I don't want to be here. At work, I mean. It's going to be hot and sunny today. And if you're reading this right now, during normal work hours, we are likely pretty simpatico.
I'm thinking about water. Actually I'm thinking about beer and water. I'm thinking about a sweat-soaked July evening and looking at an orange fingernail moon outside Mike's Westview in Amherst. Double-digit collections of ponies of Rolling Rock left behind.
A short hop to Puffer's Pond. And swimming. A half dozen of us. And we met others.
SO.
The past is. But if you have fond memories of old-fashioned, swimming holes, the folks at swimming holes.info have taken it upon themselves to compile lists of such places around this great land of ours.
In the Bay State, they list 37, with most of them concentrated in Western Mass. and around the Cape. They offer you directions to each place, along with descriptions, fees (if any), whether swimming is officially sanctioned (not necessarily a legal distinction), when the listing was last updated, and whether bathing suits are "Required," "Optional," or "Customary" (sadly they make no distinction about time of day for such niceties).

Southwest plans to start offering international flights for the first time through a partnership deal with Canada's WestJet.
Southwest said it is working on a so-called code-sharing agreement with WestJet, a low-fare, Canadian regional airline, which flies around Canada as well as to Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Code-sharing deals typically allow carriers to sell tickets on each other's flights.
The airlines hope to detail schedules, fares, and other features of the pact by late next year. I think it's pretty safe to say, though, that New England customers of Southwest, which services Providence, Hartford, and Manchester, will likely be among the recipients of more lower-fare options to Canadian destinations. The agreement is subject to review by regulators.

Over the weekend while playing Cranium, I had to draw a picture of a kilt, with my eyes closed mind you, and good enough to make my husband scream, "Kilt" with conviction. Needless to say, we did not move 2 spaces forward. So with kilts on the brain, I will tell you about a Celtic Festival happening on July 12th in Blackstone Valley. Yeah, I have never heard of Blackstone Valley either, but it's an area in Massachusetts down by the intersection of Connecticut and Rhode Island. Anyway, the Blackstone Valley Celtic Festival is in its 6th year and has beefed up its program to entice even more of you to come see the bagpipes, fiddles and even vote for your favorite kilt-wearing man! Bring the kiddos as well, because there is a special Celtic Kids Pavilion for crafts and fun.

All adult tickets are priced at $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Ages 65 and over and children 8-16 pay $10 in advance and $12 at the gate. Children under 8 are free and so is parking. I wish I could say the gas is free too, but at least it's there and back in a tank or less from Boston!

Western Massachusetts is such a hotbed for fine artisans and varied crafters, and this time of year, the region is flooded with new talent, familiar faces, and much excitement. This weekend, July 4-5, is set for Great Barrington's Berkshires Arts Festival where over 175 juried artists gather to show and sell their wares.

The Festival is geared for families too with live demonstrations and workshops for both adults and children, great food, and plenty of live music. The opportunity to meet and speak with so many talented artists and craftspeople is an inspiring experience. The show is held under large outdoor tents, and in Ski Butternut's lodge. Held rain or shine, the festival is worth the drive out to the Berkshires.

Adults pay $10, seniors $9, and students $5. Children under 10 are free and a weekend pass is available for $13 if you plan on seeing all the festival has to offer - and it will take 2 days! Hours are Friday, July 4, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Want to stay a while? Visit the Berkshire Visitors Bureau for lodging information. And take a peek at last year's show here.

A lot of people will be bound for Cape Cod this summer, and parents in particular might be looking for an alternative to the Wii, the Xbox, and the television. Have you thought about getting the kids onto the Internet? Kidding, kidding. An antidote to all of the above would be fresh air and a new perspective on nature, and to that end, the Mass. Audubon Society has several kayaking programs for all ages and levels of ability. The Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in the Barnstable village of Cummaquid has some 38 guided kayak trips scheduled this summer, and the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary has 23 trips planned along the Outer Cape.
For example, Long Pasture is hosting a trip tomorrow (that’s June 28) from 9 a.m. to noon that will traverse Cape Cod’s largest barrier beach and salt marsh system, Sandy Neck. Kayakers will explore the many tidal creeks and islands of Barnstable Harbor in search of shorebirds, osprey, horseshoe crabs, and other marsh inhabitants. They will also make a landing at the Sandy Neck barrier beach, a pristine, 6-mile stretch of coastline protected by the town of Barnstable. This trip is intended for those with previous kayaking experience, yet all experience levels are welcome. The cost is $35 for Mass. Audubon members, $40 for nonmembers, and kayaks, paddles, and life vests are provided. To register or for more information, call 508-362-7475. For the first time, the Long Pasture sanctuary will also offer trips this summer to the Herring River in West Harwich and the Bass River in Dennis.
Wellfleet Bay will offer nine twilight canoe paddles across a string of interconnected ponds in Wellfleet. For more complete immersion, sign up for Wellfleet Bay’s “Coastal Ecology by Kayak” program, a four-day course that provides training for shorebird identification and analysis of coastal botany. Two sessions will run: July 30-Aug. 2 and Aug. 13-16. For more information on these programs, go to the Long Pasture or Wellfleet Bay websites and click on “program catalog” on the left side of the page.

If you find yourself on Cape Cod over Fourth of July week, you might want to take advantage of a couple of programs designed to lure people to Hyannis, which is the downtown village in the town of Barnstable and arguably the region’s central business district. On Thursday, July 3, the galleries and studios of Pearl Street (just a couple of blocks west of the major Main Street intersection with Center Street and Old Colony Road) will host “Artscape 1st Thursdays.” Studios include the Shirley Blair Flynn Center for the Creative Arts, the Guyer Barn, ArtSpace, Breakdown Lane, and a new cooperative gallery called The Cultured Pearl. Complimentary appetizers and beverages will be served, and attendees can receive a 20 percent discount on dinner at participating restaurants by getting their brochure stamped. Another Thursday evening staple, the TD Banknorth Summer Stroll, with entertainers livening the Main Street scene, begins the same night and runs from 6-9 p.m. The Amazing Richard, a magician, will perform near Palio’s Pizzeria at 435 Main Street. Inca Son, an Andean musician, will play across the way near Kandy Korner at 474 Main Street, and Rebecca Marona will draw caricatures and do free face-painting in front of R&S Avenue, a children’s boutique at 547 Main Street. Go to hyannismainstreet.com for more information on the 120 shops and 40 restaurants in the district.

A sample of Tripping Lily's music.

Your fingers are nearly guaranteed to fly at the annual Hands on the Arts Festival this weekend 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Home to the Cape’s oldest working historical windmill, the Eastham Cultural Council transforms the green into an arts showcase geared to kids of all ages.
Under the big tent, visitors can explore arts and crafts like Japanese brush painting, jewelry making, easel painting, and fiber arts, all taught by local artists. Burgeoning artists can try their hands at making paper flowers, shell ornaments, and braided key chains. A perpetual crowd pleaser is the sculpture crafted from found objects, proving again the timeless adage that one’s person’s trash is another’s person’s work of art.
Besides the activities in the tent, the works of more than 50 artists will be on sale during the juried craft show.
Once you’ve had your fill of the visual it’s time to move on to the performing arts. The costumed, handmade Gerwick Puppets, will perform plays both days. And the Yo-Yo People show there’s more to the past time pastime than old school tricks like walk the dog.
For music lovers, Tripping Lily, a group featuring stringed instruments like such as mandolin, violin, and ukulele, will bring their blend of bluegrass and quirky pop, and Provincetown Jazz Festival founder and drummer Bart Weisman will perform with his entourage.
Hungry? They’ll There will be plenty of barbecue and made-to-order sandwiches for sale.
Posted by Marty Basch, Globe Correspondent

Lee-ann Wilbur and Donald Woods once spent Valentine’s night in the Lizzie Borden B&B in Fall River, so I guess they understand the appeal of sleeping at a murder scene. Now the couple owns the B&B, and they’ve found that the demand for the John Morse guest room, where Abby Borden’s body was discovered, skyrockets on the Aug. 4 anniversary. So, instead of starting a waiting list, for the third year running, they’re auctioning off a one-night stay for two in the Morse room on eBay. You still have time to bid until June 11. One aficionado of the Borden case won the auction in both of the first two years, but he’s promised not to bid this year. The winner also gets two “I Survived The Night At The Lizzie Borden B&B” T-shirts and a Lizzie Borden bobblehead doll.

Posted by Patricia Harris, Globe Correspondent

Excuse me while I try to overcome an onslaught of peristaltic contractions. I'm not a ride guy. To me, they are like mechanically induced food poisoning: headache, nausea, oy.
But I know some of you are. So our pals at Travel + Leisure (so what's up with the plus sign?) have compiled a list of the World's Top Ten. Now why do you care? Well because our own Six Flags New England in the lovely bedroom community of Agawam made the list with its Superman Ride of Steel. (The good folks at Boston.com have also compiled a list of the top ten in North America, including footage of what it's like on the Superman ride.)
If you want the details, read on. I think I need to lie down. Got any saltines?

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The rodeo, with its bronco-riding, calf-roping cowboys and cowgirls, seems about as quintessentially Western as you can get. But the Painted Pony Rodeo, the oldest weekly rodeo in the country, is actually just a few hours’ drive from Boston, in the Adirondacks’ Lake Luzerne.
But tomorrow, the Painted Pony Rodeo crosses into northern Vermont for a show in Highgate. This is professional rodeo, and the event should attract up to 100 men and women from as far away as Texas, who are earning professional points competing in events like bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, and cowgirls’ barrel racing, where riders steer their horses at a fast clip around a set of barrels.
There’s also an opening pageant, as well as rodeo clowns, and a trick roper who can do just about anything with a lasso. Wear your cowboy hat or come early: The first 100 kids children to arrive get a free cowboy hat.
Tickets for adults are $15, for children $10, and ages 5 and under free. Gates open at 4 p.m., and the show starts at 7, rain or shine.
Posted by Kathy Shorr, Globe Correspondent

And so the cuts begin. American says it will cancel its daily Boston-San Diego service Sept. 3. The struggling carrier also says it will halt New York-London Stansted as of July 2, Chicago to Buenos Aires Sept. 3.Chicago-Honolulu Jan. 5, and trim American Eagle service in September to 33 flights, from the normal winter schedule of 55 daily departures.
These reductions are all part of the carrier's plan to reduce its schedule by as much as 12 percent and that of its regional Eagle service by as much as 11 percent. American detailed all this about a week ago -- at the same time it dropped the bomb about charging passengers $15 for even a first checked bag.
Be forewarned. This is just the beginning. News of more cuts will continue to trickle out.
If you are planning travel in the fall, you might do well to start making those plans soon. Decent fares and available seats will not be easier to come by as time passes.

Wondering where to stay in Seattle? Try the Queen Anne section, which evokes old-school, bohemian Harvard Square minus the traffic. There are great restaurants such as Phuket and Racha (both serving Thai cuisine), the Melting Pot (cheese fondue), the Mercury (a fancy spot with lamb, steak and halibut), Pagliacci Pizza (a student hangout and you can’t beat their salads), and the diner-like Mecca and ever-funky Dick’s, both specializing in burgers. Culturally, the Uptown Moviehouse features the latest art films. And you’ll find terrific used-record stores such as Easy Street Records and Underdawg Records, both trumpeting the recent comeback of vinyl. The minimally named Used Books is a great bookstore. The club scene is well-represented with Peso’s (a wild ‘n’ crazy room late at night), Floyd’s Place (with 27 beers on tap), and Chopstix, a dueling piano bar. There’s also the 24-hour Metropolitan supermarket and 24-hour Bartell drugstore. This neighborhood caters to every need. And recommended lodging is at the MarQueen Hotel, a historic but inexpensive place with kitchens in the units.
Posted By Steve Morse, Globe Correspondent

Combine tickets to the Red Sox and a day of discount shopping and it's a perfect getaway for many. That's just what Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel and Wrentham Village Premium Outlets are offering with their "Short Stop and Shop" Package.

Although they tout this for international visitors, it's available to all. Included are:
- three-night or four-night accommodations for two
- two tickets to Red Sox game
- round-trip transportation for two from the hotel to the outlets, for a day of shopping
- one $25 Chelsea Premium Outlets gift card
- one $5 VIP Chelsea Premium Outlets discount coupon book

Four-night package dates:
- July 5-9, with tickets on July 7 or 8 (Boston vs. Minnesota)
- July 25-29, with tickets on July 28 or 29 (Boston vs. Los Angeles)
- Aug. 31-Sept. 4, with one set of tickets on Sept.1, 2 or 3 (Boston vs. Baltimore)

Three-Night package dates:
- Aug.17-Aug. 20, ith baseball tickets on Aug. 17 (Boston vs. Toronto)

The four-night package price is $919; three-night $739 (including tax; excluding alcohol, parking, and gratuities). Availability is limited. For reservations, call 1-800-228-9290 and ask for promotional code ZJL.

The Student and Youth Travel Association (SYTA) has released these Top 10 rankings for US, North America, and International hot spots for student and youth travel from their annual member survey, which polls student and youth travel industry professionals on current and emerging trends:

Top 10 U.S. Destinations
1. Washington D.C.
2. New York City
3. Orlando
4. Chicago
5. Greater Boston
6. Historic Virginia
7. Southern California
8. Philadelphia Area
9. Baltimore/Annapolis
10. Hawaii

Top North America Destinations
1. Toronto
2. Montreal
3. Quebec City
4. Vancouver
5. Cancun & the Yucatan
6. Calgary
7. Edmonton
8. Ottawa
9. Oaxaca
10. Mexico City

Top 10 International Destinations
1. United Kingdom
2. France
3. Italy
4. Spain
5. Australia
6. Germany
7. Greece
8. Brazil
9. Peru
10. China

United says it will no longer award a minimum of 500 frequent-flier miles on each flight starting with its July 1 flights no matter when they were ticketed. Now travelers will only get credit for the actual distance flown.
The loss of this little perk will matter little to most of us but will sting many frequent and business customers who used to be able to rack up big miles this way.
It follows a move by US Airways, a United code-sharing partner, which did the same thing back in February. Oh, and did I mention US Airways and United also happen to be in merger talks?

April showers bring May flowers, of course, but up higher, the greenest of leaves. These shades inadequately captured by a point and shoot camera the other day on a drive from Amherst to Athol. The palette was deeper and sharper, crawling up into distant hills, when seen with the naked eye. Looks like a bumper crop coming this fall...

If you haven't been training, then it may be a little late for this weekend's 7 Sisters Trail Race in Amherst. As the race website promises:

"Very scenic overlooks of the Pioneer Valley with views of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, Hampshire College and the Town of Amherst, as well as a beautiful view of the Connecticut River and Northampton to the west."

Only problem is, those views come while humping up and down very rocky terrain for 12 miles.

If you need a bit more time to get in shape, there're always the races at the Pineland Farms Trail Challenge, in New Gloucester, Maine.

Those races are bit longer, at 25 kilometers, 50 kilometers, and 50 miles. And as the web site warns: "The trails are wide and non-technical, but very hilly. Although there are no major climbs the rolling terrain is unrelenting."

Happy trails...

Last week's April school vacation was pretty ho-hum for my kids, except for a surprise my husband and I launched at the last minute to completely blow their minds. (Not all that hard to do with a 9- and a 7-year-old.) Back in November we "won" a gift certificate for a helicopter ride for four at a silent auction to benefit our local schools. We cashed it in on a warm spring day when fuel prices are sky-high, so I'm guessing we got a bargain.
We donned headphones, strapped in, and lifted off from Norwood Airport. Our pilot took us on a 1-hour tour over Boston with running commentary. (It was cool to hear him on the radio politely requesting clearance for our various buzz-overs.) We peeked into the upper levels of office buildings downtown, flew over the USS Constitution (educational, no?) and Bunker Hill (looks surprisingly small from above), and saw our reflection in the John Hancock tower (the only bumpy part -- the air up there seems to follow its own weather pattern).

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You have until midnight to score this. Southwest is offering a sale for travel May 8-31, with prices as low as $48 one way. From Providence, $48 gets you to Baltimore/Washington Int'l, $83 to Columbus, Ohio, $66 to Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and $94 to West Palm Beach. Blackout dates are May 22, 23, and 26 and all reservations must be made on the site. Other fees apply. These are pretty good rates, but it's always wise to shop. In this case quickly.

OR, MY SO-CALLED GLAMOROUS LIFE

When I tell people I live in both Boston and Miami Beach their reactions range from admiring to insanely jealous. My Boston friends imagine me wearing flip-flops in February and swimming morning laps in the outdoor community pool. (True.) My Miami friends imagine me escaping the endlessly muggy Miami summer and sitting on my deck enjoying cocktails in lovely New England summer evenings. (Also true.)

But this glamorous life comes at a price. First, call me Queen of the Sublet. I can’t afford two mortgages and so twice a year I’m advertising on craigslist and then I’m cleaning/packing/unpacking and cleaning again. In between comes the driving. Twice a year—round trip—1500 miles each way. Actually, after three days of packing and loading the van the drive is a relief.

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Following competitors' efforts to offset rising fuel costs, American said that it will start charging most passengers a fee to check in a second bag. Passengers on American and American Eagle who purchase discounted economy-class tickets on or after May 12 for travel within the United States, US territories, or Canada will have to pay $25 for the second piece of checked luggage. The new policy does not apply to frequent fliers who have earned the gold, platinum or executive platinum status in the AAdvantage program or to passengers who pay for a full-fare economy ticket. America is now the sixth and last legacy hub-and-spoke carrier to adopt the charge since February. Last week, JetBlue said it would charge a $20 fee for the second checked bag to customers who purchase seats on or after May 1 for travel on or after June 1.
Posted by Nicole C. Wong, Globe Staff

Yes, it's that time of year again. It's a no-brainer. Sneak a peek at the website and head to the participating shop nearest you, belly up to the counter and score a free cone. This being their 30th year, B&J's is offering up a few new flavors: Coconut Seven Layer Bar (coconut ice cream, fudge flakes, walnuts, graham cracker and butterscotch), Imagine Whirled Peace (caramel and sweet cream ice creams with fudge peace signs and toffee cookies), One Cheesecake Brownie (yes, cheesecake ice cream and brownie chunks), and Cake Batter.
OK, so it could be warmer outside. But we're talking free ice cream here.

This offer from Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel is pricey, but if a Sox fan is willing to pay $175,000 for a once-buried, torn Ortiz jersey, this might seem like a bargain.

Here's the deal: The Waterfront Luxury Suite Baseball Package costs $1,200.
It includes: two field box seats to a Sox game at Fenway (seats are six rows from the field, on the third base line,section 31, Box 78, Row D); overnight hotel accommodations on the evening of the game, in a new Waterfront Luxury Suite; breakfast for two the next morning at Oceana Restaurant; and complimentary overnight parking for one car.

Check the website for games dates (no Yankees games on the list).

You have to pay in full at time of booking and the fee is nonrefundable. Availability is limited, so if this would make the perfect Mother's or Father's Day gift, act now.

It's that time of year again. The sun is shining; buds are budding, and airlines add international service at Logan ahead of the busy summer travel season -- and all just for your travel convenience.
So, get a pencil. Here's the list, courtesy of Matthew Brelis, Massport's director of media relations:
At the end of this month, Aer Lingus will increase Dublin service to seven times a week from four, and Lufthansa doubles Frankfurt flights to 14 from seven.
On June 6, Iberia heads to Madrid seven times a week, up from three. Two days later, Icelandair increases Reykjavik service to 11 times from seven, and on June 9 Air France takes off for Paris 14 times a week, up from seven. SATA will double service to Ponta Delgada, Azores to four times a week from two on June 26.

The May issue of Parents magazine has compiled of list of what it considers the 10 best US and Caribbean beach resorts for families. Lo and behold, a Cape Cod resort clocks in at number 8, competing alongside heavy hitters in Florida, Hawaii, California, and the Caribbean. The rankings are based in part on cost, quality of supervised children’s programs, variety of family activities, and quality of pool and beach areas. In order of their rankings, here's the list:
1. Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya (Bahamas)
2. Club Med Punta Cana (Dominican Republic)
3. South Seas Island Resort (Captiva Island, Fla.)
4. Atlantis, Paradise Island (Bahamas)
5. Disney’s Vero Beach Resort (Florida)
6. Beaches Negril Resort and Spa (Jamaica)
7. Hilton Hawaiian Village (Honolulu)
8. Ocean Edge Resort & Spa (Brewster)
9.Loew’s Coronado Bay Beach Resort & Spa (San Diego)
10. Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort Casino & Spa (Puerto Rico)

Spirit is starting Boston to Trinidad service via its Fort Lauderdale hub June 12. The discounter already offers flights from here to a couple dozen destinations, mostly in Florida and the Caribbean. To kick things off they (of the we-charge-for-checked-bags-and-just-about-everything-else) are advertising fares as low as 5 cents a seat (That deal ends today and involves flights between Fort Lauderdale and Port of Spain. Spirit is, however, also offering 5-cent-a-mile fares out of Logan, but those also end today and travel for those must take place on Tuesdays or Wednesdays between June 14 and Oct. 31).
Anyway, consider this an FYI.

Uncle Samuel, dude that he is, has just raised the caps on the amounts that airlines must pay to passengers who get involuntarily bumped.
The rule changes, which take effect in May, double the limit carriers must cough up to The Inconvenienced.
This is the way it will work: If you get bumped and the carrier gets you on another flight and to your destination less than an hour late, you get nothing, nil, nada, zilch.
If, however, they get you there between and hour and two hours late (or between 1 and 4 for international flights), they owe you compensation of 100 percent for that flight, up to a cap of $400. If it's more than two hours (or 4 for international flights), they owe you 200 percent, with a limit of $800.
Still unclear? OK, let's say you booked a round-trip for $600 to San Jose (as in: do you know they way to), and you get bumped. You were supposed to arrive at 3 p.m. But they get you on another flight and you land at 4:30. They owe you 100 percent -- or $300 -- for the one-way leg they messed up. Got it?
Bear in mind this does not affect you if they tell you they're overbooked and you voluntarily give up your seat. Then the compensation is a matter of mutual agreement (usually, when they ask for volunteers they tell you what they're offering).
The rule changes also cover more flights: any flight with 30 seats or more (before you had to be on one with 60 seats to qualify).
The US Department of Transportation has been working on these changes for months. But the final rules couldn't have come at a better time as we are just about to hit the busy summer travel season and folks have gotten skittish -- and understandably so given the nearly daily bad news about delinquent airline safety checks, flight cancellations, and poor treatment of passengers.
More to the point, with the airlines raising fares, cutting flights, and pushing to make sure every seat is filled, there can't help but be more overbooking so more bumping. Given what's going on, it's worth committing these rules to memory, hombre.

Imagine the plight of the harried iPod user rushing to catch an international flight out of Logan with no time to buy replacement headphones preflight. Thoughts of chattering seat mates would make one cringe.

Well, iPod users needn't fret. There's an Apple dispenser in terminal E. Much like a candy machine, you view the offerings and make your selection. A credit card is all you need.

Do folks really use it, I wondered recently? I didn't wait long for my answer. A young woman walked up, keyed in the headphones ($44.99), swiped her credit card, got what she wanted, and walked on, a satisfied customer.

Others only window shopped. Options included: iPod charging kit ($39.99), adapter kit ($49.99), Garmin navigation system ($379.99), Sony digital camera ($429.99).

One drawback for any shopaholic: No way to comparison shop.

Keep ’em busy during school vacation week: Black Sheep Knitting Co. in Needham is offering a two-day April vacation knitting workshop for kids ages 8 and older on April 23 and 25 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Beginners will learn to cast on, knit, purl, bind off, read a pattern and more. The cost is $45 including materials — come in the day before to prepay and pick out a project. Call 781-444-0694 for details. There’s a popular beginners’ class for adults as well (6 classes for $72) Work at your own pace and learn new techniques.

Hear the music? The quickening pace? Now that Delta and Northwest have coupled everybody else is scanning the room to partner up, and you can all but see United and Continental reaching out to each other.
While all this recombining may be good for the struggling industry -- never mind fun for those of us who like to watch (and you know who you are) -- the bottom line for us here in Boston, at least in the short term, may be somewhat less significant.
Let's start with the $3.1 billion Delta-NWA deal. Yes, it will create The World's Largest Airline, but as my pal Nicole Wong sussed out this morning the biggest change for Logan passengers may be where they catch flights.
The newly combined Delta will become The Sky King at Logan, with 21.7 percent of the passenger market share. But because it is followed closely by American with 16.7 percent it won't be totally commanding. And Logan passengers will likely see little change in service as there is no overlap in the nonstop routes either flies from here, with Delta headed largely to the South, Mountain West, Northeast, Europe and Latin America and NWA focusing on the Midwest, Canada, and Asia.
However, Matt Brelis at Massport says it could make some sense for Northwest to move its four gates from Terminal E next to Delta's 12 in the newer, partially occupied Terminal A.
Now, onto United-Continental. Reuters is reporting that the two have laid most of the groundwork for a deal and would likely push to do one quickly if Delta-NWA manages to get all the way hitched.
OK, so what does this mean to us? Again, very likely not much.

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The Quiet Car. Quiet. Even the word is hushed. Silent. Calm. Not busy or active. No talking in a loud voice to the person next to you. No talking on the phone. No radios blaring. No movies. No TV. No intrusive sounds at all.
The Quiet Car is the Amtrak Acela's semisecret sanctum, and my once-in-a-while refuge, a place where noise of any kind is not allowed. Which is not always what I want, to be unplugged and silent and still, not when I'm traveling with friends or family or children. "Want some M&Ms? Want to play 'Go Fish'? You really want me to read 'Bear Snores On' again?" Sometimes noise is important.

But sometimes no phones, no music, no chatter, no children's cries, no listening to a man in a business suit recite in a booming voice his client's names and Social Security numbers into his cellphone are exactly what I need.
Posted By Beverely Beckham, Globe Correspondent

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It's starting to look like the MD-80 Inspection Fiasco of '08 is winding down.
American says that it is only expecting 595 MD-80 cancellations today, including 10 at Logan which will affect about 1,000. This brings the running total to nearly 3,100 scrapped flights since this whole thing kicked off Tuesday, a disruption that affected hundreds of thousands of travelers.
This means that the carrier has restored about half of its schedule for the planes, and it is still hoping to have all the planes up by Saturday afternoon. But don't assume all will be back to normal. If you are flying out Saturday -- particularly on a longer haul flight with a stop in, say, Chicago or Dallas-Fort Worth -- you'll still need to check.
I wrote yesterday about the compensation American is offering by way of an apology to customers. In fairness to them, it's probably worthwhile to note that Uncle Samuel does not require airlines to offer passengers any compensation in these circumstances. But neither does it preclude them from doing the right thing.
Do you think AA handled this pretty well? Give it some thought because this won't be the last of mass cancellations as the chastened FAA turns the safety inspection lights on high after years of being slack. The regulators are making another round of checks that will run through June 30, and everybody's best guess is that the carriers that will be most affected are those with older planes, the AP reported. About a third of the US fleet is more than 25 years old, according to the International Air Transport Association.

OK, so you've been delayed. What now. Well, you can perhaps get some compensation from American, but it depends on how much you've been put out. And you'll need to tell them about it.
If your cancellation forced you to stay overnight somewhere, you can send a message to American's customer relations department and apply for compensation. There is a hot link on the website that gives you access to a form along with instructions. You will be eligible for refunds, hotel and meal vouchers, and a $500 voucher for future travel as an apology, said Tim Wagner, an airline spokesman.
American also will award vouchers of varying amounts to other passengers who message them from the site or write to them via snail mail (American Airlines Customer Relations/P.O. Box 619612 MD 2400/DFW Airport, TX 75261-9612) and detail how they were inconvenienced.
If you are scheduled on a flight that gets scrapped you can get a refund or apply the value of your ticket to future travel (Say Wa-Hoo, somebody). Travelers flying on any MD-80 flight from April 8 – 11, even if their flight has not been canceled, can rebook without fees. Travel must begin by April 17.

So, you think you're having a bad week?
American says it'll ditch another 933 flights today, including 16 at Logan which will affect about 1,600 passengers. You may add this to the approximately 1,550 total flights already grounded this week in the MD-80 Inspection Fiasco of '08, moves that have left 171,000 across the nation stranded.

American said this afternoon that they don't expect to have the situation completely resolved until Saturday night. So be forewarned.
For those you who hadn't heard, the thing that's triggered all this chaos is the tighter scrutiny on safety checks being brought by FAA, which has tightened inspections after catching major (well-deserved) flak from Congress and others for letting Southwest fly planes that had missed safety check-ups.
In the case of the MD-80s, it involves spot checks by regulators that found the carrier hadn't secured some wiring in accordance with an agency directive.
American has said that the problem posed no safety risk.
Also today, regional carrier Midwest Airlines said that it would ground 13 MD-80s for the same reason.
Get the feeling that this is just the start? With the FAA facing heat and the spotlight of public scrutiny turned up way high, it's a pretty safe bet we're going to see more groundings in the not-too-distant future.

A sure sign of spring are the thousands of blooming daffodils and early wildflowers in Blithewold Mansion's gardens on the shores of Narragansett Bay. The grounds of the 1908 mansion in Bristol, R.I., are a melange of color and scents during the annual Daffodil Days April 12-May 4. Though the yellow-and-white flowers are the centerpieces of the festival, visitors can stroll the Great Lawn with its bay views or linger in gardens, both classic and more informal.
The 17th-century English country-styled manor, complete with gargoyles and crests, was built as the summer home of Augustus Van Wickle, a Brown University graduate who became a coal baron in Pennsylvania. The 45-room mansion anchors the grounds with its 33 acres of gardens and striking trees, such as a 90-foot giant sequoia, ginkgo, and weeping pagoda.
Afternoon teas with scones and assorted desserts are served in the mansion's dark oak-paneled dining room overlooking the water Wednesday through Friday at 2 and 3 o'clock. Special children's teas will be served at 2 o'clock on April 16-18. Don't miss the Butler's Pantry with its displays of china, silver, and crystal.
The mansion also houses such indoor exhibits as floral arrangements, paintings from nature by area artists, and the Colonial Dames of America's collection of Bessie McKee's (Van Wickle's widow) turn-of-the-20th-century hats. But during Daffodil Days, garden variety visitors want to be outside.
Admission for adults is $10, seniors and students $8, children under 17 free. Afternoon tea is $10 (plus admission). Grounds and gardens open daily 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; self-guided tours of mansion and gardens Wednesday-Sunday 10-4.

Posted by Marty Basch, Globe Correspondent

Did you call before you drove out to Logan? You should have.
Today's toll is estimated to hit at least 1,000 nationwide, including 17 flights at Logan, mostly to Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth, affecting about 1,900 customers. Nationwide as estimated 110,000 travelers were affected. Yesterday, American canceled about 460 flights -- as many as five at Logan -- of its MD-80 planes to check the bundling of wires in some planes, the same issue that forced both it and Delta to cancel a combined total of more than 700 flights last last month.
American has said that flight safety has not been

compromised.

Passengers wait at the American counters at O'Hare Airport in Chicago Wednesday morning. (AP Photo)

The tighter scrutiny on safety checks is happening as the FAA has tightened inspections since coming under fire from Congress and others for letting Southwest fly planes that had missed safety check-ups. Airline spokesman Ned Raynolds said that it was highly likely there would be more cancellations tomorrow but he couldn't give a better estimate. Bottom line: Got a flight with American? Call before you go.

The calendar says it’s spring, but sometimes it’s up to you to go out and find it yourself. A good place to grab the season by the scruff of its neck is at the Garden in the Woods, the headquarters and botanic garden of the New England Wild Flower Society in Framingham. This ‘‘living museum,’’ which opens officially for the season on April 15, has more than 1,500 native plant species, along with many rare and endangered specimens. Family and children's programs coming up in May include Flower Power on May 18 (learn about flowers’ awesome powers at the height of the spring bloom) and Fairies in the Garden on May 29 (hunt for the woodland sprites among the wildflowers and build a fairy house.)

If you're planning to fly with American Wednesday it might be worth making a call before you head to the airport.
American said it was canceling as many as 500 flights to check the bundling of wires in some planes, the same issue that caused it to ground more than 400 last month.
At Logan, the airline said there were as many as five canceled flights. Representatives for American, which operates about 2,300 daily flights, said they expected there would be more throughout the system Wednesday.
The airline said the Federal Aviation Administration raised concerns about recent inspections of the wiring in its approximately 300 MD-80 aircraft. Company representatives said that the problems did not pose safety threats.
The FAA has tightened inspections since coming under fire for letting Southwest fly planes that had missed safety inspections. American and Delta both canceled hundreds of flights late last month to do wiring-related inspections and repairs.
The hits just keep on coming.

Some tidbits gleaned from the morning news:
*Aer Lingus just cut a partnership deal with United. This comes a couple months after the Irish carrier reached a similar code-sharing pact with JetBlue.
What this means is that it will be easier to fly between anywhere United -- or JetBlue -- flies and any place Aer Lingus does.
Now if you and/or yours only hop between Boston and Dublin or Shannon, it's maybe not such a big deal. But it will make a difference for relatives across the pond who might want to make the rounds here in the States. Or maybe for that daughter of yours living in San Francisco who hasn't been to see the grandparents outside Donegal in a bit.
*Hard to believe but John Weikle, the founder of the bankrupt carrier Skybus, is "working on a plan" to get discounter flying again, the News & Record of Greensboro, N.C., reports. The airline has about $10 million in cash, Weikle said, which is enough seed money to attract other investors. Locally, Skybus flew out of and into Portsmouth, N.H., and Chicopee, Mass.
Excuse me? Didn't we just leave a bunch of folks stranded this weekend?
If you revive it, they will come? Can I have a show of hands: Even if Skybus makes it back, who will take a chance?
My advice? If they get it going again and you're determined to do it, snag tickets early and fly right away. Long-term planning is perhaps ill-advised, methinks.
(Thanks to Today in the Sky for pointing us to this last item.)

Passengers are left scrambling for ultracheap transportation after Skybus filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday.

Skybus's Chapter 11 filing comes 10 months after it began offering low-cost, bare-bones service from small airports such as Portsmouth International Airport in New Hampshire, about 50 miles from Boston. Skybus abruptly halted flights Saturday, becoming the fifth small airline last week to disclose it would cease operations.

Skybus follows bankrupt Aloha Airlines, ATA Airlines, and regional carrier Skyway Airlines, which all shut down last week. And small charter carrier Champion Air last week said it plans to pull the plug on passenger service by the summer.

The failures highlight turbulent times for an industry squeezed by rising fuel prices, increasing competition, and safety concerns - and leave fewer options for travelers already complaining about worsened performance.

Passenger gripes rose 60 percent last year compared to 2006, according to the annual Airline Quality Ratings study that was released yesterday by researchers at the Wichita State University and University of Nebraska at Omaha's Aviation Institute. The analysis of the 16 largest US airlines also showed they mishandled more bags, denied boarding to more passengers, and landed more flights late in 2007 - earning the industry its lowest score since the ratings started 18 years ago.

"I don't see any way this is going to get better," said researcher Dean Headley, citing airlines' high fuel costs, cutbacks on seat capacity, hiring freezes, and unprofitable operations. "Everything's working against it."
Posted by Nicole C. Wong, Globe Staff

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Amid the recent airline gloom, a ray of sunshine -- actually, more like a pretty good deal from JetBlue.
The discounter is offering $25 off and 50 TrueBlue points for tickets purchased on the site with an American Express Card by May 13 for travel between May 1 and June 18. Since 100 points gets you a free ticket, you can score either by flying twice or you can think of this as a kind of “fly two, fly free” offer. You must, however, be a TrueBlue member, but that's no problem because it's free. Details are here.

Thanks to View from the Wing for the tip.

AirTran joins US Airways and JetBlue in offering a standby deal for passengers holding tickets for Skybus, which shut down Saturday.
AirTran's offer is much like the ones offered by the other two, which I wrote about Saturday. It's $50 per flight plus taxes and fees; to set it up you need to call the reservation line 800-247-8726. You'll need to show your original Skybus ticket receipt or e-ticket confirmation when you check in, and all travel must be completed by April 15.

And then there were four. Continental says that it will start charging most customers who buy the cheapest tickets $25 to check in a second bag. The new baggage policy applies to passengers traveling within the United States, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Canada on or after May 5 if they hold economy-class tickets, unless they are premium members such as Elite OnePass members in the airline's frequent flier program or holders of the airline's Presidential Plus credit card. The service charge, which will help defray rising fuel costs, was also adopted by United, US Airways, and Delta in the past two months.
Posted by Nicole C. Wong, Globe Staff

This wasn’t supposed to get complicated, Baires. Just a few days of fun, and then I’d be on my way. But in less than six months I’ve already spent several weeks with you. And you know how tough long-distance relationships can be, mi Buenos Aires querido.
Oh, this get-together was well worth it. But don’t forget that for me it meant almost 5,700 miles of traveling each way, via Miami, and a $1,342 air fare. We had a great time, though.
The little things really can be a big deal. Did I say thank you for the empanadas? I’m not sure I can survive a Boston summer, much less a winter, without them.
And the ice cream – thank you for the cool Freddo and Volta chains and all the others, including my favorite, Persico.
And the alfajores – those caramel-filled pastries defy description.
Thanks, too, for not giving me a hard time about my not eating beef. I know Argentina is famous for its beef, but it’s just not for me. A couple of friends in Boston laughed about it: What would I eat in Argentina? Funny, but it wasn’t a problem: You surrounded me with great chicken, turkey, salads, and pasta --and all those wonderful fruit and vegetable stands.
And I will ask the same question people ask about Paris: How can one city support so many fine bakeries? They are easier to find than 7-Eleven stores in the States.
I don’t mean to sound superficial, though. I know there’s a lot more to you than food and fun.
Posted by John P. Harrington, Globe Staff

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Chinese President Hu Jintao held the Olympic torch aloft after lighting it at a ceremony at Tiananmen Square in Beijing Monday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

I've never been jealous of an inanimate object before, but with news of the Olympic torch preparing for its trip around the world Monday, I felt a tinge of envy.

The torch arrived in Beijing today following last week's lighting ceremony in Greece. On Tuesday, it sets off on a journey that the Olympics website claims will cover 137,000 kilometers in 130 days and culminate with a return to Beijing on Aug. 8 for the opening ceremony of the games.

I dig the torch's itinerary. It features random, interesting cities sprinkled over the world, such as Canberra, Austrailia, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to compliment the usual heavyweights of London, Paris, and Hong Kong. Check out an interactive map of the planned voyage here.

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There’s a reason why Paris-style billboards, flower stands, and book and magazine kiosks accent just about every main street in Buenos Aires: BA has long thought of itself as that other Paris.
In its glory years, the city unabashedly appropriated European ideas about architecture and urban planning. What resulted was a treasure trove of mostly low-rise buildings, sensual parks and plazas too numerous to count, shaded side streets, and head-turning monuments – dozens of them.
But these days, the city’s moving in another direction: up.

Posted by John P. Harrington, Globe staff

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I’m all for vacationing for the sake of a good cause. Even if it’s just for a little overnighter. Boston’s Seaport Hotel, which has teamed with the nonprofit literacy program Reach Out and Read, is offering an overnight stay for four, tickets to the Boston Children’s Museum, and use of the health club and indoor pool. The package starts at $169 per night plus tax. Nice touches for the kiddoes include cookies and milk upon arrival and a small toy from the hotel’s treasure chest. Guests can make a personalized bookplate to give to a child in need, and the hotel will make a donation to Reach Out and Read. The package is available on Friday nights throughout the year.

“Pleeze, don’t write about tango!”
That was my porteño friend Juan Jose’s advice when I sought suggestions on what to blog about from Buenos Aires -- too many travel stories already about tango.
And it’s not as if I’ll be running off to a milonga to learn to tango. Several years ago, friends in Colombia insisted I learn to salsa. Hah! Talk about two gringo left feet and swivel-proof hips. I stuck to US-style disco dancing in a darkened Bogota nightclub, and had a blast.
But this past weekend, I discovered something totally new: electrotango.
New to me, that is. It’s been around a few years. The music lured me around a corner in San Telmo, down a side street, and into an old barn that on Sundays is part of the neighborhood’s massive and massively popular flea market.
It turned out that what was seducing me was a CD called “Tanghetto: Buenos Aires remixed.” Besides the cut above, you can check out more from the group on YouTube. Their song “Aire” will take you away. Chills up the spine. Delusions of immortality, amor, y una vida dramática en Argentina.
Dance while you can.
Posted By John P. Harrington, Globe Staff

Delta Air Lines says it will stop direct flights to at least six cities from Boston and roll back daily service to two other destinations, surrendering its spot as Logan International Airport's largest carrier based on the number of destinations served to JetBlue.

The service cutbacks are aimed at coping with the soaring price of jet fuel, which hit $100 a barrel a month ago and hasn't backed down. While some airlines are raising fuel surcharges and tacking on fees for extras such as more legroom and a second checked-in suitcase, Delta is cutting capacity on less profitable routes nationwide.

As a result, Boston travelers will find 14 percent fewer seats available in June compared to a year ago, said Delta spokeswoman Susan Chana Elliott. "Most of it is going to be on your point-to-point flights, flights that aren't routed to our hub and that are served by 50-seat regional jets that are disproportionately impacted by the high cost of fuel."

More reductions in service may come, but some flights could return on a seasonal basis, Elliott said.

In June, Delta will terminate nonstop service to Las Vegas, New Orleans, Greensboro, N.C., Savannah, Ga., Louisville, Ky., and Charleston, S.C. Delta is also canceling its second daily flight to Los Angeles International Airport, leaving it with one daily run as of May 1.

Posted By Nicole C. Wong, Globe Staff

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They're having a bad week, yo. It started Saturday when it was reported that a "small" piece of a wing broke off, (small? we're talking a 5-foot-by-7-foot hunk -- basically something the size of a 9th grader ) hitting a passenger window as a US Airways plane flew over Maryland.
Then we hear about the US Airways pilot whose gun accidentally went off during a flight. The dude was apparently certified under the TSA's Federal Flight Deck Officer program, which requires folks in the cockpit to get trained before they start packing. I'm assuming he passed.
No one was hurt in either incident. But it should give you, The American Flying Public, pause, yes?

Now don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks. But both might perk up their business with a bit of Buenos Aires-style coffee flair.
In Baires, even the chains have table service. Failed Catholic that I am, I spent late Easter Sunday morning at The Coffee House outlet three stone-throws from Eva Peron’s grave, pretending I understood every word in Clarin, a local newspaper.
But more important, take a look at the picture. So simple, so satisfying. The café con leche came in a cup – and I don’t mean paper. With it you always get a tiny biscuit or cookie, gratis. And fizzy water. Whether to get a media luna or two (as the croissants are called here) is up to you.
And implicit in this deal, which will cost just a few pesos, is that no one will act as if you should even think about surrendering your seat until you decide to say, “Senorita, la cuenta, por favor.”
Now isn’t there some way this might translate in the good old US of A?

Posted by John P. Harrington, Globe Staff