“Time only matters when you are piloting an airplane, so you do not run out of fuel.” - Christine

But for all of you Americans who want to know how long it will take, here you go, más or menos. Your time will more or less depend on your cutting skills and whether you open the bottle of wine before or after you add the potatoes to the skillet.

Prep time: 10-15 minutes (depending on how fast you are with a knife)
Cook time: 30-40 minutes (to serve two people; add 5-10 minutes for each additional serving)

Ingredients:

• 2-3 palm/hand-sized potatoes per person (when in doubt, round up; you can always keep leftover cooked potatoes to make a quick and fresh tortilla tomorrow). Americans, buy the yellow potatoes. Idaho potatoes have a noticeably chalky taste in this recipe.
• 1 palm sized onion per 2-4 people (recommend Spanish/yellow or white onions, not red onions)
• Extra virgin olive oil - do not make the fatal flaw of using another oil!
• Sea salt
• Fresh ground black pepper
• Parsley
• ​Garlic powder

N.B. The best potato slices should be nearly transparent! See the slice on the right, below, for a good example.

3. Add oil to a large skillet and heat on medium. You should use enough oil to cover the entire bottom of the pan and then some.

4. Slice or dice onions. You choose the size, but not too big. The smaller the pieces, the less noticeable they will be (texture), for those who are a little tiquismiquis, and let’s face it, we all have a picky eater in our family.

5. Add the potatoes and onions to the pan and turn on high heat.

6. Stir/flip regularly to cook evenly and prevent burning. A little crispiness is okay and actually adds a nice texture to the dish.

7. If you have a ham leg in your kitchen, cut some for a tapa while you are cooking. Jamón is probably the signature small plate of this country. Jamón is to Spain what carpaccio is to Italy, but with even more importance. N.B. For English speakers, jamón is ham (specifically, cured ham, and the ibérico black hoof is best) and the J in Spanish is pronounced like an H in English. For Spanish speakers, jam is mermelada. You’re welcome, for when you order a pizza.

8. Cook until the potatoes are soft and begin to fall apart.

9. Beat two eggs in a bowl. Add the seasoning to your liking. We prefer: a heavy sprinkle of parsley and pepper, two pinches of salt (most pure Spaniards will spill half a salt shaker into the dish), and a pinch of garlic.

10. Add cooked potatoes to the eggs to fill the bowl, careful not to overwhelm the eggs with potatoes. It should appear full, but still runny.

11. Heat a small skillet with a little oil (some drops from the cooked potatoes will do) on medium-high heat (I use 7 out of 9).

12. Pour potatoes and egg mix into skillet and move it around so it does stick.

13. When the edges appear slightly cooked, prepare to flip. Place a plate over the pan. Hold it in place and flip the tortilla onto the plate. Slide it back into the pan to cook the other side.

14. Our family likes dippy, runny, lightly cooked eggs. So after a quick moment on the other side, we are ready to finish the tortilla. Flip it, once more, back onto the plate.

15. Eat. Drink. Be happy.

Tips:

• We really like Trader Joe’s jalapeño hot sauce on our tortilla. Lots of flavor. Hot, but not overwhelming. All of our guests who have tried it have liked it.
• Practice, practice, practice. And be consistent. Your first tortilla may not be perfect. Try and try again. But use the same bowls (for reference of egg: potato ratios) and pans (unless you find the pan to be the culprit, of course). To see my mom’s reaction on how my tortilla making process has progressed over time, click HERE.

I had no idea I would cry entering Brooklyn, just across the Verrazano Bridge, where residents - adults and children - would be cheering with signs.

I knew the tendency for all runners is to start the race too fast. I had no idea that the best and most enjoyable way to slow down would be to give high fives to all of the children holding out their small gloved hands along the side of the road.

It didn’t feel like a race. It was a parade. The Macy’s Parade was still two and a half weeks away, but this one was better. Some wore costumes, but most just boasted their own first names on their shirts and spectators held signs, “Run, Random Stranger, Run. I’m proud of you.” There were plenty of organized water stations, but in case you misjudged your own thirst or hunger, neighborhood residents also offered water and orange slices throughout the race.

“Pretend like you are in 1990,” the New York Road Runners coaches told the crowd at the expo. “Make a plan and stick to it, like you used to do before cell phones.”

I ran the race on airplane mode, as our unlocked US mobile stayed packed in a box in our new house in Spain.

Angel met me at 59th and 4th, just after mile 4, then again at 9th and 4th, just before mile 7, in Brooklyn. He was waiting across the Queensboro Bridge, where I broke away from the group of Spaniards I met to give my favorite Spanish-American man a third big kiss during the race. Not realizing there was a bridge at 125th street before Harlem, his quick thinking led him to surprise me and chase me for half a block down the other side of 5th and 125th until I saw him and then kept me going halfway around the small park before continuing down 5th Avenue to Central Park.

Welcome everybody. Thank you very much. My name is Vanessa de Velasco. Believe it or not, I used to be a girl like you, a long time ago. Sorry for my English. I am going to try to communicate with you as well as I can. When I was a girl, I used to think I wanted to do a different job. I wanted to be an actress. I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to be a singer. Even a top model. And for sure, I wanted to be a pilot, since I was little, a little child. So, I was lucky because my father, he was a pilot too. And I knew what what was aviation, because I was so accustomed to seeing, so used to seeing my father going out and going to fly and I liked to see him going out.

I remember my first solo flight, the first time I flew alone, and it was great. I was 17 years old. I couldn’t drive, but I was flying. And it was amazing. It was a great sensation, a great feeling. And then I remember the first time that I did my first trip alone. I was so excited. I was so nervous. I had to go from Madrid to Salamanca, to cross the mountains with my airplane. And I was nervous and I really was thinking that I wasn’t going to be able to do it. And you know, girls, what happened. I didn’t do it. I was there, I crossed the mountains. And I got so nervous and I was thinking, “I’m not going to be able to do it. I’m not going to be able to do it.” So I quit. And I said, “Okay, I am going to go back. I know where is my home. I know where is my airport. And I’m going to go back.” So I went back.

And I felt so bad, you know, when I went again to Madrid. It was wrong, terrible, because I felt ashamed. I felt like I couldn’t be a pilot, never in my life. I was just only 17 years old. And my instructor, he was a man, and he came and he said, “Vanessa, very good. Now you are going to fly alone every flight.” And I said, “No, no.”

And I started to fly alone again. And I started to think, “I have to believe in myself. I have to believe in me. I have to talk with my friends about my fears and about feeling that sometimes we feel that we are not going to be able to do some things.”

Everyone has that feeling, everybody, girls. And it is important for you to talk with each other. To say, “I am feeling happy. I am feeling sad.” Be female partners. Be partners with your friends. And do you know what I did. Now, I am flying an Airbus 340. It weighs 256 tons. I help people traveling all around the world, girls and boys. And I am so happy with that.

That’s why we created Aviadoras. Mar Alguacil, she’s here with me. She created it with me. We started it together and we felt that this was important because we have to be brave. We don’t have to be perfect. We have to be free. We don’t have to be perfect. We learn about our errors. And we all have errors. But the thing is that you have to enjoy the way. And while you are doing the mistakes, you have to think, okay I am going to do it better next time and I am going to help this other girl or this other guy and tell him or tell her that everything is going to be great. Like my instructor did with me, when I got lost.

So Aviadoras is the first and unique movement of female pilots in Spain. Thank you very much for Delta for hosting this. Thank you very much Christine and Angel. This has been great. I am so happy to be with you girls and parents. I just want to invite you to join us. We need help. We need volunteers too. So girls, you are welcome to be pilots and help us if you want. And I just want to say, thank you. Follow your dreams. And enjoy the path. Thank you very much.

Once again, thank you, Women in Aviation International and Delta Air Lines. Thank you, AC Hotel Coslada Aeropuerto, for hosting us. Thank you, Aviadoras, the first and unique female pilot movement in Spain. Thank you, USA Girl Scouts Overseas for supporting STEM programs, and its Chief Executive, Stefanie Ortiz-Cidlik for attending our event. Thank you, Boeing, for donating the balsa wood gliders, as well as raffle items. Thank you, Sundowner Aviation, for filming videos for continuing education (see related posts, below). Thank you to the following supporters for raffle donations: One Plane Jane, Base Turn, Paula McLain, and Patrick Smith. Thank you, presenters, for sharing your expertise and time. Thank you, volunteers, for your time and for helping the event run smoothly, and donors, for making the event possible with catering and supplies. Thank you, families, for supporting your children and bringing your daughters to this event. Thank you, girls, for showing up, willing and eager to learn and have fun!

How do you define success?
Write it down. Be specific. Be intentional. Then watch this video:

Benchmarks & Measuring Your Progress:
​
Girls, we will check our progress at the beginning of the New Year and again around Valentine’s Day (love yourself!).

1. Check your resting heart rate (RHR).
2. Hold a plank position for as long as you can, with good form.
3. Write down your results with today’s date.

Week 2:
​

• Add cardio to your routine.

​This can be traditional running, biking, swimming, dancing, etc. It can also be a hybrid of strength and cardio training that elevates your heart rate to at least 50% intensity for at least 20 minutes (may include intervals of higher intensity).

Great job! Remember, you are worth it. Commit to your goals and commit to checking in with each other about your progress. This is a lifestyle. It is not a sprint. Listen to your body, eat well, drink plenty of water, and get enough rest. Stay tuned for part 2 about nutrition.

In this video, Pat, of Sundowner Aviation, explains the four forces of flight: thrust, drag, weight/gravity, and lift. Then, he and Christine demonstrate how they work in the simulator and in the aircraft.

In summer, there is always a festival in Spain. You just have to ask where. In the bigger towns and cities, you may find a festival marked by the wheel in the sky. In the pueblos, villages, just find the church, in the center of the town, and there you will find a pop-up bar (or several, depending on the population).

It was our joke, for quite some time, that I would mark the position of my approach into Madrid by flying over “the town with the church in the middle.” It didn’t take long to understand the funny look Angel would give me to that remark - nearly every town has a church in the middle! More than two years later, while taking a route less traveled, we realized that the town is Ciudad Real, with a church on a hill in the center of town, just under the direct path of many airplanes!

Many of the festivals in the larger towns resemble a traveling fair that moves from city to city in the U.S. There are amusement rides for the little kids, amusement rides for the big kids, sweet stands, cotton candy, carnival games, and more. Yet, still, they are so different from across the pond.

While American popular culture has certainly permeated the Iberian peninsula, it, thankfully, has not altered the festivals. It is not a place for hot dogs and fried chicken (though peritos calientes are not entirely missing in some cities). It is a place for slow roasted ham, lamb, chicken, paella, loaded potatoes, and eggs. It is a place for olives and stuffed eggplant and for washing it down with wine out of a communal boot, before taking your next beer or mojito.

In each part of the country, the festival takes on its own culture. In Pamplona, the bulls are center stage.

In Ronda, too, and history comes alive.

In Malaga, mothers and daughters match in Sevillana costumes, all with flowers in their hair.

And when the crown says, “Olé,” you must respond!

Festivals, in Spain, are for everyone. It’s like a family reunion meets a high school reunion meets a college football tailgate, 24 hours long for three to seven days. Go out the first night, follow a marching band around town, stay out till dawn, sleep till dusk, wake up to the cooking of the mother of the house, then try to go out again. Then you can say you’ve lived in Spain.

When searching for pueblos blancos, the white towns, in the south of Spain, we found that all of their names are followed by “de la Frontera.” Then, with a close look at the map, we found one within about an hour of our stay in Mijas Costa, Malaga. Our GPS took us to the new town of Castellar de la Frontera, from where the signs led us up a narrow, winding mountain road to Castillo de Castelllar de la Frontera, the castle.

Now a hotel, a plaque in the town reads, “After the Islamization of the Iberian Peninsula they built a citadel and the old village was founded. The castle of Castellar was built in the 13th century. It is a medieval fortress which remains as a testimony of its frontier past.”

On that August afternoon, we were almost alone to wander through the white streets within the castle’s walls.

The views beyond the walls were as spectacular as within, with the reservoir, Embalse de Guadarranque, on one side and Gibraltar on the other.

Our options for lunch were limited, and thankfully so, because we would not have wanted to miss such a delightful meal. The gamey meat was a delicious reprieve from the bountiful seafood on the coast.

I played it safe with the pork tenderloins, above. Below, Angel enjoyed with wild boar and Sandra and Raul feasted on the deer. We passed our plates around, to share. Every bite just melted in our mouths. Even the kiddos enjoyed it all, exclaiming, Que rico! Delicious!

We strolled around town, walking off the meal, and stopping for photos...

...and to smell the flowers.

We played peek-a-boo.

And we met (and Angel made friends with) a red-tailed eagle.

The art gallery was one of my favorite spots, getting to peak into the studio of Capitán Luis.

Too bad we were only in town for the afternoon. The next day, there would be a flamenco show.

Finally, the circular town took us back to where we started.

We peaked around inside La Posada, before settling on its tiny bar, outside.

Do you see what I see in the kitchen window? And how about that American culture above the stove and oven?

We lost all track of time, enjoying a day with no agenda, in the good company of family. Though it was time for copas,cocktails, at the tiny little bar that was just our size.

And telling jokes, like:
”What did the chicken say to the librarian?”
”Book book bobook” (Imagine hearing this for the first time from an 8 year-old with a charming British accent in front of a room of 50 other girls and their parents).

Next time you are lounging around Costa del Sol, in the south of Spain, we highly recommend a trip into the hills to visit Castillo de Castellar de la Frontera. But don’t take our word for it. The wisdom in the town is as old as its walls, as we found this quote handwritten within the studio of Capitán Luis:

Better than any mobile alarm clock, the buzzing of powered parachutes and ultralight aircraft awoke the campground each morning to signal morning civil twilight and the start of a new day. We stirred in our tent for another hour, before the sun rose above the horizon, begging us to pull off our blankets and step onto the dewy grass.

We spent the early mornings in lawn chairs, sipping coffee. The Ohio in our blood was welcomed by our neighbors from Michigan and Indiana, who graciously hosted us and with whom we enjoyed the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.

Walk straight down Celebration Way to Boeing Plaza. Some aircraft on display change daily. Behind Angel is the the B-1.

We nearly lost Angel for a moment, as he wandered around the B-1, up close.

”Jetdoc” talking to an older “Doc.” He likes to pet the aircraft. And he may or may not talk to them.

“Doc,” the B-29, is a real beauty. You can purchase this print and more, here.

We participated in the One Week Wonder. I learned how to pull a rivet (Angel listened like an obedient student), and we contributed to building a Van’s Aircraft RV-12iS. With the work of 100 core builders and 2500 AirVenture participants, the aircraft took its first flight on the last day of the show.

Speaking of homebuilt aircraft, this B-17, above, is 1/3 the size of the authentic aircraft and it can actually fly!

Did you know that most radial engines have an odd number of cylinders?

We took a stroll through Warbird Alley.

We could not resist the Spanish colors on this P-51 Mustang.

Then we made our way back to the flight line at air show center. All in just one day.

I took so many fewer photos than I thought I would. No photo can do justice to the feeling of AirVenture. If it is your first time at AirVenture, I can only recommend that you do not create a to-do list. Just go. Give yourself as much time as you can. Enjoy it. Do not try to see everything; it is impossible. But you will enjoy everything that you do see.

One day turns into the next, as airplanes are rotated in and out of Boeing Plaza. Above, the C-5 just landed and parked behind the KC-10 (latter also seen below).

AirVenture is not just about airplanes. It’s about stories. Your story. Her story. Sharing stories. Creating our story. It’s a story in which we are proud to be Americans and blessed to be able to return with a “welcome home,” whenever we choose.

The fun doesn’t end at 1800; there are social events happening every night at Oshkosh. Above, is the only food photo I took before devouring delicious meals in great company. This was at the Seaplane Pilot’s Association (SPA) Corn Roast, just before the mini bicycle race. It’s one enviable meal that we don’t get in Spain.

Our endless thanks go out to Angee, of One Plane Jane, and her family and friends for hosting us for: our first Oshkosh experience, our first camping experience, and thus our first camping experience at Oshkosh. One Plane Jane makes products to empower women, inspired by female aviators - celebrating her love for adventure. Earlier this year, we did an interview with Angee. Check out her story HERE.

I also had the pleasure of meeting my 99s Ambassador Chapter Chairman, in person, at our monthly meeting on the AirVenture grounds. Our meetings are virtual, so it was wonderful to finally share a hug, amidst a day of activities to inspire, normalize, and encourage women in aviation. Angee's booth was located right next to  The Ninety-Nines, Inc, International Organization of Women Pilots . If you are not already a member, consider joining. It's a wonderful group of women and the scholarship applications launch next month.

Until next year...

QUICK FACTS

• Attendance: Approximately 601,000
• Total aircraft: More than 10,000 at Wittman Regional Airport and other local airports; 19,588 aircraft operations at KOSH from 20-30 July; average of 134 takeoffs/landings per hour at KOSH; 2979 show planes
• Camping: More than 12,300 aircraft and drive-in camping sites (est. 40,000 people)
• Commercial Exhibitors: 867​

Source and more facts (EAA https://bit.ly/2M2rmlM)

Thanks to my dad and family for another great week down the shore! We were blessed with a week of blue skies and sunshine, but most importantly, time together.

How sweet it is to be loved by you.

Donuts or ice cream? If you had to pick just one, which would you choose? Though call when your options are Duck Donuts or Springer’s.

Proud to be Americans.

We finally rented bicycles this year. Maybe next year more people will ride them! ;) ;)

Under the boardwalk, we’ll be having some fun.

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean.

Last weekend, we took a round trip with our American friend and guest to Segovia, with a delicious detour to La Granja. The Royal Palace and its gardens, which we had never visited, were enthusiastically recommended by our cousin. And as we had not yet been to Segovia, together, we figured it would be a double-whammy.

We parked in La Granja and walked straight into a medieval festival that had the streets bustling with tourists and locals alike. At the top of the street, we asked the proprietor of the ceramic kiosk for a recommendation for lunch. The hour was 1445, just approaching the peak lunch time. He advised three restaurants and we made our way to the first, stopping to sample cheese of chili, lavender, and honey, and then toasting to our adventures with local artisanal beer.

We knew what we wanted to eat before we saw any menu. The first restaurant did not offer our desired dish, but they were kind enough to direct us to another restaurant with the most traditional food of the region. Thankful for small towns and collaborating, rather than strictly competing, restaurants, we made our way down the street to Reina 14 Restaurante, pausing only to photograph the display of barbecue meats and paella along the way.

Our noses assured us we were in the right place, the minute we entered the dining room, inhaling flavors richer than a homemade Thanksgiving feast. Imagine the smell of oven baked turkey wafting upstairs to your bedroom on the fourth Thursday of November. Now, imagine that smell, compounded from being cooked day after day with a meat more succulent than any bird.

White table clothes and wooden hutches and floor lamps adorned the room, with clear vases of lemons to add a bit of color. Feeling immediately at home, we ordered a cochinillo and cabrito, a young pig and young lamb, slow roasted in a clay baking pan. To begin, we accepted the waiter’s recommendation of Ribera wine and judias blancas, large white beans cooked in Castilian style with chorizo.

We finished the meal with espressos, a decadent chocolate mouse and chupitos de orujo, chilled shot glasses from which we sipped a homemade herbal liquor.

The owner, who served as a waiter alongside his son, walked us to the door and thanked us for dining with them. We lingered in the foyer to chat a bit, bouncing between subjects and learning the most from our response to politics. To be an Independent in the United States is to be someone who votes for the most qualified candidate to serve, irregardless of political parties. However, Independent, as a political affiliation, is a bit of a false cognate in Spanish. Claiming to be such a false friend, in the heart of the country, may get the door closed quietly behind you. Thankfully, we recognized our error and begged our pardon to the owner’s son, who spoke quite fluent English and had an American flat mate. Together, we realized we all had the same desires and decided the best (and least divisive) way to express our unity in Spain was to raise a glass and toast, “Viva Vino!”

With that, we parted, though we will surely return to share more meals with family and friends at Reina 14, where we savored perhaps our best meal in all of Spain.

Taking to our feet after a leisurely lunch, we made our way back up the cobblestone streets to the palace and gardens of La Granja de San Idlefonso. Embracing yet another pleasant surprise, we were greeted by perhaps 30 men and women in costume of 18th-century Europe. A social club had formed to meet on weekends in June to journey back in time to when the royal family and guests flooded the halls and gardens of the beautiful space nestled in the mountains.

We took a stroll through the gardens, resembling Versailles. Wanting to beat the rain, and to see Segovia before dark, we relished in only a fraction of the grounds, for on the other side of the palace, the stairs led down to more greenery and the end of the property was out of sight. It would be a most lovely spot to spend a summer weekend, perhaps at an Airbnb, and enjoy a novel on a bench under the canopy of trees in the shadow of the mountains.

​Segovia is just 20 minutes from La Granja de San Idlefonso. It is about an hour and a half, by car, from the center of Madrid, or about 30-minutes on the high-speed train from Chamartin. Take the train straight to Segovia, or drive through La Granja, approaching the historic town via the switchback mountain roads near Cercedilla.

We approached the town from the Aqueduct and then followed the road around to try to capture the castle from behind before we lost the light. You may recognize the castle, as it has inspired many, including Disney.

The benefits of driving are being able to move more easily around the outskirts of the town, which provide the most beautiful perspectives of the castle and cathedral. But if you have a full day, it is also quite walkable. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes for walking uphill and up and down stairs. There is no need to rush, but at times you may want to move quickly because you never know when a double rainbow may appear or vanish.

Parking and hopping across puddles, we hurried to the aqueduct, one of the best preserved Roman aqueducts, believed to be from the first or second century A.D.

The golden hour of the day highlighted the strength of the structure, held through the pillars and arches with only stone atop stone, and no mortar, except to seal the very top of the aqueduct. Humbled, we moved through the town to get one more look before being blanketed in darkness, stopping only to gulp some fresh mountain water from the public fountains and for a snapshot or two.

Copenhagen is a city of happy, obedient Vikings who know how to bake a cinnamon roll and drink beer (though not concurrently, I don’t believe, and better as such).

We felt a slight chill in the evening air, sporting our mid-weight jackets, while Vikings strolled around in flip flops and short pants. Note to self: do not visit Denmark in winter.

Bicycles waited at intersections, with not a moving vehicle within earshot. Pedestrians, too, halted at corners without traffic though skipped through the middle of the streets, like Whac-A-Mole, between cars and bikes. If they were not actually disobedient to a blatant red light, jaywalking appeared quite excuseable.

We whispered in daylight, walking down the street, feeling our normal volume was too loud for such a quiet society. The sounds were slight, but smells were incredible, oscillating from bakeries to florists, cinnamon to tulips.

We ran circles around the city, Angel moving quite quickly and Christine trying to track and intercept him for a couple kisses during the Copenhagen marathon.

He did it!

The energy throughout the cit was calm, yet inviting. Everyone was quite friendly, helpful, and encouraging.

Taking a stroll through the gardens, post-race, we toasted some Carlsberg to another great adventure.

We had but a taste of Denmark, but it was a good bite. Congratulations, Angel.

Flying is soaring between Heaven and Earth with a very real sense of mortality and responsibility. It is a balance of forces to create lift and a balance of focus to maintain attitudes. For the pilot governed by Visual Flight Rules, 20 percent of one’s focus is on the instruments while 80 percent looks outside at what God created. While the former could precess or falter, the latter is true.

The night before that day, Francis fell asleep with visions of the skies, of the moving clouds and of seemingly still stars. She sat, just weeks before, on the other end of Earth. On the southernmost shores of Patagonia, the clouds change constantly, while the stars appear the same to her as to her friend half a world away. Francis dreamt of flying through the clouds that others only watch pass by. Her breathing slowed as she fell into a deeper sleep, humbled by her inability to touch the stars, though she would use them for aim, charting her map on the grid and in her heart.

The day began the same, with two taps of the snooze button, a stretch, and shower. She pulled her hair into a ponytail, applied mascara, and made her coffee like she makes her life: simple, smooth, and strong. Pouring the hot drink into her pink and white ceramic mug, she was out the door with her purse on one shoulder and textbooks stacked in her other arm. It was just another calm morning, except this one was a bit different.

She drove east from the city on SR33, Rachmaninoff playing on the stereo as the sky began to blush. The sun, at first shy, finally broke free from the horizon and glowed. When her eastern route turned south, Francis knew she had arrived. The docile western wind blew the mist to the edge of the field to linger, hanging between light and leaves, marking a clear path for her journey.

Francis and her instructor finished their coffee and briefing at Sundowner Aviation. On the cue, “Let’s go fly,” they were off to the hangar, preflighting as a team, with a shared intention of a safe change of command in moments that would instantly become memories to be cherished both now and then.

It was time for her feet to release their grounding from Earth and her hands to let go of their connection to people. She was flying solo. While her instructor challenged her to learn, she ascended faster with no body next to her. After over 100 commercial flights that year, Francis moved from a mere passenger to pilot in command.

No longer was her head cocked to the side, taking photos while gliding between cities, nor her energy spent napping between cocktails. She was awake. She scanned her periphery, but looked straight ahead at the curvature of Earth and sky, commanding the aircraft to fly where she looked. Viewing two-thirds sky and one-third ground, she flew the best angle of climb into calm winds from the west.

Francis made the radio calls at each left turn in the traffic pattern. While she often told no one of her travel destinations, it was her responsibility and authority as a pilot to announce her intentions and her positions in the air and on the ground. Her energy was a steady state of calmness, while she controlled the aircraft, reducing power and refining its pitch to descend and obtain optimal glide speed. She maintained her 70mph glide and placed the runway marking, “2-8,” at a fist’s height above the dashboard of the cockpit. She saw just one red light on the precision approach path indicator (PAPI). She was high as she flew over the “2-8” with too much energy and obeyed her instructor’s voice on the radio to go around.

She wanted to make her first landing, but now she knew she needed to figure it out. No one was going to land the aircraft but her. Francis needed to reduce power sooner on her downwind leg and slow the aircraft before beginning her descent, so she would have only the smallest corrections to make as she flew closer to Earth.

“Fairfield County traffic,” Francis made the call, again, to the local area and announced her aircraft identity, “Final. Runway 2-8.” Rolling out of the turn from base to final, she had two red lights on the PAPI. Her eyes scanned from the airspeed indicator, reading 70mph, to the runway markings. She was on the glide path and only had to maintain speed and manipulate power settings as needed.

“The plane will fly where you look,” she heard her instructor’s voice in her head. The radio remained silent as she cleared the “2-8” marking and looked down the runway, leveling off and reducing power to stop the descent. She still carried slightly too much energy but was prepared to fight for a safe landing.

Francis continued to reduce power and raised the nose just before touchdown. Hello, Earth, she exhaled as the tricycle wheels connected with the runway. She released backpressure on the yoke to lower the nose, and pulled the power to idle. She made her first solo landing! Francis raised the flaps and added full power, keeping her butt over the center of the runway while pushing forward on the yoke to keep it grounded, resisting the trim that helped her fly smoothly moments before. At 60mph and full power, she pulled back on the yoke and applied a bit of right rudder, finally allowing the plane to do what it craved - fly!

She only had to make two more landings to legally complete her first solo, striving to improve her use of energy with every turn.
Five approaches and four landings later, Francis taxied to the airport, completed her checklist and powered down the aircraft. She opened the door to share in the listening to and creation of laughter with her instructor.

“I got some video,” he told her.

She laughed more, knowing the landings were not as graceful as she desired. “That is why I write fiction,” Francis told her instructor. “I can make it more elegant than it actually was.”

While the grace may not have been ideal in every approach the aircraft made to Earth, it was certainly present in the pilot’s approach to learning, as she demonstrated her ability and willingness to improve every day. The science is written and the responsibility accepted. But the art was hers to learn, to create, and to refine.

First printed in The Blog on the Huffington Post on 25 November 2014.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-hannon/higher-learning-a-pilots-_b_6199068.html 

For the board, we simply cut and painted a cardboard box, covered the back of the box with maps (because we're nerds), and prepared our presentation as seen above. Special thanks to Silvia for the use of her airplane costume! Keep reading to see it lit up, below.

Here is our entire board. In the middle, are the parts of the airplane. We explained these to the girls and how the control surfaces move the airplane. The labels are attached with velcro, which we removed after the explanation and had the girls attach the labels in the correct places. Parts labeled include: propeller, cockpit, fuselage, rudder, elevator, stabilizers, wings, flaps, ailerons, and landing gear.

For the younger girls, especially the Daisies, we taught them the phonetic alphabet and when and why we use it. Then the girls practiced by writing their names using the phonetic alphabet with paper and crayons. Worksheets with copies of the alphabet were helpful to have at the table for reference.

We used velcro numbers to explain reciprocal runway headings, with a spinning compass, for reference, below. We also had a windsock. After learning that the airplane takes off and lands against the wind and how to read a windsock, the girls determined the preferred runway with different windsock situations. With four sets of four numbers, the board was interactive as we placed one runway heading on the board and had the girls determine the placement of the other three numbers.

Rotations were approximately 15 minutes. We made quick introductions, showed a 4-minute video, began with the parts of the aircraft, and then spent the remaining time on either the alphabet or runway headings, depending on the age of the group.

We hope to have an Aviation Day in the fall. Please contact us if you have any experience with this, would like to sponsor the event, or would like to volunteer. Thank you.

Angel and I traveled to Everest Base Camp in February and March of 2018. We did not travel with a group, nor with a guide, nor a porter. But we wanted to connect with the locals beyond our evening huddles around the dining room stove. Pack for a Purpose, a 501(c)(3) based in North Carolina, offered the perfect opportunity.
 
It is easy to think that kids elsewhere need what we have. But maybe they don’t. Maybe we are confusing our own wants and needs. Or maybe someone else already delivered it.
 
Pack for a Purpose describes itself: “We provide travelers with info about needed supplies for community projects supported by accommodations and tour companies worldwide.”
 
The key here is needed supplies. As independent travelers, not already affiliated with any tourist agency, we had four organizations with whom we could participate in Nepal, two of them in Kathmandu. Each had a slightly different list of supplies, to support their needs. We collected: colored pencils, erasers, handheld pencil sharpeners, markers, pencils, pens, protractors, and rulers. Be sure to check the website for the most current requests.

In addition to collecting supplies for a village school of 350 children, Trekking Team Group has partnered with a German company, Nepalhilfe im kleinen Rahmen, to provide more infrastructure and programs for the school. Together, they:

• Helped build a school for poor villagers and provide access to small children, who previously were not able to walk the long way to school.

• Provided school uniforms and a book bag for village students whose parents could not afford it.
• Improved the cooking stove. Previously women spent much time in the kitchen and it was difficult to breathe with all of the smoke. Many developed lung problems, such as asthma. There were even chances of fire on a windy day. Many kids were burned. Now all problems are solved.
• Provided drinking water supply. Previously, the kids used to walk many hours before school to collect water. Now their water collecting time is saved.
• Held a dental camp. There was a big problem with students’ dental hygiene. They didn’t know how to brush properly or when to brush. Many of them had teeth problems because they had too many sweets. The awareness camp and lesson of how to brush properly and when to brush helped them a lot. Now they are even teaching their parents. This is the achievement they wanted to have.
• Providing hot lunches for students in the village school. Some of the children did not have enough food at home.

 
A few weeks after our return home, I received an email from Shreehari. He had traveled with a large group to deliver our donations and many more to the children. The children created hand-written thank you notes to show their gratitude.

You, too, can Pack for a Purpose on your next trip. Here’s how:

• Visit packforapurpose.org
• Choose a participating organization in your destination (NB: Don’t assume that there are or aren’t organizations in your area, as there are even some in the United States. The website is updated frequently to reflect current needs)
• Collect some of the requested items and pack them in your suitcase
• Contact the organization to coordinate delivery when you arrive
• Deliver donations to the organization in your destination
• Tell everyone you know about your experience so they can do the same on their future travels
• Not traveling? You can also donate to the organization here.

 
A million thanks to everyone who contributed, especially Sonía, Sara, and Angel’s Delta Air Lines colleagues in Madrid.
 
We are made for relationships.  ​

Mentioned in this article:
Pack for a Purpose
Trekking Team Group

Nepal, Part 4: Keep Climbing. Our trekking journey from Dingboche to Everest Base Camp and back to Lukla. Click "read more" to watch the video. Narration is in Spanish and English.

Nepal, Part 3: Into Thin Air. Click "read more" to watch the video of our journey from Lukla to Dingboche. Video is in Spanish and English.

Nepal, Part 2: The World's Most Dangerous Airport. Click "read more" to watch the video of our flight to Lukla.

Nepal, Part 1: Madrid to Kathmandu, via Istanbul. Click "read more" to watch video.

Why do we go to bed so late? How do you fill your hours?

Remember the days of lying on your back, as a kid, watching the clouds pass overhead and noting which ones looked like Simpsons characters and which ones looked like race cars or airplanes? When did we stop looking up? When did start teaching more analysis instead of creativity? ​

We walked between five and eight hours a day, stopping in a village for a warm bowl of garlic soup and a hot cup of lemon tea, or perhaps just snacking on granola bars and apple pie - our favorite ration that we acquired, in both directions, passing through Namche Bazaar - and pushing onwards. ​

We are so small. We were reminded of this every day by looking up. Four of the 14 peeks over 8000 meters are in the Everest region.  ​

On 5 March, we commented about how we had not yet showered that month. No one in the room had. We bathed in baby wipes, dried with baby powder, and wasted not a drop of water between hydration and teeth brushing.

We tasted kindness, in the form of hearty second helpings of dal baht, the most typical and fulfilling meal of the land, and gifts of sherpa cookies, leftover from a recent festival. ​

​Many more people were coming up the mountain, as we trotted down. "You can do it. It's worth it," we would tell them, as we slowed to pass each other with care amidst the loose rocks tumbling underfoot. 

Namaste. 

The following was our actual itinerary in the mountains. We arrived 24 February in Kathmandu and departed 26 February for Lukla. At the end of our trip, we departed Kathmandu on the same day we arrived from Lukla. This was only possible because of our ability to fly standby/space-available and we would not recommend it to confirmed passengers due to the unpredictable weather leaving Lukla. Many of those who became ill on the mountains could attribute their discomfort, pain, or sickness to the pressure of an imminent return flight and thus ascending too fast. Above 3000 m, it is not recommended to ascend/sleep more than 300-500 m per day. For more details on where we stayed and how to prepare, contact us. We encourage any general questions in the comments and we will gladly follow-up with a FAQ post. 

1. 26 February: Lukla to Monjo (3 hours to Phakding; 2.5 hours to Monjo)
2. 27 February: Monjo to Namche (3 hours, 43 minutes)
3. 28 February: Namche, with acclimatization hike, west to east, through Khumjung (3 hours, 39 minutes)
4. 1 March: Namche to Tengboche (5 hours)
5. 2 March: Tengboche to Dingboche (6 hours, with stop for 1 hour in Somare for lunch)
6. 3 March: Acclimatization in Dingboche, hike about 300m up Nagkar Tshang (3 hours, lingering)
7. 4 March: Dingboche to Dughla (3 hours)
8. 5 March: Dughla to Lobuche (2.5 hours)
9. 6 March: Lobuche to Gorak Shep to EBC to Gorak Shep (4 hours to Gorak Shep; 5 hours roundtrip to EBC, with about 30 minutes for photos)
10. 7 March: Gorak Shep to Pheriche (3 hours to Loboche, 1.5 hours to Dughla, stop for lunch, 2.5 hours to Pheriche)
11. 8 March: Pheriche to Namche (4 hours to Tengboche, 4 hours to Namche)
12. 9 March: Namche to Lukla (8 hours, including hour stop for lunch in Phakding)
13. 10 March: Lukla to Kathmandu

My hero. Infinite thanks to Angel for carrying my bags for an entire day downhill from Gorak Shep to Pheriche. 

Only 6.71% of pilots are women, according to the FAA's Aeronautical Center (31 December 2016 data). That number drops to 4.36% for Airline Transport Pilots. We want to expose girls and young women to all that is possible. So we've decided to collaborate with with a few women whose personalities and businesses we've grown quite fond of.

First up, we have Angee, from One Plane Jane. Earlier this week, we had the chance to talk about flying and family. Thanks, Angee, for sharing your story and for inspiring the aviation community, and beyond, with your products.

Tell us about yourself.
I am 41. I have three kids (now adults!), and two dogs (toy poodles). I am married to Kevin, who is awesome and my biggest supporter.

You've described One Plane Jane as an adventure. Tell us about it. What inspired you to create One Plane Jane and what inspires you to keep creating new messages?
After earning my Private Pilot License, I wanted a cool flight bag, but I couldn't find a feminine one. My husband, Kevin, told me, "You should make one." So I did. I learned how to make leather bags and bought an industrial sewing machine. I knew how to run a business, having owned and run an auto collision shop, but everything else was a huge learning curve in a new industry. I started the business with a friend, but later bought her share. I'm not really a shopper and had to learn all about apparel and accessories. My husband has been my inspiration, pushing me from the first flight bag. 

What is your favorite quote?
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about." - Wendy Mass

What is a belief or behavior that has changed your life?
Realizing and accepting that I can only control myself. I struggled with grey and often looked at things as all or nothing. But nothing is all one way or another. You can't control other people; you can only control yourself. Shifting that mindset has made a big difference. Also, about five years ago, I got serious about fitness and felt absolutely amazing. 

What would you put on a billboard?
​First Love Yourself.

What do you remember from your first solo? 
Freaked out! I was not expecting it. We were doing takeoffs and landings in the pattern, and, after three or four, my instructor told me to take her up to the ramp. She hopped out and told me to do three more landings on my own. It was my first time in an airplane by myself and I felt calm and peaceful. Once airborne, the freaking out was over. I had a task to do. I had to land. I still enjoying flying solo, today. Sometimes my dogs come fly too!

What is the biggest change in aviation since your first flight? 
No smoking! During my first passenger flight, when I was a kid, you could still smoke on the airplanes. Security has changed significantly. I have not noticed the female pilot statistics, but I have noticed more male flight attendants now.  

What advice would you give to a young woman who is interested in a traditionally male-dominant industry? 
I grew up in and then owned an auto-shop. I've gotten my hands quite dirty with home rehabs. Until aviation, it was never a big deal to be a woman in a male-dominant industry. I never felt like I was treated less for being a woman. Since flying, I have heard some less than kind and discouraging remarks. My advice - ignore them. You cannot control them. You cannot let them question for desire to fly! My husband is a pilot too. We both fly for fun.

What's the one thing you miss the most when traveling? 
My puppies.

Where will your next adventure take you? 
My next adventure is being an empty nester, with my daughter going to college in the fall. Our next adventure is a family spring break trip, this coming week, to Hawaii, then off to Sun n' Fun. ​​ 

• Why do you want to take this trip?
• ¿Por qué quieres hacer este viaje?

C: I want to bear witness to the highest peak on earth. I want to do it holding Angel's hand. I absolutely loved Nepal on my first visit and I hope to return again and again. 
A:  Contribuir a otra cultura, aprender sobre la cultura, descubrir nuevos límites. To contribute to another culture, to learn about the culture, to discover new limits.

• What do you want to learn?
• ¿Que quieres aprender?

C: I want to learn about the people in the villages. I want to talk to the women who feed us and learn how they prepare our meals. I want to hear the stories of men and women who climbed higher and of those who are on their way to the top.
A: Quiero aprender sobre la cultura de Nepal y al día a día de la vida local. También quiero aprender nuevas habilidades de supervivencia. I want to learn about the Nepalese culture and every day local life. I also want to learn new survival skills.

• What personal habits, preconceptions or self-care do you want to focus on during your trip?
• ¿En qué hábitos personales, ideas preconcebidas o autocuidado deseas enfocarte durante tu viaje?

C: Stretching. And slowing down. On my first trip to Nepal, I had some time constraints and trekked downhill too fast, causing incredible long-term pain to my left knee. I look forward to being forced to slow down due to the higher altitude on this trek, spending afternoons sipping tea and stretching hip flexors. I am bringing a pair of flip flops and sneakers, so that my feet can heal, free from hours laced inside boots, though of course bundled up in warm fuzzy socks.
A: Relajacion y conciencia. Relaxation and mindfulness. 

• How will you immerse yourself in the culture?
• ¿Cómo te sumergirás en la cultura?

C: Two words: Dal Baht. Oh, and tea. I will eat what the locals eat. Just like each American family has its own chili recipe and each \ member of a Spanish family adapts their own cocido, each teahouse has a unique dal baht. The rice is the same, but the lentils and vegetables are fresh from the garden outside. It's delicious. I hope to be able to spend some time in the kitchen, observing and even learning how to make the meal that will fuel our days and warm our nights.
A: Aprendiendo y probando nuevos hábitos, costumbres; comidas compartidas con los lugareños; aprendiendo palabras en un nuevo idioma. Learning and trying new habits; shared meals with locals; learning words in a new language.

• How will you challenge yourself to get outside your comfort zone (while being safe of course!)?
• ¿Cómo te desafiarás a ti mismo a salir de tu zona de confort (manteniendo una seguridad, por supuesto)?

C: 5643 meters/18,513 feet. That's the highest we expect (and hope) to trek! It's the highest I'll have ever been.
A: Sin alcohol, sin teléfono celular, dejando las comodidades del hogar. No alcohol, no cell phone, leaving the comforts of home.

• Where, when and for how long will you journal and reflect each day?
• ¿Dónde, cuándo y por cuánto tiempo publicará y reflejará el día a día?

C: I'll journal every day, usually in the evenings, though perhaps over a pot of tea with breakfast as well. 
A: Video diario. Daily video journal.

• What are some ways to connect with yourself, your travel mates and the locals?
• ¿Cuáles serán algunas formas de conectar consigo mismo, tus compañeros de viaje y los lugareños?

C: I usually travel with a few printed photos, to tell stories of people and places at home and to avoid introducing electronics into a meaningful conversation. I'll also pack playing cards and will be sure to pick up a map along the way. The tables are communal and, due to the altitude, we will likely be crossing paths with many of the same folks throughout our journey.
A: Conversaciones, observaciones, juegos. Conversation, observation, games.
​

• What’s something active you can do on your trip to get your adrenaline pumping?
• ¿Qué es algo activo que puedes hacer en tu viaje para obtener tu adrenalina?

C: See the question, "How will you challenge yourself." We will get our adrenaline pumping by flying into the world's most dangerous airport, Lukla. And we will relax by bookending our trip with massages as Seeing Hands. 
A: Trekking a mas de 5000m de altitud. Trekking above 5000m of altitude.