Flight Schedules

It was with a great deal of interest that I read in this morning's news about Delta's struggle to maintain flight schedules. I imagine that it can't be easy, with so many variables at play: crews, maintenance, weather, etc. So kudos to Delta for getting me home on time! Well, at least this time. :-)  

ATL

Well, the Atlanta International Airport is a happening place. I'll have to say that much. The morning I arrived, as I was exiting the airport, an announcement came over the loudspeakers that a "lockdown" was in effect. I later learned that there had been a fire somewhere. And I think I may have discovered where that fire took place, since all the ceiling tiles had been removed from the gate where my plane was parked. And, by the way, all the shops in that corridor were closed. Had to walk a quarter mile (and back!) just to get a bagel and tea. 

Sheesh! Air travel! Almost makes me want to drive. Only, my next scheduled trip is back to England, and I ain't exactly likely to go there by boat!

2026 Toyota Camry

This was the second time in a row that I drew a 2026 Toyota Camry from the Enterprise lottery. While nothing new or exciting, it did have the distinct advantage of familiarity. CarPlay is beginning to make sense, although the interface with my iPhone isn't always as simple and straightforward as I would like. Lane Tracing Assist seems a little dubious, but I'm definitely liking the Proactive Driving Assist.  Now, if I could just get all this in a slightly smaller package . . .

P1

On the move again, this time to find my car for the quick trip back to ATL. Thank goodness for signs! 

Vegetarian Plate

 

What I did eat and enjoy was this vegetarian plate, complete with, I think, artichokes, green beans and maybe a chunk of potato or two. 

Fried Avocados

Uhm, I'm no fan of avocados. Sorry, that's just the way it is. But even I will have to admit that these fried "alligator pears" looked scrumptious. 

Burrata

My very first taste of this unusual cheese. 

"Burrata (Italian: [burˈrata]) is an Italian cow's milk (occasionally buffalo milk) cheese made from mozzarella and cream. Burrata has its origins in the Apulia region of Italy. The dish was born out of a need to minimise food waste in the 1920s. The outer casing is solid cheese, while the inside contains stracciatella and clotted cream, giving it an unusual, soft texture. It is a speciality of the Puglia region of southern Italy." -- Wikipedia

Knife & Stone

 

Mural outside the Knife and Stone in Newnan, Georgia.

St. Paul's

Skytrain

 

"The ATL SkyTrain is an automated people mover (APM) at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport that runs 24/7 between the domestic terminal and rental car center." -- Wikipedia

Champions

 

A sports bar and restaurant in the hotel called Champions where I sat down to a late lunch or early supper. No snacks for the hoi palloi on the plane because of what the pilot called a "bumpy ride." Not sure the Biscoff cookies the crew nevertheless handed out to the first class passengers would have been worth the extra fare. Made the price I paid for my salmon salad at Champions seem quite economical by comparison. :-)

Housekeeping

 

Well, you know I'm always interested in how professionals handle routine housekeeping chores, mostly in order to see if I can learn any new tricks of my own. In this case, I was not entirely "im-pressed" by the bed cover. Seems to me it could have used a couple more passes with an iron. Maybe because the front desk bumped me up to the top floor after discovering I needed a feather-free room? I will say, though, that the sofa gave me one of the most comfortable afternoon naps I've had in a long time. And the accompanying writing stand--was just what I need to jot down some quick notes.

You Are Here

Another parking garage or, as the British call it, another "car park." Fortunately, the hotel where I stayed provided this convenient little sign next to the elevator.

Autowalks

When I read yesterday about the Trump administration's desire to redevelop Dulles International Airport and to possibly do away with the so-called "mobile lounges," I had to chuckle a little bit, especially as I thought about the autowalks at the Atlanta airport. Not sure I which I prefer. 

I didn't mind the walking. In fact, I actually preferred to walk rather than to take the airport's trains. But I'm not sure I would consider those advancements over Dulles' shuttles.

Relativity

No, not one, but multiple escalators! I'm sure that over time I would begin to make sense of all these, but to someone who hasn't been to Atlanta's airport in years, they were somewhat bewildering. Like, am I any nearer to my destination than when I started? Or am I trapped inside one of M. C. Escher's woodcuts? :-)

Escalators

 

There sure were a lot of these at Atlanta International Airport.

Buckle Up

Fortunately, the crew didn’t have to buckle up. Pretty smooth ride, this despite my having to drive through rain and even a rainbow (!) to get to the airport.