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| Parque del Retiro |
25 October 2008
16 October 2008
Milhas longínquas...
Miles away...
... longínquas no tempo.
... far away in time.
A asa de um L-1011 da TAP ao amanhecer, num dos vários voos LIS-GIG que fiz no passado, durante a década de 80. É uma (bonita) silhueta, igual àquela que tantas vezes aqui aparece da asa do CS-TMP da Luzair. Mas esta não era do CS-TEG (anterior matrícula do TMP quando pertencia à TAP) mas sim de um dos 5 L-1011 que foi originalmente entregue pela Lockheed à companhia de bandeira.
... far away in time.
The wing of a TAP's L-1011 at dawn in a flight between LIS and GIG somewhere in the 80s. It's one (beautiful) silhouette similar to that one I've been showing several times in this blog of Luzair's CS-TMP. But this one was not from CS-TEG (previous reg. nr. of CS-TMP when it belonged to TAP) but from one of the 5 original L-1011s which was delivered directly from Lockheed.
24 anos separaram a data do meu primeiro voo em L-1011 e a data do meu voo de largada no mundo da aviação... num L-1011! Ainda fui a tempo!
24 years make the distance between my first flight on a L-1011 as a passenger and the date of my first professional flight... on a L-1011! I'm glad I still was on time to do it!
24 anos separaram a data do meu primeiro voo em L-1011 e a data do meu voo de largada no mundo da aviação... num L-1011! Ainda fui a tempo!
24 years make the distance between my first flight on a L-1011 as a passenger and the date of my first professional flight... on a L-1011! I'm glad I still was on time to do it!
12 October 2008
Entre Madrid e Recife: "A revolta dos argentinos"
Argentinian uprising (flying between Madrid and Recife)
Novembro | November 2007
Novembro | November 2007
Embarcámos à noite no voo TP728 com destino a Madrid, no A319 CS-TTK "Miguel Torga". A nossa missão seria agarrar no CS-TMP no dia seguinte e seguir até Recife numa operação para uma companhia de bandeira argentina.
Da tripulação da TAP fazia parte um antigo colega da Luzair que conseguiu colocar-nos a todos em C/CL embora, como era natural, tivémos apenas direito ao serviço de Y/CL com a box de sandes fria.
In an autumn evening, we went to Madrid on the TP728 flight, operated by a A319 with tail number CS-TTK and named "Miguel Torga". The next day, we would meet our airplane CS-TMP to fly her to Recife while operating for an Argentinian carrier.
On board we met a fellow colleague who previously worked for our airline and that was part of TAP's crew. He was successful to invite us for the Business Class - a complimentary upgrade.
Da tripulação da TAP fazia parte um antigo colega da Luzair que conseguiu colocar-nos a todos em C/CL embora, como era natural, tivémos apenas direito ao serviço de Y/CL com a box de sandes fria.
In an autumn evening, we went to Madrid on the TP728 flight, operated by a A319 with tail number CS-TTK and named "Miguel Torga". The next day, we would meet our airplane CS-TMP to fly her to Recife while operating for an Argentinian carrier.
On board we met a fellow colleague who previously worked for our airline and that was part of TAP's crew. He was successful to invite us for the Business Class - a complimentary upgrade.
O voo foi curto e pela primeira vez aterrei em Madrid/Barajas. Lembro-me de fazer frio e apesar de estar desfardado acabei por vestir o pullover da farda visto ser uma peça de vestuário absolutamente normal e discreta.
The flight was short and for the first time I landed in Madrid/Barajas. I recall it was a cold night and despite being using my own clothes, I had to wear the uniform's pullover to face the low temperatures.
A tripulação dividiu-se em dois taxis e ficámos no hotel Auditorium bem perto de Barajas, um dos mais impressionantes em que fiquei hospedado. Descemos todos para o lobby do hotel onde estivémos a conversar até tarde ao mesmo tempo que matávamos a fome com Club Sandwiches.
Noite bem descansada no quarto e o dia seguinte foi passado a ver televisão e o tráfego do aeroporto de Barajas em aproximação através da janela do quarto. Infelizmente o centro da cidade ficava longe e o taxi ficaria bastante caro como demonstrado no curto percurso aeroporto/hotel, suportado pela companhia. Precisávamos também de estar descansados para o longo voo transatlântico que descolaria apenas à noite.
The crew was split in two taxis and we stayed in the Auditorium hotel, near the airport. I remember I was quite impressed with this hotel. After leaving our baggage in the rooms we went down to the lobby to eat something and to chat until late.
I had a good sleep that night and I spent the following day watching TV and spotting the air traffic in Barajas through my room's window. Unfortunately, it was not that easy going to the center of Madrid and we needed to be physically prepared for the long transatlantic flight which would take place during the night.
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| Tráfego em Madrid: A310 da Air Comet Air Comet's A310 on final approach |
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| Auditorium / vista do quarto | room's view |
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| A340-600 / Iberia |
I found that it was possible to see our aircraft CS-TMP, parked at the airport, from our hotel!
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| CS-TMP @ Barajas |
O embarque do voo LUZ502, com destino final Buenos Aires, seria o mais complicado que já tive. Estávamos a substituir um Airbus A340 da companhia que nos fretou devido a uma greve de tripulantes e os passageiros de Executiva não gostaram do facto de não terem disponíveis as amenities pelas quais pagaram.
The boarding of our LUZ502 flight bound to Buenos Aires (Recife was just a refueling stop) was one of the most demanding I ever had. We were replacing an Airbus A340 because the crew members of the original airline were on strike and some Business Class passengers didn't like the fact that they didn't have the amenities they paid for.
No início rejeitaram o avião esperando outra alternativa que obviamente não existia a não ser ficarem em Madrid. Primeiro todos queriam sair, depois já só saíam alguns que tentavam a todo o custo demover os que queriam ficar para terem mais força numa possível negociação com a companhia fretadora. Nesta confusão entre saír e ficar, o tempo foi ficando curto para a descolagem pois o aeroporto de MAD encerra às 23h.
Initially those passengers completely rejected our airplane, waiting for another solution that obviously didn't exist beside cancelling the flight. First, everyone wanted to go out; then, without any alternative solution, just a few wanted to resist and tried to convince the others to also refuse in order to have a stronger position. With all this confusion between those who wanted to stay and those who wanted to leave the aircraft, we were running out of time for our departure because that part of the airport where we were parked would close at 11 pm.
Após o Cmdte ter dito pelo PA que o aeroporto estava fechado, tinha a económica toda de pé e de bagagem na mão a gritar em coro "QUEREMOS SALIR" tendo eu assumido erradamente que queriam sair do avião. Com a cabine num caos absoluto e nós tripulantes perdidos sem saber o que dizer, apesar de várias vezes me ter deslocado à executiva para inteirar-me do que se estava a passar, não tive dúvidas que o voo seria cancelado apesar do Cmdte ter anunciado também que estava a tentar uma autorização especial de descolagem. Pouco depois é que me apercebi que o "queremos salir" significava "Queremos salir para Buenos Aires" estando instalada uma verdadeira batalha Económica vs. Executiva pois foi impossível esconder que eram os passageiros desta última que estavam a empandeirar o voo.
After the Captain announced that the airport had closed and he was trying to get a special permit to go on with the flight, suddenly we had all economy passengers yellowing together "QUEREMOS SALIR". Me and other colleague assumed that it meant they wanted to get out of the airplane. With all that chaos installed I went several times to the front of the airplane to get more accurate news and to have something to tell to the passengers. It was only some time later that we all realized that those words "queremos salir" meant after all that economy class passengers wanted to close doors and proceed to Buenos Aires. So we had a real battle between Business and Economy class passengers with different feelings about whether to cancel the flight or not.
No meio de toda aquela confusão e com passageiros sem perceber ao certo o que se estava a passar, claro que havia uns que ainda tentaram sair a correr do avião com a bagagem de mão atrás. Tentei evitar a todo o custo que desembarcassem pois isso significaria procurar a bagagem de porão e retirá-la também do avião fazendo atrasar ainda mais uma partida que já estava dependente de uma autorização especial.
In the middle of all that big confusion and with passengers disoriented about what was going on, there were some that tried to escape and give up the flight taking with them their hand luggage through the aisles. I tried to avoid it the most I could, convincing them to stay. We were already dependent on a special permit and losing time searching in the holds for their checked baggage would not improve our scenario.
Havia em particular, um brasileiro que algumas colegas depois durante o voo me garantiam ser um actor pornográfico (!) que estava assustado e com medo de voar e que tentou desembarcar duas vezes. Tentei sempre acalmá-lo e até lhe disse que aquele avião já tinha sido da TAP o que acabou por ser pior emenda que o soneto já que o passageiro confessou ter tido sempre experiências traumatizantes com a TAP. Mas com muita tranquilidade lá consegui convencê-lo a ficar.
In particular, there was one Brazilian passenger that some colleagues recognized him as a porn model (!) that was terribly scared with all that situation and tried to disembark for at least two times. I tried to calm him down saying that our aircraft was part of TAP's fleet in the past. That was a big mistake because he said he had awful experiences with TAP. But with the right words, I finally convinced him to stay.
Quando o Cmdte conseguiu autorização de descolagem e os pax de executiva decidiram finalmente prosseguir todos no voo - já com a garantia de um elemento da companhia fretadora que foi ter à última hora ao nosso avião fazer um comunicado via P.A. explicando a situação que se estava a passar e que os passageiros seriam posteriormente recompensados - lá saímos com toda a gente a bordo. E foi impressionante ver como uma cabine num estado caótico ficou toda arrumadinha com a bagagem acondicionada nas bagageiras e passageiros sentados em menos de três minutos! (ufff... tanta confusão para nada!)
When the Captain got its special permit to start the flight, the Business Class passengers finally agreed to accept our airplane and proceed in that flight. Previously, one representative of the airline to which we were flying for, explained the situation through our PA system, saying that they would compensate the disappointed passengers later.
It was impressive see an entire cabin, that was in a complete chaos, to get ready for push-back in less than three minutes. Every hand luggage was placed again in the overhead compartments and passengers quickly occupied their seats in order to comply with our new slot. (ufff... such a confusion for nothing!)
Deixo aqui a versão de uma passageira que esteve nesse mesmo voo:
Here is the description of this "rise-up" seen by a passenger of that flight (Spanish only):
Mujeres al límit: Aerolíneas Argentinas
The boarding of our LUZ502 flight bound to Buenos Aires (Recife was just a refueling stop) was one of the most demanding I ever had. We were replacing an Airbus A340 because the crew members of the original airline were on strike and some Business Class passengers didn't like the fact that they didn't have the amenities they paid for.
No início rejeitaram o avião esperando outra alternativa que obviamente não existia a não ser ficarem em Madrid. Primeiro todos queriam sair, depois já só saíam alguns que tentavam a todo o custo demover os que queriam ficar para terem mais força numa possível negociação com a companhia fretadora. Nesta confusão entre saír e ficar, o tempo foi ficando curto para a descolagem pois o aeroporto de MAD encerra às 23h.
Initially those passengers completely rejected our airplane, waiting for another solution that obviously didn't exist beside cancelling the flight. First, everyone wanted to go out; then, without any alternative solution, just a few wanted to resist and tried to convince the others to also refuse in order to have a stronger position. With all this confusion between those who wanted to stay and those who wanted to leave the aircraft, we were running out of time for our departure because that part of the airport where we were parked would close at 11 pm.
Após o Cmdte ter dito pelo PA que o aeroporto estava fechado, tinha a económica toda de pé e de bagagem na mão a gritar em coro "QUEREMOS SALIR" tendo eu assumido erradamente que queriam sair do avião. Com a cabine num caos absoluto e nós tripulantes perdidos sem saber o que dizer, apesar de várias vezes me ter deslocado à executiva para inteirar-me do que se estava a passar, não tive dúvidas que o voo seria cancelado apesar do Cmdte ter anunciado também que estava a tentar uma autorização especial de descolagem. Pouco depois é que me apercebi que o "queremos salir" significava "Queremos salir para Buenos Aires" estando instalada uma verdadeira batalha Económica vs. Executiva pois foi impossível esconder que eram os passageiros desta última que estavam a empandeirar o voo.
After the Captain announced that the airport had closed and he was trying to get a special permit to go on with the flight, suddenly we had all economy passengers yellowing together "QUEREMOS SALIR". Me and other colleague assumed that it meant they wanted to get out of the airplane. With all that chaos installed I went several times to the front of the airplane to get more accurate news and to have something to tell to the passengers. It was only some time later that we all realized that those words "queremos salir" meant after all that economy class passengers wanted to close doors and proceed to Buenos Aires. So we had a real battle between Business and Economy class passengers with different feelings about whether to cancel the flight or not.
No meio de toda aquela confusão e com passageiros sem perceber ao certo o que se estava a passar, claro que havia uns que ainda tentaram sair a correr do avião com a bagagem de mão atrás. Tentei evitar a todo o custo que desembarcassem pois isso significaria procurar a bagagem de porão e retirá-la também do avião fazendo atrasar ainda mais uma partida que já estava dependente de uma autorização especial.
In the middle of all that big confusion and with passengers disoriented about what was going on, there were some that tried to escape and give up the flight taking with them their hand luggage through the aisles. I tried to avoid it the most I could, convincing them to stay. We were already dependent on a special permit and losing time searching in the holds for their checked baggage would not improve our scenario.
Havia em particular, um brasileiro que algumas colegas depois durante o voo me garantiam ser um actor pornográfico (!) que estava assustado e com medo de voar e que tentou desembarcar duas vezes. Tentei sempre acalmá-lo e até lhe disse que aquele avião já tinha sido da TAP o que acabou por ser pior emenda que o soneto já que o passageiro confessou ter tido sempre experiências traumatizantes com a TAP. Mas com muita tranquilidade lá consegui convencê-lo a ficar.
In particular, there was one Brazilian passenger that some colleagues recognized him as a porn model (!) that was terribly scared with all that situation and tried to disembark for at least two times. I tried to calm him down saying that our aircraft was part of TAP's fleet in the past. That was a big mistake because he said he had awful experiences with TAP. But with the right words, I finally convinced him to stay.
Quando o Cmdte conseguiu autorização de descolagem e os pax de executiva decidiram finalmente prosseguir todos no voo - já com a garantia de um elemento da companhia fretadora que foi ter à última hora ao nosso avião fazer um comunicado via P.A. explicando a situação que se estava a passar e que os passageiros seriam posteriormente recompensados - lá saímos com toda a gente a bordo. E foi impressionante ver como uma cabine num estado caótico ficou toda arrumadinha com a bagagem acondicionada nas bagageiras e passageiros sentados em menos de três minutos! (ufff... tanta confusão para nada!)
When the Captain got its special permit to start the flight, the Business Class passengers finally agreed to accept our airplane and proceed in that flight. Previously, one representative of the airline to which we were flying for, explained the situation through our PA system, saying that they would compensate the disappointed passengers later.
It was impressive see an entire cabin, that was in a complete chaos, to get ready for push-back in less than three minutes. Every hand luggage was placed again in the overhead compartments and passengers quickly occupied their seats in order to comply with our new slot. (ufff... such a confusion for nothing!)
Deixo aqui a versão de uma passageira que esteve nesse mesmo voo:
Here is the description of this "rise-up" seen by a passenger of that flight (Spanish only):
Mujeres al límit: Aerolíneas Argentinas
O Google permite estes achados curiosos!
It's amazing the things we can find with Google!
Ironicamente acabou por ser um voo muito calmo e com os passageiros tranquilos a quererem dormir. Ainda bem que foi um voo nocturno, exactamente por essa razão. Sou daqueles que prefere claramente voar à noite seja como tripulante ou como passageiro. Fui apenas interrompido por um passageiro que escrevia uma reclamação e que me pedia mais folhas. Ingenuamente, fui buscar o nosso livro de reclamações mas assim que o passageiro viu o logótipo da companhia recusou-o de imediato "Não, não! Não é com vocês que eu quero reclamar, vocês não têm culpa nenhuma do que se passou". Como foi reconfortante constatar que ainda há quem saiba fazer uma análise correcta da situação em vez de disparar irracionalmente contra tudo e contra todos... Pediu ainda um whisky que foi prontamente servido com um extra de simpatia da minha parte.
Ironically, it was a very calm flight with many passengers just wanting to sleep. Being this a night flight helped us a lot! Passengers were absolutely tired with all their wait and with what happened before take-off. It is also my preference to have night flights. I was only interrupted once by a passenger that was writing a complaint and wanted more paper sheets. It is a ridiculous thing but we usually don't have clean paper sheets on board so I gave him our own "Complaints Book" which he immediately refused: "No, no! It's not about you that I want to complain! You're just doing your job and you're not responsible for what happened". It's always nice when you find someone that does a correct judgement of the situation instead of "shooting" against everyone. He finally asked if he could get a glass of whisky, which I was happy to serve him.
À chegada a Recife - escala técnica para reabastecimento - desembarcou apenas a tripulação que seria rendida por outra tripulação nossa que estava já em REC para pegar no avião e fazer REC-EZE-REC. Nós ficaríamos a descansar em Recife até que os colegas regressassem de Buenos Aires para voltarmos a ficar com o avião, desta feita num voo de posição até Lisboa.
When we arrived at Recife (just a refueling stop for the passengers) - our crew disembarked and we were replaced by another crew that was already at Recife and would fly these two legs in a row: REC-EZE and EZE-REC. We stayed in Recife just until they returned from Buenos Aires, and we would fly back to Lisbon in a position flight.
Só tivémos direito a descanso mínimo, pelo que, sem tempo para mais, fui basicamente dormir a Recife! Algumas vistas do quarto.
Our stay was calculated to comply with the minimum legal rest period so I just had time to have breakfast and sleep... Some room views:
When our colleagues arrived from Buenos Aires, it was their turn to rest in Recife and we took the aircraft empty to Lisbon. At Recife Airport we met a TAP crew that was getting ready for their scheduled REC-LIS flight. TAP's A310 was parked just side by side on our left. They took off well ahead of us.
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| A310 CS-TEJ da TAP ao nosso lado
TAP's A310 tail nr CS-TEJ |
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| Rolls-Royce #3 |
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| TPS de REC
Recife Passenger Terminal |
One hour later it was our turn to head towards Lisbon on an absolutely smooth flight with the airplane just for us and with the ability of preparing our own coffee without being interrupted by any passenger request!
Deixo aqui um vídeo da descolagem nocturna em REC que vale mais pelo bonito cantar dos Rolls Royce do que pela qualidade de imagem.
I'm showing next a night take-off video in Recife that is more worth for the beautiful whining of the Rolls-Royce engines than for the image quality.
During our cruise we overtook one or TAP aircraft as usual in what would be my last flight before "boarding" the Hajj experience.
10 October 2008
Um fim de semana em Nova Iorque - Parte II
Weekend in New York - Part II
Outubro | October 2006
Antes de mais, o título desta segunda parte podia ser também "You have to be Roman Catholic to get to Heaven". Mas para não ter a NYPD à perna decidi manter o anterior!
The title for this second part could have been "You have to Roman Catholic to get to Heaven". But to avoid problems with NYPD, I decided to keep the previous one!
Outubro | October 2006
The title for this second part could have been "You have to Roman Catholic to get to Heaven". But to avoid problems with NYPD, I decided to keep the previous one!
-o0o-
Domingo | Sunday
Domingo | Sunday
A manhã começou a estrear o novo equipamento fotográfico à luz do dia, a partir do local onde estávamos alojados.
The morning started checking the new photography equipment at daylight, from the place we were hosted.
The morning started checking the new photography equipment at daylight, from the place we were hosted.
Em destaque, o Empire State Building, o antigo edifício da Pan Am (agora com títulos MetLife) e o Chrysler.
Three highlights in the same photo: the Empire State, the MetLife Building (previously, Pan Am Building) and the iconic Chrysler.
Three highlights in the same photo: the Empire State, the MetLife Building (previously, Pan Am Building) and the iconic Chrysler.
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| World Financial Center |
After that we walked towards Exchange Place hoping to find a good view of the Statue of Liberty. Halfway and perpendicular to the Ground Zero we found this memorial. I believe that the twisted steel bars were from the Twin Towers.
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| WTC memorial (?) |
Mesmo em Jersey City, muitos prédios são construídos em altura.
Even in Jersey City, the buildings grow vertically.
E o melhor que conseguimos ver da Estátua da Liberdade a partir de Jersey City.
And this was our best view of Lady Liberty, seen from Jersey City.
Apanhámos então o serviço PATH até à estação do WTC. Sinceramente, não estava nada à espera de "desembarcar" mesmo no meio do Ground Zero. É de certa forma arrepiante de repente vermo-nos no local onde tudo se passou. A estação do PATH no WTC foi reconstruída de forma provisória.
Then we took the PATH service to the World Trade Center station. I didn't expect to disembark right in the middle of Ground Zero. You get a shiver down your spine when you suddenly realize you are in the place where everything happened. This World Trade Center PATH station is provisional.
Then we took the PATH service to the World Trade Center station. I didn't expect to disembark right in the middle of Ground Zero. You get a shiver down your spine when you suddenly realize you are in the place where everything happened. This World Trade Center PATH station is provisional.
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| World Trade Center PATH station |
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| Ground Zero |
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| À direita o novo WTC7 então inaugurado há pouco tempo At the right, the new WTC7 recently inaugurated |
After Ground Zero we walked to the Brooklyn Bridge. Some of the views...
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| Brooklyn Bridge |
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| Lower Manhattan vista da Brooklyn Bridge Lower Manhattan seen from Brooklyn Bridge |
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| ESB igualmente visto a partir da Brooklyn Bridge Empire State also seen from Brooklyn Bridge |
We used the subway to go up in Mahattan Island. Our next goal was to visit the aircraft carrier Intrepid.
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| Reuters |
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| Intrepid |
Infelizmente o Intrepid estava fechado para remodelações... Almoço e caminhada em direcção ao Rockefeller Center.
Unfortunately, Intrepid was closed for renovation... Time for lunch and after that, we walked towards Rockefeller Center.
Halfway our walk, an opportunity for a curious photo - this is New York!!
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| You have to be Roman Catholic to get to Heaven A NYPD é que não parece muito convencida! NYPD officer doesn't seem too conviced! |
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| O buliço da cidade cosmopolita The bustle of the cosmopolitan city |
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| Yellow cab! |
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| Ao fundo, o Chrysler The beautiful Chrysler |
Ao Domingo, uma feira em plena 6th Ave cortada ao trânsito para o efeito!
A street fair in 6th Ave - no traffic allowed today!
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Semáforo e a sinalética para peões referida no post anterior
Traffic light as described in the previous post
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And finally we reached the impressive Rockefeller Center.
Terminámos o nosso passeio por Nova Iorque tomando café num típico Starbucks onde encontrámos, como em muitos outros lugares, uma portuguesa residente que meteu conversa connosco!
We ended our weekend in New York drinking coffee in a Starbucks where we met (like almost everywhere) a Portuguese a fellow countrywoman that listened to us speaking in Portuguese and decided to talk to us too!
We ended our weekend in New York drinking coffee in a Starbucks where we met (like almost everywhere) a Portuguese a fellow countrywoman that listened to us speaking in Portuguese and decided to talk to us too!
Já pressionados pelo tempo regressámos ao nosso hotel para seguirmos de imediato para o aeroporto de Newark.
Already short on time we returned to our hotel to take our things and go straight to the airport.
Already short on time we returned to our hotel to take our things and go straight to the airport.
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| O nosso hotel | Candlewood Suites |
Although everything seemed under control, we made confusion with the PATH service and we spent several minutes waiting for a train that didn't work on Sundays.
Depois de conscientes do erro que estávamos a cometer, apanhámos o PATH até Journal Square e aí um taxi até ao aeroporto que nem ficou caro por sermos 3. Chegámos a EWR, já o balcão de check-in da TAP estava a fechar. Teria sido chato perder o avião embora com os nossos bilhetes ID não fosse catastrófico. Bastava mudar a reserva de refeição e tentávamos no dia seguinte sem mais problemas.
After we were aware of our mistake, we took the PATH to Journal Square and then a taxi that wasn't that expensive divided by three. When we arrived at EWR, the check-in counter was already closing. It would be bothersome to miss that flight but our staff tickets allowed us to take the next flight without any penalty (but always subject to seat availability).
Mas tudo correu bem. Avião longe de estar cheio e ainda foi possível pedir dois lugares à janela mesmo que implicasse ficarmos separados, mas a fuselagem em conjunto com uma almofada é boa para encostar a cabeça e domir! Passámos as formalidades e quando chegámos à sala de embarque estava lá sentada a nossa tripulação. O A310 partiu atrasado de Lisboa e ainda estavam em limpezas.
But everything just went fine and we made it. The aircraft was far from full and it was even possible to ask for two window seats so at least two of us could lean our heads and have a comfortable rest during the flight. After the security control we went to the boarding gate where we learned that our flight was a little bit delayed. The A310 departed late from Lisbon and the cleaning staff was still inside doing their job while the cabin crew was also waiting seated near the boarding gate.
-o0o-
TP106 EWR-LIS
Our return flight would be flown with the Airbus A310-300 with registration CS-TEJ and under Captain Melo Correia's command, as announced via PA.
Calhou-me o 8J, na primeira cabine de económica, mesmo ao lado do potente e impressionante General Electric CF6 da asa direita do Airbus A310. Se o voo tivesse sido de dia, teria preferido um lugar atrás da asa, para observar o movimento dos flaps e ailerons como aconteceu no A330. A última vez que voei em A310 foi em 2000 mas continua a ser seguramente o modelo de avião no qual tenho mais horas voadas como passageiro e é sempre um avião simpático, compacto e com uma cabine acolhedora.
I got seat 8J in the first cabin of the economy class, side by side with the powerful and impressive General Electric CF6 engine under the right wing. If it was a day flight, I would have preferred a seat behind the wing to observe the flaps and ailerons' movement like it happened on the previous flight. The last time I flew an A310 was in 2000 but almost for sure it remains the model in which I collected more flying hours as a passenger. I find the A310 a nice and compact airplane with a cozy cabin.
Push-back was unusually lengthy. Engines were both started and our A310 proceeded to the taxiway. After some minutes stopped on the taxiway, the Captain decides do address the passengers, a welcome speech to inform that we were number seven in sequence for take-off which would take place in about 10 minutes. He also informed that after take-off, Manhattan Island would show up on our left.
Descolámos finalmente na pista 22R com uma corrida bastante curta, a demonstrar a força do A310. Volta pela direita que me permitiu ver também do meu lugar a ilha de Manhattan e distinguir claramente o Empire State Building e o Chrysler. A subida não foi contínua (provavelmente devido a tráfego ou à própria SID) pois estivémos algum tempo a sobrevoar a uma altitude relativamente baixa e passámos próximos da vertical da uptown.
We took off from runway 22R, a very short roll showing the power of the A310. Then followed a right turn that allowed me to also see Manhattan Island from my seat even though I was on the right side. I could clear distinguish the Empire State and Chrysler silhouettes. Our climb was not continuous problably due to traffic or maybe because it was an SID restriction. We spent some minutes flying at a relatively low altitude and we passed very near to the vertical of the uptown.
Tal como no voo de ida, foi distribuida antecipadamente a ementa!
As in the outgoing flight, the menu was distributed to the passengers!
O lugar 8J tem um ligeiro inconveniente: o vacuum flush dos lavabos do A310 é bastante ruidoso e existe um lavabo mesmo atrás.
The movie for this flight was the animation "Over the Hedge". Even if I was tired and sleepy I tried to watch it but the distorted sound of the A310 audio system made me give up fast. I leaned my head on the window, closed my eyes and tried to sleep.
My seat 8J had a little inconvenience: the vaccum flush system of the toilet right behind me was really annoying.
Cruzeiro suave e sem grande turbulência. A meio do voo, enquanto abria e fechava os olhos ainda consegui ver luzes em algumas ilhas do arquipélago dos Açores. Volto a adormecer mais um bocado e acordo definitivamente perto do nascer do sol.
Smooth cruise without any relevant turbulence. Halfway the Atlantic I was able to spot lights on some islands of the Azores Archipelago. I fell asleep again and finally woke up just before the sunrise.
Descida para Lisboa abrupta com o avião a tomar uma atitude bastante negativa e com recurso, durante algum tempo, aos spoilers. Ao alcançarmos a costa portuguesa, sobrevoámos a Ericeira pelo que a aterragem seria na pista 21. Entrámos na "sopa" com chuva à escorrer pela janela. Contudo, sem grande turbulência na final. Aterragem perfeita: bastante suave! Os reversers foram apenas armados e lá fomos para o nosso stand numa das placas remotas.
Steep descent to Lisbon with a very negative attitude and making use of airbrakes during a considerable period of time. We reached the Portuguese Coast over Ericeira and we would be landing on runway 21. While descending we entered inside a thick cloud layer and I could notice water running over the windows - it was raining in Lisbon! However we didn't have turbulence during our final approach and we even experienced a very smooth touchdown. Idle reverse and then we proceeded to a remote parking position.
Um agradecimento especial aos amigos que me desafiaram para este fim-de-semana e que foram os autores das fotografias. Valeu bem a pena!
A special thanks goes to my friends (the authors of the photos) that defied me for such an amazing trip and weekend.
I promise to return soon to my reports with the Flying Sword: the L-1011 CS-TMP!
Um fim de semana em Nova Iorque - Parte I
Weekend in New York - Part I
Outubro | October 2006
Recupero e reescrevo um antigo report sobre a viagem que fiz a Nova Iorque há quase dois anos atrás.
This is the first part of a trip report to New York, a city that I visited almost two years ago.
Outubro | October 2006
This is the first part of a trip report to New York, a city that I visited almost two years ago.
The reason for this trip was a friend that wanted to buy an expensive digital camera that would be cheaper in New York. So three old friend got together and used their industry discount tickets to organize a different weekend that would be more than the simple act of buying a camera!
No meu caso, o bilhete de ida e volta já com taxas incluídas ficou-me por 128€. Como sempre somos os eternos 'penduras' com este tipo de bilhetes pois estamos sujeitos à disponibilidade de lugares. Contudo, as perspectivas para o voo de ida eram praticamente seguras com cerca de 70 lugares livres poucos dias antes da realização do voo. No regresso é que seria mais à justa. Mas aventura é aventura e quem não arrisca...
In my case, I paid €128 for the tickets. But for all of us, our boarding would be subject to seat availability. However, a few days before the departure there were around 70 free seats, enough clearance to guarantee our trip. For the return flight it was a different story but an adventure is always an adventure: no risk, no gain...
O plano de festas seria sair num voo ao início da tarde de uma sexta-feira (dia 13 de Outubro de 2006) e chegar a Lisboa segunda-feira bem cedo!
Our plan was to leave on a Friday afternoon (13th October 2006) and arrive back in Lisbon in the early morning of next Monday!
-o0o-
TP103 LIS-EWR
The check-in for the flight TP103 LIS-EWR, departing at 12:45, went without problems and we were immediately accepted on the flight. The aircraft would be the Airbus A330-200 with tail number CS-TOE and named "Pedro Álvares Cabral". This was the second of the type delivered to TAP in March of that year. I got the seat 35H in the middle of the last economy class cabin, on the right side of the plane. The cabin still had a Swissair configuration, that was already changed for a different Business/Economy Class ratio.
Descolámos da pista 03, volta pela direita e seguindo à vertical do rio Tejo prosseguimos em direcção ao Atlântico tendo o Air Show ficado disponível pouco após a descolagem, em cada um dos monitores individuais instalados nas costas das cadeiras. Estes aviões foram sem dúvida uma lufada de ar fresco na TAP em termos de conforto colocando tanto o A310 como o A340 a milhas!
We took off from runway 03, then right turn over river Tejo to proceed in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean as could be seen from the Air Show information on the individual TV screens. These new aircraft are really an improvement over the older A310s that they are replacing and even when compared to the A340s!
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| O meu lugar! My seat! |
Outro pormenor raro de se ver a nível de conforto era o botão de ajuste lombar da cadeira idêntico àquele como reclinamos a mesma.
Another uncommon detail in terms of comfort is a button to adjust lumbar support, similar to that one we use to recline the seat.
Durante o voo, o sistema de entretenimento permite escolher o visionamento de um de vários filmes a passarem ao mesmo tempo. Optei por ver o filme "The Good Girl" com a Jennifer Aniston mas sem dúvida que o melhor entretenimento a bordo é ter dois grandes compinchas a bordo com quem falar!
During the flight, the entertainment system allows runs at the same time a selection of different movies. I opted for "The Good Girl" starring Jennifer Aniston but the best entertainment one can have is two great buddies to talk with!
O serviço de refeição foi antecipado através deste menu, tendo eu optado pela primeira hipótese de escolha.
A preview of the meal options was given by this menu. I chose the first one.
E já na aproximação final.
Another uncommon detail in terms of comfort is a button to adjust lumbar support, similar to that one we use to recline the seat.
Durante o voo, o sistema de entretenimento permite escolher o visionamento de um de vários filmes a passarem ao mesmo tempo. Optei por ver o filme "The Good Girl" com a Jennifer Aniston mas sem dúvida que o melhor entretenimento a bordo é ter dois grandes compinchas a bordo com quem falar!
During the flight, the entertainment system allows runs at the same time a selection of different movies. I opted for "The Good Girl" starring Jennifer Aniston but the best entertainment one can have is two great buddies to talk with!
O serviço de refeição foi antecipado através deste menu, tendo eu optado pela primeira hipótese de escolha.
A preview of the meal options was given by this menu. I chose the first one.
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| Menu |
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| Exactamente a meio do Atlântico! Halfway over the Atlantic! |
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| Air Show com a informação de voo Air Show with flight information |
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| Winglet |
E finalmente avistámos a costa leste!
E finally we caught sight of the US east coast!
Devido ao tráfego no aeroporto de EWR, fizémos uma descida aos S's demorando o percurso uns 30 minutos extra.
Due to air traffic congestion at Newark, we approached the airport making S-turns in a path that took more 30 minutes than the expected flight time.E finally we caught sight of the US east coast!
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| Em volta, num dos contornos dos S's During one of those S-turns |
And already on our final approach.
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| Flaps full |
Finalmente, aterrámos na pista 22L de EWR. O movimento em EWR é de facto considerável e assim que livrámos a nossa pista ficámos ainda uns bons minutos no meio entre a 22L e a 22R à espera que o tráfego (maioritariamente Continental) descolasse nessa última pista para a podermos atravessar em direcção ao terminal.
Finally, we landed on runway 22L at EWR. The aircraft traffic at EWR is really impressive and after vacating the runway we had to hold several minutes in a taxiway crossing both 22L and 22R (between the runways) waiting for the departing traffic (mainly Continental aircraft) until we could proceed to the terminal.
Após o desembarque, um novo mundo para mim. Um aeroporto bem iluminado e com ar muito clean. Passámos a alfândega sem grandes problemas e finalmente estávamos nos EUA para uma aventura de fim de semana. Apanhámos um autocarro à saída do terminal B até à Penn station do serviço PATH. A tarifa do autocarro era $1.25 e atenção "no change" o que para quem só levava notas, só o facto de sermos 3 minimizou o "prejuízo".
After disembark, a whole new world was waiting for me. I found the airport well illuminated and with a clean look. We passed the passport and customs control without any problems and finally we were in the USA for a great weekend adventure. We took a bus outside the terminal B until Newark Penn Station. The bus fare was $1.25 and there was a "no change" warning. We only had bills but the fact that we were three together minimized the "loss".
Da Penn Station fomos até Hoboken onde julgávamos ficar o nosso hotel "Candlewood Suites". Afinal tivémos de ir até "Pavonia / Newport" embora "Exchange Place" também ficasse perto. O serviço PATH cobra $1.50 por viagem e sem dúvida o melhor é carregar um METROCARD.
Finally, we landed on runway 22L at EWR. The aircraft traffic at EWR is really impressive and after vacating the runway we had to hold several minutes in a taxiway crossing both 22L and 22R (between the runways) waiting for the departing traffic (mainly Continental aircraft) until we could proceed to the terminal.
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| Tráfego para descolagem em EWR Traffic waiting for departure/EWR |
-o0o-
Sexta-Feira | Friday
Sexta-Feira | Friday
After disembark, a whole new world was waiting for me. I found the airport well illuminated and with a clean look. We passed the passport and customs control without any problems and finally we were in the USA for a great weekend adventure. We took a bus outside the terminal B until Newark Penn Station. The bus fare was $1.25 and there was a "no change" warning. We only had bills but the fact that we were three together minimized the "loss".
From Newark - Penn Station we used the PATH service to Hoboken, where we thought our Candlewood Suites hotel was nearby. After all, we were wrong and had to go to Pavonia/Newport although Exchange Place would serve as well. The PATH service costs $1,50 per trip and the best way to travel is to have a topped up METROCARD.
Sexta à noite fomos jantar a um McDonalds em Manhattan próximo da 33rd Street, e ainda deu para ver os Nova Iorquinos todos a saírem para a noite. Percorremos a Broadway e fomos ao Empire State Building comprar os bilhetes para o dia seguinte de forma a poupar tempo e cortar na fila que certamente iriamos ter pela frente.
Voltámos para o hotel já quase nos nossos limites.
Friday night we went to have dinner at a regular McDonalds restaurant in Manhattan, next to 33rd Street at the same time we could witness the New Yorkers getting ready to go out at night. We walked through Broadway and went to the Empire State building in order to buy the tickets for the next day so we could avoid the long waiting queues.
Then, we went back to our hotel very exhausted.
Por acaso, mais do que as torres gémeas, sempre tive um fascínio em vistar o ESB, fascínio esse induzido ainda na infância por via de um antigo livro que me tinha sido dado com o título "Ver por dentro - Viagem ao interior das coisas"
I've always been fascinated by the ESB since my childhood, when I got the book "Incredible Cross-Sections" of Stephen Biesty.
A subida ao topo do ESB é faseada sendo necessário mudar de elevadores. Estrategicamente, planeámos a nossa subida por forma a coincidir com o pôr do sol. Após 45 minutos de espera na fila, subimos em primeiro lugar ao 86º andar com um observatório a céu aberto onde se fazia sentir um vento forte. Até ao 86º andar são $16 e para o 102º são mais $14. O elevador até ao 86º andar é expresso e bastante rápido. Demorámos à volta de 40 segundos a subir e sentem-se as diferenças de pressão a atacarem nos ouvidos. Li posteriormente que atingem uma razão de subida na ordem dos 1000 ft/min.
Ascending to the very top of the ESB implies changing of elevators once. We planned to do it right before the sunset. After 45 minutes in the queue we climbed to the 86th floor with an open air observation deck where we could feel a strong wind blowing. The price to go to the 86th floor was $16 and we had to pay an extra $14 to go to the the 102nd in the spire. The elevator that takes us to the 86th floor is an express one and we can clearly feel the changing pressure in the middle ears. Later I read that it has a rate of climb of approximately 1000 ft/min.
E é hora de subir ao 102º no pináculo do ESB. De assinalar o excelente humor do operador deste segundo elevador que já devia levar uns bons anitos naquilo.
So it's time to go to the 102nd floor in the spire of the ESB. I shall make a reference to the very good mood the ancient operator of this second elevator, a man that probably has many years in this job.
Com o sol já posto e o vidro a proteger ficou dificultada a tarefa de fotografar o momento. De qualquer forma fica aqui uma imagem possível!
Now, already after the sunset and since this observatory is not open, it was hard to take decent photos without avoiding the reflections on the glasses. But we tried our best!
E já no fim da visita, como curiosidade, uma caixa de ar (?) no interior do arranha-céus.
In the end of the visit I noticed this huge air box inside the skyscraper. I wonder how deep that box is...
E este sábado terminou com esta fotografia em New Jersey junto ao local onde se situava o nosso hotel, na marina de Newport e já com o novo equipamento fotográfico.
And our great Saturday ended with this beautiful view from Jersey City, in the Newport Marina, next to our hotel, a photo already taken with the new camera - the main goal of our trip, remember?
Sexta à noite fomos jantar a um McDonalds em Manhattan próximo da 33rd Street, e ainda deu para ver os Nova Iorquinos todos a saírem para a noite. Percorremos a Broadway e fomos ao Empire State Building comprar os bilhetes para o dia seguinte de forma a poupar tempo e cortar na fila que certamente iriamos ter pela frente.
Voltámos para o hotel já quase nos nossos limites.
Friday night we went to have dinner at a regular McDonalds restaurant in Manhattan, next to 33rd Street at the same time we could witness the New Yorkers getting ready to go out at night. We walked through Broadway and went to the Empire State building in order to buy the tickets for the next day so we could avoid the long waiting queues.
Then, we went back to our hotel very exhausted.
Primeiras impressões de Nova Iorque: gente "estranha" com noções de estética e moda completamente diferentes da nossa, carros enormes, muitos taxis amarelos. Os corpos danone europeus são claramente substituídos por corpos McDonalds :) E muitas bandeiras pelas ruas e edifícios a promover o sentimento patriótico americano.
Os semáforos para peões são peculiares. Em Jersey City a sinalética é através de "WALK" e "DON'T WALK" (e acho que em alguns cheguei a ver também "EXPEDITE WALK"). Em Nova Iorque / Manhattan é diferente: temos um peão branco para andar e uma palma da mão vermelha para parar que pisca quando o sinal está prestes a mudar.
First impressions of New York: weird people, strange (different?) fashion style, big cars and several yellow cabs. Instead of slim people, we see plenty of McDonalds bodies :) And many, many, many American flags everywhere! These guys really love their nation: land of the free, home of the brave.
The traffic lights for pedestrians are very different from what we are used to. In Jersey City, we have the "WALK/DON'T WALK" type and in New York/Manhattan we have a white pedestrian sign to walk and a red hand to stop. And the traffic light blinks when it's about to change.
No dia seguinte, de manhã cedo, acordámos com esta vista a partir do nosso hotel.
The next day, early in the morning, we woke up with this wonderful view from our hotel.
E lá metemos os pés ao caminho! Para chegar a Manhattan basta uma estação de metro com percurso em túnel debaixo do rio Hudson. Ficam então umas fotos de Sábado que teve como ponto alto a subida ao 102º andar do Empire State Building que já fica na spire do mesmo.
It was time to discover the big city! To reach Manhattan Island we are only one PATH station away, crossing river Hudson inside a tunnel built under it. Saturday had its highlight when we climbed to the very top of the Empire State Building - the 102nd floor which is located in the spire of the skyscraper. Some photos of this first day:
Os semáforos para peões são peculiares. Em Jersey City a sinalética é através de "WALK" e "DON'T WALK" (e acho que em alguns cheguei a ver também "EXPEDITE WALK"). Em Nova Iorque / Manhattan é diferente: temos um peão branco para andar e uma palma da mão vermelha para parar que pisca quando o sinal está prestes a mudar.
First impressions of New York: weird people, strange (different?) fashion style, big cars and several yellow cabs. Instead of slim people, we see plenty of McDonalds bodies :) And many, many, many American flags everywhere! These guys really love their nation: land of the free, home of the brave.
The traffic lights for pedestrians are very different from what we are used to. In Jersey City, we have the "WALK/DON'T WALK" type and in New York/Manhattan we have a white pedestrian sign to walk and a red hand to stop. And the traffic light blinks when it's about to change.
-o0o-
Sábado | Saturday
Sábado | Saturday
The next day, early in the morning, we woke up with this wonderful view from our hotel.
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| Estacionamento inteligente! Wise parking! |
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| Uma primeira visão à luz do dia do ESB Our first sight of ESB with daylight |
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| Macy's |
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| Times Square |
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| Subway ($2 cada viagem) com linhas umas por cima das outras Subway ($2 each trip) with tracks in different levels |
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| À americana! American way! |
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| Vertical city |
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| Empire State Building |
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| Na entrada do lobby comigo por detrás das plantas ESB entrance - I was captured behind the plants |
I've always been fascinated by the ESB since my childhood, when I got the book "Incredible Cross-Sections" of Stephen Biesty.
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| ESB - a auto-proclamada 8ª maravilha do mundo! ESB lobby - the Eighth Wonder of the World? |
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| ESB's facade |
Ascending to the very top of the ESB implies changing of elevators once. We planned to do it right before the sunset. After 45 minutes in the queue we climbed to the 86th floor with an open air observation deck where we could feel a strong wind blowing. The price to go to the 86th floor was $16 and we had to pay an extra $14 to go to the the 102nd in the spire. The elevator that takes us to the 86th floor is an express one and we can clearly feel the changing pressure in the middle ears. Later I read that it has a rate of climb of approximately 1000 ft/min.
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| Vista do observatório principal - 86º andar Main observation deck's view - 86th floor |
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| East River |
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| Lower Manhattan at dusk |
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| Flatiron Building |
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| Vista em direcção a Uptown e Central Park (o pulmão da cidade) View towards the Uptown and Central Park (the lung of NYC) |
O edifício Chrysler, visto do ESB, com a sua cúpula de aço iluminada. Foi construído um ano antes do ESB e era na altura o maior arranha céus... Tão pequeno que parece, visto do ESB...
The awesome Chrysler Building, seen from the ESB, with its stainless steel crown illuminated. Chrysler Building was completed one year before the ESB and during that period it was the tallest building in yhe world... Seen from the main observation deck of the ESB, it looks rather small...
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| Elevador que transporta visitantes até ao 102º andar The elevator takes visitors up to the 102nd floor |
So it's time to go to the 102nd floor in the spire of the ESB. I shall make a reference to the very good mood the ancient operator of this second elevator, a man that probably has many years in this job.
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| 102 - been there! |
Now, already after the sunset and since this observatory is not open, it was hard to take decent photos without avoiding the reflections on the glasses. But we tried our best!
In the end of the visit I noticed this huge air box inside the skyscraper. I wonder how deep that box is...
And our great Saturday ended with this beautiful view from Jersey City, in the Newport Marina, next to our hotel, a photo already taken with the new camera - the main goal of our trip, remember?
A segunda parte desta viagem segue dentro de momentos!
The second part of this trip will be available within a few minutes!
The second part of this trip will be available within a few minutes!