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BREAKFAST IN COCONUT GROVE
My friend April picked me up at Arrivals, and took me to breakfast in Coconut Grove. That made my 6-hour layover in South Florida pass much more quickly. My time between flights was so long because my Miami-Brazil ticket was purchased by the Rio Convention and Visitors Bureau. I was responsible for my ticket to Florida. When I booked my flights I added an extra day, thinking I would spend it with my family in Delray Beach. So I made my return flight out of Fort Lauderdale, which is 24 miles closer to Delray. However, my TAM flight was changed to depart in the evening, rather than the early morning as originally scheduled. So I had to nix my family visit, or pay an expensive change fee. The fee was not worth it, because I had to be back in California for a travel conference. So after a very nice breakfast at the Green Street Café, I took the Tri-Rail for $3 to the Fort Lauderdale (FLL) airport. Tri-Rail serves Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach airports, plus local stops in between. The three airports provide free short shuttle rides to the terminals and train station. Green Street Café, 3468 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL; tel.: 305-444- 0244.

ANOTHER EMERGENCY LANDING
As my American Airlines Los Angeles-bound flight took off, I could not stop thinking about Gisele. A minute later the pilot got on the PA and said, "Well folks, it appears we ingested something on takeoff (I'm guessing a bird) and it's messing with the instruments. So we need to divert to Miami." He said it very calmly. I couldn't believe this was happening again. I had not had an emergency landing in my life until the week before -- and then I had two in the same week. What are the odds?! I was not too nervous this time around. I comforted my worried seatmates, and told them exactly what the process would be: We would make a few sharp turns; several fire trucks would greet us on landing; they would follow us to the gate. Then the captain would make an announcement that we would have to wait on the plane for about 15 minutes while headquarters decided what to do with the plane: fix it or get us a new one (most likely the latter). When it happened just like that, my new friends looked at me as if I was a deity. One asked jokingly, "Are you James Bond?" I said with a smile: "Not Bond. Jet -- Johnny Jet." Then I handed them my business card.

GROUNDHOG'S DAY
As soon as they let us off the plane I made a bee-line for Tri-Rail. I had no checked luggage, so it was easy to split. Riding Tri-Rail for the second time in the same day -- and the same direction -- made me feel like I was in the movie "Groundhog Day." With everything that had transpired in the past 15 hours, I wasn't sure if I was dreaming or not. I made it to Delray, and had fun visiting with my sister, niece, nephew, brother-in-law and brother (who was in town visiting). That was exactly what I wanted to do to begin with (minus the jet lag and emotional drain). On the train ride north I called American's 800 number to let them know I wasn't getting back on the plane. I told the understanding agent (who was based in the U.S., not some foreign city where agents have no pull) that after two emergency landings in a week I would be taking some time off from flying. I expected the agent to say, "Sorry, but your ticket will be canceled." Instead he apologized, changed my ticket for free -- and gave me a first-class seat on a flight two days later. When I checked my frequent flier account later, I noticed American also gave me 6,000 bonus miles for the first emergency landing and 5,000 for the second. I'm not sure why the first one was worth more -- maybe because it was a bit scarier (I'm joking!).

HOTEL MENAGE
I spent one night in my bed, then the next in Anaheim while attending a travel conference (see below). It was just 34 miles from my house, but I didn't want to go back and forth. So I checked into Anaheim's newest hotel: Hotel Menage. The PR claims it is Anaheim's only boutique hotel, but I can't call it "boutique" because there are 248 rooms. To me, a boutique hotel must have fewer than 100 rooms. However, Hotel Menage did have both a unique feel and an ideal location. It's just off the 5 Freeway, a mile from Disneyland's entrance and 2 miles from the Anaheim Convention Center. If the exterior of the building looks familiar, that's because it was formerly a Holiday Inn. Walking into the lobby, the first thing that came to my mind was: It's amazing what a good interior designer and candles can do to a place! I felt like I was in a W hotel. My room was not yet ready, so I hung out in the lobby for 30 minutes surfing their high-speed internet. It took a while to find the correct access code, and it wasn't the strongest connection, but at least they had it -- and it was free. I was in Room 108, on the ground floor near the pool and just a 10-step walk from the lobby, which made it seem like a motel. However, my room did not resemble a motel. It was oversized, with an industrial-chic feel. The cement flooring was painted to look like the painters forgot to put a drop cloth down (maybe they really did). The ceiling was open, with the water pipes exposed. It was cool, and definitely designed by a guy (or at least with guys in mind). Other pluses included the large flat screen TV, an extended shower head, friendly staff, a happening bar and free parking. The negatives: My bathtub needed re-glazing, and while fixing the tub they should install curved shower curtain rods so the germ-infested curtains don't touch guests' bodies. I was also bummed out by hearing people walking past the room, and techno music from the lobby beating like I was in a European disco. I did not hear it at night, but it was a bit annoying when I was trying to work. Obviously, the front door and the main wall were not soundproof. I was just thankful it was too cold out for kids to be in the pool. NOTE: Rooms above the ground floor probably don't have this, problem so request one of them. Room rates begin at $99. Hotel Ménage, 1221 South Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim; tel.: 888-462-7275.

POW WOW
I was in Anaheim to attend the Travel Industry Association International (TIA) Pow Wow, the United States' biggest conference for inbound tourism (here's a recap). Can you believe more than $3 billion in travel business to the United States is generated each year by tour producers from more than 70 countries? No wonder there were huge Pow Wow banners along the freeway, at LAX, even on SuperShuttles. Almost 5,000 travel professionals attended, including 450 journalists from around the world. When I went to check in and pick up my badge at the sleek new Anaheim Convention Center, I saw high school kids walking by with bags. I was reminded of the days when I traveled the country (26 states, including Hawaii) recruiting high school students for Marymount College in Palos Verdes, California (an excellent private junior college, with one of the most spectacular views in the world). It turned out there was a National College Fair going on. I popped in to see if any of my old colleagues were working the floor for one of the hundreds of schools from all over the country. Unfortunately, I didn't know anyone (the profession has a high turnover rate), but I did stop by at my alma mater's tables. That brought back many good memories!

DISNEYLAND
With $3.5 billion on the table, the host cities go all out. This year Anaheim put on quite a show. Would you believe they closed down all of Disneyland Park at 4 p.m. to get ready for our private party from 7 to 10 that night? One Disney official told me the last time they did this was a couple years ago, for the premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean." Disney did an incredible job; they did not skimp on anything. There was more food and drinks than you could imagine, and although the place was packed with Pow Wow attendees there were no waits for anything (except the Indiana Jones ride – which I enjoyed a lot). I was impressed with how nice all the Disney staff were. They really did make it feel like the happiest place on earth. I was just sorry I missed the following night's party at Knott's Berry Farm, which the TIA rented out as well.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Don't pay for parking or deal with traffic. Leave your car at your hotel, because the city of Anaheim offers ART (Anaheim Resort Transit) shuttles that stop in front of all the hotels. Unlimited daily use to and from major attractions, including Disneyland, costs $3 per person a day.

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Happy Travels,
Johnny Jet

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Note: This trip was sponsored by the Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau & Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau.



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