So my luggage arrived 5 minutes before my driver was due to pick me up to go to my suppliers on Friday. I had enough time to grab my power cord out of the bag, put on clothes and a little make up and race downstairs. UGH!
Okay so back to where I was.... Germany. While in Frankfurt and Munich, I took note of all things German. First was the over engineered bus. Then as I passed through security two things I noted. They had an area to the side that was a bit more private for scanning people who made the metal detector buzz. I like that idea. I always feel so violated going through security. Take off your jacket, take off your belt, take off your shoes...undressing in front of strangers. It bugs me. It was nice that they pulled people aside in a little area so you aren't getting scanned in front of everyone too. Of course, I didn't make the detector ding...I'm always careful not to. Then other thing I noted is they have an automated tray return system. Once that trays go through the x-ray machine, a guy takes them off and puts them on the automated return. Seems kind of silly to have someone stand there and place them on a machine that carries them 10 feet...SO German! LOL. Oh one more thing. Then "end" of the belt where the bags come through is rounded, so several people can stand around it and grab their things without getting in each other's way. So very efficient!
In the bathroom at the airport they had those nasty cloth paper towel rolls that go around...but in German style. You pull the cloth to dry your hands and then a few seconds later, it "snaps" the end of the towel up - keeping it taut at all times. Cool but unnecessary German engineering at its best (tee hee).
When boarding the plane to Munich, they had automated gates where you put your boarding pass into the glass reader and it then opens the little sliders allowing you to pass through. Seemed a bit more efficient than a gate attendant scanning your ticket. But since there is a gate attendant there any way, not sure why it is necessary.
When I boarded both planes, I noticed the flight attendants addressed me in German first. Several other customers they'd use English for...which made me wonder what it was about me and/or the other customers that they decided on what language to use. I only know about 10 words in German...Good morning, excuse me please one beer, thank you very much, two, three. As I exited the plane, I realized I did know one more....thanks to the sound of music...So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good bye!
Arrival in Izmir...issues passing through customs because I didn't see I had to purchase a visa - for $20 as I entered the country...so I had to wait in the customs line twice. Ugh. As I waited on my bags, a mom with two kids were next to me. The little boy (maybe 4 or 5) would jump up and down and shout every time a bag came along. They spoke English but it was apparent English was her second language. They had a lot of big luggage. She had drug one big piece and a second smaller piece over to her cart. As she was trying to put the luggage on the cart another large piece came down the belt. The little boy was jumping up and down calling for another piece that was about to pass them. I pointed to it and asked him if this is the one? He confirmed so I pulled it off the belt for them. His mom thanked me and he just stared wide eyed for a moment. I looked away and then back again at him. He smiled a big smile and gave me a thumbs up. The open expression of emotion by children always makes me feel warm inside.
Ten minutes later the belt stopped and my luggage was not there. A lovely blond haired, blue eyed tan girl was looking for hers and she told me in English with an accent I couldn't place (German, Russian, Slavic maybe) "we" are missing a bag too. I walked around the belt one more time and then went to the "lost and found" luggage area. I waited because she was with another customer. And waited. Eventually the girl came over and got in line behind me. Eventually her travel companion, - similarly blond, blue and tanned boy showed up with a man following with their missing back pack. They said there were no more bags and I started to cry. I'm not sure what caused the tears...the 24 hours of travel, the thought that I'd have to go to my supplier wearing a sundress and sandals with limited computer ability, the thought that my phone only had a couple of bars left and I wasn't sure if the charger was in my bag or not or the combination of all of them. The boy immediately went to run down the guy to see if he could look to see if my bag was where his was. The girl asked me the color of my bag and ran to different belts to see if it was there. They came back empty handed and asked if there was anything else they could do for me. By then I had somewhat pulled it together. I thanked them and told them to have a lovely trip. The kindness of strangers is absolutely amazing.
Of course, as the beginning of this states...the luggage was found...still in Munich and was placed aboard the next flight but not sent to my hotel until the next day! As I left the airport, I could not locate my driver. I was very upset - thinking he might have left due to the delays. I called my supplier and was again in tears as I told her that my driver was missing. She told me he was there and she would call. Then asked if I was crying. I was too embarrassed to admit it. I told her my allergies were acting up. I couldn't really believe how overly emotional I was feeling. Of course now, I know my hormones were going crazy. Travel and pre-menstrual hormones are a terrible combination on me!! I get worn out then lose all sense of rational thought at the drop of a hat. <Note to self...call doctor about adjusting pill!>
After checking into the hotel....not like I had a bag to unpack or anything, I felt trapped. I had no work out clothes, no swim clothes (beautiful pool and beautiful weather!) and no power for my computer. Luckily, I had placed my cell phone charger in my carry on bag and had that. My supplier had volunteered to take me to dinner that evening but I declined. I knew I was over tired and likely to be poor company. I had a little time to burn before dinner, so I did some work. After that, I knew that I had to at least do some yoga. My body was achy from travel and the IT band was up to it's old tricks. Yoga in a dress is very difficult...so I took it off. I placed a sheet on the floor and did yoga naked. I would have never thought I'd do that...but you gotta do what you gotta do!
Dinner at the restaurant was lovely. The staff was overly attentive and treated me well. The men in Turkey are quite lovely to look at. The women are beautiful, as well, but I spent most of the time ogling the men and playing on the internet during dinner.
That brings us to the end of the first 24 hours...
Naked yoga - love it!
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