Airport Tourism

[squirmelia]

Short-stay was probably the car-park Christian Bale's insomniac character in The Machinist would have parked in when he went for coffee at the airport. Short-stay was appropriate, even without insomnia.

A feeling of mischief hit when trying to choose between departures and arrivals. Neither was entirely apt.

The departures section seemed to have brightly coloured gifts situated on top of a high white ledge with futuristic metalwork behind them.

The arrivals section contained an information stand with leaflets mainly about Portsmouth, but also leaflets with diagrams of the different kinds of jellyfish and the lesser weeverfish that should be avoided. Airports can be dangerous.

The sound of the airport - a dull buzz from the orange juice dispenser, added to the eerieness of being somewhere I had only ever been to wait at before. The people all seemed to quietly just be waiting, for someone else, or to go somewhere else. I was at the airport simply to eat cake. Unlike real Experimental Travel: Airport Tourism, I had no intention of being there for 24 hours.

Talking of Experimental Travel: gnimmel sounded keen for a game of Synchronised Travel.. How about anyone else?

Comments

[verlaine.livejournal.com]

I don't know what Synchronised Travel is, but it sounds fun - count me in!

[verlaine.livejournal.com]

Oh, wait, now I do... Still count me in!

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

Should we use these instructions (from the Lonely Planet guide) or make up our own?

'A participant travels around a chosen location using a 10-stage set of common directions, taking notes and photographs to record their experiences at each stage. Where directions don't match the environs, improvise.

1) The first stage is your starting point.
2) Walk in any direction for 50 to 100 paces, and then turn 180 degrees.
3) Continue walking in that direction until you see something blue.
4) Make a left turn and walk 50 to 70 paces.
5) Walk in any direction until you see something that either is or looks like the number 7 or 11.
6) Take the first left, and continue walking until you find somewhere to sit.
7) Choose any direction and walk for 25 to 50 paces.
8) Continue walking until you see an unusual colour, shape or texture. Turn 180 degrees.
9) Keep walking in any direction until you see an archway or an unusual architectural feature.
10) Head for home, but continue looking for something that catches your eye. '