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Message |
    
Danny Hamilton
Senior Member
Username: Dannyhamilton
Post Number: 611
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 68.105.203.149
| | Posted on Saturday, June 05, 2010 - 03:37 am: | |
Lester, the C-130 A/C Commander was a nice guy. He took the time to explain the situation to all of us SPATS when we landed at Lajes. We were warned that the plane MIGHT leave without us if the heating system could not be fixed, and that is exactly what happened. In reality, I was not looking forward to several hours of freezing my butt off on that cold bird! I pity the active duty pax who had to suffer through the flight back to the States from Lajes, although it looked as if most of them had lots of extra clothing they could get to.
It was the A/C's Commander's decision and I'm fine with it.
As for the AFV Club condo we rented in Maratea, Italy, we found no laundry facility on site. There was also no heating system in the condo and it got chilly at night. I think we were very early in the "Season" in that region of Italy. On the beaches, there was lots of activity with getting beach restaurants and bars ready to open. There were many frames for the "buildings" which were more like big "tents", their coverings being canvas. Some were nearly ready and others had just begun to cover the frames.
By August, I'm sure the temperatures will be hot and certainly no heating would be necessary in those condos then!
The condo was clean and well furnished. I doubt if we will ever use it again, as it is very remote and a car is a definite necessity. Still, at $329 for a week's rental, it was a good deal. |
Lester Green
Advanced Member
Username: Rtgreen5
Post Number: 324
Registered: 03-2007
Posted From: 69.143.222.224
| | Posted on Saturday, June 05, 2010 - 12:13 am: | |
Danny: Thanks for taking the time to write about your trip. As for the condo that you rented, did you find that it was clean and in good condition? Also, did you have laundry facilities in the condo or in its basement?
From my observation of the reports on Pepperd, I thought that there was a decent amount of traffic going through Lajes and that getting the pass to get off and on base was not such a big hassle. Obviously, you sized up the situation and made the best call on your return to the States. Too bad that the CO of the C-130 didn't contact you all to tell you what his flight plans were as you could have bought another sweater or a pair of thermals at the Lajes PX to use on the flight. |
TR
Advanced Member
Username: Travel_ready
Post Number: 255
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 166.205.15.86
| | Posted on Friday, June 04, 2010 - 11:04 pm: | |
Great job on the blog, Danny! That was one hell of a space-a adventure! |
Danny Hamilton
Senior Member
Username: Dannyhamilton
Post Number: 609
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 68.105.203.149
| | Posted on Friday, June 04, 2010 - 05:55 pm: | |
Jim, yes we have visited our friends in Aiken on several occasions. You are correct, it is a very nice, interesting and lovely town. |
Danny Hamilton
Senior Member
Username: Dannyhamilton
Post Number: 608
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 68.105.203.149
| | Posted on Friday, June 04, 2010 - 05:54 pm: | |
Lee, I think you are referring to the special pass retirees have to get at Lajes in order to re-enter the base if they leave Lajes to go sightseeing elsewhere on the island.
As you know, this requirement is relatively new and I am sorry that it is in effect. We would have rented a car to tour the island and dine in Angra at a nice seafood restaurant I used to visit many years ago, but with the hassle of getting some special pass, we decided it was not worth it and just stayed on the base the whole time we were there. |
Leland
Senior Member
Username: Leland
Post Number: 6306
Registered: 05-2006
Posted From: 98.218.147.237
| | Posted on Friday, June 04, 2010 - 04:59 pm: | |
Danny, I forgot, your report raised a question. Were you "discouraged" from applying for permission to enter/leave Lajes or did you just decide it was not worth it? |
John D.
Moderator
Username: John_d
Post Number: 4594
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 95.208.80.143
| | Posted on Friday, June 04, 2010 - 04:47 pm: | |
Good job Danny! |
John R Garrison
Senior Member
Username: Majorg
Post Number: 2688
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 208.81.157.86
| | Posted on Friday, June 04, 2010 - 04:47 pm: | |
Danny:
Great report! Thanks for sharing. Don't know if you've ever been to visit Jim in Aiken, but as a former resident of Aiken...it's a fantastic place to visit.
Happy Travels, John |
Leland
Senior Member
Username: Leland
Post Number: 6305
Registered: 05-2006
Posted From: 98.218.147.237
| | Posted on Friday, June 04, 2010 - 03:54 pm: | |
Hey, Danny, no wonder it was a long report. I got exhausted just reading it. Thanks for taking the time. |
Danny Hamilton
Senior Member
Username: Dannyhamilton
Post Number: 607
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 68.105.203.149
| | Posted on Friday, June 04, 2010 - 03:30 pm: | |
I could not post this trip report on the Pepperd Board as it is too long.
Using help from other SPATS, I posted my first "blog" and you can (hopefully) read my trip report here:
http://space-afromcharlestontoitaly.blogspot.com/
Danny |
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