Saturday, February 16, 2002
The beginning of the trip went well. No delays in flights, and we arrived in plenty of time to go through all the extra security.
It's been a long time since I have flown at night. Flying into Chicago Midway was one of the most beautiful experiences I've had in a long time. I don't know what it was, but I felt like I was in the middle of Tron or The Matrix. The amber glow of the lights, all in pretty rows. The black of Lake Michigan was stark against the lights of the city.
A kid in the seat in front of me, about 8 or 9, asked his dad if that was water below us. I couldn't tell myself, and told him that. There was a large black area, south of the lake. A light here and there lit up a small part; I couldn't tell if it was something on a lake offshoot or a river, or a forest with a house or building within it.
We turned on approach, and I was struck again by the beauty of the city's lights. Everything all in straight, neat rows. I mentioned it to Lou, and it was then that I remembered we were in the flat midwest, where straight rows of corn could grow for miles. So rows of straight lights are no doubt more common than in the northeast. Also, the cities are usually more planned than New England's are.
The woman in the seat behind me echoed the boy in front, asking her husband if that was water below. This area was different; she thought that was a bridge below us, but I think it was just a highway, driving off through the forest. Or maybe it was fields, it was just so hard to see in the dark.
I wished I'd had higher speed film in my camera; the 200 speed I had in already would not be able to take a good shot, even if the reflection didn't spoil it. Well, maybe it could be a mirror project photo. Since we will be returning here late on the way back, I vow to pick up some high speed film in Vegas. Even though the approach might be different, I may still have a chance for a shot.
I turned away from the window after another minute of being entranced, and the moment was broken.
Landing in Las Vegas, we were right at the end of the strip. I didn't relize McCarran airport was so close to downtown. I also realized specifically what the lights of the city reminded me of -- a circuit board.
In our minds, when we landed, it was 3:00 a.m., though local time it was just before midnight. It took a while to get our rental car and then to the hotel, whereupon I crashed, and did not awake until 7:30 a.m. local time. We saw the strip all lit up, but it didn't make that much of an impression on my tired eyes.