Its Thursday in Paris, I have to finish a bunch of work stuff before leaving. The day had been a rush, and I still have some last minutes preparations. I am anxious, tired, and stressed, and not necessarily in a good way.
Last dinner at home and time to go. I won’t really leave tonight, but the adventure is starting. I meet with the rest of team at Charles de Gaulle airport, we are 4, still one missing, we will meet in Katmandu. I am already more relaxed, can’t go back now, and it helps being together.
Team composition, Pierre, Chris, John, and I. Then Terry.
After a short sleep, time to take the plane. We check our luggage, get our tickets, pass security, eat a small breakfast and then, all of sudden we are in the plane. Pierre, Chris and John are all friend with one of the stewardess, we will get a VIP treatment during the whole flight, wine and food from first class, small upgrade. But the real luxury was getting invited inside the cockpit. It felt like stepping on a balcony on top of the world, looking over at Baku, Iran, Georgia, these were absolutely incredible 30 minutes. The rest of the flight was uneventful, I had a bit of small talk with my neighbor, an American lady from Kentucky, 70 years old, 30+ time in India, a nurse for women’s health around the world.
John was able to sit in the cockpit for the landing, it is now 11pm in Delhi, India. we have to pass custom, get our bags and get to the hotel. We end up eating dinner with the whole flight crew at the hotel. We talk adventure, don’t look at the time. The nigth will be short…
