Two of the area’s most recognizable political figures are out of town this week, heading in the same direction, but with much different travel plans.

Gov. Matt Blunt is on his way to Europe, where he is taking part in a trade mission that begins with a major air show in England and continues on to Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. (Maybe now he should add a stop in Belgium?)

Blunt’s trip is being financed by the Hawthorn Foundation, a private nonprofit economic development agency. This is at least Blunt’s third international trip in recent months — already this year he has been to Quebec and China.

Mayor Francis Slay was with Blunt in China, but this time he decided to stay stateside. The mayor is in New York City for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game festivities.

Slay is scheduled to participate in a ceremony with his Big Apple counterpart, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, as well as attend the game itself at the soon-to-be-demolished Yankee Stadium.

The trip is designed to give St. Louis officials a taste of what it will be like here next summer, when the All-Star Game comes to Busch Stadium.

When Slay was gently reminded that there is a chance he won’t be in office when the All-Stars come to St. Louis in 2009– the game is in July, the mayoral election in March — he fielded the suggestion with the ease of a routine ground ball.

“I’m the mayor today,” said Slay, who is gradually ramping up his re-election bid, “Hopefully, I’ll be the mayor then.”