I was pleased to see this week’s #frifotos* is all about wings. Whether in the metaphorical sense or the very tangible one, whether on birds or planes or on the back of my daughter’s angel costume, I love wings. Sometimes I even dream I have wings. And the line between dream and reality, well, who’s to say where that goes.
Wing is originally an Old Norse word, vængr. The Vikings no doubt thought of birds’ wings… and possibly the architectural term wing. And chances are good Vikings dreamt of flying, too.
Wings above the ocean where Vikings once sailed
But wings made of aluminium, titanium or carbon fibre were probably not on their mind. Wings that can lift a metal tube weighing up to 1.32 million pounds (Antonov Air’s An-225 Mriyas) into the air and sustain flight at dizzying heights.
Do you prefer aisle or window seats? I choose window, as I like looking out. If I’m lucky, skies are clear. On a crisp winter day (or night) up here in the Nordics, the air is sometimes so clear, that even though I’m 10 000 metres above ground, I can follow along from city to city all the way home.
Much toastier is the desert of Kuwait, seen above. The desert haze was visible through the plane window, but too subtle to be captured on camera.
In the little island nation Bahrain, the desert meets the sea in the Persian Gulf – or Arabian Gulf, as it is called here.
Finally, my favourite: sun setting above the mountains of the Caucasus:
How do you while away hours in the air?
*#FriFotos is a weekly Twitter chat where travellers share their favourite photos. Each week has a theme. Search #FriFotos on Twitter to see more or to join.
Vikings probably dreamt of flying. Kuwait and Bahrain photos are really nice.
I think they did, too 🙂
Wonder what dreaming about wings mean?
I like the window, especially for the view. I take photos of the ground below, the clouds, sometimes the wings as well.
Great shots, Sophie. Like the contrast of the softness of the sunset and the hard angle of the wing. Is that really a wing?
It really is, winglet ‘n all.
I love reading so it is absolutely no problem to be locked up in an aircraft for hours.
Probably the sensible way to do it…
I always enjoy gazing out the window when I’m in the air…
Me, too.
I love flying during a sunrise. It gives a different aspect of the world with the sun on the horizon. Interesting comments about the Viking translation, since I just posted pictures of a little boy wearing a Viking costume.
Can’t get by those Vikings 🙂
Article about wings, thats unusual..
I like unusual 🙂
Definitely I prefer window seat. One of my favorites was flying over Kabul, and another was seeing the sun rise over the Gulf. But the #1 view, in my opinion, is the Himalayans of Nepal, as they are of the same height as the plane!
Ooh yes, I remember flying into Kathmandu. Felt like I could reach out and touch the mountain sides. Kabul would be very interesting.
what a such beautiful view. somehow, it reminds me to the song from Neutral Milk Hotel ‘In The Aeroplane Over the Sea’
Haven’t heard that song. Will find it and have a listen…
I like to sit beside a window to view the ground below me.
Me, too.
I absolutely loved this post, Sophie!! I actually have flown in several years now but I grew up with as my dad was a private pilot. On the commercial flights I always want a window seat. And one of my favorites was just like you mentioned flying at night – and watching each city pass by with their lights shining! 🙂
Isn’t that just the greatest…
Lovely pictures! I usually drug myself with PM cold medicine and pass the hours in an unconscious stupor hahaha. But for shorter flights, I like books. 🙂