The seeds for this escape from America (shall I call it our ‘VacAsian‘?) started 12 long months ago. Stasia (the brains of this outfit) had the idea of visiting the East, something we’d not considered before. But where exactly? When we asked ourselves what about travel was most meaningful to us–it was food!
Two of our very favorite eastern cuisines are Thai and Japanese. And we adore all of the Thai and Japanese people we’ve met. Plus there’s Zephyr’s predilection for Asian (mostly Japanese) food, friends and culture.
Locations acquired!
Stasia took that rice ball and ran with it! With our input and some help from her travel agent friend, she crafted the biggest jump in culture and distance we’ve ever done.
… so, today ….
With kisses to the kitties and our bags bulging, we locked it up, battened it down and whisked ourselves away to SFO. Lara offered to chauffeur despite the horrendous return traffic and provided good conversation and laughs – and as a special bonus she tortured Zephyr by snagging his phone and swiping through his photos. Thanks Lar!!
SFO International had these cool swiveling egg chairs.
We boarded our first plane, a jumbo thingy from Swiss Airlines. The lack of leg space left us longer limbed lads longing. I discovered during the meal that elbows pinned between armrests make you eat like a T-Rex – just forearms and wrists.
11 hours, 3 movies, a couple chapters of Steppenwolf and no sleep later, we reached our first stop – landing in Helvetica’s home – the place where they make perforated cheese and non-dairy products like watches – Swissterland.
Our 2 hour layover in Zurich came and went with the new knowledge that:
- They have spacious, well-designed modernist bathrooms that you actually want to leave as spotless as you found it
- They have cozy couches that tall teens can pass out on
- Helvetica really is everywhere
- They refer to those multitool gadgets as ‘Swiss Military’ (not Swiss Army)
A quick respite in Zurich, then back on the plane for another 11 hour installment. This time though we’re rocking it with emergency exit seats. Can you spell extended leg room!? Life is guten! Next stop… Bangkok!
The Itinerant Three TnTs 