Home sweet home - back in Dallas

Finally back from my almost one week trip. I accumulated almost 7500 base miles and 15000 overall... So I am getting closer to 2 Million club with American Airlines.

Weather in Dallas is good, according to forecasts, 90 Fahrenheit later today which means that it will be hot when we play our Thursday Golf round in the Grapevine Golf Course. The good news is that I get to stay home for at least 2 weeks! Stay tuned....

I have two European trips in front of me.... One to Cannes France and another one to Finland... two weeks later.... And of course the third one to Finland during Christmas....

A young boy still living in me - I had to test red-eye

My flight from LAX (Los Angeles) to Boston was brutal. The flight from LAX was supposed to leave by 12.15 AM, but did around 1.30 AM. It arrived Dallas around 6.30 AM and I run to the connection that would take me to Chicago and the to Boston. I spent 14 hours on this trip, a direct flight would have lasted probably around 5 hours...I was upgraded to first class on each leg so it made a world of difference.

Boston as a conference town - I am not sure it works

This is now the econd time in six months that I was in Boston for a conference. This time the conference was located in the Hynes Convention center and I have to say that it works better than the new convention center that is further away from the downtown area. The area around Prudential center has lots of things to offer to participants while the new one is in the middle of nothing...

I do like Boston as a town, lots of nice places, good food and the approximity of the sea. The only huge problem is still the traffic as the "big dig" still has lots of issues.

Boston Logan airport has seen its best days.... and the Admirals Club is not even close to the one that I visited earlier this week (Los Angeles International Airport LAX).

My flight back to Dallas is via Chicago O'Hare, and will be in Dallas around noon time. My wakeup in Boston was 3.00 AM.... sweet....

Hotwire.com - I am too old for that

I used www.hotwire.com first time in my life when staying in Boston. I wanted to be cheap so my client would not have to pay for the ridicolous 400 dollar night what the hotels in downtown Boston are asking for. Guess what... I got what I wanted, a cheap hotel that was cheap in every respect... A Howard Johnson hotel where I could get to my room through a dumpster.... Also, the room was supposed to have wireless connection.... It did but nobody did not tell that outgoing SMTP traffic would not work... So I could read my email, but not send anything.... sweet..... Also, the first night the hotel lost its electricity....

The question is.... Did I learn anything.... The answer is.... Yes I did and that is that I will not use hotwire.com anymore as it will not let you choose the hotel until you pay it... So you are "buying a pig in a bag".

The second lesson is, which I should have learnt by now, is that when you want to be cheap, you will have to deal with crap in one way or the other....

LAX and I-405 to Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach

The drive from LAX airport to Fountain Valley was smooth, but it amazes me how much traffic there is on these roads. If I lived here, I would not want to live far from the office.... The weather in Southern California is as always.... Sunny with nice cool breeze....

My hotel, Disneyland Hotel in the heart of Disneyland has seen its glory days.... The public places like gym etc. Has broken equipment, and to me that is not acceptable. If one provides those services, at least an effort should be done to maintain them. I am sure this hotel is good for kids, but I am not sure it is good for business travel... That remains to be seen when the conference starts.

One my way again, this time to Southern California

Well, that was 5 days of beeing at home and now I am on my way again. One of the largest software vendors in its own domain has its User Group meeting in Anaheim and I will be staying in the Disney hotel... sweet... My daughter asked whether she fcould come.... using her pressious look..... please daddy.... Unfortunately it is just business...

Tomorrow on Sunday I will play golf as part of the conference.... It will be interseting as I have never played in California before....

As before, American Airlines is taking me to LAX, and I am currently enjoying the refreshments of Admirlas Club...6.30 AM

American Airlines via Zurich to Dallas

I prefer flying from Helsinki to Dallas via Zurich mainly due to American Airlines service to me as executive platinum member. The flight from Helsinki to Zurich is operated by Finnair (code share with American Airlines). American flies to Dallas in an older aircraft but when you fly business it is slightly better food etc. Than the newer Boeing 777 that has a real first class.

Kotka - the place where I grew up - what has happened the past 20 years

Kotka - the beautiful city by 60 miles east of Helsinki

The last part of my trip I spent in Kotka, my home town. This town is not only part of me, but also the home of my close family. I have to say that visiting my home town makes my so calm and happy.

Turku - a beautiful city by the south-western coast

If you visit Turku from Helsinki, make sure you use the very effective railroad that connects most Finnish cities with each other. Turku is one of the most beautiful summer cities in Finland mainly due to its long history and academia. Sea is also a huge factor that I specifically appreciate. The distance between Helsinki and Turku is about 100 miles so using the new Pendolino traines is very efficient.

Spot - our new lion dog entered in our lives

I am extremely happy that the breeder of extremely good lion dogs. Our 4th lion dog was delivered to us from western part of Finland and he spent one night with me in our Helsinki residence. The following morning I took him to Finnair cargo to be delivered to Dallas Fort Worth where my wife would pick him up the next day. According to my wife, the flight had gone well without any incidents.

What is interesting is that Lufthansa is the only air carrier that accepts dogs to be transported during the summer. Must be good for their business. Now we have four male dogs in our household..... They are protective, so be aware....

Taking care of family business in Finland

The real reason for my Helsinki trip was to participate in the confirmation of my 15-year old god son Jere. In the ceremony, my task was to be part of the blessing of Jere and I have to say that I am proud of him and what he has become. After the ceremony, we had his relatives and friends to participate in a traditional coffee party with lots of traditional Finnish bakeries.

Now headed towards Finland

The business class of Boeing 777 is nice. I am on my way to Helsinki via Frankfurt. Another 17 hours with the layover in Frankfurt. These flights are tiring, burt business class with good American service makes a difference

American Airlines treats their premium clients well

I have been flying American Airlines as a customer now close to 9 years and the last three years as executive platinum. Let me tell you one thing.... They treat me as thei number one priority and this is also the opinion of my wife who is a former flight attendant for a Danish airline.

There is absolutely no reason what so ever for me to use anybody else than American Airlines. I hope they stay in business as long as I fly!

Piece of advice to American Airlines clients travelling from Baltimore, MD

The cab trip from hotel to airport in early morning went well and smoothly. Same smoothness could be experienced in the security lines so I was far too early at the airport.

Baltimore airport does not have Admirals Club, the American terminal is undergoing construction, so if you are too early, you won't have lot's of services. So I am hanging here for at least 2 hours waiting on my flight....

Baltimore has changed during the years in a positive way

My hotel, Marriot by the Waterfront was really a nice experience and I would recommend it to anybody. I used their gym, which was well equipped and had everything I needed. The employees did well taking care of the conference participants and SPLC 2006 was well arranged.

The hotel surrounding had all I needed such as Best Buy (I had to buy a mouse), Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, Hard Rock Cafe (nothing for me) and many other things. The only sad thing that I did see was quite a few homeless people without destination.

Baltimore in my mind - the city with a beautiful harbour

I am on my way to Baltimore, a nice city in Maryland. This time I will participate in a software conference for software product line engineering.
I have been in Baltimore only once during the last 8 years, so it is going to be nice to see how the town has changed.... if at all....

American Airlines taking us back to Dallas

We are on our way to Dallas, and I have to admit that I am happy to get back home. We spent the lsst 30 minutes in a beautiful Admirals Club in on the San Juan airport and my son specifically loved to see planes arrive and take off.

Until next trip, stay tuned...

San Juan airport works well

I decided to post this message as somebody told me recently that the airport here in San Juan is a bad experience.... My experience tells me the contrary.... This morning we arrived to the airport bright and early, and everything worked very well.... better than many other airports I have been exposed to. The aiport has all of the things one needs such as Starbucks, Subway other typical service things one needs....

Diversity of employees on Carnival Cruise

Hardly ever you get to see so many nationalities to be represented like on a cruise ship.... Our cabin caretaker is from Goa, India.... the waiters seem to be from Thailand and Indonesia... Latvia.... and other lowpaying countries. It is pretty obvious what is going on.... I just hope they make enough so it is not waiste of their time and life. I have not seen a single Scandinavian or Western employee besides the captain and his highest ranking officers...

The ship is made in Italy, not in Finland as most of these Carnival Cruise ships are. I am happy this was the case as the breakdown of the ship caused us to lose one day... Not because of Finns, but due to Italian make... One has to have some pride of heritage...