I don’t really like to fly. I know about all of the airline safety statistics, but I just don’t like being confined and especially tens of thousands of feet up in the sky. I don’t like turbulence, even if it IS just bumpy air. I’m not buying it.

So when we flew out of Atlanta headed for San Jose, Costa Rica, I was counting the hours until the flight would be over and we could start enjoying our vacation. Just as we hit the 25% mark, the captain announced that we had to go back to Atlanta due to a “problem with the plane.”

The next hour was a very tense one, in really bumpy air with a bouncy landing. The captain had said that the problem would either be fixed or we’d get a new plane. I was hoping for a new plane and by the time we arrived in Atlanta they had found one for us. It took a while to get all of the baggage and little bags of peanuts transferred, and a bunch of the runways were closed for maintenance, so by the time we finally landed in San Jose it was 4 a.m.

I do feel a bit cheated in the door department because there is a severe door shortage in Costa Rica. Everything is open-air and doors are scarce. Most of the airport doors had Von Duprin 33’s though, so I felt right at home.

I did find an interesting application at our hotel that proves that creative modifications are a worldwide phenomenon. I didn’t see it immediately because it’s hard to notice your hotel room door when there’s a giant active volcano looming over you, but I’ve gotten used to the volcano now so I’m looking around a bit more.  I’ve posted a few application photos below, as well as a couple of the Arenal Volcano. It’s amazing!

You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content.