Tea at Hotel Cafe Royal (the second stop on my afternoon tea crawl through London) is a very opulent affair. Unlike Fortnum and Mason’s bright and airy tearoom, Cafe Royals’ tearoom is dark and heavy, dripping in gold and velvet. Walking in feels like stepping into a jewelry box. And I felt a bit like…
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Needless to say, Tahiti is a very senior trip. At 28+ years of seniority, I can’t touch it. But I’ve been telling the universe for years that I want to go. And guess what? The universe just answered. Not only was I lucky enough to get a Tahiti trip, but I got it over the…
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I don’t mean to brag, but I was on the “non-traveling” tennis team in high school. The “non-traveling” members of the team were so far down the roster that our matches didn’t count, and therefore, our attendance was not required. Because my experience with tennis lies in the distant past and is less than spectacular,…
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On a recent layover in New York City, I attended an exhibition of Basquiat’s art and life. This exhibit isn’t a typical exhibit, just like Basquiat wasn’t a typical artist. It isn’t in a museum or even a gallery. It’s in a warehouse in Chelsea. And it wasn’t curated by a staff member with a…
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Lately, I’ve been spending my layovers on an afternoon tea tour through London. Sitting and sipping tea is just about the right speed for this tired flight attendant. It doesn’t take much effort to put on a pretty dress, sit in an opulent setting, and indulge myself with scones and sweets. Perhaps, reader, you would…
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European layovers are rough for flight attendants based on the west coast. No matter how you play it, you’ll miss one night of sleep each week. With a short 24-hour layover, you have two strategies: When you get to the hotel, you can nap for a few hours. Then, draggg yourself out of bed and go…
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Planes are packed, masks are off, and I am back to international flying! Spring 2022 feels a little bit like winter 2019. Well, not quite, but it’s getting there. We’re still not laying over in China. We still have to Covid test before working flights to Tahiti, Taipei, and Singapore. Oh, and we’re also not…
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Surprising fact: Grand Forks, North Dakota (population roughly 30,000), has the 12th busiest airport in America. How is that possible, you wonder? Because one of the nation’s top aviation schools is located there. My son thinks he wants to become a pilot. And that’s why I’ve recently traveled to this small, cold, hard-to-reach town. And…
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Where in the world is Paula? In a 2nd/3rd grade combo-class. My girlfriend and former colleague (I used to be a teacher) asked me to substitute in her class yesterday. I said, “Sure!” I like kids. They tell you the craziest things. Ask you the craziest things. Rub their hands over your pantyhose because they’ve…
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I think I may have met my soulmate in Central Park last week: a little French bulldog. I never even caught his name because I was on a sensitive and formal phone call when we met. Let’s call him Pete. I was sitting on a bench, taking my phone call, when Pete walked by. He…
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