Category Archive for ‘Photography Stories’

The following article is part of a series of articles chronicling my trip to Dallas in December 2007 in which I discovered a magnificent library, went to a Holiday Extravaganza, and road on 9 different modes of transportation in one day. A list of all articles from this series is at the bottom of this article.
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Downtown Station

The downtown train station didn’t consist of much more than a track, an elevated platform, and some ticket machines. Soon after I arrived, a train stopped, heading the opposite direction. And since no advertising space is ignored in the 21st century, the entire train was covered in one huge advertisement for broadband internet. However, this actually may have made the train look better than normal because the ad sported some flashy flames on a green background, making it the most eye-catching form of public transportation I would ride during the entire adventure. Soon my own train arrived, and I didn’t miss the opportunity to shoot some video of the quick trip to the Minneapolis International Airport.

To the Gates We Go

Just twenty minutes later, I was standing underground in the airport station. After heading up two long escalators, I found myself in a smaller room with tram doors on both sides. Apparently the only way to get to the airport gates from here was to take a small tram. I soon discovered that the small tram had no driver and was completely automated. I entered, somewhat apprehensively, into the seatless steel box that was to take me a few hundred meters north to the airport gates.

日本語, English, and Modern Air Travel

The first thing I noticed about the airport were the signs. Along with English, everything was also written in Japanese. I wondered if this airport received enough Japanese-speaking visitors to feel the need for Japanese signs, something rather strange for the United States midwest. However I later found out that the airport serviced nonstop flights to Tokyo, so I suppose the signage is justified.

I continued through the usual rigamarole that is modern air travel: removing shoes, emptying my pockets, answering ironic questions about my identity, etc. Because I wasn’t checking any luggage and carrying all of my possessions onto the plane, I got to send every last one of my questionable possessions through the scanning machines. I even got to place all of my personal hygiene products into a zip lock bag, which still strikes me as absurd.

Secure Business

When I finally arrived at the secure zone (i.e. place where the airport allows businesses to sell overpriced coffee and useless trinkets), I noticed a few amusing developments. Firstly, I didn’t realize that shoe shining was still popular, but apparently it’s popular enough because an entire space had been reserved for just this task. I, however, was happy with the state of my shoes and secretly suspected that they would disintegrate if shining was attempted.

But it gets better.

Beside the shoe shining booth was a lottery outlet or what I like to call: Minnesota State Lottery’s last attempt to take your money. I wondered if any of them actually thought they would ever win since there’s a better chance they would get struck by lightning. Who knows, lightning might be more fun anyway.

An Accessory to Shopping

Nearby was something that probably shouldn’t exist. In front of me was what I can only describe as an iPod vending machine. Yes, one could slide their card through and purchase an iPod or an iPod accessory from this completely automated kiosk. At this point I realized that in some sad way, airport mini-malls are an exaggerated reflection of current American culture. I also wondered who would want to spend time filling up an iPod with music at an airport or how many people even could.

Someday You’ll Find It

Having had my fill of people-watching, I continued down to what I dubbed “The Rainbow Connection” concourse. I even arrived at the gate in time to see my plane land. When I went to sit down onboard the plane, I soon realized that I had received the worst seat possible. Thankfully I soon realized one seat was completely vacant, and I wouldn’t have to sit in the no-legroom section after all. A big thanks to the flight attendant whose name I can’t remember who was so nice and pointed out that I could sit in that far better spot!

Landing Never Comes Soon Enough

There then followed the usual excitement of takeoff, the breathlessness of the wheels leaving the ground, and the subsequent boredom of being trapped in a metal tube with a hundred or so other poor souls for over an hour. I tried to pass the time by reading, but time always seems to slow down in that small space of the cabin.

When I landed in Dallas, I wondered what Texans called this season, because I wasn’t surrounded by winter anymore: there was GREEN.

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Check out all of the photos from this event in the Minneapolis Library & Train album. All photos in the Byteful Gallery can be used as desktop wallpapers because they are high resolution (1920×1440) just as the fullscreen & widescreen wallpapers are.

All articles within the Dallas Trip 2007 series:

On 2007 Dec 15, I awoke to a clear bright morning. For breakfast, I made myself some oatmeal and added some sliced bananas. Today I would be catching my flight to Dallas and had to be wise with my time.

Travelling light was of great value to me that day because once I left my friend’s apartment, I had to haul everything I had wherever I went — there would be no time to return.

Wandering is Good

I caught a bus into downtown, near the train station. When I arrived, I discovered that I was well ahead of schedule, and did what I normally do when I’m in the middle of a large, vibrant city with time on my hands: I wandered. Wandering is a valuable tool in the traveller’s arsenal because it allows spontaneity to enter into the trip and always produces surprises. I didn’t have to wander too far to find something of interest. Just a couple blocks north, I discovered the Minneapolis Public Library. It’s architecture was incredibly ambitious, wielding a huge angular roof overhanging the entrance.

After taking this opportunity to photograph a few other interesting pieces of architecture within view, I made my way inside the towering library. Inside, I was greeted with the sight of a long, tall hall spanning the library’s 4 levels, complete with two glass elevators. Before I did anything else, I walked to the opposite end of the expansive hall to get a photo from the other direction: this architecture seemed begging to be photographed.

Robot Shelves

Passing the entrance to the library’s colorful children’s area, I walked up to the front desk and asked for a map. Through talking with the librarian, I learned about strange moving shelves designed to save space. I had been to large libraries before, but had never seen this. He showed me a room filled with moving book shelves that were controlled by 3 buttons on the front of each shelf. Apparently they had been doing this for some time, and I wondered if libraries would be completely robotic someday.

No Athena To Be Found

I decided to ride one of the glass elevators up to the second floor, which was disappointingly very similar to the first floor, except on this floor there was a dignified wooden arch over a glass door, which was locked. Beside the arch, it read “The Minneapolis Athenaeum”. I had never even heard of an athenaeum, so it’s possible you haven’t either. An athenaeum is a specialized library used for literary or scientific study, and it sometimes requires special membership, such as this one did. I peered through the glass and saw nothing especially photo-worthy.

When I arrived at the north side of the library I was greeted with a spectacular view of… a slightly snow covered parking lot. In the distance was a clock tower; and through the magic of a 10x optical zoom lens I was able to snap a decent shot of the clock tower, which, according to my own clock, was actually 3 minutes slow.

Unfireplace

I continued wandering the vast library, and found what I’d like to call an “unfireplace”. An unfireplace is something that looks like a fireplace, but where there should be fire or at the very least wood, there are only rocks. Above the unfireplace was what I can only describe as a wreath of 12 small violins. Yet time was running short, and I had to catch a train soon. I headed back down on a glass elevator, swung the glass door open, and my feet hit the street once more.

It was time to take a train ride.

How has wandering helped you lately?

All articles within the Dallas Trip 2007 series: