June 11: ARGHGHGHGH
Well, I am stuck at Chicago O’Hare and am spinning my wheels, so I thought I would say hello. It’s been about 25 hours ago that I took a train from Basel to the Zürich airport, where I wandered here and there, trying to find the right place to check in. One of the most vexing things is being told that you are going to take United Airlines from Zürich to Chicago O’Hare, then to find that there are no counters for said airline, and finally to find out that the actual carrier is Swissair. After finally straightening that important tidbit out, and manage the code share they obviously do, I had to pass passport control and security—par for the course, of course.
Having finally reached the gate, I was “selected” for special investigation—my bags were thoroughly checked, as were my electronics; I was patted down, wanded, and even the insides of my shoes were investigated. I don’t know why I am selected so often, but I played along with their silly game and finally got to Row 35, obtaining an aisle seat (thankfully), as I made sure I changed from a middle seat to something less confining.
Food, drink, parts of Spyri’s “Heidi,” and movies like “Atonement” constituted an attempt to stave off the inevitable boredom of sitting still in an aluminum cigar. We landed at Chicago O’Hare on time, and then came another dance of passport control, baggage claim, baggage transfer, taking the shuttle from the International terminal to the United Airline terminal, and then going through security yet again, only to find out that my flight from Chicago to Dallas, instead of leaving at 5:45, would be departing at 8:45–3 hours later! Since that first announcement, there have been four gate changes, which is vexing of its own accord! So I am breaking my word and writing this last missive of the Switzerland sojourn due to the fact that I am bored and need something concrete to do—even though that “something” is nothing but an airing of my adventures back into the reality of the airline cattle call. How the panache has left this industry! However, nothing, not even these tests of patience will dim the true wonders of this trip. See you again for the New Orleans sojourn beginning on June 14! As ever, Sylvia
Having finally reached the gate, I was “selected” for special investigation—my bags were thoroughly checked, as were my electronics; I was patted down, wanded, and even the insides of my shoes were investigated. I don’t know why I am selected so often, but I played along with their silly game and finally got to Row 35, obtaining an aisle seat (thankfully), as I made sure I changed from a middle seat to something less confining.
Food, drink, parts of Spyri’s “Heidi,” and movies like “Atonement” constituted an attempt to stave off the inevitable boredom of sitting still in an aluminum cigar. We landed at Chicago O’Hare on time, and then came another dance of passport control, baggage claim, baggage transfer, taking the shuttle from the International terminal to the United Airline terminal, and then going through security yet again, only to find out that my flight from Chicago to Dallas, instead of leaving at 5:45, would be departing at 8:45–3 hours later! Since that first announcement, there have been four gate changes, which is vexing of its own accord! So I am breaking my word and writing this last missive of the Switzerland sojourn due to the fact that I am bored and need something concrete to do—even though that “something” is nothing but an airing of my adventures back into the reality of the airline cattle call. How the panache has left this industry! However, nothing, not even these tests of patience will dim the true wonders of this trip. See you again for the New Orleans sojourn beginning on June 14! As ever, Sylvia
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