I traveled for 30 hours yesterday, College Station to Erbil, Iraq.
All this travel gave me time for reflection, and I've realized that over the span of most trips I go from loving airports and airplanes to hating them and then back to loving them. All within about 30 hours.
Things start out well at the beginning of the trip. I check in at the airport with anticipation, thinking about the new things to see and experience. I settle into my chair with some coffee and wait for my flight. I watch planes come and go, watch other travelers and enjoy the anticipation of travel. I get on the plane and enjoy that rush of take-off. This is my favorite part of flying, that feeling of heaviness before the plane defies gravity and lifts into the air. I love flying!
It's downhill after take-off the initial take-off. After that comes awful airline food. Cramped seats and stiff knees. Delays. Wandering through the mazes that they call airports. Multiple security checks. Feeling dirty and disheveled. I hate flying.
Finally, we land at the final destination. My luggage made it! I take the shuttle out to the parking lot. I spot my friends who have come to pick me up. My sense of anticipation and adventure returns. I can't wait to walk around the city, eat my favorite Iraqi foods and haggle over the price of souvenirs. I love flying!
Flying. It's a love-hate-love relationship.
I'm loving the blog! I also have a love/hate relationship with flying. I guess as long as we want to be travelers, we're going to have to side with the love! :) Be safe!
ReplyDeleteYour favorite part of flying is my least favorite part. Even say the word airport, and I'm nauseous, dizzy and smell. Yes, I smell.
ReplyDeleteThe only good part is getting off... and the overpriced gummy bears. :-)