Due North

Busy with stuff, will add the other entries at some point over the weekend.

Atlanta-Hartford International Airport, Atlanta, USA

Yaaaaay Atlanta! Oh man, we arrived an hour and a half late because of the delay in Paris. I only had 2 hours between my flight landing in Atlanta and my flight for Miami leaving. I don’t think I’ve ever run through an airport the way I ran through Atlanta. Thank God for those trains that take you between terminals or I’d have missed my flight to Miami. The thing that really pissed me off about Atlanta was I had to go through the whole security thing again. Take off jackets, shoes, take out computer, camera, cellphone blah blah blah blah blah, check in luggage AGAIN and then find your gate. I got there about 5 minutes before they started boarding the flight. I was hot, I was tired and a little pissed at the whole security mission you have to go through.

The good thing though was I had a pleasant flight from Paris to Atlanta. We flew on a Delta Airlines Boeing 767. I had a window seat over the right wing. A bathroom was two seats in front and to the left of me and I was as happy as a clam. I stayed awake long enough to watch the southern coast of Ireland drift under me and then I woke up later to watch Taledega Nights with Will Farrell...which was quite amusing.

It was amazing to see just how many airplanes took off and landed at Atlanta-Hartford. I'm not sure why Atlanta is the City Among the Trees like the old CNN ad used to say. Joburg has just as many, if not more trees. But anyway....

Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France

Paris. Ah Paris. What can I say about Paris? Nothing. Well nothing nice really. I only saw the airport. The weather was terrible, overcast and raining.

It just seemed to compliment the attitude of the airport staff. They’re building at CDG, you go on a route march round and about and over and under and through things to get to the airport security checkpoint. By the time you get there, you’re tired. Hell, you’ve just flown on a cramped aircraft next to two old Danish people from Copenhagen for 11 hours and you haven’t been able to get anywhere near a bathroom. You’re stressed. You just want to go home. Or get on your next flight. Or lie down on the floor and sleep for a few hours. But no. You have to go through the security checkpoint. There are no signs telling you what to take out of your bags or anything so I asked a woman in a security uniform what to do, only to have a piece of paper thrust rudely into my hands with the instruction of “Read”. So I read. And I took the necessary out of my bag - camera, cellphone, laptop. By the time I actually got through security, I was in a bad mood and I was really happy that I would not be flying back through Charles de Gaulle airport. Paris? You can keep it. I’ll go through London next time.

I flew Air France from Joburg into Paris and then Delta from Paris to Atlanta. After passing through security and finally getting into the international departures area, I swear there was a sign saying that anything you purchased in this area could be taken on the plane with you. So off I go to buy two bottles of water and an orange juice which cost me an obscene 13 Euros. About 10 minutes after arriving, my flight was called so I went to stand in the queue with my ticket and passport ready, the bottles of water under my arms. To my extreme annoyance, and yes, anger, I was told to THROW THEM AWAY because I could not take them on the plane with me...... You know I’m all for security on planes but for God’s sake, this is ridiculous. The bottles were bought in the security area. They should be safe. Noooooooo. So bye bye 13 Euros. What an absolute waste of money. I was so happy to get out of that damned airport. But little did I know that I would still be stuck at Charles de Gaulle for another hour and a half while the fuel lines and levels on our plane were checked manually. It’s always encouraging to hear that there is a discrepancy between what the computer says and what someone can see with their eyes.

Wednesday 8 November 2006
Johannesburg International Airport, South Africa

My flight leaves South Africa in about an hour or so. I’m sitting here near the gate, using the highspeed wifi from ACSA/Mweb. So far so good, my wireless airport card is working well.
Yaay, flying. I love flying. Not. Oh joy, I see the Air France cabin crew which means we’ll be going soonish. I’ll email you again when I get to Miami.