Spending your free time hanging out on an airplane before hopping on an airplane to actually go somewhere isn't everyone's cup of tea. Five airports around the world are betting otherwise, however, as they've actually taken airplanes—ones which can no longer buzz up into the air—and installed them as bars, all in the name of getting you buzzed instead.
Now, without further ado, here are the Five Airport-area Bars Made From Actual Airplanes: ]]>
In 2005, an old Soviet Ilyushin IL-14 airplane made its final flight (pic here), landing for good at Zurich International Airport. Its fate was to become a very unique attraction, the centerpiece of a new restaurant just outside the airport at the very end of runway 34. In fact, the restaurant and bar is called Runway 34, and it's something of a special secret for international flight crew, aviation geeks and those who just enjoy seeing the quirky sights.
During a recent jaunt off to Switzerland, we made it a point to visit Runway 34, even if it involved a trek through deserted streets at 10pm the night before our early morning flight. There was an airplane trapped in a restaurant! Duh, we wanted to go and at least have drinks on its wing. Unfortunately our cutting it short cost us, and only the bar was open. Perfect, actually; a waiter took a shining to us and gave us a guided tour of the whole place, letting us run around and go camera-crazy.
And we have video...]]>
What would you do if a trio of musicians stood up and began serenading you while at 37,000 feet onboard a long-haul flight? Hopefully, you wouldn't club them and assume they're undercover hijackers throwing the flight crew off their scent; you'd clap right along, just as these Virgin Atlantic passengers did recently when the Australian band Set Sail covered the Jason Mraz song "I'm Yours."
The cute performance happened somewhere between Hong Kong and Sydney, as the band is setting out on a 48-country itinerary to give street shows throughout the rest of this year. This is only the second video of a slew they're planning, and Josiah Willows (one of the band members) explains, "flights aren't always bad food and uncomfortable seats!" Every week they'll release another video to YouTube—follow them here—mixing music and travel.
What's next? We're thinking violin on a Venetian traghetto would be cool, also perhaps a cappella in Agra or a little soft shoe while eating soft shell crab congee. Mmmm...soft shell crab congee. ]]>
Please forgive us for sending you into daydream mode so early in the morning already, but we simply have to share Entertainment Weekly's find of the World's Largest Slip-and-Slide. Now, it's not been confirmed as the largest by an official from Guinness World Records or anything, but one glance at this video and it's quite difficult to imagine anything beating it.
The Slip-and-Slide is really a man-made reservoir—a totally off-limits, no trespassing-allowed one—but authorities should've considered making it of another material if they really wanted people to keep out with their bodyboards. And of course, like much of the best stuff in Hawaii, this reservoir is located nearby some truly breathtakingly lush scenery.
So here's where it is:]]>
Gothamist posed a very important question today, when they heard that Singapore's Changi International Airport installed a 4-story slide. They mused: "Do New York Airports Need Slides?" Without a doubt the answer is yes, but we're pretty sure that JFK, EWR and LGA don't have an atrium as impressive as Changi's for putting one in.
Despite the fact that the New York-area airports need some funning-up like what comes from installing a gigantic silver tube slide, we may have to save up our pennies and take a trip to Singapore to experience this impressive airport slide. What do solo travelers do with their luggage while sliding, we wonder? And did Changi take this from the Carsten Höller exhibit of about three years ago when the artist installed very similar slides for the public at London's Tate Modern?]]>
Some people like their art with dark themes, but the Museum of Death takes it to a whole other level. The Hollywood museum specializes in what it calls "death education."
The museum owns the largest collection of artwork from serial killers. It also has collections of coffins, mortician instruments, replicas of execution devices and different colored body bags. But this oddball museum isn't going to expire any time soon. It marked its 15th anniversary last month. ]]>
Adventure travel company Incredible Adventures has been letting customers pilot high-altitude fighter jets for years. Now the Florida-based company is going from soaring through the air to "flying" under the sea, teaming up with California's Sub Aviator Systems to let people navigate the oceans in company's winged submarine. The Super Aviator looks much more like a jet than it does a sub, and apparently it feels that way too. Per the website blurb, it's a "totally new dimension of flight."
To handle the unique sub you'll need to go to Hawaii this February and be able to hand over between $3,350 and $8,650. But if you're willing to do that they're willing to train you and take you beneath the waves. The Super Aviator runs on battery power but it runs fast—in contrast to a normal submersible where you can stand up and walk, zooming around in this jet requires Indy-500 style seat belts.]]>