1. Day (Frankfurt - Portland)

Until 2 years ago, I wouldn't even have thought about sitting in an airplane for 11 hours. But with Tavor, everything is possible. The trip to Frankfurt is vacation-prone - the compartments are full of suitcases. And for some, stress is already programmed. Always stay calm, I prefer that.

At the airport, everything goes surprisingly fast. I don't notice any of the much-talked-about overload. I drop off my suitcase in 10 minutes, security takes another 10 minutes. Aha. Here I am, almost 3 hours before departure, at my gate. But it doesn't matter, vacation starts with a glass of Weissburgunder at the bar and a chat with the bartender.

The temporary departure hall reminds me more of Ryanair than of Condor. Also the hustle and bustle of those involved. I don't learn much about my priority handling as a premium economist - but it doesn't matter. I have a seat, and the shuttle bus is air-conditioned. At least no one stinks (yet). I remember a flight to Warsaw.... oh dear. :-)

The vegan food on board was a good choice, at least it looks ten times better than my neighbor's, who turns out to be completely uncommunicative. Well, not everyone wants to talk. He's probably watching 4 movies in a row on the flight, while I'm only watching one. After 5 hours, the cabin fever kicks in. Man, not even halfway there. And I take the Tavor, then it gets better. In addition, I am compensated by a relatively cloudless sky over Greenland and the polar regions. Very fascinating, even though it once again reminds me how hostile to life this planet often is. I try to sleep a little in between, but I'm not allowed to sleep longer than half an hour. On the return flight from Chicago, it was 5 hours, that was very nice.

The airport in Portland is 'cute', small compared to O'Hare. Immigration takes 15 minutes, hardly any questions, always friendly, and the suitcase is already waiting. Quickly get on the bus to the entrance, where the car rental companies are, and then, 45 minutes after landing, I actually pick up my pickup truck from Hertz. Although I didn't want to get into any new deals, I pay the extra $300 for roadside help. The thought of having to be towed somewhere on the long journey and paying for it dearly scared me a little. I always get a little annoyed afterwards about such things, but you're well insured, so that nothing happens.

The 'ship' is huge, but you get such a great feeling for the endless landscape that begins right after Portland on the Columbia River. It takes me about 75 minutes to get to my accommodation, a Motel 6 in 'The Dalles'. Motel 6 is always the same, always good, always modest, and always clean. They just don't have shampoo and I don't have any either. Well, I'll use soap tomorrow morning. It's 10 p.m. here now, it's 5 a.m. at home, and I'm going to sleep. I hope I don't wake up too early. But it doesn't matter. It's part of it. You have to be able to afford a jet lag first.