Vacation libations

This travel list piqued my interest. And I've yet to touch down in any of the destinations -- perplexing, I know. If you've raised a toast in any of the listed establishments, or others that deserve a place on the hallowed Reuters Iconic Drinkeries list, leave a comment.

In other important news, Guinness is 250 years old. Celebrate!

Worldly loos

The toilets at Buckingham Palace's Royal Mews drip with elegance from the colorful tile mosaics to the linen hand towels. You'd never expect a horse stable to provide such finery. Then you have the self-contained and cleaning airstream-type facilities that dot the rues of Paris. Not the best if you're claustrophobic. Hidden secrets of foreign cultures are there for the discovering. For all aspiring anthropologists, here's an entertaining slide show:

http://travel.msn.com//Guides/MSNTravelSlideShow.aspx?cp-documentid=1003838>1=41000

Corporate Travel

Here's an interesting article about corporate travel managers. Aside from occasional blunders (auto execs breezing into D.C. in corporate jets), they're the grease that keeps companies moving. Any CTM worth their salt considers comfortable accommodations as well as the company's bottom line. And although I couldn't do it, I'm sure many CTM's do their jobs without dwelling on the ultimate injustice: spending their careers making travel arrangements, rather than traveling.

http://www.cobizmag.com/articles/pin-a-medal-on-your-corporate-travel-manager/

DOT: Fewer airline complaints

Breathe a sigh of relief. Whether you're racking up the miles as a seasoned business traveler or towing the kids and all the gear to Arizona for a week at Grandma's, things are looking up for you. Either we've become complacent with the level of service offered by commercial airlines and have given up on complaining, or we are actually finding less to complain about. Whatever the reason, there has been a drop in customer service complaints made to major airlines.

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12086303

That is, unless this guy is your pilot.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_12089681

When Tables Turn

Going through airport security is a major stressor. Ever thought how the screeners feel -- staring at a 13-inch television screen for hours at a time, reminding travelers to remove their shoes and pocket change? Denver's International Airport's screeners are micro-managed and harassed by their supervisors to the point that their job performance suffers. Something to think about the next time you're stepping through that metal detector.

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12074470

Ah, the memories

Although I really should be turning my attention to other tasks, I couldn't help it. A former flight attendant classmate of mine has found my blog. I'm not a big promoter -- although a very select few may beg to differ -- so I'm honored that she sought me out and added me to her blog roll.

The number of classmates still working as flight attendants are dwindling, but I'd like to highlight blogs from two of the nicest women I had the pleasure to work with. They were nice in that I-value-you-as-a-person-and-will-go-to-the-ends-of-the-earth-but-I'm-also-damn-good-at-my-job-and-I-can't-let-you-do/have-that-right-now kind of way. Susan's Toes in the Sky blog and Kelly's Who Am I to Fly the Sky blog are bursting with flight attendant humor and wisdom.

Here's to you, ladies. I have many fond memories of early morning studying, Bennigans debriefing (may they rest) and stern discussions from Marco about Mr. January. Thanks for the memories, safe flying and happy blogging.

GQ Man on the RTD Bus

An RTD bus friend and I were talking about our most mindless jobs today and he springs this one on me.

"Well, I guess my most brainless job had to be when I was a male model in college," he said after half a second of reflection.

"For art classes?" I asked, trying to imagine my near-retirement, non-profit administering friend as a nude model for a forms class.

"No, it was more runway stuff for men's clothing," he explained as we disembarked.

Snapping open cans of Coke and purveying beverages with a cocktail napkin tucked neatly beneath while maintaining corporeal balance at 38,000 feet in a metal tube pressurized to 9,000 feet can't hold a candle to that occupation. Admittedly, both are glamour-filled, but I didn't get nearly the number of cat calls as my friend did.

"My friends took to calling me GQ because I would get free clothes from my modeling gigs," he said with a squint of a grin on his face.