I just got back from Scotland this morning. Well, I left my hotel this morning. I didn't arrive at Newark (possibly the world's least friendly airport) until this evening. I've been awake since the equivalent of midnight eastern standard time and I can't seem to fall asleep. It was snowing in Scotland. This was the cause of the delay. According to the gate agent at Edinburgh Airport, it hasn't snowed like that in Scotland since she was a "wee girl."
My press trip went well. We had a really awesome group. I made some new friends, I hope. I also saw many, many, many cute boys. Edinburgh is my new favorite city but Paris and London were awesome as well... as always. We also stayed in this tiny little town in England called Lincoln where they filmed most of the Da Vinci Code. We stayed in a haunted hotel. I woke up at one point while we were sleeping there to a loud banging. I'm pretty sure there was a ghost trapped in my closet but I figured since it couldn't figure out how to get out of the closet, I had nothing to fear so I went back to sleep.
I leave for Boston tomorrow. If anyone up in that area wants to get a beer with me tomorrow night, that would be rocking. My boss is traveling with me but she is forever and perpetually coughing. She's had the same cold for weeks.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Snow in Scotland (Archive from March 12, 2006)
I just got back from Scotland this morning. Well, I left my hotel this morning. I didn't arrive at Newark (possibly the world's least friendly airport) until this evening. I've been awake since the equivalent of midnight eastern standard time and I can't seem to fall asleep. It was snowing in Scotland. This was the cause of the delay. According to the gate agent at Edinburgh Airport, it hasn't snowed like that in Scotland since she was a "wee girl."
My press trip went well. We had a really awesome group. I made some new friends, I hope. I also saw many, many, many cute boys. Edinburgh is my new favorite city but Paris and London were awesome as well... as always. We also stayed in this tiny little town in England called Lincoln where they filmed most of the Da Vinci Code. We stayed in a haunted hotel. I woke up at one point while we were sleeping there to a loud banging. I'm pretty sure there was a ghost trapped in my closet but I figured since it couldn't figure out how to get out of the closet, I had nothing to fear so I went back to sleep.
I leave for Boston tomorrow. If anyone up in that area wants to get a beer with me tomorrow night, that would be rocking. My boss is traveling with me but she is forever and perpetually coughing. She's had the same cold for weeks.
My press trip went well. We had a really awesome group. I made some new friends, I hope. I also saw many, many, many cute boys. Edinburgh is my new favorite city but Paris and London were awesome as well... as always. We also stayed in this tiny little town in England called Lincoln where they filmed most of the Da Vinci Code. We stayed in a haunted hotel. I woke up at one point while we were sleeping there to a loud banging. I'm pretty sure there was a ghost trapped in my closet but I figured since it couldn't figure out how to get out of the closet, I had nothing to fear so I went back to sleep.
I leave for Boston tomorrow. If anyone up in that area wants to get a beer with me tomorrow night, that would be rocking. My boss is traveling with me but she is forever and perpetually coughing. She's had the same cold for weeks.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Bring ya back a souvenir
I'm leaving for Paris tonight. Whenever I tell people that they always say "How glamorous/exciting/fabulous", whatever. It is, I guess. But it's work. As soon as I get off the plane, I have to find the transfer van and load 7 journalists onto it and get them to their hotels and then make sure they are ready for lunch and deal with their complaints about jet lag, achy joints, not having slept on the plane, whatever. Like it's my fault they chose to be travel journalists instead of beauty editors or novelists. Travel journalists TRAVEL. You'd think they would be better at it. Some of them, I swear, I worry if they try to cross the street by themselves, never mind cross an ocean.
Mostly I like my job but sometimes people treat me like their travel agent, their concierge, their maid. They don't realize that they are getting to travel to France, mostly for free, and not a lot of other people get that opportunity. In return they are expected to come to lunch and dinner and meet with tourism professionals and hotel managers, and take tours of museums and wineries and nature preserves that they have no interest in seeing because it's their JOB. But inevitably I have to bite my tongue and stop myself from reminding one of them that they are NOT on vacation. It's like babysitting, I swear.
I gave up cursing for Lent. This was probably not the best time to do that.
After France, I am going to the UK -- London, Lincoln and Edinburgh. That part should be fun. Then the group is the rep from Visit Britain's problem. They are only my problem when they are in France.
Anyone want me to bring them back a plastic Eiffel Tower? Or a bottle of scotch? Let me know.
Mostly I like my job but sometimes people treat me like their travel agent, their concierge, their maid. They don't realize that they are getting to travel to France, mostly for free, and not a lot of other people get that opportunity. In return they are expected to come to lunch and dinner and meet with tourism professionals and hotel managers, and take tours of museums and wineries and nature preserves that they have no interest in seeing because it's their JOB. But inevitably I have to bite my tongue and stop myself from reminding one of them that they are NOT on vacation. It's like babysitting, I swear.
I gave up cursing for Lent. This was probably not the best time to do that.
After France, I am going to the UK -- London, Lincoln and Edinburgh. That part should be fun. Then the group is the rep from Visit Britain's problem. They are only my problem when they are in France.
Anyone want me to bring them back a plastic Eiffel Tower? Or a bottle of scotch? Let me know.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Sinister Cincinnati
Anyone miss me? Anyone even notice I was gone?
I have now been a solitary drinker in three midwestern cities. I travel on these trips with my boss but she was sick and even when she's not sick she's content to dine in the hotel, most likely in her room. I just think that's a waste.
I love Chicago but I already knew that -- I was there last year. There are loads of Irish pub and everyone in town really seems to like baseball. They're all White Sox fans but no one's perfect. And men look you in the eye before they stare at your tits while talking to you. That is one thing about New York -- no one looks you in the eye. They may look at you as you walk by but they don't do it when you can see them. It's very odd. In the Midwest, people really LOOK at you. It's a bit disconcerting for a borderline personality such as myself.
Detroit is home to the Red Wings hockey team. Do you know how I know this? There are fucking RED WINGS posters on every freaking stationary surface at every restaurant and bar. They have this great neighborhood called Greek Town where they have Greek pizza and bars (with Red Wing posters, of course) and a casino. Yes, Detroit has casinos. And since I was still in Vegas mod (READ "losing money needlessly" mode) I had to stop and plug some money into a slot machine. I pretty much broke even and then blew it all on beer.
Cincinnati is surprisingly sinister. I thought it would be this quiet, harmless little city. But it dies down after 7:00 pm and then everything closes and there are people lurking -- in doorways, on street corners. They are usually alone and they just look... well, sinister. Best word I can come up with. I went to a bar called Rockin' Robins and some guy wouldn't stop calling me Francoise. Don't ask. Odd city.
Anyway, I am off to Paris tomorrow. I will be back from Europe on Sunday the 12th. Will you guys miss me this time? I'll miss you. Yes I will! After Paris I will be in London, Lincoln and then Edinburgh, where I will hopefully experience the wonders of scotch and haggis. Stay tuned.
I have now been a solitary drinker in three midwestern cities. I travel on these trips with my boss but she was sick and even when she's not sick she's content to dine in the hotel, most likely in her room. I just think that's a waste.
I love Chicago but I already knew that -- I was there last year. There are loads of Irish pub and everyone in town really seems to like baseball. They're all White Sox fans but no one's perfect. And men look you in the eye before they stare at your tits while talking to you. That is one thing about New York -- no one looks you in the eye. They may look at you as you walk by but they don't do it when you can see them. It's very odd. In the Midwest, people really LOOK at you. It's a bit disconcerting for a borderline personality such as myself.
Detroit is home to the Red Wings hockey team. Do you know how I know this? There are fucking RED WINGS posters on every freaking stationary surface at every restaurant and bar. They have this great neighborhood called Greek Town where they have Greek pizza and bars (with Red Wing posters, of course) and a casino. Yes, Detroit has casinos. And since I was still in Vegas mod (READ "losing money needlessly" mode) I had to stop and plug some money into a slot machine. I pretty much broke even and then blew it all on beer.
Cincinnati is surprisingly sinister. I thought it would be this quiet, harmless little city. But it dies down after 7:00 pm and then everything closes and there are people lurking -- in doorways, on street corners. They are usually alone and they just look... well, sinister. Best word I can come up with. I went to a bar called Rockin' Robins and some guy wouldn't stop calling me Francoise. Don't ask. Odd city.
Anyway, I am off to Paris tomorrow. I will be back from Europe on Sunday the 12th. Will you guys miss me this time? I'll miss you. Yes I will! After Paris I will be in London, Lincoln and then Edinburgh, where I will hopefully experience the wonders of scotch and haggis. Stay tuned.
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