We have arrived in Warsaw, Poland. The flight from Chicago to Munich was over nine hours long. We boarded early and then they were delayed about 30 minutes from departure. So we were on the plane 1 1/2 hours without going anywhere.
The service on the plane was good. Fortunately the plane was not sold out and we both had an empty seat next to us. That always helps. I didn’t hear any crying children either which is a plus.
I had a fun flight attendant. She was lifting one of the heavy luggage compartments and I asked what that did to her back. She said her back was fine but she was just back from being off from breaking her hand and her arm in a pickleball accident back in July. We talked about that a bit. Later in the flight I asked how her arm was holding up.
From then on, every time she saw me she said hi friend. I went to the back once to go to the restroom and she was on the other side of the plane and hollered hi to me.
When I de boarded she said by my new friend. I like when I can make a brief connection with someone.
We were an hour late getting to Munich due to the late start and heavy headwinds. We only had a two-hour layover and had a long walk to get through passport control and then to the new gate. Passport control was a breeze but it was a manual machine and for whatever reason I could not get it to read my fingerprints. There was no one around so we finally gave up.
Later on our walk we ran into actual passport control agents where they had me try my fingerprints again. She had trouble reading them too but took my picture and waved us through.
We ended up still having to wait about 30 minutes for our flight to Warsaw. That plane was packed to the gills. They made us check our luggage at the gate. I finally fell asleep on that flight and slept for most of the 1 plus flight.
We got off and by the time we got to the luggage carousel my bag was already coming down. Nicole’s came down shortly after that and we headed out.
No passport control or customs to go through. We found our tour group person and she took us to the bus that would take us to our hotel. We had about a 30 minute bus ride through Warsaw to get to our hotel. It looks like a clean, modern city from what we saw with some older buildings mixed in.
We were lucky and were able to gain access to our room immediately. It was nice to lay down on the bed for a bit.
I had worn compression socks and my ankles had not swelled up. But above the socks my knees and thighs and even up to my gut were swollen. Pick your poison I guess!
Nicole and I both took a two hour nap. Luckily we had set our alarms so we could get up for our group dinner tonight.
I got up and took a shower and put on fresh clothes. I feel like a new person!
It will be good to eat tonight. They fed us breakfast on the flight from Munich at some point this morning. All I ate was part of a carton of milk and two bites of a roll. I think I will feel better after I get some food in me.
Tomorrow morning our day starts at 8:30 with a bus tour of the city with some stops along the way. Neither of us signed up for the afternoon optional tour so we will have a free afternoon and evening. That sounds like heaven – a couple hours awake and I don’t have to be around people!
This grand adventure is off to a good start. All the flights were almost on time, our luggage arrived and we are settled in to our home away from home for two nights. All is well!
Grateful for a fun connection with a flight attendant, grateful for safe travels on our over 4,500 mile trip, and grateful food is next up on the agenda.