Beginnen!

My Abenteuer has begun!

First of all, yes, I am going to use all of you unsuspecting victims to practice my horrendous high school German on (and apparently also bad grammar). Since the Viennese won't let me speak German, I have to find some other venue in which to practice!

My adventure began with Lot Polish Airlines. Now, I really appreciate that they were able to give me a bargain. But I wasn't really expecting the airline seat to feel like a shallow metal bowl covered with a thin layer of material.

The dinner was apparently a Polish specialty, according to my Polish seat neighbor. It was a compartmentalized tray with a slab of cold ham, topped with two carrots and a slice of yellow pepper. There was a half piece of rye bread and a half piece of white bread. My friend said, "The Polish, they love their ham!"

After a sleepless night filled with many Polish cartoons on TV, I was living for one thing only. Breakfast. And some good coffee. So when I saw the flight attendants coming down the aisle, I was getting excited. As they approached my row, I held out my hands expectantly. They handed me a tray. With a slice of ham, two carrots, a yellow pepper, and those two familiar slice of bread. Seriously?!

The plane was late getting into Warsaw, and I had an hour for my connection. As I headed towards my gate, I hit a wall of people. Hundreds of people with no organization, no lines, and no sign of what was ahead. In short bursts, we scooted ahead every few minutes, until I could see Passport Control ahead of us. Still no lines, just a mass of people. There were about three agents, taking about five minutes on each passport. I looked up at the list of departures, and saw "Vienna--Now Boarding." No problem, I thought. I have my boarding pass. They know I'm coming.

"Vienna--Final Call" was what sent me into a mad scramble past all of the Polish people who couldn't understand me apologizing for cutting. As I ran through the halls and started through security, they were calling my name at the gate. I told the security guy that they were calling me, and he helpfully whipped me through and directed me. And I made it. I was sweaty, but I was on Austrian Arrow to Vienna.

And so, in closing, I will not be flying Lot Polish Airlines in the future. Even if it IS the best deal.