From the tranquility of the Aegean and Star Alliance business lounge, I'm watching an El Al jet pull back from the gate and depart for Tel Aviv – something that has only recently resumed. The flight does not have Ziv on it. A delayed flight compensated for a delayed ferry to Kos where he is now comfortably awaiting his flight. The charter airline he's on restored service from Israel to Greece just three weeks ago, but their flights are not listed on the airport departures and arrivals board – possibly as a security measure.
Today is the first day Aegean Airlines will resume service to Tel Aviv – and same for United, the first American carrier to normalize the route. It feels better to part ways with Ziv on that note.
In an ironic twist of fate, on the ferry from Patmos to Athens, a man came and stood at the window in front of my "airplane type seat" as they are called and stared out the window awhile – about 45 minutes before we reached Athens. He kept making faces at me that showed he was worried about time – the ferry had departed an hour late. But it made up the time along the way and arrived only ten minutes late – which was important for me too as my timing was a bit tight as well.
In any case, the man said something to me I couldn't understand – and tried saying it again. Then he pulled out his phone and used a translation app to convey, "I'm Palestinian from Gaza" – and I wasn't sure what to do with that. Was he hoping for money? He didn't seem like it. Was he striking up a conversation? That too seemed a stretch for a man who needed to use an app to communicate. Had he made me as Jewish and it was some more specific message? That too didn't seem likely. My estimation was he's a refugee who was admitted to work. In the summer, there are foreigners in the kitchens of restaurants and cleaning and maintenance staffs of hotels – and probably other blue collar occupations. I decided to respond with "I'm glad you're safe in Greece." He hung out for a little longer just watching the Aegean go by before he went elsewhere in the ship.
Perhaps it was just a very good contextual reminder that the war in Gaza is a tragedy of many dimensions.
Following that, things went smoothly. Despite the late ferry, my driver was waiting for me at Piraeus Port and got me to the airport using backroads to circumvent the considerable highway traffic. No problem getting through the airport and the new Aegean Airlines lounge is quite nice. I've traveled light with a wheely-duffle and backpack – just carryon. I will only have Tuesday on the ground, so no need to overdo.
The kids are back from camp, resting up and excited for Patmos – and to be back together. I am too.
So are our neighbors in Patmos. The owners of neighboring Yiamas restaurant yelled, "Go Get your kids and bring them here!" as they saw me head to the ferry dock.
There won't be much to tell on Tuesday so I'll pick back up on Wednesday as the kids and I make the big trip back to Patmos which will span two days as we fly forward through time and then glide – like Ziv – across the Aegean.
Flying United this summer means we begin with a domestic flight from Los Angeles to Chicago. The kids are sad about missing the Star Alliance lounge in the Bradley Terminal. Apparently, it's a ritual of great import now. Maybe in December for Italy when we're on Lufthansa. For now, we will have to suffer along in the United Club lounge or – gasp – hang in the terminal like mortals.
It's all in the name of Patmos and a summer under the Aegean sky.
