Beach of Beaches

Miami Beach, 13th street Beach, March 8th, BDI: 10. Of all the gay beaches in the world this is the best in my opinion.

10!

Miami Beach, March 8, Beach Day Index: 10. I am back on the beach in Miami Beach. It is a gorgeous South florida Day. The light is unbelievable. Your have to experience it, it is unlike any other place where I have been. I have left the airport, took a cab to my priceline hotel (the Hilton Downtown), dropped my stuff, took the bus from Omni Mall to South Beach, got out around 13th street and Alton and walked to the beach. I am so excited, I cant believe I am back. Despite the fact that I have not been here in so many years, it has not changed. Immediately I get the feeling back that I had when I got here the first time. I am so happy.

Morning flight to Miami

March 8, Toronto - Miami. I am flying back to Miami today. My flight leaves at 6:30 AM and I am so nervous that I can't sleep and get a limousine to the airport around 3 am. I have checked in on line but I am very nervous about the immigration into the USA. When they open at around 4 30 am, I am the first to complete immigration and walk into the terminal. I am so thrilled to be able to go back to the USA where I have live a good 6 years. It all started when I first came to Miami about 20 years ago. I fell in love with it and have been back hundreds of time. Miami has been such an influence in my life and my feeling for this city is so strong, it really has been hard not going here for so many years. I am like a little boy in my seat when we take off and make our way to Miami. It's just under three hours flying and although I have never flown from Toronto to Miami, the flight is similar to the flight from New York (which I have made so many times), when it approaches Florida and follows the coast line down to Miami. After landing it takes me less than 5 minutes to get into a taxi, and drive with open windows down to my hotel. I AM BACK!

Canada

Toronto, March 6. I Am back in North America. I have not been in about 5 years and I am over excited. This is my first time to Canada and as soon as I arrive I like it a lot. Despite it being freezing on the day of my arrival I really love to get out of my hotel and walk down town. I am here on an invitation to hold a speech at a book presentation. I have eft Amsterdam at 5 am in the morning flying through Frankfurt with Air Canada. I love Air Canada. The flight was smooth with so much space and so much to do. Canada Immigration was so easy. It took me less than 30 minutes to get from the plan to the Westin Hotel down town. On Friday Toronto feels like spring and my host takes me for a tour of the city. Friday night I am done by around 8 pm. I should have gone out but decide to return to my hotel.

Return

CIP

Istanbul - Ankara - Istanbul, February 28th. Today I am flying from Istanbul to Ankara for a meeting and back in the evening. I am flying Turkish Airlines, economy on the way out and business back. The flight is just 45 minutes but you get a decent sandwich on the way out, not bad. I dont know Ankara that well, the airport is beautiful, totally empty and very far away from the city. the city doesnt look that appealing and thats why I choose to return the same day. On my return flight I travel business which gets me to enjoy the fabulous C I P centre, which is located next to the main terminal, looks like a luxury hotel lobby and borders the platform. At time of boarding you are shuttles to the airplane after everyone else has boarded. Very chique. The lounge offers and abundance of food but no alcohol, whats up with that? My flight was empty in business class and they managed to serve a full meal and thankfully there was wine on board. This must be the cheapest way to fly business class in Europe at about 100 euro's for the one way, no restrictions.

Twice in one week

Amsterdam - Zurich - Istanbul, Februari 2009. It is the second time in one week that I am flying to Turkey for work. It could be done any other way. It feels like a deja-vu but I am enjoying it nevertheless. The business class of these flights is empty and I really enjoy the flight from Zurich to Istanbul having lunch, drinking champagne and looking out over the alps. It takes almost a full day to reach Istanbul this way, but I wouldnt want to do it any other way.