Strict Restrictions Lifted

The super anal restrictions have been lessened to be only mostly anal. Small carry-ons are now allowed on UK flights (although Heathrow still has slightly higher restrictions). And you are allowed to take electronics now, but they have to be screened separately. So these are all good things. I'm glad they've gotten their heads out of their tushies and are working towards an appropriate level of response. Silly Brits. It's not like other airports were following their lead. I could still come through another country with the same terrorist intent.

So my world has righted itself a bit and I will be once again looking forward to flying cattle class with my iPod. In happy news, the count is approximately 32. Yay!

Airline Restriction Rant

This is going to be a rant about the way the current foiled terrorist plot is being handled. So if you don't want to read about it, or at least my opinion of it...stop here. More exciting stuff lies in previous posts.

So the terrorists were foiled. That is a good thing. It's reassuring that the intelligence community is doing something that is obviously working. And way to go Pakistan that the government was willing to help out. All these are good things. The bad thing is the knee-jerk reaction to the problem. It's understood that planes should be made as safe as possible. But we all take on the risk of flying. We know what could happen. That doesn't stop us from hopping on a plane. What is SO BLOODY IRRITATING is that the response to the threat of terrorist action is doing exactly what the terrorists want to do, encroach on our liberties and make us fearful. We are imprisoning ourselves in a state that limits our rights. We are, in fact, accomplishing exactly what the terrorists are aiming for. The current restrictions, at least flying in and out of UK airports, are to limit on board belongings to identification, eyeglasses/contacts, medications (as long as they can be proven to be what they say there are), and female sanitary products (as seen on the British Airways website). They must be transported on the plane in a clear plastic bag. Everything else goes in the hold. Now this is absurd for many reasons. Yes, you can technically carry on all the little bits of equipment needed to create something to disable a plane. But technically I could kill the person sitting in the seat next to me or the flight attendent with the plastic spoon that comes with my meal (if we even get meals). Maybe they'll replace plastic silverware with styrofoam silverware. My fists are technically a weapon. If I decided to shave my teeth to razor points, or grow and file my nails in such a way that they would cut someone open, would I be required to pull my teeth out and cut my nails. Where does the encroachment of are civil liberties end? I realize that those examples are extreme, but they are possibilities.

So why is the government and airlines intent on creating fear? Realistically, if those 10 planes had been boarded and blown up, approximately 3000 people would have been killed, maybe more if it was done over land or a building was involved. But, as tragic as it would be , and I hate to say it, that's not that many people. More people are killed each year in Africa, and the insurgency in the Middle East, yet we're not restricted from going to those places. We simply accept the risk that something horrible could in fact happen. So if I'm willing to take the risk to buy a plane ticket to fly somewhere in the world, why should my rights to carry certain things on my person, like a book or a newspaper, be taken away just because there might be someone with a plan to blow something up. Someone, somewhere could have decided that I needed to be hurt or killed. That doesn't mean that I'm going to change the way I live because I'm fearful that it could happen. No, I will stand up and not be afraid by someone hoping to restrict my way of life.

That is all.

Hotel Reservations Finito

I received confirmation of my last hotel reservation, in Positano, over the weekend. The arrow in the picture points to where it's located. 4 night with a view of the sea...what could be better? So the main hassle of planning the trip is over. Now I just need to address details, like copying the passport and making sure I have all the travel stuff I need. Not the exciting part of the trip, but necessary. Only 38 days left. And I'm afraid I'm already developing short timers at work. 25 work days, I think. Although with my counting issues, who knows.

Almafi Coast

In the past 4 hours or so, I've firmed up my last week's itinerary (I make quick decisions). I'm going to do Naples, but not stay in town. Then a day trip from Sorrento to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius. Then on to Positano and a laid-back end to the trip. 4 nights in Positano and then my last night in Rome and then home.

Anyhow, I booked hotel in Sorrento...I splurged a little (nothings cheap there anyhow), but the place looks spectacular. Sits above Sorrento proper, but I figure for 2 nights I can afford to live like the rich.

Casa di Roma

Happily, hotel in Rome has been booked. Once again used the handy cross-pollinate site and we are staying in an apartment in the historic center, near Piazza Navonna (thanks M&M) and the Pantheon. It's called Appartamento Baullari and looks pretty homey http://cross-pollinate.com/info.asp?id=414&kind=2&city=
This apparently will be our view.

I've also discovered, not so happily, that I lack the ability to count higher than the number of fingers and toes that I have. The countdown is actually at 41 days...which is freaking me out a little...especially since I can't seem to decide what exactly I want to do with my last week. So I'm working on revamping the last week's itinerary...AGAIN. Thought I had it nailed down, but apparently not.

Also discovered that there is, in the Archeology Museum in Naples, a room that only can be entered with reservation. Apparently, before the wealthy living in Pompeii were buried, some of the art they had in their houses for the amusement of guests was, shall we say, racy. So I'll definitely be trying to see that :-)