Week-end in Normandy

Allright I believe it is now high time for me to give a short review of my last week-end. First let me say that last week-end was great, a really great revitalizing adventure deep inside Normandy to Caen and then to Cherbourg.

Sunny beach close to the Hague

The first day consisted in getting there. Getting there was a three-hour drive to Cherbourg. Once there, the journey continued along the coast to La Hague from where nice views over the surrounding islands of Guernsey and Sark could be enjoyed.

Goury and the lighthouse

La Hague is home to Goury Cape where the waters from the Mont St Michel bay meet the waters from the Channel. During high tides, the Atlantic is literally pushing those waters into the Channel and this leads to unbelievable tide-induced currents that may reach a speed of up to twelve knots. This is absolutely scary!

Milk, Cheese and Pasture.... The three masterwords of my Land...

Later in the day, we opted for a dinner in the fields close to the sea and amongst our familiar beasts from Normandy. After all, Normandy is the dairy country by excellence so let’s take full advantage of that… Sea Cows and Wind is the motto here…

Le Redoutable

On the following day, we headed to La Cite de la Mer where a nuclear-powered submarine is on display. This submarine was the first of its kind in the French Navy and reflected the strategy of its time: ensure nuclear dissuasion by having a strategic fleet of stealthy submarines permanently at sea with the ability to launch a massive nuclear strike on any nation willing to harm French vital assets.

The eight missile-tubes from starboard.... ....Torpedo tubes and torpedoes...

The submarine is roughly ten meters wide for a length of a little more than one hundred and twenty meters. It is home to a powerful nuclear reactor for its propulsion, sixteen intercontinental ballistic missiles, a few torpedoes and tactical missiles and a crew of one hundred and twenty. The sub may cruise for seventy days in between the surface and two hundred meters below sea level while travelling at twenty knots.

Sail of Le Redoutable....... ......That's what I call a propeller...

Later in the day, we went East to the Cap Barfleur, the other cape that is at the North Eastern tip of the Manche peninsula.

Cap Barfleur

Tiny fisherman wharf on the Channel coast...

Finally, during the late afternoon we drove back South to Caen in order to catch my train back to Paris. Caen is a pretty amazing city that I barely know. Strangely enough, I have never visited this town, maybe because it is too far and yet too close from where I live...

Caen, where William the Conqueror is buried...

Mickey and the Rockets

In order to celebrate the end of semester, my roommate and I elected to go to Florida and spend a few days off over there at the end of May. This was initially scheduled to coincide with the launch of the space shuttle Discovery from Cape Canaveral but the launch got delayed. We subsequently missed it as I had to return to Atlanta in order to catch my flight back to Paris.

• Atlanta to Cape Canaveral

This was the first leg of our journey South to Florida and it could not be any simpler: stay on the very same interstate I-75 for at least seven hours between Atlanta and Orlando and then head East towards Titusville in Florida. However, things never go as planned and soon enough we were on I-85 to Montgomery, Alabama…

Not fearing the extra miles, we decided to continue on this way until Lagrange where we would head South to Columbus and then East to Albany and Tifton… Obviously this added several hours to our otherway very long journey since this new route goes through smaller roads... Not very surprisingly, we were still in Georgia at dinner-time…

Anyway, we drove through Valdosta, Gainesville, Ocala, Orlando and finally reached Titusville around two in the morning.

• Cape Canaveral

The following day was dedicated to the visit of Cape Canaveral. Learning from my mistakes of the past, we got up quite early to be there at the opening and to get the tickets for the so-called up-close tour. We started the day with the usual exhibitions one would expect in a scientific park : the rocket garden.

The rocket garden is a static display of several intercontinental ballistic missiles and early rockets. The display emphasizes on the evolutionary side of rocket science. Mankind did not come up one day with a whole new rocket design. Instead early rockets were simply slightly modified missiles. As demands to send heavier loads into space increased, early ICBMs got modified and tweaked to accommodate boosted engines. When this band-aid solution reached its own limits, engineers started stacking additional stages below the original missile leading to what is now called the multi-stage rocket.

The inactive launch pad is open

Later in the day, we had the opportunity to board a tour leading to the launch pads 139A and 139B. The North one was not being used at that time but the South one was displaying Discovery in all its glory. Of course because we are lucky we could not actually see the Orbiter itself as it was hidden by other pieces of equipments. We were nonetheless able to see the solid rocket boosters and the main external tank.

It is this very external tank that delayed the launch of Discovery as Lockheed Martin which designs them in Louisiana got trouble during the manufacturing process and had to delay the shipment to Florida. No need to say that it is a very strange feeling to stand next to a real Orbiter that will be in space thousands of miles away in just a matter of days…

Discovery baking in the sun while awaiting its launch

We finished the day by visiting some other exhibits, going into simulators and finally watching an IMAX movie. In the evening, we drove West through severe thunderstorms to Orlando where we did overnight.

• Orlando

The next day was one of the highlights of the trip as it was the visit to DisneyWorld. This visit was split in half with the morning dedicated to Magic Kingdom, the very essence of Disney Park and Epcot Center during the late afternoon.

I had already gone to these two places but it was long long ago and it felt really really strange to get back there twenty-two years later…

Upon arrival in the park, we were greeted by the iconic and colorful Cinderella Castle shaped like the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.

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Cinderella Castle at the Walt Disney World Resort

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A very nice and sporty ride...

Magic Kingdom features some very nice attractions like the Mine Train, Space Mountain and the Haunted House. I will nevertheless remember it mostly for the Mickey and Minnie village. So cute!! It brings back alive the little child that is sleeping inside each of us !!

Mickey's home...

Epcot Center is more or less an educational park devoted to the achievements of Mankind and tries to pay a tribute to the cultural diversity worldwide through its villages representing the World.

Epcot Center and its famous giant golf ball is the only thing I still remember of my '86 Disney visit.

The day finished with a nice fireworks display over the lake at Epcot and the awesome and charming Disney Characters parade at Magic Kingdom.

The iconic golf ball at Epcot

• Orlando to Saint Augustine

Early the following day, we got into Seaworld, one of the other iconic theme-parks in Orlando and one of the very few things I still remember from my previous trip. I did remember that because at that time I was scared by those huge and frightening orcas…

Welcome to Seaworld...

Seaworld, as the name implies, is a theme-park focused on water-related matters. So besides the famous dolphin, sea lion, and orca shows, there are quite a few aquariums to gaze at. From Floridian wildlife such as gators and manatees to polar-bears and belugas, there should be something for everyone.

Orca's extravaganza

The large shark and ray aquarium which features an underwater glass tunnel is also an interesting feature as we are literally walking in a glass tube beneath sharks. 'On a marché sous la mer' cartoonist Hergé would say...

The Atlantic Coast north of Daytona Beach

In mid-afternoon, we headed Northeast towards the Atlantic coast and Saint Augustine. We enjoyed a few splashes in the Atlantic in between Flagler and Beverly Beach. The water was actually very warm for the season and it was a pleasure relaxing and taking full advantage of the soothing effect of the sea.

• Saint Augustine to Atlanta

The last day was dedicated to the visit of the oldest city in the United States. Saint Augustine or San Agustin as it was called during those days was founded in 1565 by the Spanish admiral Pedro Menendez, only seventy-three years after Cristobal Colon discovered the New World. The city is one of the few American cities that have their own character with monuments made of stones and are plainly said to have a European look.

Saint Augustine historic center

We then headed north to Jacksonville where we reached the sea for the second time during our trip. It was quite a windy day and the sea was a bit rough. But I like rough seas…

Late in the afternoon, we headed back to Atlanta. All in all, a very nice week-end that will stay carved in my memory for a while. A short movie of this trip is available here. Please enjoy!

Road trip to Yellowstone

After a few weeks of delays, here am I with a quick summary of my road trip in the northern part of the Rockies around Yellowstone. Completely contrary to the previous journey in the Midwest, this one featured genuine wilderness embedded in infinite landscapes. Everything over there seems to be scaled up in order to meet the definition of the adjective ‘grand’ : vast and infinite plains and basins surrounded by heavy and snow-covered mountains.

On approach to Denver. The Rockies are bordering the vast and dry Great Plains

• Denver to Rapid City

First day consisted in travelling from Atlanta to Denver in Colorado aboard an AirTran Boeing 737-700. Then I headed North to Fort Laramie and Rapid City in South Dakota. Fort Laramie is one of the few remaining historical landmarks of the area. Fort Laramie used to be the most prominent military outpost of the Frontier and was the last supply station for the emigrants wishing to cross the Mountains to go West. As time went by, the development of the first transcontinental railway and the complete exploration of the West cast a shadow on the importance of the post as a vital supply node before the Rockies and it subsequently closed.

Emptiness is all around in the Great Plains

The road between Denver and Rapid City is typical of the Frontier with infinite landscapes of bare and nude plains. Over hundreds and hundreds of miles, there is basically nothing to see besides grass. Scarce water, wind and frigid temperatures during the Winter prevent anything from growing leading to these landscapes of desolation and emptiness.

• Rapid City to Sheridan

From Rapid City, we first headed East to visit Badlands National Parks. As the name implies, Badlands Natl. Park is an area where the soil is of so poor quality that it cannot be used for any farming activity.

Erosion shapes the grounds and brings into light colorful sublayers

Truth of the matter is that this soil is so weak that water and wind erosion prevent any type of exploitation. Irregular erosion due to nonuniform erosion through the different ground layers results in colourful shapes that are similar to the “Demoiselles Coiffées” or “Cheminées de Fées” found in Southern France.

The four great Tikis...

Next stop was South-West of Rapid City in Mount Rushmore National Park where I got a chance to view the huge faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln carved in the rock. Those huge tikis designed during the thirties required fourteen years of blasting, carving and sculpting and were home to one of the most famous movies ever, North by Northwest.

Later in the day, we headed further West to Sheridan. Blistering winds and pouring rains were of the party during the entire journey across Wyoming…

• Sheridan to Yellowstone

The next leg consisted in reaching Yellowstone through Billings, Montana. On the way, I stopped in Little Big Horn where the infamous General Custer got defeated by a rather noteworthy and uncommon alliance of Indian tribes trying to protect their homeland.

Fallen American soldiers

In a desperate attempt to contain the spread of White people over their hunting grounds Cheyennes, Lakotas and Sioux tribes teamed up together under Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse and defeated Custer.

A herd of bisons peacefully grazing...

Later in the day, I reached Yellowstone National Park through the Mammoth Springs where some very smelly sulphur springs offer a very colourful show. I was greeted very close to the northern entrance of the park by herds of deers and buffaloes also known as bisons.

Wanna wash your feet sir ?

• Yellowstone

I spent two days in Yellowstone during which I encountered both heavy snow storms and brilliant sunny weather. During this time, I had some very nice encounters with wildlife amongst which I can count marmots, bison, eagles, black bears and grizzlies.

A huge male grizzli is passing by...

I was delighted with the bears as seeing some in their natural habitat was one of my main purposes for visiting Yellowstone and I got treated. The first encounter was a mom black bear with her two newly born cubs. The second one was a very close view on a huge male grizzly that walked just a few feet from the car. The third one was another male grizzly eating a morning catch. The bear was surrounded by a dozen crows but did not pay attention as he was busy eating the bison.

Next came the geysers which have been the main attraction of the Park since its opening in the late nineteenth century. These geological landmarks are a testimony to the volcanic activity that once took place in Yellowstone. Yellowstone is home to the caldeira of a gigantic volcano that existed long ago. The caldeira collapsed after an explosion and gave place to relatively flat lands in the middle of the park.

Old Faithful is one of the most popular geysers due to its size and regularity : eruptions are ninety feet high and occur every forty to fifty minutes.

Old Faithful during its hourly-show...

Yellowstone Lake is a vast area of water in the Southern portion of the Park. At the time of our visit, it was completely frozen giving place to a gigantic flat frozen surface.

Yellowstone Lake

• Yellowstone to Idaho Falls

During the last day in the Park, we slowly headed South towards Rockfeller Parkway and towards Grand Teton National Park that borders the Southern part of Yellowstone.

The majestic Grand Tetons dominate the surrounding mountains

A small Chapel in the middle of nowhere

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming preserves a spectacular landscape rich with majestic mountains reaching more than thirteen thousand feet, pristine lakes and extraordinary wildlife. The abrupt vertical rise of the jagged Teton Range contrasts with the horizontal sage-covered valley and glacial lakes at their base and create a beautiful scenery home to a sizable population of moose. While in Grand Teton, I got the chance to see some : not the most elegant creatures I have seen but there is definitely something funny about them...

The moose live their whole life close to water

• Idaho Falls to Salt Lake City

The road between Idaho Falls in Idaho and salt Lake City in Utah is not very exciting. It simply follows the Rockies to the Great Basins. Just before reaching Salt Lake City, I stopped at the Golden Spike Historical Site where the Westbound railroad construction coming from Sacramento, California and led by the Union Pacific company met the Eastbound railroad construction coming from Omaha, Nebraska and led by the Central Pacific company.

West meets East

The junction occurred in May of 1869 and marks the completion of the first transcontinental railway closing the gap between the East and West and essentially putting in the backyard of History what used to be the Last Frontier.

Salt Lake City lies on the eastern shores of the Great Salt Lake and is home to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and obviously there is a lot about this church in the city.

The city was founded in 1847 by Brigham Young as Mormons were fleeing persecution in the East. During their journey West, they established camps in Ohio, in Wisconsion and finally in Utah. Utah is now mostly inhabited by Mormons.

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Mormon temple in Salt Lake City

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• Salt Lake City to Cheyenne
  

The last major leg of the journey was another crossing of the Rockies from Salt Lake City to Cheyenne through Flaming Gorge National Monument and Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado.

As one explores the craggy hills, one may discover fragments of a long ago world where the largest land creatures of all times once roamed and died.

I say ‘may’ because besides a diplodocus leg fossil, I was not able to find anything else. There were supposed to be other fossils but I guess they were not that apparent or maybe I just visited the place too hastily...

Anyways, after a short stop there, we headed East again climbing passes, some of them over nine thousand feet high to reach Cheyenne and the Great Plains again.

Dinosaur fossil in Colorado

• Cheyenne to Denver
  

This was the very last leg of the roadtrip and I reached the Mile High City in Colorado early in the morning in time for my mid-afternoon flight. The flight home was a short three-hour hop on an AirTran Boeing 737-700. It does feel even shorter when it’s in a nice roomy and wide business class seat…

A short movie about the roadtrip is available here. Enjoy!

S.P.E.C.T.R.E.

S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
SPecial Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extorsion

Service pour l'Espionnage, le Contre Espionnage, le Terrorisme, la Retorsion et l'Extorsion

Organisation internationale secrète fondée par Ernst Stavro Blofeld dont le siège social se situe au 136, Boulevard Haussman à Paris.

Son but est la simple recherche de profits privés.

Elle n'affiche aucune idéologie politique ou philosophique et loue ses services sans aucune discrimination.

"Sur le marché de la mort, S.P.E.C.T.R.E. est totalement impartial" affirme Blofeld.

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A bit of brag time...

Here is a link to the International Herald Tribune about Oasis Airlines of Hong Kong, China... In a nutshell, Oasis Airlines which tried to pioneer long-haul low-cost flying aboard Boeing 747-400 between Hong Kong and London in Europe and Vancouver, Canada went bankrupt last April... Below is an exerpt from my former journal where I tried all my best to understand analyze and discuss their marketing strategy. Fasten your seat-belt, it's gonna be hairy...

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November 7th, 2006

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines : "The" statégie marketing

Non mais, là je crois rêver....du grand n'importe quoi. D'où ils sortent? D'où ils viennent ? De Pluton ? Ca fait peur... Je crois qu'il va falloir sérieusement revoir la stratégie marketing.

• "The" logo

"Every element of the Oasis Hong Kong Airlines identity has been crafted to convey our simple, powerful message: affordable, global mobility, provided by an airline whose home is one of the world's most dynamic cities. Our logo is a wordmark that neatly links “Oasis” with “Hong Kong” to communicate our name, the type of brand experience we offer and our home. "

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"The typeface, a modified version of Mondial, encapsulates the fundamental brand proposition: safety and comfort with unprecedented value. The stylized i of OASiS represents the essence of both our company and Hong Kong: international, innovative and inspired. "

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"Our primary colours are red and white, the colours of the Hong Kong flag. "HONG KONG" is in medium grey, a colour that conveys our commitment to reliability and the professionalism of our experienced staff. "

• "The" Color Scheme

"The bright tail fins of the Oasis Hong Kong Airlines aircraft feature our brand signature: bold streaks of light in red, orange and white. They are an instantly recognizable reference to ever-dynamic, diverse Hong Kong. They also communicate what we provide, i.e., the ability to fly non-stop instead of having to transit at an intermediate point."

• "The" Cabin Interior

"The energy of our brand identity extends to the aircraft cabin interiors, where the theme is "refreshing and cosmopolitan". colours are warm, inviting shades of purple, magenta and orange for the seat covers and aubergine for the carpeting. Our specially-designed seat cover pattern is called "infinite oasis," and features an ever-continuing flow of dots that represents the joy of mobility and discovery."

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• "The" analyse...

Alors ceux là, ils sont passés en mode superconique, supercomique peut-être aussi... Brilliant. A round of applause to the Strategy Boutique which managed to get "fundamental brand proposition" and "infinite oasis" in there without being ejected by security from the Oasis Hong Kong offices with their joss-sticks firmly shoved where the sun doesn't shine.

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Public Relationship Department, please do your maths again...

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