Orlando Airport

What can I tell you about the Orlando International Airport that you don't already know?

I enjoy this airport tremendously, even though it is "infested" with children (can you tell I'm a professional traveler and not the mom of little kids?). Besides open lobbies, fountains and world class shopping (which I'm sure you know already), the Orlando airport has a wonderful art program.

My favorite art at Orlando is one that few travelers see. Local people see more of this art than tourists. It's the art in the elevator bank of the parking garages. I caught one of my favorites last week.

They are designed to help you remember what level you parked at. Take a look at the entire permanent art collection at: http://www.orlandoairports.net/art/collection.htm. The pictures of parking garage art are at the bottom. I love the manatees cause they are my DS favorite animal (along with penguins)

Syracuse, NY

I was in Syracuse NY last week. I have been to this town several times, and even visited clients here. This time was the first time we drove downtown.

We stopped at a light, and my eye was caught by the building we were next to. I didn't have my camera on, and the light changed, but it was remarkable. I figured someone would have posted a picture.

I looked it up on the internet, and here it is: http://www.landmarksociety.org/historicny/chapter8.htm

Who would have known, it is a world famous building. One of those seridipity things.

Happy New Year

I haven't blogged for several weeks. This isn't because I haven't been traveling. For several weeks I drove "the vacation I'll take next summer". From home it is three hours to Pittsburgh. Along the way there is John Glenn's home, a national cemetery, the town of Zanesville know for its unique pottery, and others. As I drove back and forth several weeks in a row, I tried to talk myself into stopping somewhere for fun, but I wanted to get home.

I'll be traveling with my camera soon again, and I will post regularly.

Back in Florida

Yes, folks, once again I'm back in Florida. This makes three trips this month. I guess it beats Florida in August.

The system installers grouse and ask why they can't install in Florida in the winter. We sales people aren't stupid, we don't sell in the summer, we sell in the winter. That means that they install at the hottest time of the year.

I seldom get to Orlando that I don't go to my favorite restaurant. It's called RANGETSU. Actually it's called Rangetsu of Tokyo. There are two restaurants...one in Orlando on International Drive, and one in Tokyo in the Ginsu district. If you are ever in the area, and have a taste for traditional Japanese restaurant, I heartily recommend their Suki Yaki, or Shabu Shabu. They are the Japanese version of fondue, and are cooked right at your table.



No, these Koi were not on the menu. They have a beautiful koi pond as soon as you walk in through a moon door. If you stop on the bridge, they come up and beg. You may see a hint of the netting that is strung across the pond. This is to discourage great blue herons from frequenting this fishing hole.

Only the best traveling for us! The flight from Orlando to Pensacola flew in a small plane. It could seat 18 passengers...19 if someone took the middle bench seat at the back of the plane. It was not full.

No bathroom...no cabin crew...no door to the cockpit.

As a matter of fact, the pilot opened the cockpit curtain for landing. This is not a good picture, but I couldn't resist snapping a shot. It is rare you get to see the cockpit any more.

We asked for a restaurant recommendation that night, and since A loves everything Irish, that was where we went. Delicious food, but the ambiance was what blew me away. Take a peek at their website: https://www.mcguiresirishpub.com/index.html. Wait on the home page for their pictures to scroll. Yes, you're not seeing things...the pub is papered with signed dollar bills. Both the ceiling and most every wall are covered in dollar bills. You get a certificate, a picture, and join the club if you donate a dollar. I was asked the next day if I joined. I said no, but I wanted to grab a handful. That didn't go over very well. I hope it didn't cost the sale!

The IRS comes once a year and estimates the dollar amount. They take several representative square yards, and figure out the total. They say it's about 800K now. Yes, they have a very sophisticated alarm and sprinkler system.

The last shot is out of my hotel window. As usual, I bite the bullet. I guess someone HAS to stay at the beach in Pensacola for the company. I'll make the sacrifice.

Last week's photos

This was the view from the restaurant Mattison's. Excellent food, and great bread pudding.

This was the view from my window at the Courtyard Marriot on the river in Bradenton. The picture doesn't do it justice. I recommend it.

This was inside Bradenton Airport. A very nice airport for the area.

We sat at a restaurant next to this fountain for several hours, working on our notes. The server at this restaurant is one of the nicest I've met for quite a while.

Grey skies

I spent several days in Lake City, FL last week at a client where I have visited quite often. It is always a pleasure to visit.

Unfortunately, the "Sunshine State" didn't live up to its name. Humid, rainy, foggy, blah. Well, better luck this week. I am back to Florida for the third week in a row.

It seems I have done more work in Florida since I have moved than the three years I lived down there.

If you are ever in the area, the Hampton Inn in Lake City, FL is quite nice. I recommend it. The week before we were in Sarasota. Stayed at a Courtyard Marriott on the River in Bradenton, FL, and ate at a restaurant housed on a historic pier. Crab with Pesto over linguini. Check out Mattison's Riverside. They also serve one of the better bread puddings I have had in a while. That is the only desert I cannot pass up, and I'm glad I didn't.

Fall Colors

I noticed the pictures on a fellow blogger's site about fall colors, and that reminded me of a trip I took while my blog was lost.



I spent the week in Vacation Land. I spent a day in the Poconos, and visited a hospital there. I was traveling with B and he asked me if I thought they had a heart shaped bathtub at the hospital. I told him probably in the cardiac unit.



We had time to travel to and from the meeting in daylight. That is a luxury that seldom happens. The colors were just starting, and I could tell it would be beautiful. The next week we were at an account in the area, and our flight to Philadelphia was cancelled. We drove instead, right through the Poconos mountains, and the height of color. I have never seen reds so bright. The oranges and yellows were subtle, and there were still greens in plenty.



On the plane this week I read the airline magazine and found out that the Poconos region is one of othe top ten color spots in the country. I couldn't agree more.



The next day I was in Roanoke Virginia at the foot of the Great Smoky mountains, surrounded by still green ski slopes. On days like these I think that I could spend the entire day in a laboratory (usually with no windows), and appreciate my job.