Subtitle: "Running on High Spirits a.k.a. Adrenaline"
Pack light. That was the message to SACS travelers before embarking from San Antonio to Philadelphia and then on to Munich on Day One of our travels. Members of our choral society were so concerned about what to pack and what to leave behind that many of us had trouble sleeping. The excitement of the trip and adventures unknown combined with worries of missed wakeup alarms and forgetting something important, like our music, made for a rough night of sleep prior to the departure morning. Luckily we all made it on time to the San Antonio airport and checked in with ease. The San Antonio leg to Philadelphia was uneventful, which is a good thing, and so we were off to a great start on our Bavarian adventures.
What to do during a four hour layer in Philadelphia? Try out a Philly Cheesesteak, of course! That was the favorite pastime of many of our members. Most decided to bypass the Philly pretzel and opt for getting the real deal in Germany. The search for power was a popular activity. Will we have juice when we arrive in Europe? Better charge it up while you can.
What to do on a ten hour flight to Munich? Watch movies, of course! There were so many choices on board for entertainment that it seems every chair was showing a different movie. For some travelers, this dedicated seating time provided needed time to catch up on pop culture.
Overnight travel was challenging as we weren't convinced it was night. Our body clocks still read daytime, but we needed to sleep in order to get through the rigorous agenda planned for the day ahead. Sleep was elusive, but pillow pets around our necks proved to be a fun and useful sleeping aid.
The adrenaline and excitement of the tour kept many awake and engaged. Some were thankful for compression socks and Dramamine. Others were enjoying the opportunity to get to know their fellow singers more in depth and personal. We had plenty of time to share our stories of achievement, disappointment, love, loss, and family. The bottom line is that sleeping on the plane was a miracle and it was a blessing indeed to receive two or three hours and four if you were lucky and had a sleeping mask, blankie, and pillow pal.
All in all, day one was a fantastic beginning to the wonderful experiences to come. Some of our folks indicated they were simply too fatigued to remember as the long hours of travel were just a blur. The bonding we did brought us closer together and we learned quickly that we have to look out for one another. The only hiccup in the day was when a suitcase was left in the secure area and there was panic on how to get it back. Truly, it was a smooth day. We landed in Munich to rain. Hopefully, everyone brought their umbrellas and rain boots.
Karen and contributions from singers
Pack light. That was the message to SACS travelers before embarking from San Antonio to Philadelphia and then on to Munich on Day One of our travels. Members of our choral society were so concerned about what to pack and what to leave behind that many of us had trouble sleeping. The excitement of the trip and adventures unknown combined with worries of missed wakeup alarms and forgetting something important, like our music, made for a rough night of sleep prior to the departure morning. Luckily we all made it on time to the San Antonio airport and checked in with ease. The San Antonio leg to Philadelphia was uneventful, which is a good thing, and so we were off to a great start on our Bavarian adventures.
What to do during a four hour layer in Philadelphia? Try out a Philly Cheesesteak, of course! That was the favorite pastime of many of our members. Most decided to bypass the Philly pretzel and opt for getting the real deal in Germany. The search for power was a popular activity. Will we have juice when we arrive in Europe? Better charge it up while you can.
What to do on a ten hour flight to Munich? Watch movies, of course! There were so many choices on board for entertainment that it seems every chair was showing a different movie. For some travelers, this dedicated seating time provided needed time to catch up on pop culture.
Overnight travel was challenging as we weren't convinced it was night. Our body clocks still read daytime, but we needed to sleep in order to get through the rigorous agenda planned for the day ahead. Sleep was elusive, but pillow pets around our necks proved to be a fun and useful sleeping aid.
The adrenaline and excitement of the tour kept many awake and engaged. Some were thankful for compression socks and Dramamine. Others were enjoying the opportunity to get to know their fellow singers more in depth and personal. We had plenty of time to share our stories of achievement, disappointment, love, loss, and family. The bottom line is that sleeping on the plane was a miracle and it was a blessing indeed to receive two or three hours and four if you were lucky and had a sleeping mask, blankie, and pillow pal.
All in all, day one was a fantastic beginning to the wonderful experiences to come. Some of our folks indicated they were simply too fatigued to remember as the long hours of travel were just a blur. The bonding we did brought us closer together and we learned quickly that we have to look out for one another. The only hiccup in the day was when a suitcase was left in the secure area and there was panic on how to get it back. Truly, it was a smooth day. We landed in Munich to rain. Hopefully, everyone brought their umbrellas and rain boots.
Karen and contributions from singers
It was indeed difficult to adjust to the time change and fight the inevitable "jet lag". I did not set my watch to Munich time until we got there because I thought that I could "convince my brain to put my body to sleep" if it new what time it was in the U. S. My strategy backfired as I got some rest but when my watch read 1:00 a.m., someone had a window open on the other side of the plane and sunlight poured in! My brain told my body it should be awake and I was!! Oh Boy! My brain and body felt as heavy as lead for the first two days!!
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