I started the week in Brazil – Sao Paulo.
Left New York on Saturday night and arrived Sunday morning, having slept through the flight.
I always marvel at these trips…imagining what it was like one hundred years ago and more – a perilous journey, months of travel, no movies, no power ports for laptops. The only common factor being the bad food…
Spent a few amazing days meeting people – colleagues and clients – making new friends…eating really well…seeing great work and great thinking.
My next stop was the UK.
Again, as I drove to the airport, I reflected on the magnitude of flying across the ocean – then I got to the airport and was told that the Federal Police were on strike and that there was an estimated 2.5-hour-long line to get through passport control…so much for the marvels…
I again slept through a trip that was once the stuff of legends…the food was even worse…
Land in London…early even…no circling or waiting for a gate…only to find a slowdown at immigration…3 clerks stamping for a line of over 1,000 travelers…so it goes – a bookended journey.
I ran to the Heathrow Express (my favorite bit of travel advancement in the world – makes New York look like the 15th century…) took three beautiful trains from Paddington to get to a meeting at Stratford-Upon-Avon and then discovered (as I had been running so hard to make all the connections I was oblivious) that everyone was surprised I had landed because some volcano, somewhere, had erupted.
I spent two days in Will Shakespeare’s town working with colleagues and clients on a really cool project…watched the news…made the obvious jokes…but was sure I’d be back in New York on Sunday.
And, even, as I spent a beautiful London Day in Hyde Park on Saturday, I was sure that this would all “blow over” and I’d be home in New York for Sunday brunch – another travel miracle delivered…with bad food.
And here I am Sunday morning – lucky that my hotel extended my stay – and here I will be till next Sunday when I make my way to Seattle – imagine that trip back when…
Given that I was inspired by proximity to the Bard, where would I turn for inspiration but to him? Listen:
Lord, what fools these mortals be!
William Shakespeare
In a week of taking for granted the once impossible; in a week of iPad, new phones from Microsoft, wild technology from Ford and announcements and reports too numerous to mention…NEED I SAY MORE!
Time to smell the flowers….
What do you think?
I find that spontaneous changes of plan are among the most liberating of moments. But this is probably not true for road/air warriors such as yourself who just want to get home to spend time with their loved ones.
I love London, but rather than spending a week in a hotel room, you probably have time to grab a berth on a cruise line or merchant marine vessel headed to NYC. I would opt for the cruise line with Wifi, but be sure to bring along a couple of e-books, a couple of magazines, a swimsuit and, of course, dancing shoes.
Part of the joy of business (and personal) travel is that our normal routines are banished and we can’t help but notice our surroundings and take stock of our (mostly) good fortune. Even if you manage to stick to your itinerary, the experience feels fresh and spontaneous, and I can usually find a silver lining in delays or disruptions which would anger a road warrior. So yes, I’m keen to smell the flowers.
Hey, it’s not too late for you to grab a berth on a passenger or merchant marine vessel heading back across the pond.
I would have gone the water route — maybe — but havnt you seen the movie? do you know what comes after the volcano…? The Giant Rogue wave….
just read your post. it was like a breath of fresh air.
it’s good to be reminded of the simple pleasures of life.