Barcelona

May 8, 2017

Cynthia was right. The Turkish Airline’s check in counter opened at 4 pm. Actually, 4:15 pm. We were first in line. We stood there for a good hour.

My colleagues were traveling economy. They were also first in line but when the big tour group started arriving, before my friends knew it, they were already at the back of the line.

Federal Phoenix Insurance’s executive, Jun Galita has lots of miles credits and wanted to get an upgrade so he was with me at the same line. He told me “Ms. Annie, kala ko talaga hindi ko na makikita ang mag-iina ko. He was talking about the turbulent flight from Manila to Turkey. Jun Galita is in charge of their regional claims operation, he flies to Singapore weekly and yet, he is not immune to bumpy airplane rides. Lahat kami nanerbyos.

I left my friends behind because I was first in line. I went to the Global Blue after the immigration to claim for s small amount of refund. Then I got stuck in that area. I couldn’t go down to the ground floor to eat or window shop to entertain myself while waiting for our flight. I walked back and forth and couldn’t find the way to the ground floor. Bawal pala. Once you go to the third floor, wala na, dyan ka na lang.

After an hour, Jun Galita came and told me he was able to get an upgrade to business class. Good, at least meron akong kakilala dun sa first cabin.

Boarding time at last

I bought Oyen a handcarry luggage from El Corte Ingles. I wanted to place it inside my blue maleta pero I couldn’t close my bigger luggage. Hindi kasya.
I had no choice but to use it. Ingat na ingat ako para hindi maluma before reaching the intended owner.

This plane looked old. Parang hindi na uso yang ganyan ang television.

Adios Espanya, nuestro jefe por 400 años (our boss for 400 years).

I was so nervous to take this flight from Barcelona to Turkey to Manila.
Coming was turbulent. all of us got scared. Sana hindi matagtag pauwi.
Kung bakit naman kasi ang duwag-duwag sumakay ng eroplano, ang sipag-sipag namang maglakwatsa.

Hindi pa kami umaandar, ninenerbyos na ako.

Jun Galita was on first row. Wala akong makausap to distract my attention from the not so smooth ride. I wanted to tell the Turkish chef to come seat with me. Medyo shaky na naman, I needed someone to cling to.

Masarap siguro food nila pero hindi tugma sa Pinoy taste ko.

We reached Turkey after 7 hours flight with intermittent turbulence which made me nervous too. From where we disembarked, we walked like two kilometers no exaggeration, grabe ang layo going to where we would take the connecting flight to Manila. This was the first time I’ve seen thousands of people inside an airport. Para kaming refugees. Iba na amoy ko, humawa na yung amoy nung iba. Panay ang spray ko na pabango. You can not make me take this route again in the future.

I stayed closest to a wall where the vendo was. Pag nagka stampede, the space between the two vending machines could be my protection.

We were loaded on a bus to the tarmac. We walked under big airplanes. This reminded of the time during the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos, there were certain flights that departed in the wee hours of the morning. And most of the time, we walked on the tarmac and not pass through regular passenger tubes because we took the presidential plane.

This photo reminded me when we landed in Russia in freezing temperature at an unholy hour. I was wearing a maroon plaid Chanel suit with matching mini skirt. The KGB were looking and talking about my short skirt. Brig. Gen. Jose Magno told me “Annie, tinitingnan ka nila, hindi ka ba daw giniginaw kasi ang ikli ng palda mo”.
Naku napaka bata ko pa nuon, tila 32 or 35 lang ako. Nung bata-bata pa ako, wala akong iniinda, sugud lang ako ng sugod. Wala akong pakialam kung winter, basta gusto kong mag-suot ng micro-mini. Hindi na ngayon, ginawin na ang tuhod ko.

Tired na ako, bwelo muna before I climbed the stairs.

Napa-praning ako, I was trying to read the faces of the other passengers. Since we didn’t go thru another security check before boarding the plane, ibig sabihin their security is lax. Baka merong terrorists.

It’s now my turn to go up the stairs.

Parang ang lungkot ng madaling araw. Actually, lahat ng paligid ko napapansin ko kasi ninerbyos nga ako. Gusto ko na lang lumipad pauwi. Ayaw ko ng sumakay dito sa plane.

Walang guard. I was last to board.

Here’s my seat to Manila. I took lots of Bonamine to make me sleep so even if the flight was bumpy, I would not feel so nervous.

Plane looked newer than the one from Barcelona. And this was bigger.

The tv screen was bigger but too far naman.

Parang ayoko ng sumakay ng eroplano. That’s what I always say. But in 10 days I would be traveling again.

I had no appetite, I just wanted to reach home fast.