The Maple Leaf Me?

Mmm, cappuchino!

Ok, so it's 3:44 pm and I am waiting in the "Maple Leaf Lounge" in the Halifax Airport. When I checked in I found out that the school board purchased entrance into the lounge when the paid for my ticket. So, I indulged. I have spent a LOT of time in airports the past few years and always wondered about what the hype was, what was so special about it...

At the door, a bouncer of sorts, to check ID's and I suppose to make sure none of the ordinary folk like me would make entrance. After being approved, I passed a room full of computers and business type communications apparel, a fancy washroom and then the cafe area, bar area and sitting area, all decorated with rich leather lounge chairs, abstract art, and indirect lighting.

The refreshments is probably the key to the hype about this area- almost anything you might want is available- juices, pops, liquors, wines, beers, gourmet cappuchinos, lattes and expressos, and cookies, vegetables, snacks, soups, etc. etc. All of these things are free and make me rather suspect as to what KSB had to pay in order for me to have this service available. A part of me wants to take a handful of goodies from here and bring them downstairs and start handing them out to people who are in the common area. DOWN with segregation, hahaha...

Hmmm, now to make note of the people around me- the man and woman at the table to my left are clad with "Alpine Beer" company fleece, and from the conversations I overheard so far, he must be some sort of head hauncho since he has spoken to directors in Peru, Ireland and I think somewhere in Asia, in the last 10 minutes. He has arranged the takeover plans of an airline and talked about impending plans to expand their market share in some country I can't remember which one though. He is on his way to St. John's and must have a horrible sore ear from having the cellphone attached to it constantly. The man behind me arrived from Norway this morning and is on his way to Toronto this afternoon for a short visit. I think I am the only one without a palm pilot on full blast and a cellphone in use. I have to say business is not my idea of a fun profession to be in.

So, overall impressions, if it is given to you- take it. Guess the free stuff is pretty cool, in a day and age when everything seems to cost more and more, but at what cost?? My running shoes and layers of fleece and pony tail seem to be a bit too common for me to fit in without being noticed!