Alaska Airlines

Photo of wing on Alaska/Horizon flight to Portland Oregon USA.

Alaska has been our domestic favorite airline for many years.

They are very convenient and the service is good.

They have experienced pilots that fly is all sorts of weather. 

It is comforting in the winter.

"A" for Alaska.

 

Aer Lingus to Ireland (Dublin)

     From San Francisco it is over Greenland to Dublin. We have flown in and out of Dublin four times and I will review the airport in a while. We have flown Aer Lingus each time and they qualified at those times as a low cost airline. I suspect that they get government help to encourage tourism. 

     I would give Aer Lingus a "B". Their service and quality was slightly better than average. We have also used their short-haul plane to and from London Heathrow and it was better than most. Aer Lingus is a good way to fly to Ireland. You can land either in Shannon or Dublin. Our plans center around stays in Dublin and renting a car (expensive) for a drive around the island. One note, learn about the traffic laws and surcharges before driving. (I had no problems, but hear of others who did.)
 

Six Airlines to Europe

     We have flown six different airlines to Europe over the years. At this point we attempt to always fly Air France as our preferred carrier. Therefore, when rating airlines I use Air France as a benchmark.

     Alitalia to Rome was okay. I would give it a "C". The plane was not very clean and the personnel at LAX were somewhat in chaos. There was a change of planes and I understand that it is a problem, but they were in such a hurry that they just assigned seats breaking up couples and families. The passengers got the opportunity to sort things out. Food was fine and service spotty. I likely would not fly them again.

 

Flights

The photos above are of the seat back map of an A380 belonging to Air France. 

We are on our way from SFO(San Francisco) to CDG(Paris). We have landed in Paris +/- 8 times.

I will be highlighting some of the 17 airlines I have flown

and some of the 35 airports I have been in.

 

Same hat, different continent

Me in Africa

 

Central Vienna Austria

Walking in the rain in Vienna,

 

Herd of elephants Kasane, Botswana

 

That herd got lots closer, but I needed to include grandson in photo.

We took him on a trip when he was 12 (now 16). Where do you want to go?

Maybe Disneyland...Africa? 

OK

Fly from SFO to CDG Paris.

Train to Brussels

Train to Paris

CDG to Johannesburg South Africa

Fly to Kasane Botswana.

Safari/ trip to Zambia/ trip to Zimbabwe

Fly to Johannesburg

Fly to Paris CDG

Train to Amsterdam 

Train to Paris CDG

Fly to SFO

(plus he had a round trip from Portland)

Repeating favorite countries.

We, of course, travel often in our homeland of The United States. But, when it has come to visiting Europe we will revisit our favorite places while discovering new ones. We have rented flats in Paris as well as making short stays in France during stop overs. We have visited Austria twice, Germany twice, (Canada and Mexico several times.) We have returned to visit Scotland for extended periods. We know the Dublin airport well.  And, we have gone in and out of other countries as we have taken road trips.

It was once a long series of border crossings, but not now with the European Union. 

Need to get the UK to join.

Back street in Barcelona

This is a narrow street that runs passed a small gallery and ends near a kitchen where one can take cooking lessons. We took lessons. This street, however, is like so many in Barcelona's Gothic area which are interesting and make for adventures. They are safe, but very old. Fun to explore and few tourists here.
 

If you tossed a coin in this fountain a year ago, it is not time yet

 Lovely fountain and you will wish to return to Rome whether or not you tossed a coin here, but things in Europe are not completely open yet. I follow the State Department recommendations for travel,

European street scene

 

Looking up at Nordstrom's San Francisco, California USA

 

The Oregon Coast Southwest of Tillamook, USA

The rocky coast.

 

Kilkenny took the Hurling Championship in Dublin and we followed the team home

This is a bookstore window in Kilkenny. The photo was taken the day after the hurling team's win.

We enjoyed the celebration with them and learned a good many things about

a sport we had known nothing. We learned about celebrating too.

 

Alcazar, Seville Spain

 

Lecco, Italy from across Lake Como

 

Pickpockets in Europe

These are two photos of the top of Montmartre in Paris. It is where I caught a

pickpocket going for my wallet (although it was a decoy wallet in back pocket

and I keep my real wallet in front). He was more startled than I was.

They claim that the pickpockets are gypsies or from Africa. Not sure of that.

They are in many cities in Europe.

Women use a crossbody purse and guys do what I do.

 

In a Bavarian Church (Munich)

 

Lots of things to se in old Munich by the markets

The Louvre, Paris

People moving, few stopping to savor.

 

Mini Europe, Brussels Belgium

Little rain on "all" of Europe.

 

Tidy Towns in Ireland

There is  competition in Ireland between towns to see which one is cleanest

and most without litter. They are impressive,

 

I Like Airports

I enjoy airports. There is a sense of adventure, expectation and hope in an airport

for me. I have been to a lot of them and each has a different vibe.

Small or large, I have some suggestions. Patience is important. Don't resent 

security; it keeps you safe. All bags look alike in baggage claim; gussy yours up

so it looks different. And, be glad those dogs sniff your bags, crotch and umbrella;

they are your friends.

 

Photos of London Garbage Trucks

On our last trip to London I felt it important to take pictures of garbage trucks

and forward them to my then young grandson who was smitten by them.

 

From inside the ruins of The Rock of Cashel, Ireland

Famous place with a great story. 

 

Entry to Courtyard in central Rome

 

Altar of a church in central Feldkirch, Austria

Feldkirch is a very nice city with a wonderful central plaza.

One of our favorite restaurants of all times is there.