Apr

Flights of Fancy

by Joyce McGreevy on April 1, 2019

In the early days of aviation, airlines had to transport passengers one at a time by hand.

Travel Innovations Soar Every April

Every year on this day, the travel industry announces innovations that push the boundaries of creative problem solving and take air travel to new heights. Here are airline upgrades that made aviation news in Aprils past.

A figure with suitcase at an airport evokes the need for aviation innovations and creative problem solving. [Image public domain]

Today more people than ever are able to experience being stuck at airports.

Travel Technology Takes Flight

In April 2017, Emirates Airline delivered a game changer: plans for the world’s largest commercial aircraft. The April 1 ad campaign went viral as Emirates debuted the Triple Decker APR001, the first jet in history to feature an onboard swimming pool, park, and gym. See video!

Not to be outdone, Virgin Airlines rolls out news-generating inventions with such consistency that by March 31 at 11:59pm aviation buffs are poised for updates.

So it was on April 1, 2013 when Virgin Airlines founder Richard Branson announced “the technology required to produce the world’s first glass-bottomed plane.” This technological innovation, which coincided with the expansion of Virgin Atlantic Airways domestic service within Great Britain promised “an unrivalled view of Scotland.”

A crowded commercial airline interior evokes the need for aviation innovations and creative problem solving. [Image public domain]

Starting today, many airlines will offer games like “Musical Chairs” and “Twister.”

Clear Leadership

While public reaction was tempered, skeptics reflected a more fractured view: Would Virgin Airlines’ upgrades shutter the competition? Could engineers hold up their end of Branson’s glass bottom? Or in shattering the glass ceiling of aviation technology, had their creativity hit a breaking point?

Oh, I see: While some cheered the First Glass Service, others saw a glass plane half empty.

Branson responded with transparency, revealing April after April that he would always take great panes to floor his passengers. Subsequent upgrades included:

In-flight Spin Classes, offering passengers frequent flyer points for every kilometer cycled. “The harder you spin, the more you’ll grin,” commented a spokesperson known to be a big wheel.
The Dreambird 1417: Its high-tech flexible wings created a flapping motion that moved the plane forward and generated electrical power for the cabin.

A food truck and commercial airplane on a runway remind the author of the need for aviation innovations and creative problem solving. [Image public domain]

As of April 1, McGreevy’s Law will require airline meals to contain up to 10% actual food.

Dogging the Competition

On April 1, 2017, Branson unleashed his most popular airline upgrade yet, the Canine Crew: Video

Few airlines had the pedigree to compete. But one Canadian carrier proved it’s never too late to learn new tricks. Determined to get a leg up, WestJet uncaged its Furry Family policy: Video.

People playing with water by an airplane remind the author of aviation traditions and innovation. [Image public domain]

Now economy passengers can enjoy free post-flight spa treatments.

Taking Care of Business

Other airlines refused to roll over and play dead.

Southwest Airlines made a splash with “Cash Lav,” an onboard game show that turned a visit to the smallest room into a chance to win big bucks. The series, which aired 01/04/16, yanked chains nationwide. But when critics pooh-poohed it, airline execs sent it down the drain.

Video: Pilot Episode of Southwest Airlines “Cash Lav” is Flush with Humor

By contrast, Swoop Airlines of Canada had passengers down in the dumps when it announced an April 1 price hike on in-flight facilities. Tags like #ThisStinks! and #SoCrappy! spread online as many cried foul. Get the full scoop here.

An unsmiling traveler on an airport escalator evokes the need for aviation innovations and creative problem solving. [Image public domain]

Passengers are obviously very excited by commercial airlines’ April 1 upgrades.

Snacks on a Plane!

Canada’s WestJet solved air travel’s scariest problem: in-flight beverage carts that block the aisle. For too long passengers had returned from the loo only to get stuck in a slow-moving conga line. WestJet’s creative thinkers installed rails that let robotic snack canteens glide overhead, air-dropping snacks and beverages onto tray tables. Or laps.

Video: Robotic Automated Light Food Handler (#RALFH) Tosses Cookies

man walking a cow reminds the author of airlines’ creative problem solving and policies regarding animals. [Image public domain]

Animal airline passengers can now bring along their Emotional Support Humans.

Room at the Top

As competition for creative problem-solving went full-throttle midair, other sectors of the travel industry elbowed their way onboard. With no armrest for latecomers, success belonged to those who kept their feet on the ground, their head in the clouds, and their tray tables under the seats in front of them.

Some companies formed alliances. But the merger of aviation and five-star accommodation had already reached its zenith on April 1, 2009 with the debut of The Hotelicopter. In a shocking twist, the world’s first flying hotel never took off. Soaring demand kept the luxury rooms out of reach of even the highest flyers.

Video: Hotelicopter Generates Spin, Raises Reservations

An astonished looking construction worker reminds the author of the need for aviation innovations and creative problem solving. [Image public domain]

Airlines will offer discounts to passengers who help build the planes.

Trending Travel Take-Offs

As home-centric businesses get in on the act, flights of fancy innovation will transform all aspects of travel, even staycations.

Airbnb announced a spin-off brand one recent April 1. Recognizing that “every hero needs a hideaway,” the home-share business launched “Lairbnb,” complete with unique transportation to the airport. See the ad.

Not to be caught napping, Lucid Mattress delivered a wakeup call with the April 1 roll-out of ShareBED. View here.

The Future of Travel Is Ahead

Experts confirm that the travel innovations of April 1, 2020 will differ from those of the present day. But while no one can predict the present, today’s headlines could herald incredible examples of creative problem-solving.

So ignore any naysayers who insist, “It’s all fake news on the first of April.” (Fools!)

A moving sidewalk at an airport reminds the author of the need for aviation innovations and creative problem solving. [Image public domain]

Linking motorized walkways from LAX to JFK will reduce overcrowding in planes.

Comment on the post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Joyce McGreevy Comments

Innovations/Rides (Land, Sea, Air)/Worldwide Sites

Mar

On the Road Again: The Art of Travel

by Meredith Mullins on March 25, 2019

Center of the Nation sign, a roadside sign that invites the art of travel. (Image © DMT.)

In search of America
© DMT

Discovering America: Roadside Signs and Attractions

What keeps you going isn’t some fine destination but just the road you’re on, and the fact that you know how to drive.
—Barbara Kingsolver

There are hundreds of quotes about the art of travel (and the art of living), especially words that suggest that the journey matters as much as the destination . . . often more.

This philosophy is right on target when exploring one of the cornerstones of American life—the road trip.

Four million miles of highways can tell a good story—the roadside signs and attractions offer a realistic glimpse into the fabric of America.

South Dakota state road sign, showing the power of road signs for the art of travel. (Image © DMT.)

Welcome to South Dakota.
© DMT

From the Burma Shave ads of the 50s and 60s that stretched their storyline into six sequential signs to the roadside signs and attractions of today, we are given a window to the character of the people and places along the highway.

All we have to do is look.

Oh I see. What a great way to discover America.

Horse sign, an unusual roadside sign encouraging the art of travel. (Image © DMT.)

Americana at its best
© DMT

In the Beginning . . .

WE’RE WIDELY READ
AND OFTEN QUOTED
BUT IT’S SHAVES
NOT SIGNS
FOR WHICH WE’RE NOTED
Burma-Shave

When you ask what roadside signs are lodged in memory, most people who were in a car in the 50s and 60s will smile as they recall the Burma Shave signs.

The company was known for its innovative roadside advertising. Each of the six signs posted at intervals along the road had one line of verse. The grand finale was BURMA-SHAVE—the brushless shaving cream of the time.

The poems were often quoted; and travelers, it was said, could never read just one of the signs. The fun was putting the poem all together.

WE DON’T
KNOW HOW
TO SPLIT AN ATOM
BUT AS TO WHISKERS
LET US AT ‘EM
Burma-Shave

THE CROWD
YOU SEE
AROUND THAT STORE
ARE BURMA SHAVERS
BUYING MORE
Burma-Shave

DON’T LOSE
YOUR HEAD
TO GAIN A MINUTE
YOU NEED YOUR HEAD
YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT
Burma-Shave

The signs worked well for the company, growing its brand significantly and, in many instances, increasing attention on highway safety. Sadly, the last of these signs disappeared from the roadside in 1966.

Hell Is Real! roadside sign encouraging the art of travel. (Image © iStock/tacojim.)

Not quite Burma Shave, but eye catching just the same
© iStock/tacojim

We All Need a Little Humor in Our Lives

Several creative characters on today’s highways have continued the inventive roadside spirit of keeping drivers amused, informed, and awake.

Vince Rozmiarek of the Indian Hills Community Center in Colorado posts a few pearls of wisdom each week on the community center’s sign.

DOGS
CAN’T OPERATE
MRI SCANNERS
BUT CATSCAN

PUNS ABOUT
COMMUNISM AREN’T
FUNNY UNLESS
EVERYONE
GETS THEM

TURNING VEGAN
WOULD BE A
BIG
MISSED STEAK

MY MOOD RING
IS MISSING
AND I DON’T
KNOW HOW I FEEL
ABOUT THAT

PROCRASTINATORS
ANONYMOUS
MEETING
POSTPONED
INDEFINITELY

Indian Hills Community Center roadside sign, encouraging the art of travel. (Image courtesy of Indian Hills Community Center.)

Indian Hills Community Center’s Creative Genius
Photo Courtesy of Indian Hills Community Center

The El Arroyo Restaurant in Austin, Texas shows the same genius in their changing billboard.

Six out of seven dwarves aren’t Happy.
Anything I say before coffee cannot be used against me.
Dear Math. Grow up and solve your own problems.
Treat your mom to a margarita. You’re probably the reason she drinks.

And, one in an attempt at highway safety:

If you’re reading this sign, you’re not watching the road.

Guided by Roadside Signs

Roadside signs provide more than just a smile for highway travelers. They also tempt those on the road to the food and sights of the region.

Who could resist love, peace, and chicken grease?

Love, Peace, andChicken Grease roadside sign, encouraging the art of travel. (Image © Lauren Gezurian-Amlani.)

Or pork with an attitude?

Pork with an attitude roadside sign in Memphis, encouraging the art of travel. (Image © Lauren Gezurian-Amlani.)

Or 24-hour coffee?

24-hour coffee roadsign, encouraging the art of travel. (Image © iStock/anna42f.)

Or Bar and BBQ at the Redneck Riviera?

Redneck Riviera roadside sign, encouraging the art of travel. (Image © Lauren Gezurian-Amlani.)

Along with the temptation of local culinary treasures comes the need to break up long drives with roadside attractions—from the historic to the bizarre.

Every state has “roadside attraction pride,” from the world’s largest this and that to art installations to historic monuments to seductive entertainment conglomerates.

A roadside sign with a burger and apple pie, encouraging the art of travel. (Image © DMT.)

Living the heartland of America: hot dogs and apple pie
© DMT

We can travel to Montgomery, Alabama, for the world’s largest brick; to North Pole, Alaska, for the world’s largest Santa Claus; to Cawker City, Kansas, for the world’s largest ball of twine; to Scarborough, Maine, for the world’s largest chocolate moose; and to Cottonwood, Idaho, for the world’s largest beagle, which also happens to be the Dog Bark Park Inn, a dog-friendly hotel.

The Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho, a roadside sign and roadside attraction, encouraging the art of travel. (Image courtesy of Dog Bark Park Inn.)

The Dog Bark Park Inn in Idaho
Photo courtesy of Dog Bark Park Inn

In addition to the plethora of “world’s largest” things, we can also find the artistic and bizarre.

Don’t miss Salvation Mountain in Niland, California; Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas; the Ventriloquist Museum in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky; the Jello-O Museum in Le Roy, New York; an alien-themed brothel in Amargosa Valley, Nevada; Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obisbo, California; or the world’s largest collection of the world’s smallest versions of the world’s largest things in Lucas, Kansas.

Salvation Mountain, California, one of the roadside signs and roadside attractions that encourage the art of travel. (Image © iStock/Steven Kriemadis.)

Salvation Mountain . . . Stay on Path
© iStock/Steven Kriemadis

We might be surprised with the number of Stonehenge replicas across our great nation, including Foamhenge in Natural Bridge, Virginia; Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska; and Bamahenge in, you guessed it, Alabama (Elberta).

The Enchanted Highway in North Dakota, one of the road signs and roadside attractions that encourages the art of travel. (Image © DMT.)

The Enchanted Highway in North Dakota
© DMT

Some of America’s roadside attraction legends are still going strong.

The Enchanted Highway in North Dakota features a series of innovative scrap metal sculptures at intervals along a 32-mile stretch of highway.

The Mitchell Corn Palace in South Dakota takes pride in its more than 127-year history as the only corn palace in the U.S.—replacing the corn-mural walls every year with 13 different colors of corn.

And the single spot in the U.S. where four states meet still attracts thousands of visitors each year, all trying to strike a precarious balance between Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado (can you really be in more than one place at the same time?).

At Four Corners, a roadside sign and roadside attraction in four western states, encouraging the art of travel. (Image © Frank Mullins.)

Straddling four states at Four Corners
© Frank Mullins

Aside from the legends and the bizarre, there are subtle things we drive past that make us smile or give us a ping of nostalgia, as if we are perhaps seeing the last vestige of a particular America.

Lemonade stand, one of the roadside signs and roadside attractions, encouraging the art of travel. (Image © DMT.)

The roadside signs and attractions will no doubt be different the next time we travel that road. Some other country may soon boast the world’s largest ball of twine or the largest chocolate moose.

Acme Feed and skyscraper, a roadside sign of change, seen with the art of travel. (Image © Lauren Gezurian-Amlani.)

Change is a constant.
© Lauren Gezurian-Amlani

As with any good journey, change is a constant. The art of travel is to enjoy the journey.

Welcome to California road sign, encouraging the art of travel. (Image © iStock/Mirolslav1.)

Enjoy the journey.
© iStock/Miroslav1

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Author’s Note: I dedicate this post to my parents (and all parents who venture on family road trips with kids). My parents’ patience and bravery in orchestrating numerous road trips resulted in my having seen many of the things that I mention in this article. The Corn Palace and Four Corners are still vivid memories years and years later, and the world’s biggest ball of twine still makes cameo appearances in my dreams.

Meredith Mullins 4 Comments

Art of Travel/USA

Mar

A Monumental Race: The Eiffel Tower Vertical

by Meredith Mullins on March 18, 2019

Night shot of the Eiffel Tower, one of the amazing places on earth, for the Eiffel Tower Vertical race. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

A hint of the moon on the night of the Eiffel Tower Vertical race
© Meredith Mullins

One of the Most Amazing Places in the World Rises to the Challenge

Remember those days as a child when you couldn’t help but run up stairs, two or three at a time.

You often didn’t know (or care) what you would find at the top. You were just excited to get there in a burst of energy, wrapped in the sheer joy of running.

That same exhilaration still exists. In Paris last week, running up stairs (two or three at a time) took center stage—during the 5^thannual Eiffel Tower Vertical race.

La Verticale de la Tour Eiffel—one of the most challenging tower races in the world—made one of the most amazing places in the world even more thrilling.

Two runners at the 2019 Eiffel Tower Vertical race at one of the most amazing places on earth. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The Vertical Challenge

The race is legendary. Tower runners from all continents vie to participate.

Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, one of the most amazing places on earth, hosts the Eiffel Tower Vertical run 2019. (Image © Meredith Mulllins.)

The 1,665 steps, which gain 276 meters (three football fields) in altitude, make this one of the most difficult races in tower running—a vertical tour that includes such skyscrapers as One World Trade Center in New York (2,226 steps), the Lotte World Tower in Seoul (2,917 steps), the International Commerce Center in Hong Kong (2,120 steps), and the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai (1,334 steps).

International Commerce Center in Hong Kong , one of the tallest buildings and most amazing places in the world for tower runners who have participated in the Eiffel Tower Vertical. (Image © bpperry/iStock.)

Only 130 runners were accepted into the Paris race this year—one runner for each year of the Eiffel Tower’s existence. (The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 for the Universal Exposition. With just a bit of math calculation: In 2018, the race hosted 129 runners, and for 2020 . . . 131 runners.)

Of the 90 men and 40 women selected, 40 are elite runners, 80 are amateurs, and 10 are wild-card recipients.

Janet Goodwin, an entry in the Eiffel Tower Vertical race came to one of the amazing places in the world for this tower race. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Australian Janet Goodwin, a wild-card recipient and stair-climbing trainer,
flew 22 hours just for the race.
© Meredith Mullins

Jean-Charles Perrin—founder of La Verticale de la Tour Eiffel and EcoTrail International CEO—is rightfully proud. “There are tower races in many countries, but creating a race at such an iconic monument makes it special.”

The Eiffel Tower is the tallest structure in Paris and one of the most visited monuments on the planet. It took years of negotiations to bring the race to this historic tower.

Jean-Charles Perrin, founder of the Eiffel Tower Vertical race, at the Eiffel Tower, one of the most amazing places on earth. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

What also makes the Eiffel Tower so special are the unique challenges for the competitors. It’s the only tower race that is outside—open to the elements.

Add to that the complexity of spiral stairs (some so narrow that no runner can pass another), steps of varying sizes, and a combination of stairs and flat stretches—from one staircase to the next, from one floor to the next, or as runners move from the south pillar to the west pillar for the climb.

ECOTRAILORGA_CHRISTOPHEGUIARD_Laurent Vincente runs in the Eiffel Tower Vertical race at one of the most amazing places on earth. (Photo © EcoTrail Organization.)

French runner Laurent Vincente surrounded by the structure of “The Iron Lady”
Photo courtesy of the EcoTrail Organization

The stairs from the second to the third étage are not open to the public, so the runners have the unique privilege of climbing these stairs in the last leg of the race.

Oh, I see. This is one tough race. But the expansive view of Paris at the top is well worth the climb.

ECOTRAILORGA_CHRISTOPHEGUIARD, a woman running up stairs at the Eiffel Tower Vertical race at one of the amazing places on earth. (Image © EcoTrail Organization.)

Fighting for the reward at the top: a finish line with a view.
Photo courtesy of the EcoTrail Organization

A Dramatic History

The Eiffel Tower has the distinction of hosting the first-ever stair climbing race more than 100 years ago.

In 1905, a daily sports newspaper organized the “Stair Championship,” which attracted more than 300 participants to climb two levels of the Eiffel Tower (only 729 steps rather than the three levels and 1,665 steps of today).

Stairs of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, one of the most amazing places on earth and host to the Eiffel Tower Vertical race. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

A magnet for daredevil activities, the Eiffel Tower also lays claim to the world’s oldest elephant trying to climb the stairs, athletes racing up the stairs on mountain bikes, people descending the stairs via wheelchair, and the inevitable illegal parachuting or bungie jumping from the tower.

The famous French high-wire artist, Philippe Petit, walked from the Palais de Chaillot to the second floor of the tower via tightrope in 1989 (to celebrate the 200^thanniversary of the French Revolution).

Group of runners at the 2019 Eiffel Tower Vertical race at one of the most amazing places on earth. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

2019: Under Eight Minutes!

This year’s story was no less dramatic. The good news was . . . it wasn’t raining. The bad news was . . . it was cold and the wind was fierce. The top of the Eiffel Tower was swaying.

The race was delayed by 30 minutes as the organizers waited for the wind to subside and debated whether to make this a “race to the middle” rather than a “race to the top.”

Not a chance. La Verticale de la Tour Eiffel is a race about summiting.

Runner #2 climbs the stairs of the Eiffel Tower Vertical at one of the most amazing places on earth. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Let the challenge begin.

The race is in time trial format, with a runner in the starting block every 30 or 60 seconds.

Runner checking watch at the 2019 Eiffel Tower Vertical race at one of the most amazing places on earth. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

Support shouts of “Allez! Allez! Courage!”could be heard at every turn as, one by one, each of the 130 racers did their best to manage their breathing and overcome muscle pain, dizziness, and burning lungs to reach the top—a finish line with a view.

Piotr Lobodzinski, winner of the 2019 Eiffel Tower Vertical, rounds the corner at one of the most amazing places on earth—the Eiffel Tower. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

The 1^stplace winners of the 2019 Eiffel Tower Vertical were Piotr Lobodzinski from Poland (7:53:97) and Suzy Walsham from Australia (10:16:57). Not surprisingly, both are the reigning world champions in tower running. More results can be found here.

ECOTRAILORGA_ANTHONYCHAUMONTEL_VTE2019_Suzy Walsham running in the Eiffel Tower Vertical race at one of the most amazing places on earth. (Image courtesy of the EcoTrail Organization.)

Suzy Walsham’s focused race brought her another victory.
Photo courtesy of the EcoTrail Organization

They were pleased with their race, given the challenging conditions. And, as Piotr said when he received his award, he hopes, like fine wine, he will just get better with age.

It is certain that more amazing places in the world—the tall ones, especially—will continue to attract these super athletes. Congratulations to all.

The runners of the 2019 Eiffel Tower Vertical race at one of the most amazing places on earth. (Image © Meredith Mullins.)

For more information about the Eiffel Tower Vertical, visit La Verticale de la Tour Eiffel website, the EcoTrail website, and the Towerrunning World Association website.

Health Note: Research shows that climbing stairs has significant health benefits. You don’t have to enter The Eiffel Tower Vertical race, but if you take the stairs every now and then, you’ll be the beneficiary.