Home again
Jun. 18th, 2004 10:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meanfreepathI finally made it home, after a rather arduous journey. This would be a long post without lj cuts, so pardon my use of them.
I got to the Greyhound stop in Iowa City a little after 10:30, wanting to be absolutely sure of not missing the bus. Now, inside the depot, there were numerous "No smoking" signs in both Spanish and English posted, but that did not stop several employees from smoking inside their office with the door open. The ventilation system inside just made the smoke diffuse everywhere. After waiting for nearly 45 minutes with no bus showing up, my throat was beginning to feel scratchy, my sinuses felt irritated, and my eyes were starting to water. I had no choice but to go and wait outside, standing, for a while. This was probably not Greyhound's fault, though, since the building was shared by a taxi dispatch service and I think it was those employees that were smoking. I wasn't seriously affected by the smoke, but I certainly know people who are, and I'd wonder if there was any way to take legal or other action against those smokers.
The Greyhound wound up showing up over half an hour late. The bus was crowded; there was no room next to non-sketchy looking people except at the back, next to the bathroom and the garbage bag. Unfortunately, more than a few of my fellow passengers would have benefited greatly from showers. The bathroom had not been cleaned in a while and a vile stench emanated from it every time the door was opened. Adding the garbage bag just over my shoulder made for a rather odiferous ride, at least until a nice young man who was also bothered by the smell threw out the garbage at a rest stop and sprayed some cologne into the bathroom. Fortunately, the bus made up time on the road and got to Chicago at 4:10, only a few minutes behind schedule. I did not manage to get a whole lot of sleep on the bus, even though I think I dozed off at some points, but I was fine thanks to adrenaline and the Fig Newtons Cindy made me take with me.
I then took the subway/elevated CTA trains to Midway Airport. I first walked a few blocks in the wrong direction, but I had bought a street map of Chicago and quickly rectified my error. I was able to watch the sunrise, albeit without a view east, on the elevated Orange Line train. I arrived at Midway Airport with time to spare and had no trouble going through security. Midway is a lot easier to get around the 0'Hare, and if I ever have to fly through Chicago again, I'd do it through Midway rather than O'Hare any day.
My flight on ATA was nice. The plane was less crowded; I had an empty seat next to me. It also felt a bit more roomy than my United flight, on which the passengers were packed like sardines. ATA actually served cookies with the beverage service, which was nice, as I had eaten nothing but a granola bar, a fruit cup, and Fig Newtons since dinner and was becoming ravenous. I'll gladly fly ATA again, even though I can't say the same about United. Arrival at Philadelphia was fine and I met up with my dad at the baggage claim.
By the way, has anyone ever managed to see Swarthmore from the air while coming in on approach to PHL? I could make out some things like I-95 very clearly, but couldn't find Swat, probably because I wasn't on the right side of the plane.
I crashed this afternoon, sleeping for a few hours, but now feel fine. Tomorrow, I'll go out to lunch with my family, get a haircut, and do something at night with my friend Russell. And then, on to Swat on Sunday.
I got to the Greyhound stop in Iowa City a little after 10:30, wanting to be absolutely sure of not missing the bus. Now, inside the depot, there were numerous "No smoking" signs in both Spanish and English posted, but that did not stop several employees from smoking inside their office with the door open. The ventilation system inside just made the smoke diffuse everywhere. After waiting for nearly 45 minutes with no bus showing up, my throat was beginning to feel scratchy, my sinuses felt irritated, and my eyes were starting to water. I had no choice but to go and wait outside, standing, for a while. This was probably not Greyhound's fault, though, since the building was shared by a taxi dispatch service and I think it was those employees that were smoking. I wasn't seriously affected by the smoke, but I certainly know people who are, and I'd wonder if there was any way to take legal or other action against those smokers.
The Greyhound wound up showing up over half an hour late. The bus was crowded; there was no room next to non-sketchy looking people except at the back, next to the bathroom and the garbage bag. Unfortunately, more than a few of my fellow passengers would have benefited greatly from showers. The bathroom had not been cleaned in a while and a vile stench emanated from it every time the door was opened. Adding the garbage bag just over my shoulder made for a rather odiferous ride, at least until a nice young man who was also bothered by the smell threw out the garbage at a rest stop and sprayed some cologne into the bathroom. Fortunately, the bus made up time on the road and got to Chicago at 4:10, only a few minutes behind schedule. I did not manage to get a whole lot of sleep on the bus, even though I think I dozed off at some points, but I was fine thanks to adrenaline and the Fig Newtons Cindy made me take with me.
I then took the subway/elevated CTA trains to Midway Airport. I first walked a few blocks in the wrong direction, but I had bought a street map of Chicago and quickly rectified my error. I was able to watch the sunrise, albeit without a view east, on the elevated Orange Line train. I arrived at Midway Airport with time to spare and had no trouble going through security. Midway is a lot easier to get around the 0'Hare, and if I ever have to fly through Chicago again, I'd do it through Midway rather than O'Hare any day.
My flight on ATA was nice. The plane was less crowded; I had an empty seat next to me. It also felt a bit more roomy than my United flight, on which the passengers were packed like sardines. ATA actually served cookies with the beverage service, which was nice, as I had eaten nothing but a granola bar, a fruit cup, and Fig Newtons since dinner and was becoming ravenous. I'll gladly fly ATA again, even though I can't say the same about United. Arrival at Philadelphia was fine and I met up with my dad at the baggage claim.
By the way, has anyone ever managed to see Swarthmore from the air while coming in on approach to PHL? I could make out some things like I-95 very clearly, but couldn't find Swat, probably because I wasn't on the right side of the plane.
I crashed this afternoon, sleeping for a few hours, but now feel fine. Tomorrow, I'll go out to lunch with my family, get a haircut, and do something at night with my friend Russell. And then, on to Swat on Sunday.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 09:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 09:23 pm (UTC)I crashed this afternoon, sleeping for a few hours, but now feel fine.
I just want to point out that these two sentences in close proximity can lead someone to be very confused.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 10:23 pm (UTC)I've tried looking for it, but never with success. Let me know if you see anything. I'd recommend looking for Parrish and Clothier bell tower, likely the latter.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-18 11:00 pm (UTC)I'm pretty sure I saw Swat from the air one time pretty recently (I think it was when I came home in May, so it would have been leaving PHL, not approaching). I first noticed the big red roofs of the athletic buildings (those are easier to see from the air than Parrish). Then, I saw Parrish, and I think I made out a few other buildings, although I don't completely remember what I saw. It was pretty cool, though...