Connecting through PHL Tuesday night I popped into the Cibo (spelling?) Wine Bar and Cafe on the B Concourse for dinner during a 2.5 hour layover. Ordered and to my amazement was given a placesetting with metal fork and knife (the real thing)...I questioned the bartender about how they were allowed to do that and he just shrugged and said "what, you gonna us a budda knife to take over a plane?"

I find this amazing given that Monday night when my wife and I were re-entering security after clearing customs in PHL a rent-a-frisker wanted to take my wife's 1.5 inch eiffel tower refrigerator magnet she bought at CDG and my sewing kit because of pre-threaded needles...

"Take me to Havana or I will lower your hem!"

What point does all the hassling of passengers out front serve if you can arm yourself inside security???

After finding a supervisor to approve our dangerous cargo, we were allowed to pass with our belongings intact.

Last night leaving out of PHL, I noticed the big "NO KNIVES OF ANY KIND BEYOND SECURITY" sign by the scrutiny stations...and I just chuckled...it was a "Dennis Miller" kind of moment.

Will the wonder of it all ever cease to amaze me?

[This message has been edited by mwp2paris (edited 11-17-2001).]