Outward Bound

Outward Bound
Trip to Austria - Chapter I

Deutsch

Willy Logan: Home

I counted down for an entire month prior to my departure. (Shane, my roommate at Walla Walla, was quite annoyed.) Why did I count down to my departure from the United States, and not my eventual arrival in Austria? The journey itself would not be particularly interesting. But I guess the departure was a tangible symbol that my adventure was really beginning.

My journey by air began in Oklahoma City on June 15. However, before I could step on the plane in OKC, I had to drive for two very long days from Washington (State) to Oklahoma. I told myself that my journey to Austria really began when I left Walla Walla on June 12.

I spent only one day at home in Oklahoma. My journey from Norman, Oklahoma to Bogenhofen, Austria was quite long, not only because I had to travel thousands of kilometers, but also because I had to change planes in two different airports. I had long layovers in both places.

	From Oklahoma City (OKC) to Memphis (MEM), I flew in a Northwest Airlines McDonnell-Douglas DC-9-30. It was my first time in that type of plane.
	(I sat in front of the engine, which I thought an odd sensation.)

As we climbed out of Will Rogers World Airport, we flew over Tinker Air Force Base. I could see various display aircraft. Inside the base's gates, there was a Lockheed Constellation, whcih I had not seen before.

	I also saw the Arkansas River.
	After landing in Memphis, I had a six-hour layover, before boarding the next plane for Amsterdam. It was my first time to travel through Memphis, so of course I had to explore the airport.
	During the six hours, I walked a great deal, and thus I saw plenty. The gate "B17" memorialized the Memphis Belle, which starred in a 1944 war documentary directed by William Wyler. I had seen the film a couple of months prior.
	I concluded that Memphis must be an important airport for FedEx, because I saw innumerable FedEx DC-10s. (In fact, Memphis is FedEx's main hub.)
	In addition, the National Guard based two C-5 Galaxies there. One of them broke down on the taxiway, and it had to be towed out of the way.
	The longest phase of the trip to Austria was the flight from Memphis to Amsterdam. I flew in a Douglas DC-10. I hadn't been on a "wide-body" in a while; it is enormous! During the flight, I drew my first sketches of the trip. I also tried to sleep, but of course I found that nearly impossible.

When, at last, we drew near to Amsterdam, I saw at first a modern windmill. I didn't think anything of the irony until I saw a typical Dutch windmill.

	When we landed in Amsterdam-Schiphol, I exclaimed, "The Netherlands!" It was my first time in this country, although I saw little more than the airport. I thought Schiphol was a "fun" airport: there were many people there, and plenty of shops. It reminded me of the "Promenade" on Deep Space Nine.
	(There was also a LEGO version of the airport.)
	KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was everywhere...
	...from 737s...
	...to giant 747s. The light blue airplanes are very distinctive.
	There was a "(Lockheed) Constellation Bar". KLM flew "Connies" and "Super Connies" during the 1940s and 1950s.

My last flight, with KLM, was a short hop to München. (Americans, for some reason, call the place "Munich". Don't ask me why.) I found Flughafen München (the airport) quite unlike Schiphol: it felt big, cold, and unfriendly. (Three weeks later, I would think otherwise of München.)

When I finally came to Bogenhofen, I was quite tired. I was excited that I was finally in Austria. But I wanted to do little more than sleep.

Links

Will Rogers World Airport - Official site.
Memphis International Airport - Official site.
Amsterdam-Schiphol - Official site.
Franz Josef Strauss International Airport - English version of official site.

Trip to Austria

next:
Bogenhofen