It's Showtime!

I think today is the event that has created most apprehension. Our travel to Athens will take 22 hours today stretching into Monday. That's a lot for this old cat! 

Thank goodness for a good night's sleep and I got to sleep in until 6 this morning. So refreshing after all the 3 am trip beginnings in our travels together. Ricky didn't fare as well. He was awake at 3 (again.) 

Buffet breakfast at the hotel was by far the best meal I have ever had there.

Such a weird and mysterious thing. The Loch Ness monster? In Austin? Or is this the endangered salamander at Barton Springs? Inquiring minds want to know. 

Absolutely no line at the Air Canada desk.

And the gate was empty. 🤔 Is this a sign that Air Canada is to be avoided? We're traveling via Viking Air and they picked the flights. Ah! The anticipation!

We had a very smooth flight and landed right on time. Toronto Pearson Airport is large and crowded. It took us a minute to find our bearings but we did successfully find our very crowded gate. We quickly migrated to a burger place, got some food (Impossible Burger! Yay!) and Ricky got to catch some of the Cowboys, who were unfortunately losing to the Eagles. 

        Interesting? Mysterious? Confusing? 

               Next level souvenir shopping

                     Canadian Maple 

Cool seating at our gate! It appears we could have ordered food and drinks from here! Live and learn. 

I don't understand the psychology, but everyone lined up really early to board the plane. In spite of having designated seats and boarding zones. Due to FOMO I got in line like everyone else and stood there for an hour. Next time I won't be so easily duped.

           Dog spotting. Who's a good boy?

It was a long flight over the Atlantic! Smooth and calm but long and sleepless. When I finally got to gather my wits and find my camera- I was surrounded by chocolate! 

                We are some weary travelers!

                       Christmas chocolate

Level up souvenir shopping. This Hermes display caught my eye.

Sitting at our gate with a nice view of the smoking lounge. Do we have this in the USA?

Our Swiss Air flight was delayed 45 minutes so we sat on the plane and tried to nap. Once we took off our flight was smooth as glass. I'm so thankful for three safe, uneventful flights. 

Today I have eaten a small ginger muffin, a small fruit cup, one package of peanut butter crackers, and a small freebie piece of delicious Swiss chocolate. Plus a cup of coffee. These pastries in the Athens Airport are really sweet talking me.

We were glad to see the Viking reps waiting for us. All our luggage made it, but others did not fare so well. We're having to wait in the airport as I write this while the poor unfortunate souls fill out lost luggage claims paperwork. 

The pastries sing a siren song...."eat me"

Here's the exit sign. "Looks like Greek to me!" We can't wait to go get on our ship,  Viking Neptune and start our Greek Odyssey!