Around the World in 45 days. 1

I know, I use the same title more than once. I say, when you find something that works you stick with it.

So, it’s Sunday at 720am. I am sitting at gate A17 waiting for my plane to arrive. Marika and I spent yesterday evening remotely trying to book reservations. I managed a car for Rome to Pisa. Fixed carly’s Flight from Nice. Booked another car from Nice to Marseille. That’s the half way point of our adventure. Just need to book out 16 more days. Yikes.

I am all packed into a very small duffel. I only brought some clothing and a few toiletries. About five days clothing. That’s it. So very light and small. Easy to move through the world. The only pair of shoes I brought is the pair I have on. I said light, weren’t you paying attention?

I really do detest flying. Nowadays we are treated like cattle. No one cares a bit for your comfort and ease. And everything you want is sold to you. I paid extra for legroom and aisle seats. The aisle in front of the exit row has great legroom as well. It’s worth the $9 I paid for it. Those used to be free. And, of course, I brought my own food. Airline food is awful and pricey. At least I can still get a small bottle of water for free. And coffee. So I will get to see the RV bathroom facilities. Spacious and beautiful. All granite. Right.

I note everyone around me is quite bleary. I look the same but I can’t see myself. Thank god. We are all going to be fast friends in a few minutes and for a few hours. I have been looking for the fat sweaty guy I suspect I will be sitting next to. Have not found him as of yet but I know he is lurking out here somewhere. Sweating and breathing hard. I can hardly wait. In ten minutes we start enplaning. That’s airline talk. When unloading you don’t. You deplane. So I guess enplane is accurate.

So in line, I strike a conversation with the guy behind me. Our line is last to board. He is a nice guy. Also, fat, sweaty and breathing hard. He had to make haste to get here on time. I figure I should be nice to this guy, there is a 99% chance he will be sitting next to me with his rolls rollingbiver the armrest onto me. And dripping. I am sickened as well. Nice guy.

Time to load up. They pull the barrier at the end of the chute and off we go. Not to the slaughterhouse fortunately.

Ok. Surprise! I have the legroom and aisle seat as purchased. But, wait for it, …. the seat in the middle is empty!! I win the lottery! Of course I am sure I will get karmic payback later. Maybe a collicky kid on the next leg. But for now me and he guy in the window seat (thinnish, no seeet) have a barrier between us tibuse for our crap and an effective barrier to conversation. Cool.

Well, the next five hours to DC were completely boring. Which is good. The monotony broken only by my sleeping, and two passes from the drink cart. Maybe a couple trips to the John. The snacks were free, which I take and do not eat. Maybe later. I time my snack consumption or I would be fat like the guy in the window seat. He ate extra. And brought a plethora of items to continually consume while viewing TV shows. He is fatter than I first noticed. I am not anti fat. I am anti fat guy next to me.

So, anyhow, boring flight. That’s a W.

Landed at DC Dulles. I had a 25 gate stroll to my next flight. So I passed about a million fast food outlets, all with lines. Why eat this crap? I got to my gate just in time to get into the loading chute (last group). Bulkhead seats. They did cost more than last seat but bulkhead is next best seat to first class. And, it’s next to first class. And, my carryon is under the seat in front of me which is first class. So my kindle, phone and iPad ride first. No added charge. I know, I want to be me too.

So, who else do I sit with? A two year old and her mom. Directly behind me a screaming child. But only screamed during takeoff, landing, and the rest of the flight. And I paid extra for this. Lost the lottery. Karmic payback. All were thin. So what’s worse, screamer or fat guy? I’m not sure.

The rest of the plane flight was boring. Same as first leg. Read. Snooze. Drink cart. Water please.

I am in Portland. Thank the lord! Can o get an Amen? Small airport, no plethora of food vendors, quiet. Easy parking. Love it. Emily was waiting at the bottom of the escalator. Finally. We have been seperate for a week or so. The in laws, Beth and Hank, were waiting as well. Kisses and hugs all around.

Well, this time, mostly inhinor of Father’s Day, I had made a reservation in Portland for dinner. Landed at 630. Res for 8. Since this is Portland Jetport, we were in the car in 3 minutes and to the restaurant well before 7. Oh well. But, being Portland, they had another table ready.

The place is called 555. Which is the address. I have never liked the idea of a restaurant owner not being able to come up with a name and instead uaing the address. Seems to lack imagination. Food was fantastic, I am not going into details, I will Yelp a review soon. Or not. But I can recommend it. They do an excellent job all around.

After dinner, head home to the lake. Hank drove and I slept the entire way. Hey, travel is draining. I can’t even tell you what time we got there. But, by the grace of god, I am here.