Some Miscellaneous Thoughts On Recent travel

Haven't posted anything here for a long time.  Mostly because I haven't been traveling much.  So, here goes, a few things I remember from trips I've taken the last few months.

Delta:  Anyone who has flown in the last year or so knows there are fewer flights to choose from and most flights are full.  Forget the concept of changing flights, and be ready for healthy change fees.  I will say Delta has treated me pretty well.  Though I've lost my Gold status, and am now a mere Silver Medallion, my Million Miler status helps a bit.  Delta (www.delta.com) has gone back to putting a priority tag on my bag, so they don't throw  it on the ground and step on it as many times as they do those bags with no bright yellow tags.  My new "upgrade" is getting to sit in an exit row, preferably the last exit row so I can recline my seat.  Feels like First Class to me!  Oh, except that last night on the way to Denver, I asked to buy two Woodford Reserve (www.woodfordreserve.com)  bourbons but the flight attendant told me in no uncertain terms he could only sell me one at a time!  Okay, so it isn't like 1st class!  Delta flights are more competitively priced out of Cincinnati now, which is also an improvement. 

February Ski Trip with Son Dave:  My son Dave (he lives in Portland, OR) and I flew to Denver in early February then drove up to Breckenridge, CO, to ski for a few days.  We stopped in Dillon so I could rent skis and buy lift tickets at our favorite ski shop in the world, Virgin Islands Ski and Snowboard Rental (www.virginislandsski.com) .  We love this store and have been renting/buying things there for years.  The crew in the store is an eclectic group of ski bums and they provide fast, friendly service every time.  If you ever ski in Summit County, Colorado, stop at Virgin Island Ski Rental to get your equipment, or just to say hi.  They also have a clean restroom!

Next stop was at City Market, owned by Kroger, so my Kroger card works there, which is nice.  We picked up some groceries, then made at the liquor store next door for some other necessities.  Finally, properly provisioned, we headed up the road to toward Keystone and Breckenridge.  You turn off the main road just before getting to Keystone to cut over the hill to Breckenridge.  Got to meet a very nice Summit County Sheriff who noticed I was going around 50 in a 35 MPH zone.  Fortunately, he gave me a warning and let me go on my way.  Very friendly of him.

We checked into our condo, a one bedroom about two blocks from the main business street of Breckenridge.  Nice, clean, affordable, meeting all our expectations.

We had four great days of skiing, two at Keystone, one at Beaver Creek, and one at Breckenridge.  Keystone (www.keystoneresort.com) is our family's favorite ski resort.  Dave and Nina learned to ski there in the early 1990's, 1991 or 1992, we have stayed at many of the Keystone rental properties, and had a great time every time we've been there.  Keystone offers a wide variety of terrain, from very easy to very difficult.  And, as part of Vail Resorts, lift tickets are good at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, A-Basin, and Beaver Creek.  Our day at Beaver Creek was really good.  Beaver Creek is a really high-end ski mountain and resort.  The terrain is fairly demanding, but there is plenty for folks who don't want to ski steep stuff.  There is a Ritz Carlton resort hotel at the base of one of the mountains.  Always nice to get Ritz Carlton service, even if you are only using their bathroom!  Breckenridge (the ski area) was not our favorite.  Nice enough, but seemed you had to navigate to the bottom of the mountain a lot, which meant dealing with the largest crowds (it was Saturday) we have seen anywhere in a long time.  We enjoyed the day, and were able to ski right back to our condo which was nice.

Was really good to be with Dave for a few days, doing something we both love to do.  We are already looking forward to next year's ski trip to.....not sure yet.  Was also nice that Kathy and her mom came up for a couple of days just to hang with us before and after skiing.   

Stuart, Florida:  Kathy and I visited our Loveland, OH, neighbors, Walt and Ann Wurster at their beach-side condo on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, Florida, the last week in February.  Though the weather wasn't great by typical Florida standards, it was a welcome relief from the record-setting snowfall's we left behind in Ohio.  Walt and Ann's condo is right on the beach, and one can sit all day long in their living room or on their deck watching the ocean.  We spotted dolphins each day, not far from shore, which is always fun for us landlubbers!  We also played golf two days, one day well, one day not so well, but fun anyway.  One night we went to a nearby Benihana Steak House, had a great meal with our friends and the two other couples sitting at our table.  Thanks Walt and Ann for letting us share your paradise for a few days!

Beverly Hills:  Two weeks ago I was in Los Angeles visiting the office I manage there.  The office used to be in Beverly Hills but we moved it a year and a half ago to Culver City, not too far from LAX.  When the office was in Beverly Hills, I always stayed at a very cool, small hotel, The Avalon Hotel (www.avalonbeverlyhills.com).  Over the years I got to know the staff really well, and, as they do for all guests, they treated me very well, like I was actually somebody, if you know what I mean.  Now that our office is 8 miles away, I've been staying at a Courtyard by Marriott in Culver City, right next door to the office.  On this last trip, I chose to stay at The Avalon, to renew some relationships, and because I was able to get a pretty good rate.  Suffice it to say, I had a great time, mostly due to the hospitality of the best mixologist in  Beverly Hills, and probably in Southern California, oh what the hell, the world, Ian Porter.  Ian is a great guy, loved by all his customers, and is the master of the bar!  The entire staff is great, and if you ever have a chance to spoil yourself when in the LA area, stay at The Avalon for a couple of nights.

One night I ate at my favorite Mexican restaurant in the world, Frida's (www.fridarestaurant.com), on Beverly in Beverly Hills.  They have great food, good service, and the people watching is as good as it gets, for lunch or dinner.  Beverly is the main street of Beverly Hills, with many restaurants and shops, and only a couple of blocks away from Rodeo Drive.  When the weather is good, you can sit outside at Frida's, and many other restaurants on Beverly, enhancing the people watching part of the experience.

Another night, back at The Avalon, in Oliverio, the hotel gourmet restaurant (and bar), I had an octopus appetizer that was to die for.  If you've never had octopus, I highly recommend it.  Have had it twice, both as appetizers, and have loved it both times.  Not talking sushi here, talking cooked, and it doesn't taste like chicken!  Very flavorful, just delicious.

Was really nice to spend three nights in Beverly Hills, walking around in the evening, reconnecting with some locals at The Avalon bar, and the commute to the office wasn't bad, only took about 25 minutes.

And That Leads To Denver, Where I Am Now:  We are here for Easter, visiting my mother-in-law, for a few days.  Weather is good, nothing else to report at this time.  I will make more frequent post, for those two or three of you who read any of my blogs.

Dave

Attention, This Is Your Captain Speaking, Please Go To The Restroom in the Terminal Before Boarding

Thanks Dan Cupril, for posting this article.  Seems All Nippon Airlines is looking to save fuel on all flights going forward.  As this article points out, all passengers are being asked to relieve themselves before boarding, to reduce weight, and fuel.  Like anyone gets on a plane with a full bladder, or something else!  Oh my, what is next?  Please don't eat one day before flying, no drinking either?  Hard to make this stuff up!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1218473/Airline-goes-green-asking-passengers-use-toilet-boarding.html

Enjoy!

Should Wi-Fi Enabled Phone Calls Be Allowed on Planes

Interesting article in USA Today about using Voice over Internet (VOIP)/WiFi calling on airplanes.  Though US carriers who offer WiFi service are blocking VOIP, the block isn't ironclad, as noted in the article.  European carriers are allowing VOIP calls and so far, according to this article, passengers like it, and aren't revolting. 

Not so sure what I think.  Nice to be able to call, but I know there will be passengers who will be on the phone for an entire flight across the country, just because they can be.  What do you think?

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-09-28-wi-fi-cellphones-airlines_N.htm

Fees Fatten Airline Coffers

Here is an article about airline fees and how the fees have added $3.8B in revenue this year.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-09-24-airlines-fees-revenue_N.htm

Necessary evil?  Not sure but certainly seems fees are here to stay.

Top Ten Ways Pilots and Airlines Can Make Flying Better

I created this Top Ten List in the early 90's for a sales meeting presentation. Looked at it recently and realized that it is still relevant today.

So, the Top 10 Ways Pilots and Airlines Can Make Flying Better are:

Number 10, Only sell half the seats
Number 9, Shoot any passenger who carries on more than two bags
Number 8, Serve free booze before and during all flights, and especially in the baggage claim area
Number 7, Install 1 bathroom per passenger
Number 6, Fly at WARP 6 Speed, whatever the hell that is
Number 5, Make all seats first class
Number 4, Make all mothers traveling with children under 21 fly on separate planes
Number 3, Leave on time, arrive on time
Number 2, Shut up and fly the plane

And, the number one way pilots and airlines can make flying better is:

Remove all pictures of grandchildren from the purses of Grandmothers!

Portland, OR Restaurant Recommendation from My Son Dave

My son Dave and his wife Carley recently went to a new restaurant in Portland, OR, where they live. Here are his comments:

Carley found new restaurant in outer SE--The Observatory. A couple blocks east of the Academy Theater. Cool interior, great food. I had an OR albacore burger, Carley had the veg burger. Both were great. I had an Amnesia IPA...great little place and really reasonably priced.

Here is more information from Yelp:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-observatory-portland

Wishbone Restaurant--A Denver Classic!

Our family has been going to the Wishbone Restaurant located at 97th and Federal for years and years. It is a classic fried chicken restaurant where you will never be disappointed by the consistent quality of the food and friendly service. Now, we aren't talking gourmet food here, but the food is homestyle, fried chicken, gravy, and of course, Texas Toast ready for honey from the bottles on every table. There is more than chciken, in fact a lot more, but I've never eaten anything else there. We were there last Friday night for small retirement party (sister-in-law Betty finally hung up the chalk after many years of teaching little rascals). Most of the family had some kind of chicken dinner though my niece Becky had the Orange Ruffy and we all shared an appetizer plate of mushrooms, shrimp, mozzarella sticks, and great onion rings. My brother-in-law George had a large plate of Chicken Gizzards and he seemed to enjoy them. Offered me some but I passed! And, 4 1/2 year old Reyliana had a very tasty toasted cheese sandwich. If you must, but don't know why you would, there are hamburgers and other routine sandwiches.

If you are in the north Denver suburbs, and have a hankering for some really good fried chicken, The Wishbone Restaurant can't be beat. Check it out!

www.wishbonerestaurant.com