New travel experiences

Unexpected sunshine in Tirana and also a quick and smooth ride to the airport, notwithstanding the announced visit in the morning of Italy's Prime Minister Berlusconi for a round of official ceremonies and signatures that are sealing some grandiose schemes between the 2 countries. I obviously escaped the traffic snarl later on in the city center. Everything seemed to be running smoothly at Rinas airport, where loads of planes were on the ground, from a huge Austrian airbus to a variety of smaller crafts.

As the time of my departure approached there was, however, no Lufthansa plane in sight. Then the surprise posting at the gate: one hour expected delay. Lufthansa's aircraft mechanical problems on the incoming flight forced us to wait. Everyone seems resigned to have to miss the planned connections in Germany for further transport. But Lufthansa efficiency was evident in the turnaround departure, and during the flight to Munich. The crew got to work on re-routing everyone's itinerary without even being prompted by a single question!

The Munich hub was also a beehive of activities and at the gate we were received by special attendants that divide us in groups and trouped us through the security points, to other connecting flights. I, with about another two dozens (mostly) Albanians, were taken to British Airlines and flown to London, where we were switched to a Virgin Atlantic flight to Newark. Announcements were made all along, and everyone was accommodated. People destined to reach Michigan and Illinois were informed that they would spend the night in a hotel at Newark's airport before reaching their destination in the U.S. the following morning.

Newark airport functions all night, but there is an evident curtailment of services. Only 4 passport control agents on duty, handling both US citizens and foreigners together, rather then separately (with obvious delay for everyone), and not many choices of transport out of the airport during the night, except for a few offered rides by independent limo drivers. I took a chance with one (Egyptian lawyer in the State for 11 years) who whisked me home at a fair price, while telling me his entire life story, probably thinking that he was reassuring me of the seriousness of his service. Finally made it home at 2AM.

The above route changes that made me go through 6 different security points and additional airport, also provided me the opportunity to fly for the first time on Virgin Atlantic's huge new Airbus from London to the U.S.

Very attentive, young, and cheerful cabin crews that went about their chores quickly and always smiling, attended more than 310 passenger,and made sure that the night flight was as comfortable as possible for everyone on board. Even in economy they distributed individual pouches with some niceties such as they are usually offered in business class and they performed tasks never observed by me previously. Before departure, one crew member would always be around one of the 6 exit points in case of emergency, then they stashed away all blankets in pouches (to avoid tripping on cellophane) both at take off and landing, and the announcements were kept at a minimum to give the passengers the chance to relax throughout the night. On this type of craft the seats were a bit tight, but there was more leg room. This time I was lucky to have 4 seats to myself, although I could not completely lie down on them.

This return to the U.S. was a bit tiresome, and a time consuming adventure for me, but as pleasant as it could me under the circumstances. Now I must switch gears and re-adapt to life on the ground at home.