Portugália Airlines Embraer 145 II

Onboard Portugália Airlines, August 2014

The following photos were taken in August 2014, in my first scheduled month doing long-haul flights in the widebody fleet.

This was a dead head flight to Porto where I would rest for one night before flying to Rio de Janeiro. In the next photo I captured the Airbus A330-200 CS-TOG that would take me to Rio on the following day:

Airbus A330-200 CS-TOG

Next photos, short after take-off, with port side engine and then a view of Ota Air Base:

And yet another Air Base - Monte Real:

Overflying Figueira da Foz:

Speedbrakes deployed during our approach to Porto:

And finally my room view in Porto.

Visiting a new country: São Tomé e Príncipe

São Tomé, September 2023

On the very first month I returned to the narrow-body fleet (September 2023) I had the opportunity to go for the very first time to São Tomé. Although I was excited about it, it was only a short night stop so I couldn't explore much...

On my way back to Lisbon, one photo of my new flagship - the Airbus A321LR:

Airbus A321LR CS-TXG "Almada Negreiros"

My first time in Berlin

Berlin, September 2014

I'm particularly drawn to cities where one can breathe and feel history. Although most of it was destroyed during WWII, Berlin certainly falls in this category.

My first time visiting Berlin was in September 2014. It was a quick night stop and our delayed departure from Lisbon almost ruined my intentions to see most of the main landmarks/tourist sites. Since the hotel had bicycles available for free, I decided this was the best way to visit the city with such a short time available.

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Tiergarten

My first sighting was the Victory Column. This monument was originally located in the old Königsplatz (now Platz der Republik) near the Reichstag. In the late 1930s, the Nazis moved the column to its present location in the Tiergarten following Hitler's plans for the new Welthauptstadt Germania imagined by the architect and Nazi official Albert Speer. Ultimately, this relocation saved the monument from destruction during WWII since the Reichstag was an obvious target for bombing.

Second monument, also in the Tiergarten, the Soviet War Memorial built with marble taken from the rubble of the Reich Chancellery.

Bike lane across the Tiergarten towards the famous Brandenburg Tor.

Modern architecture seen in Galeries Lafayette:

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Checkpoint C

Another inevitable tourist site in Berlin, a symbol of the Cold War: a divided city in a divided country after WWII.

The city of Berlin is dominated by the Fernsehturm, a television tower built in the 1960s, on the East/Communist side.

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East Side Gallery

And my first visit to Berlin couldn't end without seeing the longest continuous section still standing of the old Berlin Wall, now transformed into an open-air art gallery.

After having dinner in a indian food restaurant it was time to return to the hotel. On my way back, I couldn't resist to stop for a night picture of the Brandenburg Tor and its beautiful quadriga sculpture.

A little spotting at Madeira Airport

Madeira Airport, February 2024

An unusual turnaround time of 1h20 and nice weather gives you the perfect opportunity for a little spotting.

It's always nice to see a Sunclass Airlines' aircraft. Sunclass is the new name for the old Thomas Cook Scandinavia. They managed to stay afloat after the Thomas Cook Group collapse in 2019.

It will always be my favourite layover

New York, January 2024

New York City... of course.

Central Park

Rockefeller Center - Atlas sculpture

The World's Oldest Brewery in Freising

Freising, January 2024

Again in Freising... this time in a more planned way and without a huge amount of snow.

I always find this old university town so charming, peaceful and fascinating that I don't feel compelled going to the Munich center at all.

Weather was a bit cold but I learned how to properly master low temperatures over the years. It snowed a little.

I decided to have lunch at the Weihenstephan Brewery - the oldest brewery in the world. The brewery is located on the site of the former monastery Weihenstephan Abbey.

I've been there before: first time many years ago during my first take in the medium haul and the last time recently during the blizzard in last December. I was in the mood for a beer and a schnitzel:

Most of the times I don't mind being alone, or together with myself. Particularly in winter time, I enjoy being inside a café or a diner for hours. Sipping on a cup of coffee or having a beer. Reading a book. Listening to my music. Watching the locals and their habits.

Oslo seen from above

Oslo, December 2023

Today it was just an ordinary turnaround flight to Oslo.

Oslo seen from A321 CS-TJK

In the photos below, Karl Johans Gate, the Royal Palace, the Vigeland Park and Aker Brygge can be seen:

And finally at Gardermoen Airport.

SAS A320neo

First time I visited Oslo was in 2013 during a couple of days off. I loved this city and definitely want to come back for another visit.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Regensdorf - Katzensee Lake

Regensdorf, September 2023

This was a very easy night stop in Zürich, last September: LIS-ZRH / ZRH-LIS. I was the only crew member staying in the hotel so I left the aircraft alone and went to the airport the next day all by myself.

View of the Alps

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Regensdorf

The weather was nice and sunny. I had already explored Regensdorf in the past although there's nothing much to do and see there. It's a nice layover if you just want/need to rest and don't want to spend a lot of money in transport going to Zurich. In the past, when there was a free shuttle from the hotel to the airport, I would spend my afternoons just watching airplanes from the observation deck B.

The only way out I know in Regensdorf is it's train station, but I wasn't in the mood to go to the city center.

Regensdorf train station

Some weeks earlier, while checking on a new hire's instagram who was in Regensdorf, my attention was drawn to a lake which seemed to be very close to where we stay.

It was really helpful that these days we have a well developed Google Maps app and cheap roaming data. Because without those things I would have probably gotten lost on my way to the lake! But I ventured into the bush with confidence and I was glad to finally find the Katzensee Lake.

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Zürich Airport

My flight back to Lisboa was flown on a A321LR, with registration CS-TXM. The aircraft named "Fernão Lopes" was doing its very first revenue service after being delivered brand new from Airbus a few weeks earlier. And in fact it smelled like a fresh new aircraft! It made me remember when I flew on CS-TNT when it was the most recent addition to our fleet, 14 years ago!

ZRH tarmac scene