Europe ahoy!

So after an epic episode in transit involving delayed flights, drunken plane rides, nearly missed connections, lost guitars, broken french, and peak hour Parisians I find myself back in France, boarded upon a train to Berlin. By the time I reach my destination I will have had around 39hours in transit. Wow. Even I am impressed, surprised and mortified by that figure. 

I feel surprisingly good. This may have something to do with the drunken Sydney/Singapore leg of the journey. For that flight, I was sat aside Tony and Ian, a lovely married couple from Portsmith, UK. They knew that I was their kind of gal when I swiftly ordered a red wine with dinner. Ian is a flight attendant for British Airways and had mentioned this fact to the onboard staff. Before we could secure our seatbelts low and tight, we were sipping first class wine, moisturising our faces with our business class toiletries, legs outstretched in the glorious comfort of an exit row, and celebrating Tony's imaginary birthday. And we celebrated, and celebrated, and then celebrated some more. The onboard staff just wouldn't let us stop. At one point even physically waking me to give me another tiny bottle of red. How could I refuse?? It was my friend's 'birthday' afterall...

8 hours passed, we landed, and Tony, Ian and their new fag hag rolled off the plane, giggling, silly, and completely directionless. This was ok for the boys since they were staying in Singapore for a couple of days but for Ms Drunky over here, not so great. I said some overemotional goodbyes to my new buddies, and stubbled off into the duty free paradise, trying to find my connecting departure gate. I had just under 30mins to do it. Now it's a wonder I actually found the gate, and a complete MIRACLE they let me on the flight. The last thing I clearly remember is trying to take off my boots in the security scan, which I am certain took suspiciously longer than it should have for a normal, sober, ok-to-travel passenger. Nevertheless, they let me on. Now, I must have got on, stowed my bags and completely passed out because 7 hours later, I woke up to breakfast and only 6 hours left of flying to go.

So I have definitely learned something from this experience....All this time I have been a non-drinking flyer in an effort to avoid jetlag. Well, screw that people. I feel great! I would recommend this approach for any dual long hauls you take. Get drunk first flight, sleep it off the next. Unfortunately we all can't be sat next to Tony and Ian though. Which really helped the cause. 

Now, I am enroute to Berlin. Snow everywhere. Absolutely amazingly beautiful. Just saw elk out in the landscape. Ain't life grand.