Pond Hopper

Our plane to Athens was abuzz, as you might expect, with Americans excited to land and get their vacations started. It was almost gleeful, which makes sense, but was a contrast to our intercontinental flights the last two years ago into Communist Asia. 

The flight to China was full of newborn babies, whose mothers presumably came to the States to secure citizenship for their little ones. There was also a rather impertinent 'gang' of Chinese men that would not listen at all to the instruction of the cabin crew. No one seemed to be going on vacation and we began to wonder just what we were doing, but this plane has a much different vibe. 

The first highlight of the trip for the girls arrived in the form of dinner.  There wasn't a gluten free meal to be found on the plane for Patti so she took her chances with a little bit of a dinner entree and then resorted to eating cheese for 9 hours. 

You have to wonder about some of the information that is displayed on the seat back GPS. On this particular flight the last resting place of various seagoing vessels is displayed in the screen along with the dates they rushed to the bottom of the ocean.  Including the Thresher, Tulip and the big T (as you can see). Apparently only that letter was sponsored today.  I wonder if my friends who prefer floating over flying have a GPS unit in their cabin denoting the last landings of winged travelers. 

Return of Ho Chi Minh.  The trip home from Vietnam was my last overnight flight and my worst overnight flight.  Ho Chi Minhs revenge haunted me into the wee hours threatening to make me pay dearly if I fell asleep, which I did.  The overnight last night had me bolting awake a few times feeling like I was in much the same situation, although nothing of the sort is (currently) rocking the GI Tract.  Maybe I have a mild form of PTSD?  Better luck next flight I guess.

We made it.  Now into Athens we go.