by Lufthansa Flyer | Nov 13, 2011 | Trip Reports |
Happy Sunday to Everyone!
I was sifting through all my photo and video files (yes, still working on the 2000+ pictures from Italy) when I found a few videos that I had forgotten about that I thought you may be interested in seeing.
In all, there are 5 videos showing take offs or landings from within the Aircraft. 2 videos are from the Flagship A380’s In Flight Entertainment system that broadcasts video from cameras installed on the aircraft’s exterior. The first of these shows the take off roll From JFK in New York, the next one is the final approach to Frankfurt at 5:30am. You may want to skip ahead to the one minute mark on that video since thats when the airport becomes clear. The other 2 videos are of a take off roll in an A330 from Dusseldorf destined for Chicago and the last video is the final approach to Chicago on that same flight. The final video is from Munich, showing a tug pushing back an A340-600 destined for San Francisco (SFO).
The quality may not be good enough for an academy award in cinematography because the vibrations of the airplane tend to be magnified in a video, but they are in HD and are still decent enough to enjoy.
A380 Take Off Roll From JFK in New York City:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXlZndnr1ks&hd=1[/youtube]
A380 Final Approach to Franfurt, Germany: (FRA)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-0BVCDjjb0&hd=1[/youtube]
A330 Take Off Roll from Dusseldorf (DUS):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdzDBaB0YFc[/youtube]
A330 Final Approach to Chicago (ORD):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiyZaTzwhnA[/youtube]
A340-600 Pushback at Munich (MUC) enroute to San Francisco (SFO):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw3RTkXWdMU&hd=1[/youtube]
by Lufthansa Flyer | Nov 8, 2011 | Trip Reports |
Its the end of the year, and that means its Mileage Run time. For those unfamiliar with the term, a Mileage Run is simply a quick trip (almost always a same day return home) that is booked primarily to earn miles in order to renew one’s Airline Frequent Flyer Status for the upcoming year. The idea is to find a fare that offers the cheapest CPM (Cost Per Mile). I’ll spare the details since Mileage Run discussions can turn into Doctoral Dissertations.
The destination tends to be the least important element when deciding where to go. If going to Anchorage, Alaska in February only costs 3 cents a mile, then Anchorage is a great place to visit for 2 hours in February. It is what it is!
In my case I need a few thousand miles to move up the ranks in United’s Mileage Plus program for 2012. My hunt started in early October and I thought it would be Europe again to visit a Christmas Market in a City that I haven’t visited before. As I kept staring at my atlas trying to figure out what city it would be, my eyes kept shifting to Asia and began to focus on Hong Kong. Airfares on United confirmed that it was a good idea to visit Asia so that settled that. Better still, a friend of mine was kind enough to give me a couple of her “Systemwide Upgrades” or “SWU’s” to help me weather the 29 hours of roundtrip flight in Business Class. Later on, United launched a promo that offered double miles for exactly my 2 flights from and to Chicago, so that just sweetens the deal for me. I’ll get twice the miles that I was originally planning on. 15000 miles turn into 30000. Not a bad day even though the bonus miles don’t count towards elite status. So Hong Kong it is for 2011.
Now I don’t claim to be a multi-million mile traveler, but all of my international miles have come from trips to Europe. Ever since I was 5 years old and through to my late teens, flying to Czechoslovakia (The Slovakia side on the most recent version of European maps) to visit the majority of my family was an Annual Rite. I’ve spent many summer breaks there growing up as a kid and still visit on a very regular basis. I’ve even had the opportunity to take Mrs. LufthansaFlyer back a couple of times to the villages that my parents are from so she can visit my 95 year old Grandmother, various aunts, uncles and cousins. Some habits just don’t go away!
In my adult life, my travel habits still take me to Europe ALL THE TIME, so I knew this was an opportune time to do something radically different. At least as far as my travel habits go.
Anyhow, the decision to go to Hong Kong goes against the grain of my travel experience. It goes against my desire to only ever fly Lufthansa when leaving the USA. I even have a tinge of guilt, as if I was “cheating on Europe”. I’m in an exclusive and committed relationship with the continent. What would she think? Would she ever let me back?
A lot of firsts are going to take place by turning left out of the USA and flying West, to get to the Far East. The time has come for me to expand my horizons, put myself intentionally out of my comfort zone, cross the International Date Line for the first time and experience things I’ve never seen before.
Since Hong Kong is 7750 miles from my front door, I thought it deserved more than a mileage run, where I normally land and return home literally on the same plane a few hours later. I thought that a Mileage Jog would be more appropriate. A Mileage Jog becomes a 1-2 day trip, still primarily for the miles, but with a pause to take in a new destination beyond the airport.
So as my plans stand, I will have approximately 1 day in Hong Kong. I’m not counting the day I arrive since I will be landing around 6p, and I’m not counting my departure date since that flight leaves at 11a (and I need time for plane spotting at the airport). So for the one full day that I will be there, I need your ideas…… Where to eat? What do I have to see? Where do I have to go? What can I do in one day? Keep in mind that I tend to be a hit and run traveler. I dont like to spend 2 hours in any one place. So for this trip, museums, galleries, etc. just wont fit the plan. I want to see as many things as possible and within reason given my time frame.
So far, using the power of Google I’ve come up with this Itinerary:
1. Buy something nice for Mrs. LufthansaFlyer
2. Peak Tram for great photos of the Skyline (have to remember to pack tripod…..)
3. ???
4. Eating various Organs from a Skewer
5. Get measured for shirts/suits at favorite shirtmaker (He usually visits USA, I figure to return favor)
6. ???
7. Noodle Shops / Sushi
8. ???
9. ???
10 Buy something nice for Mrs. LufthansaFlyer
As you can see, there are some gaps in my itinerary and this is where your ideas will come in handy. I’m staying near the Expo Center on Hong Kong Island, so I know there is a ton to explore there. I know that I’m a quick train/ferry ride from Kowloon and Nathan Rd. But thats about all I know. I’m sure there will be thousands of options, but only having 24 hours, it doesn’t afford me much time to make mistakes or to miss out on something that is a must do for a visit to Hong Kong.
I’ll sweeten the request. I’ll pick three of the best ideas (specific places, restaurants, etc) from all the reponses (ties for the same idea will be broken by who submitted the idea first). For those top 3, I’ll bring back a modest little souvenir of Hong Kong. Be warned, it may be the Inflight Magazine or Safety Card!! ……But seriously, I’ll bring back a small thank you for your idea. Just send me your idea to my “Contact Me” link on the right side of my page or post it as a comment on this blog entry.
I’ll end the post at this point. I need to go begin my conditioning routine for the upcoming pair of 15 hour flights. Tonight’s routine is 10 consecutive hours of Top Gear………..
by Lufthansa Flyer | Nov 4, 2011 | Trip Reports |
Another part of my trip report covering our recent visit to Italy. This part looks at the Isle of Capri, off of Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Capri is definitely a site to behold. With its huge elevation changes on such a small island, the views are simply dramatic. The day started out from our hotel, The Belair, in Sorrento. The hotel itself is placed on the ledge of one of the cliffs along the shore line and its the only hotel I’ve ever been in where you enter from the roof, and take the elevator downstairs to the lobby and the rest of the floors. But I digress.
Rooftop entrance to our hotel
Spectacular view from Hotel
Part of the Cliff exposed in the Hotel stairwell
Another fantastic view from Hotel
From Sorrento, its a quick 30 minute Hydrojet Boat ride to the Island. I believe a round trip ticket on the ferry was in the 30 Euro range. The ferry docks at the village of Marina Grande, which is situated conveniently between the 2 large peaks of the island. On the eastern peak is the small village of Capri, and to the west on the other peak, is Anacapri. Its a short cab ride up either side, or take the public buses which are plentiful. Be careful not to fall for a taxi cab drivers pitch about paying him to spend the whole day driving you around. For about 5 Euro, you can take the bus up to Capri, then over to Anacapri (and thats a scary climb on hairpin roads climbing the cliff), and back to Marina Grande to catch the ferry back to the mainland.
We needed to walk down there to get to sea level for the ferry to Capri
Marina Grande on the Isle of Capri
Capri and Anacapri are quite opposite of each other not only in location but in feel as well. Based on what I observed, Capri is geared towards a high end clientel. Walking through through the narrow cobblestone streets, you are quickly surrounded by every luxury brand name you can imagine, and then some that you’ve never heard of as well! There was one instance where Mrs. LufthansaFlyer was window shopping a jewelery store and as I caught up with her, she asked if she could spend 265,000 EURO on a necklace. You read that correctly. thats a comma in the number, not a period. I told her to offer $200,000 EURO, but not a penny more. I know when I’m getting ripped off in a retail shop! Safe to say that the trusty Amex card stayed safely tucked away in my wallet.
Approaching the Village of Capri
A typical street in Capri
When you pass by the various restaurants and bars, and look at their windows, you see photographs attached to the glass covering the who’s who of Hollywood and Politics. Apparently Capri has been visited by Jackie Onassis, Danny DeVito, George Clooney, etc. etc. etc. and etc. Definitely had the impression that it was a playground for the rich and famous. Our 70 Euro lunch at a nice little restaurant just past all the shops was proof enough. Capri is a beautiful village with a lot to see, especially as far as shopping is concerned. There are shops that do cater to those that can’t drop a quarter million Euro on a necklace, so you will not be wasting your time to explore Capri. Actually the Isle is popular for its hand made ladies’ leather sandals. Those make for a great souvenir or gift since you can pick and choose what is put on the sandle, and they make it for you as you watch. A nice gift in the 100-200 Euro range.
More of Capri
Looking west, out of Capri
Another great view from Capri
Anacapri, on the other side of the island, is simply different. It does not have the same feel as Capri does. Anacapri has a much more residential tone to it. Once you leave the immediate area of the main bus stop, you find yourself walking through a very nice and quiet neighborhood lined with beautiful homes and gardens. A few shops line the route, but its the shops where the locals go. You won’t find too many high end boutiques in Anacapri, but you’ll find great little shops that have a lot to offer. We walked quite a bit through Anacapri and simply loved how quiet and peaceful things were compared to the energy you found in Capri. An absolute must to in Anacapri is the The Museum House of Villa San Michele. THIS IS THE PLACE for some of the greatest photographs you may ever capture. Simply stunning views. We almost missed this spot, but fortunately we decided to walk down just a pedestrian street just a little bit more and stumbled upon it quite by accident. As you see in the pictures, its a place you definitely want to get to while at Anacapri.
Quieter streets in Anacapri
Quiet residential Plaza
Happy Cow Butcher Shop????
Anacapri is full of beautiful tree lined streets
And locals who like attention........
Quaint street with nice shops
This is from the Villa Museum House of San Michele
Great Views
The Ferry that serves Capri from Sorrento
Departing Capri
Aprroaching Sorrento
Approaching Sorrento
We took the 10am ferry to Capri and had plenty of time to see everything we wanted to in Capri and Anacapri and were back on the 4pm Ferry back to Sorrento. Ferries begin leaving Sorrento at 7 or 8am and the last ferry departs Capri at 7pm for the trip back to Sorrento. A day was plenty of time to visit one of the most scenic places that I’ve ever experienced. We however did agree that if we return, that we should spend a night in Capri just to see who we may wind up rubbing elbows with. Who knows, maybe next time we’ll be doing shots of Limoncello with George Clooney and Danny DeVito, fresh from Devito’s distellery.
