And Awaaaay We Go (Part 2)

 October 1, 2021

When we last saw our intrepid traveler, she was In JFK at Gates 5A and B.  It turns out that it doesn't matter because everyone winds up in the same place!  It's a huge jet but it has less legroom than the Jet Blue one did.  I have the window seat, by choice, and find that the young man who was lined up in front of me, and is a master at mansplaining, has the seat next to me.  There is no one in the aisle seat and when I suggest that he move into it, he tells me that he prefers not to be that close to people going down the aisle.  That works for him.  Not so much for me;  but at least he's not an enormous person! 

Turkish Airlines gets people settled quickly and we're off on time. The first thing they do is distribute a pretty little cloth bag to everyone.  I wrestle with the zipper for quite a while before i realize there's a microscopic piece of plastic holding it shut!  Inside there are slippers, a sleep mask, socks, a toothbrush and tooth paste, and sanitizer!

I've been trying to keep people up to date on where I am and am hoping to hear from Ammar about his travels, too.  As usual, I watch several movies because I'm no good at plane-sleeping! They have a lovely selection and I choose "Nomadland", "The Father", "Parasite", and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". We received a menu when we were seated and presently our dinner arrives. One of the beverage choices is red wine, either a Turkish cab-shiraz blend or a French merlot.  The blend is lovely!  The more than nine hours pass as quickly as you might expect (not very) and it's time for breakfast and a nearly flawless landing in Istanbul.

I'm in no great rush to deplane, knowing I've got about a six-hour layover.  I'm pleased to find that international travelers can go directly to their next gate.  That's good because it's going to take a while to figure out how that works.  Eventually there is a departures board and it's no help at all!  It just says that gate information will be available at 10:40.  Bear in mind that it's just a little after five!

Some wandering and I find an area with food and beverages and sit thinking I'll be able to blog and do some more Georgia research.  Not really, the airport wifi doesn't connect to the Internet!  How does that work?  Oh well, I've got my Kindle and I'm set for a while.  The disadvantage to traveling alone is that you have to take all your stuff with you if you want to go anywhere! Eventually I go wandering some more and get a latte.  I resist Stu's suggestion to get Turkish coffee and pastries, just as I resisted his bagel with lox and cream cheese in New York!  Ole suggests that I rest;  I hope sitting counts!

(Note to Sharon - it was black, with pearls)

I keep checking the time and finally it is 10:40 with no change to the board!  But a couple of minutes later the magic number 1A1 shows up and I'm off to find it.  Downstairs and at the end, with lots and lots of seats.  I've noticed that all the airports are very strict about the mask mandate.  Thank goodness! Time passes and without any announcement being made people begin lining up in two different lines.  The last flight there was a sign that said which rows lined up in which line.  Here there's nothing and I ask an airline employee where I belong.  He points to the line on the right.  That's great except that when people start moving the line on the right does an about face and merges with the other one!

And that doesn't matter, either, because we're all going to get on busses that will take us to the place.  Up the stairs and I settle in my new window seat.  I wonder why I haven't heard from Ammar after that first text that said he was in the Jordan airport and his flight would leave at 7:30.

This is a short, two-hour flight and my ears are a little sore from my new headphones, so i opt to just read until lunch is served. It's stuffed eggplant, lubney and a strawberry dessert.  And they're out of the cab blend so I have the merlot.  

I've just settled back into my book when one of the flight attendants asks me if my name is Melodie.  I agree that it is but can't figure out how she knows that or what she wants.  She asks me to come with her to the back of the plane.  Curiosity is quickly followed by panic.  What have I done?  What do they know?

I make my way aft and see several of the attendants back there.  Oh-oh, this looks serious.  One of them directs my attention to my right and there, on bended knee, is Ammar, holding out an open ring box!  How the heck did he get on my flight???  He's supposed to be in Tbilisi by now!  And what is in that box?!  It's a matched engagement ring and wedding band and everyone is waiting for my response!!  And it's being videoed!  I'm beyond speechless!! After I somewhat regain my composure they seat us in the empty back row and bring us champagne and a treat and all I can do is giggle maniacally!! Then there's the revelation that he's been watching me most of the time I've been in Istanbul!  He recounts some of my encounters with other passengers even describing their clothes!  He was close enough to touch and I was blissfully unaware!

We float off the plane and into the log line for passport control.  There's a brief moment of panic when the officer says he can't read Ammar's vaccine card because it's too small!  He even pulls out a magnifying glass!!  And finally stamps his passport.  On to baggage claim and out to the waiting area where we find our driver and exchange some currency.

A ten minute drive takes us to Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi, where we check into our Club preference room with the espresso machine and jacuzzi and enormous bed with fully pillows. We sleep through dinner and order two Georgian dishes from room service., traditional lamb chaqopuli (which actually comes with beef) and traditional chicken shqmeruli.  I like the beef but Ammar isn't impressed with the chicken and I have to agree that it is bland and sweet.  But he's been researching local restaurants and tomorrow I think there is lovely Turkish food in our future and some of the scrumptious local cheeses. 

Time to blog and sleep.