Images from San Juan

So a friend of mine recently asked if I had any pictures from San Juan, and I answered – Yes, I do.  However, I've just been too lazy or busy to put them up.  Well, I'm trying to rectify that now, so here are some images from those few short days on that very pretty island.

I went down to Puerto Rico to help with an iPad deployment, and I was busy for much of the working hours.  Now while I did not have lots of time after work, I would have been able to see some sights in the evenings before the sun went down, however, it was an unusually stormy few days with lightning and thunder that reminded me of home.  Thankfully, the last full day in country I was about to visit Castillo de San Cristobal – a Spanish fort built in the 1600s to defend the landward approaches to San Juan city.  The harbor of San Juan was recognized by the Spanish as a very important anchorage for their merchant ships, so defense was needed.  This massive fort complemented the older fort protecting San Juan harbor – El Morro (built in the 1500s).  The images below show shots of both forts and some shots of old San Juan.  Hope you enjoy.

Greetings from Monaco

Earlier this month, I traveled on business to Europe – Monaco specifically. I was looking forward to it, but when I got there the weather was less than spectacular. I was able to venture around the small principality and took some pictures. Due to work and the resulting problems that arose during the short time I was there, I really didn’t see much outside of the Fairmont Monte Carlo and the Le Meredien hotels.Although the walk between the two was beautiful – against the Mediterranean water front – it was soggy some of the time due to the rain. I did get a chance to go on and then walk alongside the famous Formula 1 track as well which was pretty exciting. Made some good friends (in times of stressful situations you bond together faster) from the UK, Germany, and Netherlands.

During my short stay, I saw Monacoville – where the Prince resides – the Monte-Carlo Casino, and the marina. It’s truly a beautiful area of the world. And if you do go, stop by McCarthy’s Irish Pub for a Guinness!

Images from Vegas

In February, I traveled to Las Vegas, NV for a business event. I was part of a team that was supporting some iPad efforts for our largest deployed iPad base. While the days were long, some of us managed to escape in the evenings for some sight-seeing. Here are some images from that week. I’ll try and tag them later.

Flying in a WWII Bomber

B-24 bomber from WWII

The deep thrum of the four engines, the cramped, tight spaces, walking across the bomb bay on a 10 inch metal strip, sticking your hand out the window at the waist gunner position – these were experiences I had on my flight aboard “Witchcraft” a WWII B-24 Liberator bomber.  I was able to experience this thrilling flight when the Collings Foundation brought the Wings of Freedom tour to Chicago Executive airport in July.

I had always wanted to fly on one of these vintage aircraft, and I’m glad I got the chance.  Witchcraft is the only flying B-24 in the world, and the flight made me appreciate the sacrifice that the airmen made during WWII.  In many places within the aircraft, there was literally no place to turn around.  And you had to watch were you stepped – the nose wheel doors and the bomb bay are designed to give-way to weight – not a nice thing to happen if you’re a few thousand feet up.

B-24s over Polesti

I was able to move along the length of the plane in flight – from the tail gunner’s position to the nose gunner’s turret.  This was not your normal flight experience – I mean there was a three to four inch gap between the fuselage and the retracted ball turret – looking down I could see houses, roads and trees passing below.  When you get to the waist gunner’s positions – with the 50 caliber machine guns still in place – you get a feeling for what it might have been like fighting for your life and your crew mates as you fended off Axis fighters.  These planes weren’t pressurized – crewmen had to wear special suits and needed oxygen masks to survive the frigid temperatures at altitude.

The ride on Witchcraft was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I won’t soon forget.  Who knows how long this plane will keep flying – it did see actual service in China and Burma with the RAF, and spare parts and expertise are dwindling away.  Enjoy the pictures below or check out the Flying in a B-24 video page.