I’m sitting in O’Hare airport, trying to function on no sleep in 30 hours. Our flight to Frankfurt departs (via Lufthansa) in about an hour. This whole scenario still feels like an alternate reality!
Last night we watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Mom fixed bacon and biscuits for us before we left at 1:00 in the morning for New Orleans airport. I tried to catch some sleep on the way, but it was futile.
We checked in at the United Airlines desk at 5:00. I said goodbye to Mom, Dad, and Bobby. The flight left at 7:10.
My first experience on an airplane was great! Our group was scattered all over the plane, but luckily I got a seat by Will. The flight was short; in fact, we arrived in Chicago 20 minutes early, at 9:10. They gave us breakfast – thank goodness, because I was starving.
We arrived at O’Hare airport and left the airport to catch the subway/el. We put money in machines and got these little debit cards that worked on all city transportation.
The ride was much longer than we expected it to be. When we first boarded, we were laughing and snapping pictures – "what a novelty." But after 45 minutes, it got a little old.
Dr. Browning brought the "Golden Hand," and we’re trying to include it in as many pictures as possible. (Years from now, I’ll probably read this and wonder what in the world the Golden Hand was!)
We got off the el on some street and ate lunch at McDonalds, then caught a city bus to the Field Museum. We got to see the brand-new exhibit of Sue, the world’s largest complete T-Rex. We also saw the ancient Egypt exhibits (as if we won’t get enough of that in the next few days!) There was, to our pleasant surprise, a mummified hand. We photographed it, holding the Golden Hand in front of the glass beside it.
We rode the el back to O’Hare – and now our plane is boarding! I end this with perfect timing . . . one thing I forgot to mention: we had to lug our carry-ons all over Chicago! Blah!
7:30 p.m. (home time) The ride has been dull so far; we haven’t seen a movie yet, and they won’t allow cd players . . . so no "Feelin’ Groovy" as I cross the Atlantic. However, one high point – maybe the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I saw the sunset from above the clouds. The whole sky was a giant rainbow as the sun disappeared beneath us. It was gorgeous.
Right now we’re somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, with about five hours to go before we reach Frankfurt. It would be a lot more homey if I was seated by someone I know, but we’re scattered all over the place again. I wish they would show the movie. Funny, but I still don’t feel the effects of no sleep. Maybe I’ll be able to sleep when it gets dark.
Our supper was disgusting. Some kind of weird, unseasoned pasta for an entree, three pieces of lettuce constituting a “salad,” three grapes, and a piece of Swiss cheese, and for dessert – well, I really don’t know what that was! I hope the first class passengers are faring better with their high-altitude cuisine. Makes Carey’s cafeteria look like a Piccadilly.
It feels strange that all the announcements are given first in German – I’m used to my language being the first and most important! It’s sort of like, “Oh yeah, people speak other languages out there, and I’m the outsider.”
Enough ramblings for now. I wish I knew what time it is. All this time zone crossing really shows time for what it is – a complete illusion. But now I’m starting to wax philosophical, when all I really want is a hamburger.