Getting There? Not Fun

Used to be that when one went on a travel vacation, they dressed. Off to the airport for a sunny holiday meant that your family drove you down and you enjoyed a lovely lunch together as you sat and watched planes landing. You didn't spend hours waiting until your plane left, you got there early only if you chose to. You had plenty of time to wander the airport and partake of its offerings. Settling your tickets and passports was easy. You went to a desk without cattle stanchion wait lines, and soon you smiled your way into the departure place to be boarded. Boarding was orderly and unconfusing. You stowed your goods overhead with everyone following the rules. You were not charged for baggage because it was simple to follow the requirements. You didn't need to take meals onto the plane. You were served almost immediately with beverages and snacks before your dinners or breakfasts. No one complained about the food. They didn't expect gourmet hot dinners. It was lovely enough just being there. They enjoyed airplane fare that was simple and basic and novel. When you bought your ticket it was through an agent at home, who handed you all of the arrangements and passes that you could rely on. You knew your flight and there was no over-selling of seats even dreamed of. Your hotel room on arrival was there without changes and you felt rested because you enjoyed your roomy, courteous flight that had polite, unrushed attendants. Air travel was a great and luxurious pleasure even if you didn't indulge in First Class. When you got to your destination, someone was waiting for you and directed you to your conveyance while taking care of your baggage that was almost certain of arriving with you. When you went touring in whatever country you chose, you were welcomed and felt safe and appreciated. Your traveler's cheques were accepted and you found shopping in a new country both unique, appreciated and inexpensive. You had space in your luggage that was of reasonble size without extra charges, to take back souvenirs and gifts. There were no armed personnel or guns present in airports or dogs sniffing out drugs, you did not have long line-ups going through customs and your collection of passport stamps done by smiling customs officers made your passports special and something to shelve. You could wander the streets of anywhere in the world and not worry unduly about pickpockets or swindlers of all kinds. Sure, they were there, but it was easy to avoid the areas where it was known to be unsafe. Everyone seemed to be happy travelers; few complained about bad food or service or mishandled reservations. You felt wanted as tourists and spoke freely to foreign residents about their lands. Taking photos was not a matter of squeezing into a crowded spot to take a bad shot because there were no crowds to fight. You seldom waited long to see your favorite art or historic exhibits. I am so pleased to know those times, and recall the days, when up-close, one could almost touch the Pieta, Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, climb pyramid stones and stroll freely around the Parthenon, sip tea invited by little Asian ladies to their homes, enjoy eating at the markets of many exotic towns, chatting in sign language with families and seeing genuine souvenirs actually made by the people of those places. Ah, the beautiful days of travel. No longer is it, "half the fun is getting there". You're doing well, if you get there at all!