Archive for February 2011

Weekend in Paris

February 22, 2011 by Blondie 2 Comments A⁺ a^-

Just back from a quick weekend in Paris with my sister, Donna. We rented a lovely two-bedroom apartment in the 14th arrondissement just a 3 block walk from the Denfert-Rochereau Metro/RER stop. It was perfectly situated at the end of Rue Daguerre, which is open only to pedestrian traffic. Lined with a few cafes, a boulangerie, patisseries, and a fromagerie, this street is sort of a spontaneous supermarket, as well as a great location for our weekend.

We did a few of the hotspots: Eiffel Tower (twice!) Sacre Coeur, Place du Tertre, Musee d' Orsay, and Saint Michel. Here are some pics from the weekend:

Eiffel Tower

Donna holding up Tour Eiffel

Trocodero

Metro station

St. Michel

Musee d' Orsay

A former train station, the architectural detail of the

museum is simply stunning!

I love this detail!

Isn't this clock gorgeous?

I loved this ballroom in the museum,
especially the light fixtures.

Chandelier and swag from below--so pretty!

Shopping at Galleries Lafayette

The dome at Galleries Lafayette

Scenes from our weekend neighborhood.

Our neighborhood

This "bucket" holds sausages and vegetables-you
can get a "to go" meal.

Back to the Eiffel Tower

Sacre Coeur

Artist at work.

Montmartre

Notre Dame

More neighborhood pics

A weekend is never long enough in Paris!

Blondie

I found the glamour!

February 15, 2011 by Blondie 5 Comments A⁺ a^-

Usually, the very first part of a Flight Attendant's trip begins with a briefing. With my airline, all the Flight Attendants gather, either in the domicile or on the airplane, and the briefing includes bidding for your work position in seniority order, new policies in effect, and equipment on the aircraft that may not be working--a broken seatback, one of the ten lavatories is inoperative--you get the idea.

Remember last year when I gave you the tour of a Boeing 777, including the Lower Lobe Crew Rest? You may remember this small room of six bunks on some models of the 777 where Flight Attendants go for rest and can actually stretch out and lay down on extended flights.

Keep in mind the Crew Rest Bunks as you read this small item that showed up a couple of weeks ago on the "briefing sheet":

MAINTENANCE 'MEL/CARRY FORWARD' OPEN CABIN SERVICE ITEMS: 1 CFXXXX LOWER CREW REST COMPARTMENT HAS BUNK WITH URINE CUSHION IN CARGO HOLD : NEEDS NEW MATTRESS UPPER

Yep--somebody peed the bed.

I really don't know what else to say!

Blondie

Sao Paulo and Rio trip

February 11, 2011 by Blondie 0 Comments A⁺ a^-

I'm back and thanks to the wonders of Ambien, I am recovered from my five-day Sao Paulo (GRU) Rio de Janeiro (GIG) trip. It's a trip that was long, and I was ready to be home when we got back.

Here's the trip, in airline-ese:

CREW: FS M N O P Q

EQP D FLT# DT DPTARV DPTR ARVL L/O TTLS TTLA ACM DTM RMKS

77Q I IADGRU 2216 1040 2540 924 924 1154 SB

77P I GRUGIG 1220 1325 630 105 105

77P I GIGGRU 1955 2120 2630 125 230 1115

77P I GRUIAD 2350 0624 00 934 934 1204

TOTAL TIME 2435 FLT TIME 2128 TMA 8253

M-MEAL BOARDED- 861/31 IAD M-MEAL BOARDED- 860/03 GRU

Day One, a Monday, was a late evening departure--my sign-in was 8:31 p.m. with departure at 10:46 p.m. But, wait...we were delayed getting out because of this idiot. I think our pilots made up the time in the air, and we arrived mostly on-time in GRU.

On the 777, I worked the Business Aisle. While she was setting up her Galley, I asked Dolly if she wanted me to "set up the coffees or something". She put her hand up to stop me and said, "I don't need a Galley Assist." Well, alrighty then! And, look, Dolly was good-she ran a mean galley-but, she was a little bossy and it made for a little unnecessary tension for anyone that stepped foot into her galley, even passengers. The other Aisle person, John, compared it to being dogs with electric collars on--and we did our best not to cross the imaginary fence line for most of the night. (Bee-otch!)

After a nine-hour flight, we arrived in GRU on Tuesday morning around 11:00 a.m. (GRU is +3 hours from our East Coast time zone.) Walking outside in the 80+ degree weather, after leaving snow and ice in Washington was great! Then, the heavy humidity hit me and I was ready for the air conditioned bus.

The ride to our hotel took an hour. No traffic, really. Just far from the airport in "downtown." On very bumpy roads. Bumpy, bumpy, bumpy. With big potholes. (Did I mention bumpy?) At the hotel, a colleague, Renee, and I sat on the balcony with a couple of adult beverages, with plans to meet the rest of the crew later for dinner. She left and I took a nap.

I set the alarm, but didn't turn it on (FAIL!) I slept right through, waking up around 9 p.m--so much for enjoying my 25 hour layover! I had to get something to eat, and be ready to head back to the airport in 12 hours.

Day 3, Wednesday morning, we met in the lobby a little after 9 a.m. for the hour-long bus ride back to the airport--our 34-minute Rio de Janeiro (GIG) flight was to depart shortly after noon.

Arriving in GIG, we ride the charter bus to the hotel, which is very close to Ipanema Beach. Another hour. Oh, and the 89 degree weather (about 32 C) was accompanied by 66% humidity. Yowsa! I hustled to the hotel room, Febrezed my humidity-ladened uniform, and took a quick shower just get the sticky off!

We were at the hotel for less than 3 hours, when it was time to take the hour bus ride back to the airport. The return flight to GRU was 45 minutes, then another hour ride back to the hotel. (I don't think I complain too much here, but my Duty Day was 11 hours and 15 minutes and I was paid for 2 hours and 30 minutes. A long day, without much pay.)

After changing clothes, we all met in the hotel lobby and walked across the street for a bite to eat. Not very good food, but a fun bunch to sit and relax with--and that always makes for a good trip.

Our 4th day, Thursday, I spent a little time walking around the hotel--over to Ibirapuera Park for a little people watching and quickly came back inside. It was positively steamy outside!

That night we left the hotel at 10:20 pm...our flight ended up being delayed until almost 3 a.m. I worked Business Galley with John and George--Dolly had gone back home on another flight. Since it was so late, and our passengers mostly wanted to sleep, we modified the dinner service and served it as quickly as possible. They were both great to work with, and we knocked out the dinner service in short order.

Landing in Washington (IAD) around 9:45 a.m., a couple of my colleagues had missed their commuter flights home, so I dropped them off at Reagan National Airport (DCA) which is on my way home.

It was after noon before I fell asleep in my chair!