Departure
And then the morning came when I had my suitcase packed, when I put on a tiny backpack I lent from my daughter and hit the road long not taken – to the airport.
I arrived timely and found an almost deserted airport. Few people in line to drop off luggage, none before me to check in. I’m the only one at the security check. The whole check-in and security check takes less than 10 minutes.
The airport caffes are empty. Few people here and there. But it is an early morning. At 7 am airport gets buzzier, but far from what I remember have seen 18 months ago. The airline is deemed to be full, but AirBaltic keeps the middle seat empty – a policy still followed by some companies (but not all, as Mr. M informs me later, and his experience is an anecdotal proof).
Amsterdam Shiphol airport is much buzzier. Shops are open, caffes are open, people are all around. All wearing masks, but otherwise the feeling is the same as it has been in the airports before. I find a spot to plug in my computer and spend the next two hours working on students’ paper reviews. My flight to Zagreb is scheduled on 11:20, which, coincidentally, is the time Mr. M’s plane is scheduled to land in Amsterdam. Damn. I miss him so much and we will pass each other on the runway!
I arrived timely and found an almost deserted airport. Few people in line to drop off luggage, none before me to check in. I’m the only one at the security check. The whole check-in and security check takes less than 10 minutes.
The airport caffes are empty. Few people here and there. But it is an early morning. At 7 am airport gets buzzier, but far from what I remember have seen 18 months ago. The airline is deemed to be full, but AirBaltic keeps the middle seat empty – a policy still followed by some companies (but not all, as Mr. M informs me later, and his experience is an anecdotal proof).
Amsterdam Shiphol airport is much buzzier. Shops are open, caffes are open, people are all around. All wearing masks, but otherwise the feeling is the same as it has been in the airports before. I find a spot to plug in my computer and spend the next two hours working on students’ paper reviews. My flight to Zagreb is scheduled on 11:20, which, coincidentally, is the time Mr. M’s plane is scheduled to land in Amsterdam. Damn. I miss him so much and we will pass each other on the runway!
In the real life the passing is even more close. His flight arrives early and to the gate not far from the one where I board to the Zagreb flight. I can see his airplane (he is not yet allowed to leave), while boarding mine. Although I try staying back with boarding, he runs up to the gate only at the moment I sit down at my seat in the airplane. So close!
