Well, my journey began in the
Cincinnati airport with my mom, sister and uncle. We all hung out on the floor,
taking pictures and laying down before it was time for me to go through
security. I was facing 13 hours on three different planes and who knows how
many hours sitting in airports. Tears joined my excitement as I left them
standing and waving at me. I then made it to JFK where I unexpectedly had to
check back in and go through more security. I hadn’t even been thinking about
doing that again. It wasn’t a long wait at all before I was boarding the
Turkish Airlines plane lined with faux hardwood floors and flowers in the
walls. (Of course I had to pass through first class before getting to my lovely
economy seat.) It wasn’t bad at all. I sat next to a nice lady planning to tour
Istanbul with her church group and it didn’t even seem like 9 hours on the
plane. Of course, being able to choose from the entire series of Harry Potter
movies and eating and drinking not-too-shabby airplane food and drink did help.
(By the way, they serve hazelnuts instead of peanuts on Turkish Airlines.) I
think the little boy next to me in the other section of seats got sick on his
chocolate cake, but I kept assuring myself it didn’t really happen. Well, that
flight was over before I knew it and then I was in Istanbul waiting for my last
leg of the trip to Vienna. They sure do things differently there. One thing was
for sure; I couldn’t stomach the idea of buying a $10.00 Starbucks drink. So, I
went without and waited at my gate until they unexpectedly flashed a “last
call” boarding message on the screen. Everyone got in line at once and we were
on our way. I definitely wasn’t feeling too great about another airplane meal
by then.
Finally! Vienna. I was seeing
beautiful sights before I even landed. I got through customs and went to
baggage claim 01, where supposedly the luggage from Istanbul was supposed to
be. Well, I waited until I was the last one waiting and was sure at that point
that I had fallen victim to poor airport service. I went to lost and found,
trying to keep calm. “Ah! Madam, you must go to belt 3 instead of 1.” Thank you
VIE for telling me that to begin with. No worries. All was well with the world.
I had found my suitcase and here is where the adventure started. Lugging
probably a hundred pounds worth of my belongings, I dropped off my big suitcase
in storage and boarded the CAT (City Airport Train). Thank goodness it was a
holiday in Austria, because if any more people had seen me struggling to get
around the underground train system to find my hotel I might have just died.
All I can say right now is that despite my struggles and doubts, I am truly
glad to have arrived a day early to experience the process of getting around at
least a little bit of the city. No surprise, the reception clerk at the Pension
Lehrerhaus asked me if I was "Stillwell" right when I walked in and then
proceeded to tell me that my uncle had called and “was very worried.” I settled
into my room, let go of a few tears, took a shower and then tried a tasty
little restaurant down the street. Who would have thought I’d be eating Italian
my first night in Vienna? After dinner I couldn’t help but fall asleep and
afterwards I was able to Skype with Uncle John. This might just have been the
longest day of my life, but the journey is only beginning. Guten nacht!
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