LAYOVER STORIES — summer

CLUB HIPPIQUE DE BANGUI

CLUB HIPPIQUE DE BANGUI

There are some places in this world that are imbued with a certain spirit. These places exist all around the globe. The Ollofson Hotel in Port Au Prince, Haiti, the Baghdad Zoo in Iraq, and Beirut’s Hotel Alcazar to name a few. Sadly the world around them becomes rife with turmoil pitting them in a fight for their survival. Outside forces try hard to extinguish the spirit of these places. But despite all of the harsh realities thrown at them, they continue to live. 

Since...


Reflections on an Antillean airline: File under Caribbean Carriers

Reflections on an Antillean airline: File under Caribbean Carriers

I was born in Willemstad, Curacao, a beautiful Dutch island in the Caribbean, very close to Venezuela. A lot of my family worked in the tourism sector. By the time I was 12 I was fluent in three languages, Papiamento (the native creole language of my country, which we spoke at home), Dutch, and English. Then I learned Spanish. When I graduated school, I very much wanted to see the world. My father suggested I work for the airlines.  Originally, I wanted to be a stewardess. However, I soon realized I would be spending so much time apart from my family, so I...


Postcard from Morocco

Postcard from Morocco

POSTCARD

 May 10. 1974

 Teddy-

Greetings from Morocco. Made my way from Casablanca to Rabat. Got hassled by customs when they saw all my camera gear. Otherwise, everything is fine. I sprang for a decent hotel. Definitely worth it. Hoping to get some good shots here, could use the $$$. In case I run out, I might ask you to wire me that $$ when I get to Marrakech in a week or so. The roads here are wild. The...


Iraqi Airways Hospitality

Iraqi Airways Hospitality

December 20, 1968

 
Iraqi Airways
Airport Street Baghdad
Baghdad
Republic of Iraq

To Whom it May Concern:
 
Recently, my wife, Helen Louise and I traveled to Iraq. We are both archeologists working with a large group of archeologists on behalf of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City....


Air Mauritanie: A Postcard

Air Mauritanie: A Postcard

May 17, 1993

J.D. ,

Greetings from Mauritania! Or as the national slogan goes “Land of the Proud, Guided by Noblemen” …Hope all’s well in Indiana. I’m writing you from the lovely Nouakchott Int. Airport. My flight to Dakar supposedly departs soon-hopefully. (Fingers crossed) One thing I've learned in the Peace Corps this past year is that flights times can be somewhat elastic.

 I’m...