next, the display came down to get ready for the Chinese New Year display. Like clockwork.

As usual, I tried some wonderful food over the few days. Most of the photos came out too dark…Vegas loves dark and moody…but I really liked this colorful sushi plate I had from Samba Sushi in the Palazzo. And yes, it was as yummy as it looks. I also had a morning brioche from this wonderful patisserie in the Bellagio…the brioche below is filled with luscious Nutella…YUM.

I liked this shot of a towering fountain of chocolate in the Bellagio. Its got criss-crossing streams of white and dark chocolate. Amazing to watch.

And finally, what travel post would be complete without my required hotel window photo. with views of the Bellagio pools. Believe it or not, even in January there were a few folks swimming.

So, if anyone thinks that having good status with an airline guarantees a good seat…just take a look at this seatmap for my flight from Denver on Friday. Status gets you nothing if there are just no seats. How depressing.

I’m claustrophobic just thinking about this flight.

I overheard an amusing exchange in a shop in the Las Vegas airport.

"Do you sell cotton balls?"

[Long pause.]
[Quizzical look.]
"Huh?"

"Do you sell cotton balls. You know…uh…cotton balls?"

This was followed by a jumble of disconnected words and hand gestures as the customer tried in vain to define cotton ball…without saying "balls of cotton".

Hysterical.

By the way, the answer…eventually…was no.

Oh yes…the guy sitting behing my at the gate has now called five people telling them that he made it to the gate. Fantastic.

One last 'cheerio'. A very early morning to catch a taxi to Heathrow. (Side note: The taxi drivers are sooooo friendly in London. Yesterday, one driver didn't have change for a paper bill I had, so he took whatever change I had…about a pound short on a six pound ride…and said in the nicest way that it was close enough and that really it was his fault. Totally classy. I seem to remember an LA cab driver speeding off with the door still open when I refused to tip him for his poor service. Score one for the Brits.)

Left the May Fair. The four of us rode in sleepy silence for most of the way…with the occasional oooooh or aaaaaaah. A layer of frost made the occasional green sporting fields magical in the low morning light. The city was quiet.

Parted with Sherie as we rounded the airport…she made her way to Virgin's Terminal 3 and we stopped at United's Terminal 1. Spent some quality lounging time in the Star Alliance international lounge before our flight.

First UA 949 to Chicago…yes, Chicago in January…the direct flights to SFO were sold out. Seats 9 A/B. Oh yes…the new lie flat seats complete with big screen entertainment system. Damn entertainment…I didn't sleep for more than 15min. A couple dozen games. The beginnings of several movies. A couple of episodes of The Office. My A.D.D. was in full distraction mode.

Landed in Chicago on schedule. Made our way through the inefficient 'howdy' known as US Customs.

United 907…on time? Shocking. I will give United and O'Hare a new year's reprieve from my loathing 🙂 Seats 9 A/B again…but no lie-flat seats on this ancient widebody. Ok we took off a bit late, but for Chicago…this almost counts as on-time. Wow did this 4-hour flight feel longer than the 9-hour flight from London. Did watch a good movie though…Bottle Shock…and its sunny telling of a historic French-American wine face-off.

Landed. Baggage. Car. Home. Shower. Bed. What a whirl-wind New Years.

(Welcome home Sherie and Chris…what are you on about?)