Leaving, on a Jet Plane

Having to set our alarm for 3am on a Sunday morning to be on time for our early, early flight out of San Francisco, was a bit of a struggle but we made it, and the bi-coastal hop to Miami went well. A change of gates and a flight full of laughter in many languages, as we headed out towards our destination on St Maartens Island in the Caribbean.

The turquoise waters faded to black, as night fell. Puffy clouds below us floating in photo-negative contrast, with occasional jewel-light incrustaceans as we overflew inhabited atolls.

The wind was up as we decended into Dutch airspace and the small motels lining the landing strip accentuated the rocking of the plane's wings. The pilot received a well deserved round of applause once the wheels grabbed the tarmac and the warm night air welcomed us to our destination.