Some long stored pre-digital photos from a business trip to Paris in June 2002.
Category: Travel
I have been fortunate enough to travel a bit, so I though I would share some highlights to date.
Traveling through the Swiss Alps one fine Saturday in early June.
Looking over the Edge at Dun Aengus on the Aran Island in Ireland
via Ingo Mehling
Watching the Fog Roll in on San Francisco
via runner310
Experiencing the power of Niagara Falls up close
Looking out over Chamonix from atop the Aiguille du Midi
The Amazing views of the London Skyline
I was able to fly on the corporate jet for the first time. WOW! It makes first class seem so poor. I flew from Chicago to LA on a Dassault Falcon. There is no waiting, no long security lines, and no middle seats. We were able to work comfortably on the plane. I would say that flying private saves at least 4 to 5 hours per trip. Now I may never get a chance to fly in this fashion again, but I can now understand how efficient and effective the corporate jet is.
I am trying to blog as often as possible from JavaOne.
The Arrival
The flight out on America Airlines was full and uneventful. SFO was amazingly efficient in getting my bag out. The plane arrived at 1:15 and I was in a cab by 1:25, not bad for SFO. I am staying at the Westin St. Francis, the Cabbie new where the hotel was and made great time getting there. The only problem was that she could not get her credit card machine to process my card. The cab driver gave up after multiple phone calls to someone and lots of heated Portuguese. So lets see 4 hrs flying, 10 min to get my luggage, 20 min cab ride, 45 minutes trying to charge my credit card. aaaaahhhhhhh! She even had to call me later to get the expiration because the imprint didn’t get it, Go Figure. Here is my suggestion, how about a stored value smart card that you can buy at the airport for taxis, or flat rate vouchers you configure and buy at the airport. More to come�. Stay tuned.
Tom The Architect 
