Ok, technically this is not a meteorite shower. It is an art installation called “Moving Mountains” by PNW artist Annette Bellamy. It is part of the special exhibition “the map is not the territory” in the Portland Art Museum. I took this indoor street photograph during last weekends visit to the museum that I used for some indoor street shooting.
But to me it looks like a meteorite shower. Or a snow- or hail shower. And this is exactly the kind of weather hitting many parts of the continental US today. Making for less than ideal travel conditions for my trip back to the Streets of Nuremberg.
I got up at 3am in the morning to pack my bags (went also to bed at 8pm to start my adjustment back to European time). Left my Portland Hotel at 4:45 for the twentyfive minute drive to PDX airport. Due to the winter weather in the Midwest the 7:10am United Flight to Chicago was delayed, but as the plane spent the night at PDX it was only a matter of getting ATC clearance. We ended up leaving at 8:25 for the 3 hour 30 minute flight to the Windy City, getting there 65 minutes late in snow, ice rain and low visibility.
A useful travel tip for ORD airport
When booking a connection through Chicago O’Hare I try to give me ample buffer time, which turned out to be a day saver. The remaining problem was that I didn’t realize that SWISS departs from Terminal 5 and not from the C concourse of Terminal 1 where the rest of the Start Alliance partners leave for Europe (note to self: it would be helpful checking the travel documentation once in a while).
Going to Terminal 5 would normally mean leaving the security area, taking the airport train to T5 and having to go once more through. But a very friendly United Lounge agent not only let me have a coffee in the T1 Polaris Lounge, but also pointed out a short-cut to T5, one that you don’t find if you follow the official signs. For that I had to walk from T1 through T2 and on to Gate G17 at the tip of T3. A relaxed 20 minute stroll. And from there, every 20 minutes leaves a shuttle bus that takes you directly into T5. Without having to go through security again, as you never leave the security area. This friendly hint really made my day – thanks United (I have to thank them also once in a while as I normally just bash them).
So now it is just a matter of waiting for my SWISS flight to Zurich to board. I should be back on the Streets of Nuremberg by tomorrow early afternoon.
Wish you a great Wednesday!
Marcus
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Glad you made it home and out of this horrid weather. That’s an interesting installation. Moving Mountains would not have been my first thought.
Thanks for stopping by, Amy, and thanks for your kind words! That was a great museum! A must go on a visit to Portland! Marcus
Indeed. I try to make my connections in Texas during the winter. But usually I just pay the extra for a nonstop flight whenever possible.
Thanks for commenting. Portland from Europe has only one direct flight, so when this is full I need to connect. Texas is a bit out of the way though 😉
I hope the rest of your trip went well…it’s always a gamble, traveling in winter. In January 2012, I flew from NYC, where I lived then, to Seattle to find an apartment. We planned to move on Feb. 1st and it was my job to find the apartment. It only took a few days to find one, and when it was time for my flight home, a snowstorm had buried the airport. I waited a day, then went to the airport but unfortunately that flight got cancelled too. What a mess SeaTac was! People trying to sleep all over the place. With a lot of work I found a hotel room and came back the next day. After a good de-icing the flight left and I got home, finally. I bet you have lots of similar stories. 🙂
Safely at home now, and on time 🙂 ! Thanks for sharing your Sea-Tac winter stories. Yes, there are plenty stories to tell as frequent flyer. Would write a book if there weren’t already a gazillion of it 😉
Love the photo Marcus! Chicago O’Hare is a beast of an airport, one I try to route around if possible!
So true 🙂