Recorded in the TravelCommons studios outside of Chicago on a rare full week in town after trips to Amsterdam and Kansas City. In this episode, an unusual flight delay makes us think about embracing the delay rather than fighting it, and snatching a couple hour vacation in Amsterdam allows us to explore some high and low culture. Listener comments include suggestions on easy-to-pack workout shoes and a question on how to make air travel greener. Here’s a direct link to the podcast file.

Here are the show notes from TravelCommons podcast #61:

• • Intro music — Warmth by Makkina
  • Recorded in the TravelCommons studios outside Chicago, IL
  • Talking about January travel means talking about the weather; everybody’s been clobbered by the weather this month
  • Bridge Music — Nu Love by The Bex

Following Up

• • Good response to last episode’s request for suggestions on compact gym shoes
  • Dan Grabon suggests racing flats
  • Steve Frick suggests flaming Converse Chuck Taylor high tops
  • Urgency around the question lessened this month when the UK DoT relaxed its restrictions and now allows 2 pieces of carry-on
  • Peter Rukavina asks what frequent travelers think about the environmental impact of their traveling
  • Virgin Atlantic, SAS, and Continental have announced carbon offset schemes
  • Some controversy about the efficacy of carbon offset schemes
  • UK government’s Stern Report says that aviation CO₂ emissions account for about 1.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions
  • Bridge Music — M4 (Part II) by Faunts

Zen of Delays

• • Listener pointed to a Conde Nast’s Portfolio.com article titled “What I Learned on the Road This Year — Traveling for business is a Zen practice: Keep your head down and take good notes”
  • Don’t know if it’s Zen, with its emphasis on mindful acceptance of the present moment, or ju jitsu, with its training on using your attacker’s energy against him – the sort of “bend like a willow, don’t break like the oak” thinking
  • This is, of course, completely antithetical to the concept of a “road warrior” – one who controls every aspect of their travel experience
  • My Amsterdam flight was delayed for 3 hours by a United baggage handler trying to take a shortcut underneath our 767
  • Beer makes the Zen thing a whole lot easier
  • Flowing around the evening’s obstacles I ended up in a more comfortable place
  • Bridge Music — Central Calm is by Skywards

Sneaking in a Vacation

• • Past T/C episodes — #16 and #34 — have talked about the importance to take advantage of travel to take a little time to yourself
  • Had a free afternoon in Amsterdam, so decided to walk around a bit
  • Focused on seeing just two things — Van Gogh Museum and the Red Light District
  • Thought about sampling the wares of one of the “coffee houses” but then thought better of it

Closing

• Closing music — iTunes link to Pictures of You by Evangeline
• Bridge music from IODA Promonet
• Feedback at comments@travelcommons.com, the comment board on podcastalley.com, or right here in the comments section below
• Direct link to the show