1st Day - 11th Feb 2022

The night ends at 5. I have never taken so little with me for 31 days. But laundromats are everywhere. I'm making the trip to the airport for the 5th time in a short period of time. It's convenient when you don't live far from Frankfurt.

There's not much going on at the airport. I'm way too early. I've already uploaded my medical records, so I'll just check in my suitcase myself. The machine is a bit sensitive. A girl next to me, who's heading to Helsinki, is having problems and being the Samaritan that I am, I help her. Eventually, her suitcase gets swallowed up too and then it's "bon voyage". Helsinki. I'd like to go there too.

The plane is completely empty. 20 percent occupancy. So, I not only have the 2 window seats to myself, but also a whole row next to me to put things on. I manage to sleep for 2 hours, believe it or not. Otherwise, I'm being "watched" by Uwe, who can even tell me from home which plane is taxiing onto the runway in front of me. Fascinating what the internet can provide. However, he didn't know the pilot's eye color.

After 2 beers, a vegetable lasagna, and a wrap, we land on time after 10 hours in Atlanta. Immigration is fun. They have a dedicated counter for international tourists. And so, despite the low number of people, it takes quite a while until it's my turn. But then it goes as fast as never before. 90 seconds. 4 questions. No vaccine passport, no landing form, no test proof. Nothing. 90 seconds. I probably look so innocent.

Outside, it gets a bit more complicated. I have to take the shuttle bus to the hotel shuttle bus station. It takes a while. But eventually, the right one arrives and takes me to the hotel. He almost drove off with my luggage. I just managed to open the back door in time.

Check-in goes smoothly and then I'm in the room. Alone. Rose won't arrive until 8 pm and Tom and Jen won't arrive until midnight. But - it feels great to be back here. An Irish pub that's only 3 minutes away gives me the first drink. Welcome back. The great comeback. 3 years in the making.