Welcome to the First World
Trip Start
Apr 03, 2007
1
14
17
Trip End
Jul 31, 2007
Lisbon,
Portugal
Thursday, June 28, 2007
So my flight left at the ridiculous hour of 345am. I arrived at the airport promptly at 1230am, having of course not slept a wink. The flight was like 95% male Nepalis, apparently headed to the gulf for work. I only saw two other women and one other white person. Everyone was gaping at me and I felt grumpy and tired. It was funny though, another white lady was behind me and everytime we lined up in one pf the million queues we had to stand in, some official would come out and direct us to the front of the line. I felt a bit bad but all the men were like "Itīs okay, ladies first." Sweet
On the beach
.So we finally board the really crappy Gulf Air flight. I kick some dude out of my window seat, grab a blanket and pass out. An hour or so later I wake up to beaming sunlight on my face. The guy beside me has reached ACROSS me to open the window shade and stare out the window. At five oīclock in the morning! I stare at him angrily, grab the shade and slam it down. God!
Four hours later I arrive in Bahrain and spend six US dollars on a cup of coffee and a bottle of water. I have four hours to kill but fortunatly have a big, fat book to read. I wanted to buy something that would really last for awhile so hopefully I wouldnīt have to buy a book in Europe. So I bought Anna Karenina by Tolstoy. Never read it. I like it but I can tell already it wonīt last the rest of the trip... It did distract me nicely though.
Next flight is again Gulf Air, seven hours to London. And this plane is five star. Big seats with tons of leg room, the little flaps on the headrest so you can sleep without your head flopping around. And personal t.vīs. I watched three movies. There was not a bad selection either. Stupidly, I watched "Bridge to Terabithia" because I had exhausted most of my other options, plus it was one of my favourite books as a kid. Of course I end up crying like baby. During a Disney movie, for christ sakes
The old part of Lisbon
.So I arrive in London and make my attempt to navigate the tube system in the middle of rush hour traffic. I actually did pretty well. Even when we all had to get off because there was a problem on the line, I figured which line to switch to to get to my destination all by myself. Actually the tube system is incredibly easy to navigate. Plus everyone speaks english. Worn out, I meet Radha at Brixton station. She asks if I feel like a beer, and of coursethe answer is yes. We have a few and dinner and she kindly picks up the tab. London is incredibly expensive. My BLT sandwich was like 15$. Thanks Radha!
We took the train to her friends place and I crashed on her fold out couch. I donīt recall having slept so deeply in a long time. In the morning, I had a coffee and headed back to the airport. I was going to stop at Buckingham Palace but I had all my bags and was short of time. Anways my flight to Lisbon was only two and a half hours. I got the window seat again and the views were stunning. I was dying of excitment by the time I got off the plane, I havenīt seen Stacy in a year and a half. And there she was, looking adorably pregnant. We had dinner and a chat in central Lisbon before coming home, which took awhile because her car broke down!
So now I sit in her sweet little home, having just come back from a walk around her cute little neighbourhood. Both Stacy and her husband are at work and I have spent the day "making myself at home." Itīs so beautiful here, or what I've seen so far is! Tonight we are heading back to the aiport to pick up Kathy and then all the girls will be together again! I see some debauchery in the future! We spend a few days here and then we are heading down to the Algarve on tuesday.
