Hello lovers!

Two really big things in travel stole my heart this week:

1. Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic:


Soar 50,000 feet in the air, touch the edge of space and experience weighlessness during the 3 1/2 hour journey. The price? Only $200,000 a seat (that's $952 a minute!). While 250 cake-eaters have already signed up, the official launch date is expected in about 18 months.

(If you don't have the funds handy, the Powerball jackpot is currently $75 Million...)

2. Emirates Airlines' new A380 with onboard First Class showers:

Emirates Airlines puts their new A380 into this week serving JFK to Dubai. The double decker - 50% larger than a 747 - is the world's largest passenger aircraft. Emirates' First Class cabin offers private cabins and bathrooms complete with showers. The price of a ticket? $14,635 For the 13 hour 45 minute journey this amounts to just $9 a minute (round trip).

It's a steal! And I don't know about you, but I get pretty dirty in 13 hours and 45 minutes...

Branson unveils mothership in latest step towards putting tourists in space [Guardian]
On the Road - An airliner outfitted to wash, rinse & repeat [NY Times]
Emirates Airlines [Official Website]