KnowYourTrip.com

Hey Trippers,

So much has been written about the incredible story of US Air Flight 1549.  One thing that the episode has shown is that experience trumps even the best training.  Experience enabled Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and his crew to keep their cool and guide that massive and fragile machine into the Hudson River.  Sully used his glider pilot experience and transferred that knowledge to a multi-ton aircraft.  Miracle?  Call it what you want.  It is fate that that pilot and crew were on that flight under those circumstances.

There has not been a flight I’ve taken where I don’t stop at every take-off and landing and think of those I love and whether they’re all right if something tragic happens.  If disaster strikes, the statistics overwhelmingly show that it will be during the take-off (12%)* or landing (45%)*.

I’ve culled an important testimonial from the preponderance of coverage of this amazing outcome.  I found a useful account by a passenger who was on the flight.  He tells quite a story (if you want the whole story, e-mail and I’ll send it) and I found his final observations the most useful to what I hope I’m accomplishing with this blog and knowyourtrip.com.

(This is from a Partner at Heidrick & Struggles in New York who was on Flight 1549.)

There is a great deal to be learned including: Why has this happened 
to me? Why have I survived and what am I supposed to do with this 
gift? For me, the answers to these questions and more will come over
time, but already I find myself being more patient and forgiving, less
 critical and judgmental.
For now I have 4 lessons I would like to share:

1. Cherish your families as never before and go to great lengths to 
keep your promises.
2. Be thankful and grateful for everything you have and don’t worry 
about the things you don’t have.
3. Keep in shape. You never know when you’ll be called upon to save
 your own life, or help someone else save theirs.
4. When you fly, wear practical clothing. You never know when you’ll
end up in an emergency or on an icy wing in flip flops and pajamas and
 of absolutely no use to yourself or anyone else.

Words to take to heart.  Fitness is important to every aspect of travel and now, first hand, you see a testimonial from someone who lived it.  Clothing is always a consideration.  Every flight I take, I see someone with flip-flops.  Every overnight flight I see someone under 18 in pajamas!  Stop them!  It’s for their own good, their safety – and yours.  You may need their help. And as you travel in foreign destinations, don’t think of what they don’t have but all they DO have.

Word to take to heart, remember all that you do have, and you may be embarrassed . . . .

Happy Tripping,

Carter

*When accidents/fatalities happen, this percentage is based on the overall flight from taxi to landing.

When Trippers travel, safety is always the most important concern.  Trippers need to be aware of everything around them, especially in large cities.  Nothing will impact a trip more than finding yourself a victim of a crime.  

Paris is the only city where violence (albeit minor) has been used on me.  While boarding a Metro train, I was “knee-ed” from behind in an effort to strip me of my wallet.  Lesson learned.  I never carry my wallet in my back pocket.  He didn’t get my wallet because it was too fat to get out of my pants!  If he had used the “box cutter” method – it would have been his.  Thankfully, he didn’t.  A Money Belt is now part of my travel packing.

I bring this topic up now because I just received a call from a friend who’s in Paris.  He alerted me to another scam being perpetrated on tourists. You can add this to the list of methods to bilk tourists that’s being used successfully.  Despite spending days in Paris last December, I didn’t encounter this particular scam myself.  But it’s out there.

My friend said he was wandering around the Trocadero / Eiffel Tower at the time.  The usual harmless ebb and flow of North African souvenirs-on-a-blanket hawkers spooked by police was going on.  The gypsies from Eastern Europe are responsible for this one.

A Gypsy approaches unaware tourists.  While the tourists aren’t paying attention, the Gypsy drops a gold ring on the ground.  The Gypsy pretends they’ve just found the gold ring on the ground.  So, they appear to find it in front of the tourists, they stop the tourists, and ask if it is theirs (of course it’s not).   Then, they say “It appears to be real gold.  I don’t need it.  Would you take it from me for five Euro?”  And my friend watched tourist after tourist hand over money for the rings!  Maybe, they felt they were, at least, getting something for their hand out.

Just be aware and when approached dismiss them swiftly in kind.  Don’t feel like you’re being rude. They’re invading your space!

Good Tripping,

Carter