Africa, To Me

What is Africa to me:

Copper sun or scarlet sea, 

Jungle star or jungle track

One three centuries removed

From the scenes his fathers loved, 

Spicy grove, cinnamon tree, 

What is Africa to me?

         - Countee Cullen, "Heritage"

The date was December 2005 and the significance was: My first trip to the African continent. I left Los Angeles, CA bound for Cape Town, South Africa, which was where I was going to begin a 25 day trip through South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. I probably can give you a minute by minute recap of my entire trip to the southern region of Africa. Every single day within that timeframe was unforgettable as well as...no, I am not going to be cliche and say life changing but I will say humbling, paralyzing, and rejuvenating.  

Africa, to me is humbling. It is humbling because of its significance to history, to the present, and to the future. It is humbling because of the way of life and generosity of its people. It is humbling because of its intimidating size and complexity of natural obstacles to overcome. It is humbling because of the diversity of not only mankind but of living creatures. 

Africa, to me is paralyzing. It is paralyzing because of its vast beauty and endless skyscapes. It is paralyzing because it is unplanned, unprogramed, and unexpected. It is paralyzing because of the magnitude of need and the abundance of powerless people. It is paralyzing because you know you will never look at the world the same way again. I should also mention that it is quite paralyzing when an animal like the one in the picture to the right, charges your vehicle! 

Africa, to me is rejuvenating. It is rejuvenating because it is one of the few places on earth where you can truly escape and be miles from civilization. It is rejuvenating because it is humbling and paralyzing. It is rejuvenating because the days are long, as are the nights, and the food is filling. It is rejuvenating because you will have seen many friendly faces and have experienced lasting memories. 

What does Africa mean to you?

 

Airport Utopia

As I patiently sat at the Denver International Airport I began to wonder what my airport would look like if I were to design one (I think the white teepees inspired my creative side.)  I am going to take a stab at designing my airport Utopia by pulling my favorite aspects from existing airports:

Architectural Design: San Diego's Lindbergh Field (San Diego harbor and Downtown SD as a backdrop,) or Honolulu Airport (the open floorplan provides a great Hawaiian welcome.) 

Outside Arrival and Departure: Los Angeles International Airport. People complain about this airport all the time but LAX's U-shape allows for easy identification of your terminal and really quick in and out access.

Check-in Area: Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport. At first glance check-in looks like chaos. However, there has to be at least 50 check-in counters and 200 kiosks in every terminal.

Security: This is tough because security checks are always a nightmare no matter how seamless they are. I would have to go with a small regional airport on this one such as Tompkins County Airport (Ithaca, NY.) Considering only 2 flights depart Ithaca at a time (carrying 30 passengers,) security is a breeze! 

Dining: Philadelphia International Airport. I chose this for one reason: Sky Asian Bistro in Concourse C.  You can dine in or take out some sushi, lo mein, edamame, spring rolls and more. AND its actually decent food. 

Shopping: London Heathrow. This is a crazy airport but they have the creme de la creme of shops. The new Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand can also make you feel like you are walking down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. 

Best Place to Daydream while waiting for a flight: Terminals E and F at Charles De Gualle Airport in Paris, France. I love the glass dome in these terminals because it allows you to watch everything. 

Best Airport to Pass Time: Any airport that has a Xpress Spa. 

Best Airport Bar: Philadelphia Airport (must be my favorite airport..people hate it but it really grew on me) - Jet Rock Bar & Grill. There are 48 beers on tap for you to try at the Jet Rock Bar & Grill. McCarren Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada probably comes in as a close second only because the party doesn't stop at the airport. 

One important category that I am missing is the best terminal seating. Airport seating seems to be universal. I am starting to see more and more rocking chairs in airport terminals but I couldn't say which ones were my favorite. What airport do you think has the best terminal seating?