David's Images of the Day Photoblog
While leaving Cuba, I noticed this old 3-engine jet on the side of the runway in Cuba (L-1011, MD-10, DC-11 Boeing 727?). It looks like it is used for emergency evacuation practice. No engines, and black soot on the fuselage.
The direct flight from New Jersey to Tokyo was long. I’ve never been on a 12+ hour flight before, and upgraded so I would have more leg room. I selected a window seat since the polar route was going over Canada, Alaska, and Russia — and hoped to take some images of the ground (weather permitting). Unfortunately, my “window seat” didn’t have a window. ARRG! One interesting note is that the seats on the plane had shoulder seat belts that we were supposed to wear during takeoff and landing. Once we arrived at the Narita Airport, the queues through immigration and customs were quick and efficient. It appeared that women got an extra metal detecting hand wand exam looking for gold bullion while passing through customs. I got a limo-bus ticket from Narita to the Keio Plaza hotel in the Shinjutu district of Tokyo (3100 Yen). The bus ride took a little over 1 hour. After arriving and checking in at the hotel I did a short walkabout where I saw many Azalea flowers in bloom. I used to have Azalea shrubs and flowers around my house, but the deer ate them to death.
Back in the USA after my photo safari to Patagonia, with an extended stay in southern Chile. I never saw my nephew stay still this long before. I was able to upgrade to a seat that reclines into a bed so I could sleep during the long flight back. I was glad to be home. Image taken with a Leica D-Lux 5 camera (ISO 400, 5 mm, f/2, 1/8 sec).
