A few weeks ago I was at the JFK airport. When I stood inside the lobby, I had the strangest pleasure of inhaling the smell of the airport. I always believed that there is a distinct odor to travelers, of French perfume mixed with Persian spices, of sun block lotion and sweat, and okay I’ll admit it, of old socks too. You probably think I am crazy but I enjoy airports. I don’t really mind the layovers and long hours at the gate. I had quality time just chilling and people watching. Sometimes with a friend hanging out at the ridiculously expensive coffee shops or bars, more often by myself, imagining my destination.
When I really think about it, half of the beauty in traveling is the anticipation. The reality has more to do with frantically searching for my luggage, being utterly confused by the map, or trying to explain myself in a foreign language. And I am definitely that kind of person who plans the trip way ahead of time, reads the travel guide devotedly, and googles the destination daily. All of that culminate in the few hours before the plane take off. I associate airports so much with total bliss, something like the naivety in opening pandora's box, so curious but so ignorant of all the difficulties and frustrations to come.
I can’t wait to hop on a plane again. Although that’s not happening for spring break Argentina, I have put down every penny in my name for the Europe trip. 30 days, 10 cities: Barcelona, Paris, Brugge, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Salzburg, Venice, Florence, and Rome. I think my heart beat just got a few times faster. :-) Thanks for all your inputs! You are more than welcome to join us for a leg of the trip, or give me advice on some of the cities, please!
My favorite airport by far is Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, hands down the most amazing modern design I have seen. I was stuck there for 12 hours one rainy May day, but a couple dishes of very spicy noodles later, I was happily sipping my starbucks latte and listening to Jack Johnson’s People Watching.
