Athens Here We Come

Our flight to Athens did not go smoothly. We stayed the previous night at an airport hotel, as we had an early flight the next morning. Fortuitously, we joined our American friends, Scott and Bonnie, and Caitland, who also had an early flight. We enjoyed a lovely early dinner together, before deciding to leave for the 200 meter walk to the airport at 4.15am.

All went according to plan until we entered the check-in lane, where we received  a flight delay email, telling us that our 7am flight had been delayed by 4 hours. Luckily, we had left the key in the door to our room at the hotel, so we trundled back and tried to catch up on some sleep. 

Returning to the airport in the rain, we made our way through customs and were at the departure gate in plenty of time. However, we nearly missed the flight, as they changed the departure gate number at the last minute. I thought it was odd when most of the people waiting at our gate moved elsewhere. I asked Ray to investigate, and he came running back, to say the plane was already boarding 50 metres away. Although we needn't have rushed, as there was a long line of people waiting on the tarmac in the rain, to board.

The hour flight was without incident. However, after walking off the plane, the entire full flight of people were stuck in a corridor for 30 minutes, because someone forgot to unlock the door into the terminal. There was nearly a riot. Fortunately, the walls were glass, so after a lot of banging and angry face-making, we drew the attention of someone with a key. 

The joys of travel. At least we didn't experience the bad luck of a lone traveller that we met at dinner. His traveling companion got Covid and returned to the US. He had a car accident. His passport and wallet were stolen on the metro from Athens airport. But he is continuing alone, reading The Odyssey and hoping he doesn't wash up naked on a beach. What we do for the rich experiences of travel!