At Last

On July 2, 2008, I had a tomato, bread, plum, and banana on the road as Nancy drove from Bellingham to SeaTac. We arrived around 0530 and there was enough time for me to look around after I checked in to get my boarding pass. The kiosk to check in was a new experience. I had to scan my passport. But I had all the numbers to fill in the blanks. And since I had no bags to check I did not have to stand in the United Line. That is the companion airline.
When I finally went to the terminal, that required the underground which was easy and familiar. My jacket, shoes, and bag went through the xray machine and not a human touched any of it. That was a surprise. Nice.
I had a primitive trip from Seattle to Torento on a plane labeled E. No idea what manufacturer that was but it held about 84 passengers in tourist class. When I looked for a blanket - yes we sell for $2 - so I went without. the airline magazine hailed Canada as the fabulous inventor of flying and airplanes and air history. What country had I come from?
Had no seatmate so could stretch across and warm my feet otherwise it was warm enough. Tomato juice was served and I had water.
At Torento the gate for the next plane was just a few steps down so the walking I did was to exercise. I was getting hungry so got some caramel corn and almonds, and enjoyed watching people. In those hours while I waited the gate number for the continuing flight changed three times but only within a feet hundred feet.
The Boeing 737 was quite packed. And elegant. the first class sets were separate cubicles, egg shaped actually for privacy of dining, drinking, and sleeping. There must have been 30 such seats. Nearly 200 sat in the economy section in a 2 then 3 then 2 seat configuration. The window seat I occupied was behind the wing but it was already dark when we departed so we all closed the windows and had a dinner.
Beef, mashed potatoes, vegetables, pudding, and beer. Water was served all night long or more stuff to drink or whatever. My seatmate drank wine a lot. He was a construction person for an equistrine outfit, set up tents for the show and would be in Madrid for 12 days then on to Belgium for another more. I watched a movie 10000 years with dinasours. I had slept a bit in Toronto so was quite awake all night.
Breakfast after daylight was yogurt, muffin, fruit, juice and roll. We landed in Madrid a bit ahead of schedule so it took awhile to get to the transportation. Not one individual in the airport - personell, that is - spoke English, nor did they offer to find anyone who did. It was around 0900 and I was tired so took a taxi to the Hotel Alexandra, rather seeded looking city, narrow streets. I looked at the shops, ate, scouted out the underground but gave up and went to bed before dark.
Naomi Sherer