Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Category: United States

  • British Airways (Seattle to Heathrow T5)

    British Airways (Seattle to Heathrow T5)

    This flight was back in October 2014, and I hadn’t intended to upload the photos so there aren’t many interesting ones of how the aircraft looked. But there’s a lot of food photos at least. Anyway, with the caveat that this is a very limited trip report, since there’s not much text about the flight itself, here we go…..

    Woooo, I was lucky enough to get seat 1A.

    The First seat has a television screen which comes out and the whole area turns into a bed. For those travelling with someone else, the footrest can also be used as a seat. The table comes out and so it’s possible to dine as two people, such is the generosity of space.

    I still have the menu, so this is a photo from today…..

    Photos of the menu.

    Proceedings started with a Kir Royale (Creme de Cassis and champagne) and warm nuts. How decadent.

    The amuse-bouche, although I’ve long since forgotten what it was and they don’t list that in the menu.

    The starter of lobster, mango salsa and a Thai sweet chilli glaze.

    Butter chicken with rice, dal and a toasted naan.

    The dessert of a cheeseboard.

    And coffee to end the proceedings with.

    Unfortunately, the mists of time have meant I’ve forgotten anything of particular interest about this flight. The First experience was one I certainly couldn’t afford if I had to pay for it, but it of course makes flying an absolute pleasure. For me, I find the attentive service all a bit much, I could do without the tablecloth, the placing of the napkin and the laying of cutlery, but I can understand why this is such a treat for a special trip.

    I haven’t taken photos of breakfast and, from memory, I think that’s because I ordered another cheeseboard. There’s dine on demand on BA flights in First and so you can have whatever you want at any stage. This flight arrived in at something like 07:00, which meant that I had access to the Arrivals Lounge at Heathrow T5, where I could have a full English breakfast after my busy flight of eating.

    BA crews were nearly always excellent in First and I always tried to stay awake for the entire journey, as it seemed a bit much to just fall asleep with all this luxury. I probably won’t travel First for some considerable time in the future, so trips like this were always an exciting treat.

  • Boston – John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum (Berlin Wall Fragment)

    Boston – John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum (Berlin Wall Fragment)

    I’ve seen sections of the Berlin Wall in numerous different cities around the world, not least in the male toilets of a hotel in Las Vegas. This section was a gift from the German Government and it was brought to the museum in 1989 by Jean Kennedy Smith, the sister of John F. Kennedy (she’s the only one of the nine Kennedy children still alive). It’s quite a bright piece of wall and it stands twelve feet in height and four feet in width.

  • Nashville – The Seeing Eye

    Nashville – The Seeing Eye

    Nashville is where The Seeing Eye guide dog organisation started from in January 1929, the first in the United States. Dorothy Harrison Eustis was a Swiss resident, although had been born in America, who had bred German shepherd dogs for police use and it was discovered that they could help the German war veterans who had lose eyesight during the First World War. In 1927, The Saturday Evening Post wrote an article about her work, which led Nashville resident Morris Frank to write to her and between them they were able to establish The Seeing Eye.

  • Nashville – Puckett’s

    Nashville – Puckett’s

    I went to this grocery restaurant (it used to be a grocery store and they’re played on that theme), because it was well reviewed and it also seemed quite quirky. They had a lunch offer of a salad and then a main of two different meats, along with two sides and I went for the onion rings and fries. I’m quite predictable like that.

    The pre-starter was a local dark beer and although this was before the time that I became obsessive about noting what craft beers I drank, I recall it was rich and went well with the main course.

    I had thought that the salad included in the lunch deal option, which cost in total around €10, was a little side salad rather than served as a separate starter. I remember there was a choice of dressing and I also recall that this was the honey mustard dressing as it was insanely moreish. It even made the salad taste decent, and salad isn’t designed to taste nice…..

    Beautifully tender meats (not that I can recall what they were, but I’m guessing I would have ordered chicken and pork) with the onion rings being the star of this little show.

    There’s a daily cobbler served and as far as I’m concerned, the best thing that can be put under a crumble are either peaches or blackberries. Since it was peach cobbler available as their daily special, I went for that and it was delicious.

    The grocery theme is visible within the restaurant and during the evenings there’s frequently live music played on the stage. It was a large restaurant that was busy, but the staff were helpful and they were willing to explain the menu concepts to me and there was a relaxed feel to the proceedings. The prices weren’t too bad at all, especially since I had the lunch deal, although I probably didn’t need the dessert that I ordered. All in all, very lovely.

  • Memphis – Mosaic Egg

    Memphis – Mosaic Egg

    The mosaic egg at the entrance to the Memphis Welcome Center. I’m not sure why they chose an egg, but it’s a fun thing and it’s very noticeable. Perhaps that why they chose it….

  • Memphis – The Road to Nowhere

    Memphis – The Road to Nowhere

    I love roads to nowhere, there’s an element of mystery about them. Although I don’t know what has happened here, it’s the Interstate 40 crossing the Mississippi River into Memphis.

    And here’s the overview on Google Maps, the stump of road right by the edge of the river….

  • Memphis – Squirrel and Fried Chicken

    Memphis – Squirrel and Fried Chicken

    In January 2018, I had a rather pleasant visit to Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken in Memphis, and I saw this happy little squirrel the next day near to the river enjoying his own little piece of chicken.

    Bless him.

  • Memphis – Memphis Pyramid

    Memphis – Memphis Pyramid

    The Memphis Pyramid, known as the Great American Pyramid when it was constructed, is hard to miss from its riverside location in the city.

    Of course, everything in the United States is understated…… Anyway, this immense structure was constructed between 1989 and 1991 and was designed to be used as a sports arena. It’s certainly like no sports arena that I’ve seen before, which was perhaps half its problem, as ultimately the NBA team in Memphis built a new and more suitable stadium for itself elsewhere in the city. After a period of closure and since 2015, the building has been used as an outdoors store in what is perhaps the most impressive of backdrops possible.

    I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from an outdoor shop, but I’m certain it wasn’t what I was about to experience. This is the 28-storey lift to the top, which is the tallest freestanding elevator in the country.

    Some of the scenery within the pyramid, which is designed to look like an outdoor wilderness environment.

    Complete with a bear.

    And rocks.

    And trees and huts…..

    There is a point to all this water, this is one of the boats which is for sale. The main tenant in the building is Bass Pro, who specialise in selling fishing, hunting and boating gear and there are large stocks of all of these here.

    This boat isn’t for sale as it has alligators around it.

    Because of course every outdoors store needs alligators everywhere….

    And the store’s subtle little fish tank, with feeding demonstrations taking place at pre-set times.

    I thought I might have a ten-minute walk around this pyramid, but I stayed for a couple of hours exploring it and I remember needing a quick lunch whilst I was there. There’s a hotel here as well, and there are plans to expand the site and perhaps introduce more rooms to the hotel. Although for those who can’t wait for that, it’s now possible to spend the night in the pyramid by glamping.

  • Memphis – Mud Island

    Memphis – Mud Island

    I wasn’t able to visit Mud Island for the simple reason that it was shut in January 2018, but I liked that usually visitors can go there by using the monorail service on the above bridge. Which also of course wasn’t operating when I was there, but the photos I’ve seen of it look rather intriguing.

    An information sign about the island, which hopefully at some point in the future I’ll get to visit. This bloody coronavirus had better hopefully disappear soon, my list of places I need to (re)visit needs tackling….

  • Memphis – American Robin

    Memphis – American Robin

    One thing I discovered on-line after taking this photo in Memphis is that the American robin isn’t really anything to do with the European robin, which slightly disappointed and confused me. It has the name robin as it resembles the European robin, but it’s a totally different bird. And there’s today’s fun fact of the day…..