Travel Blog

Friday at Philadelphia airport I stepped off my plane and walked through the terminal, passing the nice Asian restaurant I'd once eaten in. I got the shuttle to Terminal F; it dropped me in a food court where, after checking my options, I ate two eggs over easy with sausage and potatoes.

Coming back through the airport yesterday evening I passed through the food court and got the shuttle to Terminal A. This, I soon discovered, was not the terminal with the fine Asian restaurant. Nor was it the terminal with the stylish Italian bistro. There was an Italian fast food place across from a salad place with salads in the display case that looked like they had been made during the Eagles last game.

I took a seat at the bar of the Irish place and ordered a large Manhattan clam chowder. It arrived in a Styrofoam cup. I should have suspected something when the waiter asked me: "Small or large?" instead of "Cup or bowl?" When I sent it back he looked surprised and explained that people come in and out all the time and that they at the restaurant just throw things away. But the beer, I noticed, was served in glasses.

At the newsstand I bought a bag of cashews and a peanut energy bar.