Are we there yet?

In 2024 international travel includes waiting and learning to make the most of your wait time. This is a summary of our first two calendar days of travel.

Most parents can remember a family trip when after only a few miles the children would begin to say “Mom, are we there yet?”

Today that was the silent question of our group. Our Day One began with a shuttle ride at noon to the JFK airport for an hour or two of standing in one line after another.

The Milligan travelers met, many for the first time at JFK waiting in our first line (easily recognizable by our blue Nawas lanyards) with hundreds other excited families going all over the world!

Four and a half hours later we were on our first of two flights for today 5/14 and tomorrow 5/15 on Swiss air to Athens.

First flight, Zurich, Switzerland, arriving after sunrise because of a medical emergency at JFK then another flight into Athens which was also delayed as we waited to leave Zurich on the plane because of staff shortages in traffic control in Italy. “Are we there yet!”

******

Wednesday evening: ATHENS. 7:00 pm.

Technically, this is our second day and we have not been to bed yet!

Nawas bus to the hotel in rush hour Athens traffic. I’m really not sure why they call this “rush hour” because traffic does anything but rush!

Our drive took us along the edge of the Aegean Sea, Olympic Village, and stadiums, the old airport, and finally through to our hotel at the Athens, Marriott. Beautiful oleander bushes and olive trees welcomed us Athens.

A quick opportunity to settle in and cleanup for our dinner at 7 o’clock. Several of us went to the roof garden after dinner to see a beautiful view of Athens before we headed back to our room for much-needed rest. 

More tomorrow as we go to Corinth.

Ellen