Postcards from a Plane!

How does one prepare for international travel? This is a slightly rhetorical question, but aside from compiling all the necessary clothes, adapters, luggage, etc. how does one mentally and physically prepare for time travel? That is what flying across time zones is essentially - time travel. In my particular case, I lost a day. I left the US Thurs. aftenoon and woke up in Germany the next day. But unlike time travel in movies, i remember every detail of my journey. I remember vividly the joy of discovering that on a full flight i had the only row with no one sitting beside me. i had two seats by the window all to myself. But a price was paid for this pleasure. It was paid in every single evil stare directed my way by my fellow passengers in coach. Specifically the very tall gentlemen who was squeesed tighter than paris hiltons jeans in his seat. and the unkind person that i am, i just smiled and snuggled down further in my luxury row. that is until..the two women in front of me reclined their seats and proceeded to "get it on" for the enjoyment of everyone is rows 24 to 27 A to J. I have nothing against lesbians mind you, nor do i have anything against public display of affection. Quite the contrary i like nothing more than someone to hold my hand, rest my head on their shoulder, secretly touch my butt though my back pocket and even give me a kiss. BUT......i have a problem with someone basically sitting in my lap and going full-tongue. Now, kudos to them for having the gumption to do that. But even more kodos go out to the Indian man who was brave enough to ring his flight attendant buzzer repeatedly until help arrived. And molto kodos to the male flight attendant who, with a great big smile plastered on his face- kindly interrupted said ladies with a few loud, "UGH HMMMS!" and a stern tap on the shoulder of the woman closest to him. The women looked sheepish and said sorry, and the male flight attendent walked away smiling. The women apologized to me, but what does one say, "oh thats ok, i had nothing to do before the in-flight movie began." or maybe "i always wanted to see real lesbians make out - its really nothing like in the movies!" or maybe "i always thought the mile high club was a myth." None of these seemed appopriate. I merely smiled and said in true northewest fashion, "No worries. Its all good!" And truth is, it was all good. The flight was good, the selection of inn flight movies, the little boy from russia who at some point in the night snuggled up next to me in the luxary row(much to the shock of his parents and me), the connecting flight in amsterdam was good - any country with toilets that have wet wipes and hand soap in the stalls is ok with me, and best of all was walking off the plane in Gemany and seeing Jochen great me at the teminal, AC-DC t-shirt and all!

Ive spent the last 5 days loving Germany. The food, the beer for breakfast, walking everywhere and seeing my friend. Im off to Spain tomorrow to begin my pilgrimage and again i sit here asking myself how does one prepare to walk across a county outside of bringing the necessary preparations. And i dont have an answer but if it involves lesbians, reclining seats, and toddlers im sure it wont be that bad!