Monday, February 8, 2016

Memorandum Monday: First Time Travels

Sian from over at From High in the Sky hosts a meme asking people to share something new they've done over the weekend. This week I'm sharing some musings from a week ago, along with some fresh thoughts thrown in. 
I took this photograph a week ago at the Palm Springs airport. There's a very faint rainbow (can you see it?). It got me thinking that the Palm Springs airport is the first outdoor airport I've been to. It's so hot in Palm Springs that, after you go through security, you go outside to the various gates which are indoor/outdoor. I've been to a lot of memorable airports, from the miles in Heathrow to the underground walkways in Chicago. I remember the first time I flew on an airplane, and we walked down a ladder off the plane because it was the days before jet ways.
Palm Springs reminded me a bit of the airport in San Salvador, El Salvador where I walked outside to the softest air I ever felt and was overwhelmed by floral smells that were totally foreign to me. These sensory memories flooded back to me when I went to the outside portions of Palm Springs airport. 
Have you ever been to an outdoor airport? Any other memorable airports?
Now on to the new thoughts. This spring, I'll be going to two new airports! I'm going to teach in Shanghai, China in May. I've been to Beijing but never Shanghai. Paul is coming with me, and we are going to spend a few days in Japan on the way! Very excited for my first trip there. Do you have any upcoming travel plans?

16 comments:

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

What a beautiful blue sky. Very different to what I can see from my window, as I type. A trip to Japan, how exciting. A little envious of that.

Melissa said...

What a fantastic photo with the rainbow! I think the airport in Moscow was the most unique for me, simply because it seemed so totally unorganized as if they don't know how to form a line. :) And once Terminal 5 was opened at Heathrow, it seemed more like a large mall than an airport. The smallest airport was in New Mexico - the entire terminal building was smaller than our house.

How exciting about your upcoming trips! We've just planned a road trip for spring break to New Orleans and Vicksburg and are working on plans to travel to California this summer.

helena said...

I've been to outside airports on some of the island nations of the Pacific - they too are so warm that being outside is nicer. I particularly enjoy it when you can smell the local place as you get off the plane - be it sea air or food or flowers typical or that area.

Shanghai sounds a great adventure

Linda said...

I have gone out of Burbank airport since it is a lot less hassle with traffic and security than LAX. I love that little airport. There are no jet ways to board or unboard the planes. It always makes me feel like I have stepped back in time. The added bonus is that it gives passengers two ways to enter and exit the plane, from either the front or back, which makes it faster for boarding and unboarding. Another added bonus.

Lady Ella said...

The biggest/most sprawling I have been to was Fort Worth. The smallest was Salzburg - just a single room - but that was years ago. It's been a long time since I was in China and I know it's changed a lot so looking forward to seeing your pics. Which part of Japan are you going to?

Patio Postcards said...

WOW that is some great adventures planned. I can see the rainbow in your photo. I have no flying kind of travel plans in the works. One of the last airports I had been to was a combination of mostly outside with some inside being developed. I remember thinking how sweet it smelt - it was all the tropical flowers. I wish there had been a way to bottle. The biggest & busiest was Chicago's, it was also an airport that I got stuck in for 14 hours - flight delays, weather & the like, met some nice people also grounded. Hope you have a great week ahead.

Karen said...


The airport in Medford, OR is an outdoor airport. We flew in and out of there a few times in the two years Sarah lived in Ashland. We're off to Longboat Key with friends in a few weeks, home a few days, off to Chicago for Easter, and then to New Orleans for a family wedding. The last trip is the most exciting for me. The last time I was there I was in fifth grade! Nothing as exciting as Japan and Shanghai, however!

Sian said...

Japan sounds hugely exciting! Wow..I'm starting to imagine all those photo opportunities

I've never been to an outdoor airport. But almost anywhere we fly to, my favourite thing is walking out the door and feeling the heat hit me. We don't get that effect at home!

Have a good week Rinda

HappinessSavouredHot (Julie Saint-Mleux) said...

I took a ladder out of a plane in Dakar, Senegal, but that was in the eighties and I wonder if they still have the passengers walk on the tarmac to the terminal. What I remember most from it is the heat of that evening!

Missus Wookie said...

Oh enjoy Japan - I have a Japanese friend and her dh travels back on a very regular basis. Always fun to hear what he brings back.

I remember outdoor airports as a kid and tiny ones with tiny planes too.

Cheri said...

How exciting for you! A lot of the Maui airport was open. I haven't been to any others like that.

debs14 said...

What an amazing opportunity Rinda, you're going to have a great time.
When we go on holiday I love that feeling when you walk down the steps from the aircraft and the warm air hits you (doesn't often happen in UK airports!). The most chaotic airport I've been to is the one in Barbados. No luggage conveyer belt, just a heap of suitcases piled up in a corner!

Alison said...

How exciting!.....I've never been in an outside airport, but I love airports in general! Xx

Beverly said...

I am so excited for you and that Paul gets to travel along with you! We are doing a lot of short trips this winter that are by car. In less than 2 weeks the Chosen One and I are headed to Hawaii for 2 weeks then in April I am going to Texas. I've been to several outdoor airports in the Caribbean. The craziest and scariest to me was Rome in the mid '70s. Security was military and they were toting rifles @@

Miriam said...

How wonderfully exciting for you both! Love that sky and I agree, walking from a plane into the warmth of an outside airport is such a lovely feeling.

Becky said...

How lovely to go on such a trip and with Paul too. I have been to quite a few outside airports as those in Europe for holiday destinations tend to be small and outside. We have a couple of trips planned so far - a trip to Venice and one to Majorca.