“I want to go back to Patmos, I don’t like America!” Ethan said.
This is an awkward phrase for a kid to utter when he’s third in line to go through security at Chicago O’Hare. It’s also unexpected for the son of a Navy Captain who himself wants to join the Navy someday.
I think it has to be looked at in the context of feeling shocked to have gone from Patmos to Chicago O’Hare in effectively a day. In fact, the Sennen and Ailyn warned Ethan the hardest part of coming back is hearing everyone speaking English – that there’s a certain peace in not understanding all the ambient chatter. Ethan was confused about it back at the Athens airport – but it made perfect sense to him standing in line to enter Terminal 1.
Similarly, Ethan had a quizzical look when we lined up around the portico of Blue Star 2 to exit as soon as the boat docked. The ferry is a more like cruise ship than what most people think of as a ferry and while we were all very comfortable with the environment and procedures, Ethan looked as if he had just realized this was all kind of bizarre. It kind of is.
His look didn’t improve in the airport shuttle van as we headed from seaport to airport. He slept through most of the ride to the ferry on our first day – so Athens didn’t really register. This time, after a night’s sleep in our cabin on the ferry, his eyes were open and he was surprised by what he saw – a relatively unattractive city. Ethan thought it would be more refined and cultural. Most of Athens is not, having destroyed most of its historical architecture in the 1950’s to make way for cheap, plentiful housing as people poured into the city from the countrysides during a politically and economically unstable period.
While dripping simple syrup from the kadaifi-style baklava he brought from Patmos onto himself and the table in the van, Sennen was all to0 happy to explain to Ethan how Athens came to be the way it is and to highlight various things we passed including what a full-size Sklavenides Supermarket looks like in Athens (much larger and more modern).
From passing through Athens to navigating the Athens airport, the kids’ energy shifted. No one was at ease anymore – though Sennen and Ailyn had no problem identifying where the lounge was once we cleared security and passport control. The brief stay at the Skyserv Airport Lounge helped bring some calm and quell hunger in the midst of the real-world reentry shock.
It also didn’t help that we were short on time – or at least thought we were. When I bought our ferry tickets, Blue Star 2 was scheduled – as it has been in past years – to arrive in Athens at 8:30 am – plenty of time to make a 12:30 flight.. Then a few weeks ago, I received a text and email informing the ferry would depart and arrive one hour later. It takes roughly an hour to get to the airport on a busy morning and two-hours to get through the airport felt possible – but not fantastic. Then Blue Star 2 was late to its own pushed-back departure time.
Sennen was nervous. I was a little concerned too – but tried to keep it quiet. Sometimes there’s nothing to do but let events unfold – and try to be as close as possible to the exit upon arrival.
In the end, my Gold status and the Athens Airport’s family-friendly policies got us through check-in, security and passport control in record time. We have 45 minutes in the lounge – during which the kids didn’t just eat – they dined including getting hot chocolate from the machines and sampling various waters. Ethan filled his tumbler with his beloved miso.
Still, Sennen and Ailyn warned Ethan, arrival in Chicago would be jarring. And it was. Especially Immigration – I didn’t realize LAX’s arrival hall is so orderly until I went through Chicago’s for the first time two years ago.
We had no problems – all the systems worked. Our Athens to Chicago flight even arrived an hour early. We were on a 787-10 Dreamliner – very comfortable. United’s seating is better than Air Canada’s – as was the food. I had extra legroom. It was a pleasant flight experience – as expected.
Of course, when puppies sit together, puppy things happen. Sennen and Ethan took turns using each other as pillows when they napped. Sennen had the window seat and climbed over Ethan and Ailyn to get out when needed – only half the time he didn’t clear them and sat on Ethan. One time he also farted. The two of them laughed hysterically.
We are now resting comfortably in the United Club lounge on the C Concourse. With unlimited food, beverage and comfortable places to chill – we have a happy crew for what went from a four to a five hour layover.
Soon, we’ll head to our gate for the last leg of the journey and at LAX, part with Ethan – which will be very sad.
Then a day at home tomorrow (Thursday) and then Friday, the adventure resumes with me returning to Patmos via Istanbul and Athens. The blog will take a day off tomorrow and resume Friday, the 17th.
