There and back again…

    It begins! My first international journey got off to a late start. After my 3:20pm flight to Toronto was pushed back to 4:00, we finally boarded, though I wish I could say we were then on our way. Philadelphia International Airport beinga clotted, congested mess, our Air Canada regional jet sat on the runway for over an hour and a half. The French Canadian flight attendant offered his apologies and customary emergency spiel in two languages. Unfortunately the elderly woman in the row next to mine spoke neither of these languages. So each time the pilot made an announcement about the reasons for the delay, I attempted to calm Angela with what little Spanish I remembered from freshman year. This was a challenge, as my Spanish vocab lacks the words for “taxiing”, “runway” and “backup”, much less “flight plan”, or “departure”.

We finally got underway. I made it to Toronto and I sit writing this in a cafe at the airport. The attendant at the Air Canada ticket counter was friendly and helpful, not at all like the impatient inattentive asses working at Philadelphia airport ticketing. The woman rebooked me hassle free, chatted amicably as she solved my problem. She printed my boarding pass and even walked me to the correct terminal as her shift was ending. My only other experience in Canada was the 8th grade trip to Niagara falls. Both have been great experiences, under the circumstances, and I’ve found the Canadian airport personnel to be very friendly and helpful.

I’m anxious to get to London, but its a shame my layover delay wasn’t longer. I would have liked to have stayed to see more of Toronto.

Sitting, sitting, waiting. I would have been one of the first to get to FIE, now I’ll be one of the last. So much for getting the good bed or establishing my dorm territory.

Canada has a large population of Indians. If I was to guess, I would say they are  this nations largest minority. This airport is really poorly designed. I had to hike back and forth and up and down a hallway the size of a football field. I had to trek up escalators, down stairs, around corners, To the delayed disoriented traveler, this place is a maze.

I’m calm, knowing that after all this craziness is over, I’ll be in London!

Remember: keep all personal belongings with you at all times, 

Zack