Eating On The Fly: Spokane, Washington

Flight attendant trips are usually anywhere from two to six days. Sometimes we work what is called a "turn," which means Point A to Point B and right back.  Personally, I prefer the trips with layovers. Aside: our definition of "layover" is different from most travelers' definition. To airline crew, a layover means you stay overnight in the city where you landed. When we are sitting at the airport between flights (or "legs"), we call that "sit time."  

So I typically try to choose three- or four-day trips, so that there are two or three days and/or nights to explore a city and of course to do my favorite thing in the world: sample the cuisine. Next up was Spokane. The name Spokane means "Children of the Sun," which is a Native American term. Originally a fervent mining town, Spokane is known for its natural resources. 

The Spokane River flows through the center of town and it is quite lovely with gondolas rising to the sky, overlooking a waterfall. My friend who lives in Spokane suggested an Irish pub. A Guinness and a hearty sandwich after a long day of work was precisely what the doctor ordered. 

We opted for O'Doherty's, which wasn't crowded on a Sunday afternoon. The walls were adorned with dollar bills that patrons had left with their names or witty phrases (written via Sharpie) on the face of the bill. Standing on the bar and singing a song earns your buck a spot on the wall. 

We each ordered a beer and their version of a Reuben, called "Hooligan & Hannigan," the revered corned beef and cabbage sandwich, with Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing, piled on top of grilled dark rye bread. It was extremely delicious, filling, and satisfying — good food to allow one to go to bed happy.

The next day involved a 3:45 a.m. wake-up call, three long(ish) legs, and 13 hours of duty, until arriving back at Chicago, my base. Good night and bon appétit.