Robinson, R44

The Robinson R44, (Raven II) helicopter is a small, piston engine powered machine. Yesterday was my first time at the controls.

I’ll say this much, flying a helicopter is completely different than flying an airplane. Of course! Well, helicopters are not inherently stable, which means you have to maintain control at all times. The venerable Cessna 172 that I wing around in, will practically fly itself. Anyway, the fellow at my local airport offered to give me an introduction to helicopter flying and I literally jumped at the chance. Here he is conducting the preflight inspection of the ship.

For this flight, I took to the right seat; he was on the left. We hovered out over the taxiway to a grassy spot where we conducted some fundamental maneuvers. Very tricky indeed. The thing to remember is that the craft is literally floating so any small touch of input or wind and it moves. Keeping it in position requires a delicate, yet assertive touch. Take a look at the instrument panel.

That basic panel does the trick. An altimeter, a couple of gyros, some radios, a GPS unit. You’re good to go. Remember, every bit of weight requires lots more power. Therefore, helicopters keep things as simple and light as possible. I would have taken some photos from the air, but both hands are constantly busy on the controls. No matter. I’ll be up again soon and snap a few with the other fellow in command.

Published in: on May 15, 2010 at 9:53 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Churros y Chocolate

Churros y chocolate make an excellent snack on the way home from a night of tapas and wine. After several trips to Spain, I finally decided to indulge in this decadent treat, selecting the Chocolateria San Gines which lies between the Plaza Mayor and Plaza Isabel II. In other words, it was on the way back to my hotel from the aforementioned tapas rampage. Here’s a photo of the entrance:

It’s hard to miss with a neon sign up top that you can see glowing from a block away even if you can’t exactly see the sign itself.

The churro is a bit of fried dough extruded into a stick topped with sugar. Some purists avoid the cinnamon. However, I’ve had them with the cinnamon and it is a welcome touch. Here’s a view of a typical order of the regular variety:

A word about the chocolate. It is thicker than hot cocoa that many Americans may know, and yet thinner than you would expect. It is the perfect consistency in that when you dip the churro into the chocolate, it adheres without being gooey. How this is achieved, I have no idea. Doesn’t matter. Furthermore, the chocolate is not overly sweet and still possesses no bitterness. Amazing. This is a fine treat right before you go to bed. Good for your teeth, too. (Just kidding on the teeth part.)

Published in: on May 13, 2010 at 7:37 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Iglesia Espiritu Santo, Ronda

This Iglesia Espiritu Santo is located in Ronda, Spain. The church was only a few feet from the place where I was staying, not that I can resist an old church whether it be around the corner or over hill and dale. For the price of a few Euros, the public is allowed to climb the bell tower, which I did, and survey the interior on one’s own. Thus, I made this video, complete with a view over a part of the town as well as most of the inside. Take a look.

Definitely worth a few Euros and climbing that bell tower was good exercise. Ronda was one of my favorite towns in Spain. I have much more to post about it, so keep checking in.

Published in: on May 12, 2010 at 10:40 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , ,

A Minor Feast, Spain

When traveling, it’s hard not to eat too much. For one thing, the portions are mostly out of your control. Then there is the menu of the day, which includes two courses for one price. Temptation takes over. However, a minor feast can be a good one, as I found in many parts of Spain. So long as you stay active, the pounds will stay off. For example, when in the handsome little town of Alarcón, we stopped in for lunch to the local meson, seen below.

This place was the Asador/Marisqueria Don Julian. Knowing a decent local joint when I see one, I popped in to see what was to be had. (Not to mention that those rain clouds were on the way in, signaling that the outdoor tables would be of no use.) Vegetables being necessary for a well-balanced diet, I started with the mixed salad. In Spain, this is a grand affair that includes hard boiled eggs, asparagus, and tuna, although I asked them to without the tuna. Check out how Don Julian serves the ensalada mixta here:

This went down easy, but as you can see, is quite a lot of food. Still, I pressed on with the second course, a pork loin pounded flat and grilled. Hence:

The roasted peppers were a nice touch. Plenty of flavor to them. By the time the meal ended, the rain had passed and we were back on the streets in search of history, culture, and fun, all of which are easy to find in Spain. Plus, after a minor feast like this, you have to walk it off.

Published in: on May 11, 2010 at 11:08 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »