Once the kids were born, work travel became a special treat. A night or two alone in a nice hotel room, flying without managing an entire situation – it was a little getaway – even if there was work required. It happened maybe three times a year and trips were usually no more than four days – so it wasn't disruptive to family life – just a change of pace. Especially when the kids were little, the quiet time on the flight was almost indulgent.
Now solo travel days are almost boring. Not problematic, but no longer the relief they once were. I mean, sure – solo travel is still easier than with the kids, but not dramatically. At ten and twelve years-old, Sennen and Ailyn are seasoned, skilled international travelers who have no problem figuring out the entertainment system on an aircraft and taking naps when they need them.
So travel without the kids is not that much less stressful and it lacks the humor and adventure they bring.
All the same, today's travel from Los Angeles to Denver to Munich – and later to Athens has thus far been blissfully and thankfully unremarkable. Taking advantage of a "discount" ticket that used fewer miles than a normal rewards travel purchase meant the two-stop route. Not ideal. But with two round-trips for me and one each for the kids for summer – plus Winter travel for all three of us this year, a stop in Denver seemed like a small price to pay.
Per usual, the airport time is softened by trips to the United and Lufthansa lounges and I'm even doing a work Zoom here in Munich. Why not? I have a five hour layover and if I had to describe Lufthansa's lounge in one word, it's business-y. It is not the ramen-bar and plush lounge-chair vibe of the Star Alliance lounge at the LAX Bradley Terminal – Sennen and Ailyn's favorite.
Flying United means less intercultural engagement and transiting in Munich – one of the most sterile airports in the world has kept things….unremarkable.
The one fun cultural moment was actually the Uber to the airport. The driver was Thai and from the Issan provinces of Northeastern Thailand at that. So we chatted in Thai and shared his cooking tips for making larb, namtok, nam and other Issan specialties. I appreciated his attitude if you can't get the quality of Thai food you like in a restaurant, just make it – it's so easy. I did learn about a Thai grocery in the Valley I had been heretofore unaware of. Suffice it to say that the driver who lives near my house gave me his number so in the future, if I need airport transport, we can cut out the middle man and both come out ahead.
It's currently late afternoon in Munich and my flight isn't until after 7pm. I'll get into Athens at about 11pm local time and head to a favorite hotel in town. No Sofitel Athens airport this year – I couldn't justify the cost. Besides, I have an entire day to kill tomorrow – the ferry doesn't leave until 6pm. So I might as well enjoy town.
There's not much I need to see around town, but I can find a nice place to work, maybe write – and possibly some good eats. Athens is usually toasty with tomorrow's forecast at 92 degrees. So there will be some walking around – and maybe some air conditioning too. Life can't all be Patmos where the high for the week is supposed to be 78 degrees.
So I'll let my fatigue and lack of creativity benefit the reader. This can be an unusually short post – the kind we have not seen much of since 2010! But that's okay – not everyday has to be profound. Just most. But maybe not today. Unless things pick up outside the Lufthansa lounge….
