Felicity

Felicity relaxing. 

Split

Split - photos

Hvar

Hvar Photos

Trump Tower lit up for Christmas.

Trump Tower Chicago

Just playing with some night photography.

There's Room For Everyone

In the SmartTravel article, Airlines to Shrink Carry-on Size?, travelers are advised to wait to buy new carry-ons due to the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) proposal to reduce the allowable carryon bag size.

It makes one wonder what is the impetus behind this proposal?
Is the change really an attempt to provide better service by allowing more people to fit their carryon items in the overheads?

After all, the proposed size change is not dramatic. Yet, it can be costly to consumers who will have to replace carryon luggage to accommodate this slight reduction in size. Administering this standard gives the impression that all overhead bins are created equal, yet that is not true.  These bins change with the dimensions of the planes.  So, it is unclear how the reduction from 22 x 14 x 9 inches to 21.5 x 13.5 x 7.5 inches really make it possible for everyone to stow their carry-ons. Since each bin, on average, will hold three four suitcases side by side the potential space gain is between 3" and 4.5". That is certainly not enough room for another carryon.

Maybe the real issue is lack of adherence to the existing guidelines.  Airline staff (gate agents and flight attendants) are not always diligent in enforcement of the carryon limits. I am sure many of you have been on flights where passengers carryon more than their fair allotment.

If these guidelines are not executed today, how will a change in bag size truly fix the problem?

Or perhaps this change is motivated by profits. Per their own website, the IATA is a trade association with about 250 member airlines. One IATAs many priorities is member satisfaction. What better way to improve member satisfaction than to increase revenue stream through more checked bag fees. Of course, this ultimately relies on airline adoption and enforcement of the guidelines.

Topkapi Palace - Istanbul, Turkey

Topkapi Palace - Istanbul, Turkey

Constructed in the mid 15th century, Ottoman Sultans called this palace home for almost two thirds of their empire's reign. The palace was converted to a museum in 1924.

The grounds occupy between 6.3 and 7.5 million square feet of land situated between the Sea of Marmara, the Golden Horn, and the Bosphorus.

The palace was constructed to be a city within a city, boasting a mint, a hospital, mosques, and bakeries.

The Sultan's Treasure is impressive and represents one example of how this museum pays tribute to the rich history of the Ottoman Empire. 

While the good news is that these artifacts have been preserved and are on display for visitors to see, photographs are strictly prohibited.

The grounds are impeccably maintained. We felt as though we stepped into a fairytale when we passed through the main gate. 

One of the most unusual attributes was the stray cat population.  We had numerous sitings of cats and kittens lounging throughout the palace grounds.

I highly recommend dining at Konyali, the restaurant on the palace grounds.  The food was delicious. The service was wonderful.

While the views are not stunning there is absolutely a cool factor to dining on the grounds of this palace.

The museum is open most days, closing in observance of most holy days.  I strongly suggest checking their website for these dates.

I had no expectations when I added Turkey into my travel itinerary and found it to be an amazing country. Istanbul turned out to be a high point of this trip.

Musée du Louvre - Paris, France

Musée du Louvre

The original structure, built in the 12th century as a fortress, was modified numerous times between initial construction and opening as a museum on August 10, 1793.

This is one of the largest museums in the world with over 600,000 square feet dedicated to the permanent collection.

A trip to the Louvre requires planning since many of the more notable masterpieces are often on exhibit in different wings of the building.

Included among the incredible masterpieces we saw were the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, and the Marly Horses.

If you are planning to see the Mona Lisa, it is likely you will have to wade through a sea of other visitors to catch a glimpse of her smile. Be prepared to be patient.

We spent the better part of a day walking ourselves to exhaustion and were painfully aware that we had barely scratched the surface of all that was on exhibit. To help you avoid making our mistake, I reiterate - PLAN AHEAD.

Of course our exhaustion became justification for resting in the courtyard near the fountain in view of the pyramid designed by I.M. Pei.

There is certainly something of interest to attract art, architecture, and history lovers alike.

Check the Louvre website for pricing and hours of operation.

These photos are available for purchase by visiting AcevedoPhoto.net