A Quick Turnaround

It always makes me smile when I'm talking to someone about my job and the inevitable "what's your favourite  destination/do you get to stay over/how long do you get there?" question is asked. I suppose to the flying public we are only ever seen on the aircraft and if they are getting off... Why wouldn't we be?!?

For the record; if we have been on the ground for more than an hour, then the chances are we're late! It really is that quick. Bish bash bosh: seats for departure. This doesn't mean however, that I don't ever get chance to enjoy the destination. I'm a bit of a plane geek so there's always something to look at. Even when the apron is empty, most of our destinations are so beautiful that you can enjoy a few rays of sunshine  and admire the mountains or coastline from the back steps whilst you're waiting with a cup of tea for the cleaners to finish in the cabin.

And so here it is: The world through the eyes of a trolley dolly...

A view of the Alps from the tarmac in Geneva

Sunshine beaming down in Split, Croatia

Monarch were the first European airline to take delivery of the new Airbus A320 fitted with 'sharklets' this year. Here are both of the new sharky's parked together next to the infamous Boeing 727 'ghost plane' in Faro, Portugal...

 Another shot in Faro of a lovely warm evening in late September... Not a cloud in the sky :)

From the good old baby days... although I think this is in Birmingham... Not quite so glamorous!

One of the most impressive places we fly to is Gibraltar as 'the rock' seems to climb up straight off the runway. Gibraltar is so small that the airport is actually wider than the territory itself... there's even a railway-style level crossing across the runway that closes when a plane is taking off or landing...

The High Life, Baby!

I just thought I would share a few photos with you all from my recent Cabin Crew Training Course with bmibaby...

I cant remember the last time I had so much fun and had such a laugh... Flying is what I was born to do....

 A freshly painted B737-300... Look how shiny it is!!

 My new uniform...

 The Girls...

...and the Boys...

Hola Madrid

The Spanish capital is just as you would expect it to be... Spanish! Unlike Barcelona there's a real feeling of the true Spain as you wander the streets of town and there are far less big-bucks tourist attractions compared to most other European capitals. Madrid is about the atmosphere, oh and not forgetting the food!

 This is a disused Metro station that was opposite the hotel. It had been restored to its original decor and felt as if you were on a film set right in the middle of town...

Steps leading into the entrance hall of the CaixaForum Gallery...

Madrid Barajas Airport's terminal 4 was designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers. The picture says it all - its spectacular!

Back in Berlin

Here are a couple of shots from my 3rd visit to the German capital... This city really is my favorite place in the world - I hope to live here one day.

Installation gone mad - Outside the KW Gallery the curb has been swiveled underneath the building!

Tempelhof metro station

Tempelhof airport - How bizarre to be able to walk down an actual airport runway in the centre of Berlin!?

Apartments opposite my favorite gallery of them all. I would very much like to live here now please :)

Republika Hrvatska S Charlses

I spent 2 weeks in Croatia with my best friends and hopped from island to island on a sailing boat. The country is fabulous and each island had its own personality. Granted, I've had to be very selective with these photos as Im not sure if most of you would appreciate the ones of me and my friends after dark (It's not usually a pretty sight!).... but you can still appreciate how pretty this country is.

Welcome to Croatia!...

The streets of Zadar are immaculate, however the slabs are super slippy!!

Tanya welcoming you into (someone else's) home!!

 We arrived in Hvar town from the opposite side of the island at night... via LORRY!! (Funniest night of my life!)

The island of Bol was probably the prettiest (although it's difficult to single one out on its own!). This was the harbor in the evening, to the right of this photo were huge mountains and the weather was blazing hot. It was a good day for the Charlses :)