How did you get away with this, Peralta?

 

I’ve done Friends. Both The Offices will be next, then Parks and Rec. But currently my nightly re-watch of popular culture classics is concentrated on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which of course - that’s the whole idea - has been fun. That is, until a recently-watched scene in s2e18 that showed the plane Jake’s horrible father is piloting, which snatched me immediately out of 2014 New York and dumped me in Dubai. 

Because that’s an Emirates plane! Not the made-up Tribute Air label, but the tailfin logo, which is not only distinctive but so, so familiar. I've flown with them often, sometimes even (sigh) upstairs, wallowing in the comfort, space and privacy of my shiny walnut-veneer nook, to the extent of it being a bit of a chore to leave it in order to visit the bar at the rear. Needless to say, this was back in my time as a free-loading travel writer.

I've passed through Dubai on my way to the UK, to Europe, to Africa, with a couple of actual stop-offs to experience the dizzying heights of the Burj Khalifa, the multi-national residents, the craziness of ice-rinks and huge aquariums inside shopping malls, the amazing contrast between the ultra-modern cityscape and the barren desert surrounding it.

I've been out in that desert, trying not to be sick in a stupidly lurching car hurtling up and down the dunes, and enjoying much more the swaying of a camel, and the comforting jiggle of a horse. 

Dubai is an unlikely apparition in that setting, but it is impressively modern and successful, its fingers both on the button and in every sort of business pie. Which makes it all the more unexpected that the makers of Brooklyn Nine-Nine got away with their shameless stealing of an Emirates plane for that scene. Though maybe in the UAE they just like the series too.

By the way, and for once totally unconnected content-wise, I'd just like to mention that today is the anniversary of New Zealand Aotearoa becoming in 1893 the first nation in the world to give women the vote. Yay us! (And for shame, Switzerland, with your incredible 1971.)

About as far as you can get from Europe, actually

So, cruise season never really stopped this winter, with P&O’s Pacific Explorer popping in at fairly regular intervals - if, that is, a 77 tonne ship carrying 2000 passengers could ever just pop in. While it’s very far from being the biggest to call in to Auckland, there’s no denying its impact. (Er, not literally.) And now that it is finally officially spring, cruise ships will be a regular sight in the port.

In fact, just the other side of the ferry terminal, there was another one also moored here today, although it was easily missed, being so small and unimposing. It’s the barque Europa, built in 1911 and just 40m long. She cruises all over the world, but there’s none of your Pacific Explorer cosseting on offer here - she’s more of a DIY ship. Literally - 48 paying passengers learn to sail her, actually as part of the crew. That sounds much more fun than just lolling around in luxury, getting fat; plus, you’d really feel you’d earned your destination, once you finally reached it.

And that would add a whole new level of specialness to somewhere like Antarctica. Which is actually where, on New Year’s Day 2018, I last saw the Europa.