Polygonic fever
Trip Start
Dec 18, 2006
1
3
8
Trip End
Dec 25, 2006
Veradero, Cuba
Monday, December 18, 2006
This entry will start about the flight, rather than the destination. I
do tend to go on so honesty may yet be restored. Currently, it is
boxing day. I flew home last night. I received a very special gift for
Christmas - Winter! Yeah.
On the 18'th, I got to the airport and immediately found myself lost.
Most of my road adventuring is on the road; the air is still a
relatively new frontier for me. I can tell you this. Bring a pen. They
don't seem to provide them, and it is terribly difficult to fill out
your travel tags sans pen. (I know the weathered travelers all have the
permanent tags). It also comes in handy when handed mandatory documents
on the plane, where hopefully you have established enough rapport with
your fellow passengers to be trusted with their pen.
When I finally was directed to the correct counter, the gal asked me if I
wished to upgrade to club class. "Tell me more about this club class."
Seems it is another word for first class and it is $150 one way. I
would be a fool to say no. When I got onto the plane - nice and quick
with priority seating- I felt she somewhat exaggerated the size
difference of the seats. They were much more comfortable though. (This
I know to be fact since I had to fly coach home, the opportunity to
compare
thrust upon me.) The food was quite different. As they announced that
they would be serving the passengers a breakfast sandwich from Harveys,
I was ordering Pancakes with fruit and fresh fruit on the side. We
received mixed nut in glass, sparkling wine in a glass, coffee in a real
coffee cup, no styrofoam or plastic to be seen! Well, except for the
knives...lets not get crazy here. So I guess what I'm saying here is, I
didn't fly first class for me; I did it for the earth.
I only watched one movie on the 6 hour flight. This gave me plenty of
time for conversation, book reading, and of course, gazing out the
window. First thought. North Americans LOVE rectangles. Love 'em!
I mean we are cuckoo for cocoa rectangles (too obscure?) They are
everywhere. The land, as spread out as it is, is largely covered in
right angled polygons of all varieties. Not very round earthian.
That's it, the whole observation, and that's what I name the entry
after. What can I tell you. First impressions are the strongest.
OK, a little about arrival day, since I map pinned Cuba for this.
The airport was very...it was very. Muggy, non-english, (curse my
monolingualism, thats what I get for an Alberta education), mistrusting.
They stared at me, at my passport, at me again...finally had me look into a camera,
trying to determine if indeed I was myself (fair enough, sometimes we
are not). I had not yet shaved off my camp beard, so perhaps that
was the confusion.
Speaking of the beard....I had not decided whether or not to keep it.
Figured I would decide on arrival. This of course believing that I
still had my scissors in my toiletry bag (where did they go?) So hot
compared to home, and so humid. I decided with quick help from the rum,
that the beard would have to go. In my hotel room, armed only with
Gillette razors, free time and the beginnings of intoxication, I set
about
the removal of the last 2 months facial growth. If diligent in picking
the hair out of the blades it can be done by taking 2 blades on the
short trip from new to useless. I still cannot figure how I was spared
any nicks. I did take pictures. I broke down and bought a camera for
the trip. ( did I already say that? I am tired. It is morning and I
don't feel like looking back to avoid redundancy today) I took before
and after photos. Oh yeah, and a few holiday shots too. I will try to
edit them in later, soon when I am in Edmonton. Still in Calgary at
this point.
No special observation to end this entry on. I will say this. The
abundance of fellow vacationers has proved something I already knew.
Satisfaction stems from choice and perception, far more than from
circumstance. (We were in paradise, what could there be to be
discontent about) Today I choose happiness.
