Once I had a full time job and had graduated from college, my Mom decided we needed another adventure. She had decided we would spend a month in China. We bought every visitor guide under the sun. Studied Asian antiques, blanc de chine, famille rose, and made a game plan, again, you know, that whole extra thing.
Then 9/11.
The world turned upside down. Kind of reminds me of now, except instead of commiserating at a bar, we are in our basements, ALONE, doing laundry (or avoiding it at all costs) and crying.
So once that happened my Mother immediately cancelled the trip. If you knew her, you would know Cathy was no nonsense. With the safety of the world at hand, we would stay put, for now.
She also loved a good adventure so a mere month later she had booked another trip, this time to Australia for a month.
We flew on the country's national airline, Quantas.
Since it was going to be such a long flight my Mom splurged and we went business class.
It was the most magical flight of my life, I was practically on AIR Shangri La.
Everyone with their adorable Australian accents and cute flight attendant uniforms. We had a bed like chair and I didn't feel like a canned sardine. I could FULLY recline. I wasn't afraid Bob would end up sleeping on my shoulder and snoring.
Upon being seated we were handed champagne, and a cute dopp kit. Inside, it contained all sorts of goodies from an eye mask to slippers.
They also presented us with a menu. We were told that throughout the duration of the flight we could order whatever we wanted for the ENTIRE duration of the flight. No peanuts and a tomato juice here. This was a Rolls Royce in the sky.
I remember having some green soup that that tasted so good I think I ordered it three more times during that one flight. And NOT ONE attendant gave me stink eye. Why had I not experienced this amazingness before?!
Oh because it was expensive AF.
I still dream about that flight, and that green soup.
My advice? Fly business if you can. You won't regret it.
Xoxo,
C.
Cynthia, your story reminds me of the time your aunt Cynthia and I were traveling to Paris in business class. Turns out American Express Platinum upgraded us to the Concorde. It was the experience of a lifetime. It was not a flight, it was a 3 1/2 hour luxurious dining experience. From the moment the landing gear engaged, a glass of champagne and caviar was in our hands, followed by a gourmet meal. As the landing gear reengaged, three and a half hours later, I was finishing my third third Courvoisier. Magnifique