So, you've probably noticed I haven't posted anything in a good long time. The main reason for that is...I spent nearly two straight months at home without a single trip....and it was amazing!
I just paid for it however, with three back-to-back work trips and a mini vacation all in the span of 18 days. Then it will be a month at home, before a two week vacation to Australia, 20 days in Switzerland for work, then back to back South Africa and India trips in three weeks, followed in short order by trips to Prague and Accra. I just keep reminding myself when I'm exhausted: the 12yo me would look at this and say "this is everything I dreamed of!"
...47yo me just woke up in the middle of the night and walked into a wall he was so confused where he was.
I can't lie though: it's pretty awesome. Unfortunately, the body is just old and tired enough that it says "you need to start acting your age and get some rest!" Whatever, maybe in 2020...
Ok, so, back to the story. 18 days. 4 trips, 26,000 miles. Breakdown was roughly:
Roundtrip to Paris, home for one night for a family event
Roundtrip to Saarland, Germany, home for one night
Down to Key West for the first time, where I'd planned to run a 100 mile race....the travel and lack of training, however, nixed that...so went to support a friend
Down to Brazil for work
...all in 18 days. It was going to be exhausting. It would be a whirlwind. It would be:
...I mean, when you put it on a square map, it doesn't look quite so bad, right?
Unfortunately, since most of this was work, I'm going to post a bit out of character for me and most of this will be AvGeek inflight stuff....which I know a lot of you love! So sit back, relax, and enjoy. Because it you DON'T enjoy, there will be plenty of destination talk in my next post in a week or two:
Teaser, that trip will be:
DC to NY in Acela First (new product for me)
JFK-LGW on Norwegian in "Premium" on an ex-SQ A330 operated by Evelop! (new airline and product for me)
London to Paris with Eurostar Business Premier (new product for me)
ORY-TUN with TunisAir on an A330 in business (new product for me)
TUN-DXB-SIN with Emirates in First on a 777 and A380
SIN-SYD with Qantas in First on an A380 (new product for me)
SYD-PER-MEL-SYD with Qantas in Business on A330/A330/737
SYD-BKK with Thai in First on the 747
BKK-SIN with Cathay Pacific on the A350-1000 in business (new aircraft for me)
SIN-TPE-ORD with EVA on the 777 with Hello Kitty service in business (new airline and product for me...HELLO!)
ORD-DCA with the biggest disappointment ever.....
Right, back to this trip....my bad...I'll split it up as:
1. Quick work trip to Paris with United on the Polaris 777-200
2. Quick work trip to Saarland, Germany with Delta, Lufthansa, and United in business
3. First trip to the Florida Keys
4. Short work trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil with AZUL and United in business
Right, but before we get on to business (and flying business) should you want to check out my previous TRs:
I. London to Iran and Afghanistan in a mix of C, F, and LCCs
II. Above the Arctic Circle with UA/CO/LH and SK in whY, C, and F
III. Around the World in 40 Days for 40 Years
IV. 8 Places People Who Are Right in the Head Do Not Spend New Years
V. 12 Countries, 10 Airlines, 4 Islands, 27,080 miles, 11 Days
VI. 6 Countries in 6 Days - Caribbean Island Hopping and first AA Experience
VII. Guyana, Suriname, and French Guyana with an unexpected sidetrip to Caracas!
VIII. To Haïti - for vacation and a milage run!
IX. Around Senegal and West Africa
X. 4th Annual New Years in Dangerous Places - Libya Edition
XI. Kosovo and FYR Macedonia - Milage Run in United Business + TK/LH
XII. Washington to Peru and Machu Picchu on COPA and TACA
XIII. To Johannesburg...for 36 hours!
XIV. Here a Stan, there a Stan, everwhere a Stan Stan....
XV. Air Burkina, Air Cote d'Ivoire and 7 countries in West Africa
XVI. Turkey for Thanksgiving....with a side of Tajikistan, Serbia, Montenegro, and Moscow
XVII. Into the Heart of Darkness... Congo, Angola, Gabon, OH MY!
XVIII. HI! Four Islands, Lots of Planes, Beaches, and Convertibles
XIX. Plenty of Salt, Not Enough Oxygen...a Trip to Boliva, Colombia, and Ecuador
XX. Learning to Relax - Long Weekend in St Christopher and Nevis
XXI. You're spending New Years WHERE? IRAQ? (2009-2010)
XXII. Pineapples, croissants, and neon OH MY! A trip to Hawaii, Paris, Andorra, and Vegas
XXIII. South Pacific, Israel, Lebanon - 6 weeks - 71,500 miles - 24 countries
XXIV. Sundae bloody Sundaes...a 2014 United Year in Review
XXV. Lakes, Lemurs, and Lithuania: Horton Hears a Houthi!
XXVI. First Americans tour to North Korea 2005 - Arirang Mass Games
XXVII. Doing the Needful - Lufthansa Business US to Chennai
XXVII. C-ing things: Canada, Curry, Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Camels, Chengis Khan and China!
XXVIII. Learning my ABCs: Algeria, Bahama, Cuba and the Cubana IL-96
XXIX. Exploring ZMapp of West Africa...or how I got detained by the CDC
XXX. Transatlantic to Bangkok with United, Austrian, Air Canada, and Thai
XXXI. Being Lazy in Belize
XXXII. Quick Trip to Cape Town with United, SWISS, South African, and Lufthansa
XXXII. FUNny thing happened going to and from Tuvalu...Cathay F, Etihad Apts, Fiji Biz
XXXIII. Achievement Unlocked: AFRICA! Visiting Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal
XXXIV. FIN. (and thanks for all the fish)
XXXV. What do you do after visiting every country? RTW in First with NH, TG, SQ, QR, EK, LH
XXXVI. Rock in the Abkhazia - Progress on the Unrecognized Countries List
XXXVII. Collecting Continents: Circle of the World, but not RTW
XXXVIII. Cocoa Puffs? Nah, I'm coup coup for Zimbabwe!
XXXIX. My Struggle is real: 10 days in Germany with roundtrip Lufthansa First Class
XXXX. I hate tacos...said no juan ever! Off to Mexico City for work!
XXXXI. Sanding my Love to Uncle Bob - Back to Southern Africa
XXXXII. Pisco on Pascua? Por Favor! Looking for Aliens on Easter Island
XXXXIII. Bern, Berlin, and Bbbbrrrrr! Crossing the northernmost border in the world
Ok so without further ado, fasten your seatbelts, make sure your seatbacks are in the full upright and locked position, and away we go....