Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Day One & Two: February 1 & 2, 2007 – Thursday & Friday

My day consisted of saying goodbye to the man I love and driving to the Seattle international airport. I spent a good hour trying to find Lufansa airlines. Up and down the terminals trying to find it and finally at the complete other end of where I started was United International, the place where Lufthsa was. Needless to say I didn't have the information I needed when I got there to just sign in- well that and they were having troubles with their system.

So I signed on my computer (paid threw the nose just to get online in hopes of finding the information I needed to sign in and get my tickets. Sadly enough after paying for three sessions (50$!!! Did I mention I was desperate to find that info?) and only using one, I got in. I got in with simply just my passport. WTF?!

$50 later you will find me just on the other side of the little rooms they have for those who deal with tickets and baggage you will find a rather large (though I'm sure there have been a lot bigger) lines for the security. Mind you I had tea, a toy for Bean, ultra super packed carry on (you know that little red hard case I have? Yeah- 10 days worth of cloths and other stuff in that thing), and meds. What do you think they stop me for? Oh yeah- there were cookies too. But they stop me for a vial (that had powdered chai tea in it- marked "Kathy's Chai" because it's from my boss's chai stash she keeps at work- hence the vial it's in) They didn't take it out, nor did they examine it, however; when the nice gracefully balding man hands it back to me (yes- he was balding but kept it short so it really didn't look bad) he just comments on how well I packed all that stuff in the small thing.

After being impressed by the comment- though I admit I was slightly annoyed that they even checked it but happy that they did- I set off to find gate N. Do they even have gates ABCDEFGHIJKLM??? If not- why N? If it's for iNterNatioNal (pick an N, any N) then why don't' they just call it I gates, after all I comes before N. Getting back to the N gates I was finding- after going down SEVERAL layers of stars (escalators- there were so many I wasn't going to go down all of them with my not-so-heavy-red-hard-case-carry-on-that-had-been-ultra-packed) I never knew that we could even go that far under ground. So I made my way underground to the bus/trolley/train thingy- more like what I imagine a subway to be, took that and found only ONE escalator up to the waiting area. ONE! And that made it so we were above the airplanes- you know, like you're suppose to be?

I was so shocked. After at least three down below escalator rides before even getting on the subway thing I only had to take ONE escalator up to the second story terminal? WTF!? So I got online after getting a bagel, green tea latte, and a salad for later, I find that it's FREE wifi! FREE! Again with the WTF. I try to access Gaia so I could talk to Neil but I couldn't. So I just surfed the page it let me on- regardless if I paid or not I imagine I couldn't do a thing. Oh well- I'd get on Gaia later.

Now for the fun part. I got on the 6 or 7 hour- or was it 8? Anyways- 7ish hours on a plane next to a MODLE and not only that she's actually nice and beautiful. So stereotyping her was out of the question. Turns out we have so much in common. Five years ago she came to the US and found a guy- one week (or two- can't remember) she moved in with him- one month after meeting they got married in Hawaii. FIVE YEARS together after that. Oh yeah- did I mention she's a designer, a model, AND dose event planning for the Chicago area?

Okay, okay, enough about blonde, the movies sucked and I hardly slept, my meds weren't on time and when I finally got to get some sleep we were 10 minutes away from the airport. Bing! Lights go on and I'm startled awake. It's like 7 in the morning their time…. 7 AM!!!??? Yeah- my thoughts were like before- WTF!

Getting out- not sure how to look for Adonis- I made my way to get my passport stamped for the first time. HE DIDN"T EVEN LOOK AT ME! NOT EVEN STAMPING ON THE RIGHT ONE! He was suppose to stamp the little thingy on the very first square. But I didn't have time for that- I figured Adonis (if that's how you spell Katie's husband's name) would think I had a lot of luggage so I went to the baggage claim in hopes to spot him- nope. So I went out to where you meet the people- again I didn't see him. Then I saw someone (after looking around and slightly freaking out) in cameo. Not sure what it's called but Hannah later told me that it's comfortable but not durable. He's tall and a lot hotter then I expected. See- I can say that because since he's a brother to Hannah- he's now my brother and I'm not attracted to him. So he actually took my bag (brownie points for him) and led me to the car… he's tall, I'm not, I was jogging to keep up with him.

20 minute car ride and 4 flights of stairs later (he was taking 2 steps at a time and fast- I was breathing heavily at the top- my legs jelly. We get in and find Hannah's room; I crawl on top her mostly and speak baby-ish words to wake her up. She was still asleep and didn't wake up easily at all. So the whole surprise thing was a bust. That and Vike gave away the secret, though didn't say it wasn't me directly, she knew someone was coming.

Surprise- or not. I was tired and slept for the rest of the day and woke up to find Hannah wanting to take me out to eat. Very good food btw. Then we just got clean and went to sleep.

----------

Day Three: February 3, 2007 – Saturday

Since Hannah is a nanny we can't do much without Bean. Oh- Bean is her nickname. Don't ask because I don't know why.

This day we didn't leave the house. I know, I know; I can hear many people telling me that I'm visiting another country and need to go see things. Well- we did go out and walk around downtown; they live right in the downtown area.

Aside from talking, playing with Bean, watching movies, and eating (I feel like such a pig for eating so much) - we just sat around in our pjs doing various chores.

Although Vike did take us to a place where there was a belly dancer and awesome tea, and some huka (sp?) It's a smoke type thing that relaxes you. It was very neat. I tried some of the smoke stuff but didn't do more than two puffs because I made a promise to Lazard that I wouldn't smoke. I promised Hannah before Lazard and I started dating that I'd try some, but I promised Lazard that I wouldn't smoke again- so I figured that trying just a little would be okay.

---------

Day Four; February 4, 2007 – Sunday

Nothing was open; therefore we didn't even leave the house…..

---------

Day Five: February 5, 2007 – Monday

Aside from learning about the Turkish baths, a wall from LONG ago, and so many awesome pharmacies, we did short of fall back asleep.

The Turkish baths are these beautiful (though I personally have not seen the inside of them) baths and steam rooms where, optional, can be naked…. I really wanted to go but because it's usually co-ed I'm not going in there for two reasons: one- Lazard , two-I don't want to turn anymore guys into homosexuals.

There is a wall that I have yet to visit that is from the outskirts of the territory Alexander the Great built. Other than being really old and a part of history I don't know more than that. I really hope to find out a lot more and tell you all about it. Katie said that we'll find out more, or rather she'll tell me more.

Hannah's not big on seeing the sights, partly because she can't drive there and Adonis was doing something else for a couple of days. Not sure what exactly he was doing- I know someone told me, probably both him and Hannah told me what he was doing, but for the life of me I can't remember what he was doing. Oh well, he was just gone for at least a day- that I remember.

---------

Day Six: February 6, 2007 – Tuesday

All the days keep bleeding into each other- kind of sad really. After all I keep hearing people's voices in my head saying that I should be so excited to be in a different country. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy to be on a different continent- but the people are the same- different in some ways, but the same. There isn't much that I can do to sight see.

My main purpose was to see Hannah. Hannah, Bean, Katie, and to meet Adonis. Other than that I didn't even look into the area where we would be, granted I really didn't know what it was called, but I still didn't even think to look into what was around here to see.

I feel like I disappointed my sister more than anyone. She wants so many pictures but I haven't done anything other than stay at the apartment/house (fourth and last story in that building!) and walk around the few blocks of downtown area. Shops, restaurants, bars/clubs, and some knick-knack shops.

I miss Lazard - not as much as I thought I would, but maybe it's because I know I'll see him after my ten day vacation. I talked to Hannah about it- I told her how I feel that I should be missing him so much that I couldn't stand it. She disagrees and says that's not true love. True love is knowing that you and this person are so secure with your feelings that you can miss them but still live without them for a few days in order to see your family and or friends. Since Hannah is my family I think this qualifies really well.

It's true that I can feel like I can spend the rest of my life with Lazard . He makes me very happy. I feel like I make him happy too. Maybe my whole life I was searching for someone was to find him. Granted I had to make the first moves, but in the end I'm more than simply happy I did. Still wish he would make some first moves, but all in good time. I don't want to change him, but will support him if he chooses to change himself.

---------

Day Seven: February 7, 2007 – Wednesday

This day consisted of getting up rather early and going 5 hours in the car to see Katie's graduation. She's awesome! I missed her so much and didn't relies how beautiful she is. She's always been so beautiful, but you always seem to forget when you haven't seen her for a LONG time. Oh well. Then the rest of the day was coming back.

Yeah- in the car and we were all cranky. Though Hannah looked stunning like Audrey Hepburn. She's always been like that though. I have pictures I'll post later. Her hair was done by me. Yeah that beautiful hair was done by me.

---------

Day Eight: February 8, 2007 – Thursday

We did all sorts of stuff today. We went out to eat at this nice Baggett shop. Good stuff- not the absolutely love it type but good. It's French and Hannah and Katie loved it.

Took a TON of pictures today!

We went shopping after Katie, Bean, Hannah, and I went around looking at things. Katie and Bean went home and Hannah and I just went around the town. We went to many shops and got many pictures. I got some vanilla tea (which I have been dieing to get) and went to the grocery store where I found Vanilla Coke! I love Vanilla Coke! So of course I got some. And before I leave I'm going to get one for the plane ride.

Hannah and I made it home after we went to the grocery store. Only for about five minutes because Hannah's friends were at the sushi place and we planned to go. Katie and Adonis were invited and decided to come. It was fun- all you can eat. Of course if you know me you know I don't eat seafood (unless it's sea weed). So there was a lot of cucumber sushi missing from this long conveyor belt. It's really neat. The bar is set up so there is just one long conveyor belt with a lot of small dishes with two or four pieces of sushi on it. Really really really neat! Mostly I just had those and the fruit dish and deep fried veggies. Only once did I have the last one and it was good. I know- deep fried, but it wasn't like American deep fried stuff, it was lightly deep fried and still awesome on the inside.

After that Hannah and I just walked around and went to a place to get some drinks. We both got hot chocolate- only hers had alcohol in it.

---------

Day Nine: February 9, 2007 – Friday

This day consisted of Hannah and me sleeping in, watching Bean, going out with some friends, and at the end we went to a "club." I use the "" because it makes me feel like I'm less of a partier.

I have to say that even though we left late to get there (earlier then the rest of the party) it was really fun. I did have some alcohols because I really wanted a margarita; it was terrible! I mean make you wish you never even went to the damn place. The rest of the night I just got club soda with lime wedges. It looked like gin and lime I guess. The girls in the party finally got me to go out on the dance floor where I felt completely out of place but not in a bad way which is odd for me. I got to talk to a lot of neat people- some I got a very bad vibe from but other then that it was good.

They got me to try this food thing that sounds like 'donut' or something. It made me sick to my stomach. But that's life I guess.

---------

Day 10: February 10, 2007 – Saturday

United Airlines is the absolute WORST airlines I have ever flown on. Food is exactly what people expect when they say airline food. There is no way in hell you can reach down to get your bag when you are sitting down even if you were a yoga expert. There is no leg room- and I'm short! Bathrooms are cramped so that you would have to be a size 4 just to be able to turn around to flush it. The movie screens are few and far between- and very out dated. Did I mention leg room is terrible? Please insert your own fowl words here to even grasp how pissed I am at this airlines! I can not believe how terrible United Airlines is. The majority (not all I must admit) were rather rude. This surprised me because it anyone is rude it's usually only one maybe two, but not about five of them!

Wow. Just wow. I wrote the first part of this while being on the super sh*%& airplane but I still had to fly another United Airlines airplane. Wow. This next airplane is wonderful. Clean, not crowded at all, has individual TV's for each passenger, leg room (not a TON but a considerable amount), better service from everyone. Only the food you have to pay for…. It doesn't come standard with the seat that you pay for. There weren't that many people on this flight, about 1 person to every 4 seats.