Lorena's Epiphany

Spain Travel Journal: In Transit

July 28, 2009 at 3:27 pm 1 comment

/.Waiting./
As I wait in Beirut’s airport on a sunny afternoon, “La Vie en Rose” plays in the background. I just spiked from passport control to the terminal, only to find the flight is delayed another 30 minutes. Pfft. It was one hell of a jog flying past other travelers!

Lebanon has the worst airport system ever. Passport control takes at least an hour as the couldn’t-care-less employee types in your information on a 20-year-old PC. Everyone in line was fussing, and then the man behind me noticed me pacing and recommended I jump to one of the hidden clerk desks. That saved me at least 30 minutes.

I’m feeling giddy as I wait with my over-priced Nescafe (the 3-in-1 prepackaged kind). Am I really going to SPAIN!?! Finally we’ll meet… A new adventure begins in a few hours!

/.My Life is Hell./
The lady who cleans the toilets at the airport loved having her photo taken. She lives a hard life, and I felt a huge surge of compassion for a lady that no one notices. She boasted to passer-by’s and then thanked me for taking her photo.. but she deserves all the thanks for giving me a beautiful portrait photo.

Lady at Airport

It’s captures like this that make me wish I’d been a photojournalist!

/.Mantenete La Cintura./
The Alitalia plane I’m on is literally falling apart. My arm rest keeps sliding from underneath my elbow and poking people walking down the aisles. (It’s kind of funny actually) What really daunts me is the duct-taped luggage case a few rows over. Very ghetto! How did they ever get away with it?

Beside me (across the aisle), sits a huge blob of a man. Lebanese. Grumpy. The blonde Italian stewardess with fake lips and inflated boobs kept ignoring him and his minute requests. What is it about Arabs that makes them grow grumpier as they get older?

/.Carpet Stains./
There is a worst customs line than Beirut – Roma! What a crappy/dirty/old airport! [note to readers: once I land in Spain, I complain a lot less] There are dark stains all over the rugs that makes it look like someone barfed or at least bled to death on them. Ok – I may be over-exaggerating a bit, but it’s THAT gross. Garbage is scattered everywhere and no recycling bins in sight.

I guess their good looks and sing-song language makes up for their messiness.. Even the customs security guy is gorgeous with Abercombie & Fitch looks!

There was a huge tour group from Japan in front of me. They looked very confused with their signature fanny packs and one English-speaking guide.

Waiting, I grabbed a black cherry cornetto.. Very tasty! I haven’t had this flavor before. The last of the Japanese group is sitting in front of me in the airport, wearing a face mask and trying to sleep. I want to take her photo, but she may not like that.

Flying to Rome, I caught a glimpse of their towns and cathedrals. I’d like to visit Italy one day. There’s a small Italian grocery store here that sells wine, olives, pasta, cheese and ham. If this is what Spain is like, I’m going to be in BIG trouble! I can’t wait to soak in the culture and have no idea what to expect from my trip.

Perks of flying in Alitalia? Fashion shows playing on the screens

Entry filed under: Floating. Tags: airport, Lebanon, Photography, Spain, Travel, waiting.