Sunday, April 17, 2005

En Route

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport — Sleepy passengers deplane from 747’s from all over the world, shuffling along, or at a virtual run, depending on their connections. An airport clock reads 7:25 AM. Our watches and bio clocks argue, “2:25AM! What are we doing awake!”

We find Terminal 3 – it’s still mostly empty and quiet. The molded plastic bucket chairs at Gate F-5 defy the urge to recline. Clouds are starting to break as the sun hangs just above the horizon. Regardless of how awake we aren’t, morning has arrived in Amsterdam. A couple more hours ‘til we board for Johannesburg. Then, 24 hours later, Trevor from Habitat for Humanities will pick us up for the build, and South African adventures will truly be underway.

Steve and Judy

. . .

We’re in-flight over Africa, south of the equator. In case you’re wondering what the heck a picture of a 747 lavatory sink is doing is this Web log? Look closely! The vortex of water going down the drain is moving in a clockwise direction. Once we had passed over the equator, I went to the washroom to perform a science experiment. The direction of the vortex is proof positive that we are in the southern hemisphere. The photo documents the results. It’s a funny little ritual, similar to the old seafaring days when a special ceremony was celebrated on crossing the equator. As we near Johannesburg I realize that the longer flight from Amsterdam seemed easier than the flight from New York. Good service, enough food and extra seats to spread out into. And by now we have already mastered the art of catnapping.

Steve

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