Have you really looked at your boarding pass? All of it? Have you seen a code you weren’t familiar with?
One code you really don’t want to see are the letters
SSSS. For one thing, your security process will no doubt take a lot longer.
Why?
Those four letters mean Secondary Security Screening Selection.
That means you are one who has been selected for a security screening different
than everyone else. It most likely means a full pat down, additional portable
metal detectors, your carry-on luggage examined fully, and additional scrutiny.
According to a TSA spokesperson, passengers who have the
code on their boarding passes are selected through the TSA’s Security Flight
System, a prescreening program that identifies both low and high-risk
passengers before they get to the airport.
This system matches names against trusted traveler lists
and the TSA’s watchlist. They also said it could just be a random selection and
nothing you’ve ever done.
Chances are if you have SSSS, you won’t be able to print
your boarding pass online at home or at a hotel. If that happens, make sure you
get to the airport early and allow enough extra time for the screening process.
What can you do in addition? TSA says you can apply for a
Redress Number. If you have had the SSSS show up more than once, this would be
a good thing to look into. Basically, it’s a case number specifically for you.
This would clear up any confusion if your name matches or is similar to someone
who really is on a Homeland Security watch list or has given TSA a reason to
perform extra screening.
When visiting the village of Les Baux-de-Provence, we were told to visit the old quarry. “Go to the light show. It is in the old quarry. You’ll see Picassos there. It is amazing.”
A light show in an old quarry? With Picassos? Sure. It’s
probably worth seeing what it is.
Expecting some drawings on the quarry walls, lit with spotlights,
we made our way out of the village, down the road, to the old quarry. I’m sure
we were thinking this would be underwhelming…at best.
Well…first of all, it was not what we were expecting.
Yes. It was an old quarry. Old being the operative word.
The quarry was where the Les Baux stone was extracted. This
stone from the south of France is slightly calcareous limestone, fine-grained,
whiteish in color. It results from the compaction of calcium carbonate on
calcareous sand. Marine fossils have been found in the rock.
The quarry was dampish and coolish. And, huge.
Back in the 19th century, this stone was in demand for building. Hence, the enlarging of the quarry to meet those demands. At the time the quarry was referred to as Les Grands Fonds. Today it is called Les Carrieres de Lumieres.
Following WWI, the demands lessened so much that the quarry
was closed until about 1959. A visionary genius, Jean Cocteau, loved the beauty
and simplicity of the old quarry. He filmed The Testament of Orpheus here.
In 1977 Joseph Svoboda, a scenographer, decided the walls
would make a great backdrop for a light and sound show. Since then, the
management developed a unique concept for the site. AMIEX is a registered name,
Art & Music Immersive Experience.
Now, music and art come together on the walls of this
massive place. Monet, Renoir, Chagall, Klimt, Vienna, Michelangelo, de Vinci,
Raphael, Bosch, Brueghel, Arcimboldo have all been showcased.
A light show? Oh my. That doesn’t even begin to describe it.
We stepped inside a basically dark cavernous space and were
met with the Flower Power movement, Sixties Music, Hippies, Peace and Love,
Sgt. Pepper, Hendrix, the Stones, the Beach Boys. Each song accompanied by
swirling lights, flashing colors, and dancing people. All displayed on the
walls and floor of the quarry. Talk about a party.
If you’re prone to motion sickness, don’t look down at the floor. It’s moving. I think.
When this journey ended, the lights softly came on. We could
see how huge this place is and the white quarry walls with their marks where
immense blocks of limestone had been cut out years ago. As the lights once
again dimmed, we were taken through a journey of the Spanish masters’
paintings. All projected on the walls. Some were shown straight ahead. Some moved
around the walls and corners, from one wall to the next. Music played. Goya was
there. So were Rusinol, Zuloaga, Sorolla.
Then followed Picasso. The entire experience was an intense
lesson in discovering a century of Spanish painting. All up close and personal.
All bigger than big. Portraits, beach scenes, rustic, gardens…all brought to
life right in front of us.
Once the lights came back up, we wandered around the monumental
space of the quarry. It was impressive, even without the light show.
How did they do it? The digital and immersive exhibitions are
presented with thousands of moving images of digitized works. They are brought
to life by the cutting edge of AMIEX technical equipment.
Those white limestone walls are the perfect background for
the hundred projectors to transform the masterpieces. Or the Sixties.
Again…not just some light show. Not just a few paintings.
You have to go…trust me.
If You Go: Carrieres de Lumieres is located at Route de
Maillane 13520 Les Baux-de-Provence. It is 800 m from the Chateau des
Baux-de-Provence.
It seems many people make New Year’s Resolutions. Usually, they revolve around fitness and eating.
Mine almost always have something to do with travel. How about you?
If you are thinking about traveling in 2019…think about incorporating
some of these into your travel resolutions.
Visit somewhere new…somewhere you’ve never been before. It could be a local attraction, or it could be a new country.
Stay longer than a couple of days in one place. Get to know the area,
where the locals eat and shop, and what the area is really like outside of your
hotel.
Take notes. You don’t have to write a novel. Just jot down your favorite
places and why.
Stay somewhere different than where you normally would stay. If you
always stay in a five-star hotel, try a vacation rental. If you gravitate to
big cities…stay in a small town. Or, if you never set foot outside the airport
in a large city…try heading into the city for a few days.
Look at your travel gadgets and make an upgrade. Maybe you could try a new lens for your camera or phone. How about a pocket-size wireless router?
Travel somewhere to see an endangered animal, visit a world heritage
site, or take a trip to a place you’ve always been meaning to visit.
Sometimes it’s hard to decide what souvenir to buy for yourself or for a friend, house sitter, or kitty sitter. Sometimes it’s finding the right gift for a birthday gift. Maybe it’s bringing back something from your travels that reminds you of your great trip.
Most of the time I like a souvenir that reminds me of the place I
visited. It could be a piece connected to the culture of that place. Or, it may
mean I found it at a favorite street market.
Sometimes, the best souvenirs connect to a passion. I bought a hand
painted scarf from Paris to give to an art lover and some olive wood spoons at
a street market in Provence for a friend who loves to cook.
What about bringing a souvenir you can eat? Giving fleur du sel from a market in Burgundy is the perfect gift or as a great souvenir for me!
You might not think of your pictures as souvenirs, but travel photos are
a fantastic reminder of the great times you had. I make small books, with 15 to
20 photos and give to our travel companions.
Typically, I don’t buy heavy or bulky items. Unless, of course, it’s the
perfect thing I’ve been looking for. I will pay to have it shipped…but keep in
mind there are fees and regulations you might have to deal with.
Whatever you buy, make sure it’s legal to bring home. TSA has
regulations. Customs has regulations. And the airlines have regulations. No
sense picking up some salami to bring home and watch as it’s dumped into the
trash when you go through security. Double check the regulations before you
purchase and save yourself the nightmare.
Maybe you’re getting
ready to fly somewhere this holiday season and have gifts. Or, maybe you’ve
been somewhere and want to bring home some souvenirs.
Do you know the TSA rules and guidelines?
Avoid
anything that appears to be a weapon. Even a toy weapon. This might be common
sense…but TSA says those toys look like the real thing in a scanner.
Instead of
putting them in your carry-on…place them in checked baggage.
Also, avoid
strong liquors over 140 proof. This means absinthe, rum, or anything with more
than 70% alcohol. It doesn’t matter if it’s in your carry-on. TSA will take it.
Speaking of
three ounce liquids in your carry-on, this applies to ALL liquids, even bottles
of liquor or wine.
I know it
seems odd, but don’t gift wrap your gifts. They probably will be unwrapped.
Instead, use gift bags, or wait until you arrive to wrap them.
Keep in mind
if you are traveling from overseas…international food souvenirs like meats and
cheeses will probably be tossed. This isn’t a TSA rule, but a customs and
agriculture regulation.
Last…don’t
bring home or take as a gift a snow globe. Yep…a snow globe. Especially if it
is bigger than a tennis ball. Why? The liquid in them is most likely more than
three ounces. Who would have thought?
Traveling doesn’t have to be a hassle this holiday season.
Maybe you’re waiting until the new year to travel. Regardless of when you’re taking your next trip, some of these tips may save some time and frustration.
Check in online…
If you can, check in and print your boarding pass before you leave home. If you’re checking luggage, try the curbside luggage check in. Many times, it is quicker. If you can’t do this at home or at your hotel, use the self-service kiosks instead of standing in the longer lines.
Travel with a carry on bag…
If possible, try to pack only a carry on bag. You can save time by not standing in any lines to get your bags tagged. If this isn’t possible and you have heavy or numerous bags, look at shipping them ahead of time to your destination. It may save you some money and will definitely save time.
Better yet, if you’re taking gifts, why not just have them shipped when you order them? If you bought the gifts locally, good for you. Wrap them and ship from your home post office instead of packing them.
Drive and still have fun…
If your road trip is long, think about taking enough breaks so everyone isn’t stuck in the car for hours and hours. You might even find a halfway spot to stop and have some extra fun. If you’re traveling in or toward weather issues, check the weather before and during your trip. Your route may have to change.
Buy attraction tickets in advance…
Going somewhere lots of other people are going? Check online to see if you can buy your tickets ahead of time. Print them at home or arrange to pick them up at the will call booth.
Speaking of attractions…think about reversing the way you visit. When we would go to Disneyland, we’d head for the back corner and work our way to the front. Why? Because most people start at the front of an amusement park, zoo, or other attraction and work clockwise through it.
Who knew plastic wrap would come in handy when traveling?
If you’ve opened your toiletries bag, only to find one of your nice little bottles of shampoo or conditioner has leaked all over everything…you’ll appreciate this tip. Maybe it’s because of a change in altitude or because you have a faulty seal of the bottle. What to do?
Add a layer of plastic wrap under the cap of the bottle. This should help the leakage problem.
Traveling with jewelry and don’t have a jewelry wrap to keep your chains untangled? Place your jewelry on a sheet of plastic wrap. Roll it over and over until you have a fairly flat piece. Pack it in your carry on and off you go.
I’ve not tried this, but other travelers tell me it works. If you’re taking a banana for a snack, wrap a piece of plastic wrap around the stem. It keeps the banana from getting messy and apparently keep it fresher longer. Plus, you have something to wrap up the peel in when you’re finished eating it.
TSA’s 5 Holiday Travel Tips to Get Through Security
These are always good tips, but especially important during this time of year.
Get to the airport early
The Transportation Security Administration, TSA, recommends you arrive at least two hours early if you’re flying domestic and three hours for international travel. So, plan even further ahead. There will be more people on the road, more people parking, more looking for Uber, longer rental car return lines, and people who only travel once a year.
Use your time in the checkpoint line wisely
Again, always a good idea. While waiting in what may be a long line, empty your pockets and put loose items into your carry-on bag. This will save you time because you won’t have to put small stuff into a TSA bin and then have to empty it on the other side. Get your boarding pass and identification out. Make electronics larger than a cellphone easily accessible. New TSA regs this year require you to put them in a bin with nothing else around them.
If you are traveling with gifts, don’t wrap them with wrapping paper and tape
Sounds crazy. Right. Though it’s not illegal to bring wrapped gifts through security, they could cause delays. If your bag is flagged during the X-ray screening, officers will need to thoroughly check all items in your bag. That means unwrapping any presents you have. If you need to wrap presents ahead of time, the TSA suggests you use a gift bag or box.
Oh…those snow globes. Guess what? They have liquid. If you’re carrying one as a gift, make sure it contains less than 3.4 liquid ounces.
Traveling with food items during the holiday is OK
Many people wonder whether they can bring food, and the answer is yes. The TSA has specific guidelines that address this rule. If the food item is a solid, like cookies, pie, or a ham, you can pack it in your carry-on bag. But if the food is spreadable or pourable, then it must contain no more than 3.4 liquid ounces. The agency says if you’re unsure, consider this: If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, pack it in your checked bag.
Don’t bring along prohibited items
It seems like common sense, but every day the TSA finds banned items that passengers say they mistakenly left in their carry on. It happened to me. I had a corkscrew that had traveled with me for years. It never created a problem…until one time. Something about it TSA didn’t like, or maybe it’s new regs. In any case…don’t put it in your carry on.
Lastly, an extra tip. Though you can’t bring bottled water through security, you can drink it while in line and then refill the bottle on the other side. This will save you a few dollars before you take off.
