The hardest part of travel may be getting there…and getting back from there. Airplanes, airports, security checks, queues, more queues, waiting, walking, more waiting, sitting, more walking, more sitting…and no sleeping. That’s where we are right now….sitting and waiting in London’s foggy Heathrow airport, en route so far for about 18 hours, with about three more to go to reach Lisbon.

From Chicago to London we were booked on a British Airways 747-400, known in the business as a “heavy” for it’s size, weight, and the vast wake turbulence it creates. For a price worth considering, we were presented an opportunity, while waiting at O’Hare airport, to upgrade to first class and, in a weak and frivolous moment, we took it. This is something like a once-in-a-lifetime chance, like riding on the now and forever gone Concord, which we vowed to experience, but never did, and now can only remember it with a degree of regret. But not this time. We took the bait and boarded this giant, took our assigned place directly in the nose of the plane, beneath and forward of the cockpit, were given our “pajamas” to change into, toasted the moment with champagne, had a lovely dinner, and a decent night’s rest, in a seat that magically transformed into a fairly proper bed. The only thing I will remember with regret about this experience is that, likely, I can never do it again.

British Airways 747-400 First Class, Rising Moon

British Airways 747-400 First Class

British Airways 747-400 First Class

British Airways 747-400 First Class

(Thanks, Doug, for the web cam photo of our plane’s take-off!)