traveling to russia in style!
we made it to russia! i am sitting here at who knows what time because my body just time traveled. we got on a massive plane from houston to amsterdam and i have to say…KLM airlines is where it’s at!
did you notice on the above picture that the plane has a raised front? well that’s because it has a freaking staircase in it! my husband prefers smaller planes so he was a little freaked out by the double decker but i loved it. i just picture that they have to work even harder to keep it in the air so people are paying better attention.
everyone on the airlines was so nice and friendly and guess what….we had the whole row to ourselves!!! this alleviated about 73% of my anxiety so i was very content. here is another example the “anti-reflective eye glass covering” business could use-my glasses have it and his don’t.
guess what else helped my travel anxiety? on the TV option, it had a “relaxline” program which i immediately tried and by immediately i mean after 2 movies. i made it through phase 3 and then passed out. it had this pleasant lady’s voice telling you how to calm yourself and enter a relaxed state. amazing.
our flight was about 9 hours so we enjoyed a surprisingly tasty dinner and breakfast. dinner is pictured below and would you believe that they serve tillamook cheese (FROM OREGON) on KLM?! i didn’t actually eat it because i do stick to a strict no dairy while traveling but i held the packaging after my husband ate mine for a while. oh how i miss that place of liquid sunshine.
they also have free wine, which is always absolutely positively okay in my book. always.
we had smooth sailing into amsterdam and an amazing sunrise to welcome us to the land of some of my ancestors. i told my husband i would really like to actually visit amsterdam for its own separate trip, not just a multi-hour layover. someday.
we got overly spoiled on our first flight to amsterdam so our next flight from there to russia was crowded and smelly. it’s also when jet lag really set in so i started feeling a liiiitle crazy. i was so exhausted that i couldn’t keep my eyes open but every time i closed them it felt like my whole body was in a washing machine-not pleasant.
flying into moscow was breathtaking. also, the customs agents were very stereotypically unfriendly and stone-faced and did not appreciate our chipper attitude. you are given a small white paper that you must save or you cannot get out of the country. i am already paranoid that i’ve lost it.
we arrived to our family friend’s house at dusk and i am still a little delirious so picture taking didn’t really happen. we are off to go walk around the city some because sitting makes jet lag worse.
the new wifestyle: appreciate the comforts of traveling because you may not always have that luxury.
questions:
1) any secrets you have for combatting jet lag?
2) do you have a favorite airline?
3) do you have any travel anxiety?
Shannon
September 8, 2013 at 9:51 am
Traveling vicariously through you two. I would freak out about the double decker plane!!! You would have had to get me a tranquilizer and carried me on! And the little white piece of paper!? I would immediately have it framed and carry it around my neck! So excited to hear about they rest of your Moscow adventures!:)
chelsea
September 8, 2013 at 4:48 pm
thanks for your comment shannon and yeah i couldn’t really focus on the fact that there were 2 engines on each side of the plane’s wings-eek! because i just read your comment…i had to go check for the little white paper. both still there-thank goodness! i need to go find some tape…stay tuned and thanks for reading!
Jackie Bailey
September 8, 2013 at 11:46 am
My advice, appreciate even the discomforts and the challenges with travel. It makes great stories now AND later. You’re on a great adventure, and the greatest blessing is that you’re together! Have fun!
chelsea
September 8, 2013 at 4:49 pm
yes you are very right jackie-it does make for good stories and the fact we are doing it together makes most everything bearable and hilarious 🙂
tkogeary
September 8, 2013 at 11:54 am
How fun! Travel is so exciting.
1) Secrets for jet lag. Immediately upon boarding set your watch to the time zone where you are landing (or set the city on your phone). It’s a subconscious thing, but helps. And drink plenty of water.
2) Favorite airline no longer exists: TWA
3) Travel anxiety? Not really. This is going to sound weird: It’s both a door to adventure and a meditative, relaxing place for me (can’t move around much, is a bit more quiet). Some great ideas / thoughts / moments of clarity rush in when I am on a plane.
Have fun!
chelsea
September 8, 2013 at 4:50 pm
ohhhh setting your watch to the time zone…that’s super smart! i think i need a traveling watch….perhaps i will keep my eyes peeled for one. working on the water-it sure does seems to fix a lot of things! never heard of TWA but i’m sad it no longer exists for you! glad to hear you find traveling meditative-maybe i will get there one day TK 🙂
Vivien
September 8, 2013 at 11:58 am
1) I really wish I had some as I tend to get jet lagged very easily, and it takes me a LONG time to get over it. All I’ve heard is try to get a good night’s sleep before your trip, and try to sleep as much as possible on the flight.
2) No but I am encouraged by your experience as I will soon have my first experience flying onboard KLM. 🙂
3) I’m often paranoid about losing my documents by some miraculous way even if I know they are safely tucked away in my bag and I have not opened that compartment for the last hour, I will still go and check to see that they have not vanished on me.
chelsea
September 8, 2013 at 4:52 pm
me tooo vivien! in fact…i am writing this comment at almost 2am and i really should be asleep because tomorrow is going to be rouuuugh. yay KLM really is grand and we’ve been “tweeting” each other-which makes me feel extra special that they read my article! i hope you have an excellent experience too!
Dad - Clint Turner
September 8, 2013 at 12:05 pm
Hi Chelsea and Ryan – I’m glad you made it safe and sound to Moscow and enjoyed reading your blog posting. I hope you and everyone else have a great experience. Love You – Dad/Clint
chelsea
September 8, 2013 at 4:53 pm
yay! it’s a comment from the best dad ever!!! thanks for reading AND commenting on here 🙂 get ready for more posts and pictures (and some phone calls) later. love you! xo.
Heather Hawkins
September 8, 2013 at 3:06 pm
1) I just change my clock to the new time on the plane, go to sleep, and convince myself that its actually that time whenI wake. I find it a lot easier going to the east than I do going to the west.
2) Iceland Air or Qantas.
3) Not too badly by ourselves but with Aiden, I tend to plan A LOT!
chelsea
September 8, 2013 at 4:55 pm
i am noticing a trend in this watch setting…i will need to try and the convincing part! my mind is pretty powerful (often times in a less useful way) so i bet i could do it! never flown those airlines but i’ll keep my eyes peeled for them. i also cannot even imagine traveling with a child heather because it’s hard enough to keep track of myself and the husband 🙂