If you read Fran’s blog yesterday, you could gather my trips to world headquarters (WHQ) over the past years have never been dull. It’s always great to hang out with the team. I’m just glad that Courtney, on her new adventures to TRE, does not have to encounter the “Candyman”! During the strategy portion of this past trip to WHQ, Fran and I planned a last-minute business trip to South Florida to visit some clients Monday. I planned to arrive Sunday evening to get a fresh start for Monday, but my trip was not so smooth.

I was on a 7:20 pm Delta flight out of JFK. I think the Delta terminal at JFK almost makes LAX look good! Regardless, the flight was delayed, so we did not board until 9:30. I believe the initial delay was weather, but once on board, we pulled back from the gate and waited for another 2 hours until we took off. This delay was due purely to congestion on the tarmac as JFK is, I believe, the busiest hub to Europe in the evening. I watched all the international aircraft take off - Lufthansa, Virgin, AerLingus, Eurofly, etc. - normally an enjoyable experience for me, but not so knowing I wouldn’t be landing in Miami until 1:30 am.

Anyway, as much as the delay was frustrating, what I found disappointing was the talk I heard from other passengers. I overheard the group in front of me, after the pilot announced another delay due to all the congestion at the airport, announce that this was another reason why they wouldn’t fly Delta again. Delta apologized profusely and the crew was accommodating and provided a comfortable flight once airborne. I just feel it is very unfortunate when the airlines, in enough trouble already, get an even worse rep for problems out of their control. I’m sure the solution is much more complicated than I want to even imagine, but next time you’re on board and the flight is delayed, remember the pilot probably wants to get where you’re going even more than you do! Delta did a good job at handling a difficult situation and, bottom line, I made it to Miami safe and sound and in time for business!

-Alexandra Young, vice president and associate publisher

Last weekend I spent 3 days at the Cape with my family. I’m one who loves tropical beaches - white sand and palm trees, but there is nothing like the New England beaches!

First, I’d like to get it off my chest that every time I saw one of those “SOS” stickers opposing the wind turbines, I had to refrain myself from egging the cars they were stuck on. Well, maybe I didn’t even have a carton of eggs available to me, but come on people! I’m from Massachusetts. If we claim to be a liberal state, then we should all quit whining and accept the fact that this could arguably be one of the best choices we’ve made. Plus, wind turbines actually look quite pretty.

Aside from the passive-aggressive turbine protests, Cape Cod offers quite a view for the traveler. As a most recent broken bicycle owner, I mournfully looked into some travel bike trips on the Cape as I can’t imagine a better bike ride than one that trails along the coast. The New York Times online has a great bike guide for Cape Cod visitors and/or residents.

When I was about fourteen, my aunt and I rented a tandem bicycle for the day and biked around Provincetown. I highly recommend doing this, so fun! To me, biking offers the best opportunity to tour a place without letting everything whiz past you in a blink and still allowing you to reach your destinations at a faster pace than walking. I know what you’re thinking - “duh!”

-Courtney Centeno, account executive

The more I spend time on the West Coast, the more I understand why my West Coast friends put labels on us from the East - there are definite differences. However, what I’m talking about this time is not personality differences, but physical coastal differences!

At the NBTA conference in LA last week, I experienced my second earthquake and I will admit - I was scared! It registered as a 5.4 and was followed by over 50 aftershocks. At the time of the earthquake I was with fellow GTers Kim Krol and Courtney Centeno at the OpenSkies press conference on the third floor of the convention center. Managing Director of OpenSkies, Dale Moss, was announcing their new route to Amsterdam as it felt like someone began to kick my chair. This feeling quickly led to the whole building shaking from side to side. I thought the roof was coming in.

I would say half the room was filled with New Yorkers who looked at each other like deer in headlights! Finally, someone shouted to get under a doorway and the rumbling finally subsided. The experience was a great icebreaker for networking conversations at the trade show, but when I talked to friends who are from California, I found it did not faze them one bit. Everyone attending the conference from NY was certainly more shaken up from the quake. One West Coast person even remarked, “Come on, an earthquake in LA is like rain in Seattle!” To that, I made a retort about hurricanes and I saw the fear in their eyes! I guess, like everything else, it comes down to what you’re used to. And as for which coast is better, I believe the best way to say it is that neither is better, or worse, just different (but you won’t find me living in LA)!

-Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

All I have been reading about recently is the incredible influx of European tourists visiting the US this year. It was covered again today on MSNBC and a little over a week ago in Global Traveler’s electronic newsletter, eFlyer.

A recent report released from the U.S. Department of Commerce is reporting that approximately 15 million international visitors traveled to the US in the first half of 2008. This is a significant increase from 2007. Most of the visitors are traveling from Western Europe and between January and April 2008, 1.4 million Brits have made the journey across the pond.

It seems there is a good side and a bad side to this recent development - the good news, tourism to the US is back on track and on the rise since the events of 9/11, but the bad news, the strength of the dollar is so weak, the travel from the US to abroad is not reciprocated. And the suspected reason for all the European travelers? The US is cheap, cheap, cheap for them. Most visitors are flocking to New York City, an expensive spot to visit for most of us, but an affordable destination to those used to the Pound (1 pound = $1.99) and the Euro (1 euro = $1.58). For almost half of what they would normally pay, international visitors can shop, sightsee and be constantly entertained on a vacation to the Big Apple. From coast to coast, there is a lot to see and do here.

The boost in tourism and the $11.6 billion spent by tourists in the US (just in the month of April), can only help job stability and the economy here in the States. Hopefully, someday soon, as many Americans will have the chance to travel abroad and enjoy the sights Europe has to offer. Although America has a lot to offer, so it wouldn’t hurt if we all took some time to get to know our country, too!

-Kim Krol, circulation and public relations executive

I currently reside in an Italian neighborhood in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Most people on my block are third or fourth generations of their families. I live on the second floor of a three-story townhouse, sandwiched between an Italian family. My landlord, his wife and their two kids live below me, while my landlord’s sister, her husband and their daughter live above me. It makes a great and friendly community. Plus the aroma of meatballs and macaroni on Sunday evening is to die for.

Yesterday marked the beginning of an event that is more anticipated by the Italians here than the Superbowl or the World Cup. My landlord has been counting down the days and yesterday he couldn’t hide that boyish glint in his eye when he told me about the Giglio Feast.

Imagine an 8-story statue of the Virgin Mary sitting on a large steel platform with a 15-man band playing anything from traditional Italian songs to the Rocky theme song. Now, place that 8-story statue and band on the shoulders of about 100 men parading through Williamsburg. Add beer and Italian food and you’ve got the annual Giglio Feast! I agree with my landlord. This is way more entertaining than any football game.

Of course, this originated from somewhere. Many immigrants from Nola, Italy settled in the parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, here in Williamsburg, during the 1800s. The first annual feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel began in 1887. About a decade later, a group of Nola immigrants formed a Sao Paolo society. It was during this time that the first Giglio dance occurred. I’m not quite sure if this dance included the statue yet. Sometime later, the dance and feast merged themselves into one great festival that lasts about two weeks every summer. The feast occurs simultaneously in different places of New York, including Brooklyn, Long Island and Manhattan.

Yesterday the food stands opened but Sunday is the day of the Giglio dance! I shall keep you posted.

-Courtney Centeno, account executive