I am currently in Europe. The travel takes roughly 9 hours and it is boring in spite of the personal TV set right in front of your face. It gives you, though, a chance to observe and somehow analyze how people deal with boredom on the plane.

Some walk – those with cardiovascular problems, nervous system abnormalities or simply people who are physically active. It can sometimes be unnerving to me.

Some sleep – there are people who can sleep anywhere, anytime in any position. They will catch any opportunity to sleep. That’s truly admiring to me.

Some talk – the moment they will get to their seat, they begin to talk. Endless topics, everything is worth talking about. Which I find a little annoying.

If you would ask how I deal with long distance flights – I like to say “Hello” at the beginning, help each other with luggage and passing full (and empty) food trays, no problems with getting up when your neighbor wants to go to the washroom, talk a little about things such as: where are you going? Is their trip for business or pleasure? And eventually, if people express issues they need help with, I’m happy to help. The rest of the time is to be calm and quiet, allow yourself and others to rest, to think, to prepare for a new place and a new situation, whatever that might be.

People, who are confined in small place for long periods of time, should have their own boundaries and respect to those around. To me, that is a must for comfortable traveling.

From all above-mentioned groups the worst for me are the talkers. It seems like they do not get it that you are not interested even though you open your laptop and scan through you files. They do not stop when you check TV programs trying to choose something. Your slight “Aha” and “Hmm” doesn’t bother them. Total lack of your engagement in conversation seems to be fine as well. There is no way to brake free politely. You must boldly say: ”Sorry I would like to...”. Then they stop…. But not for long! And suddenly it all begins again! Vicious circle.

I got lucky this time. I had my type of neighbor! The guy said “Hello” and sat quietly. I was first, so he did not have to help with my luggage. Then we had a short chat about him going for a business trip and me going for a mixture of both: business and pleasure. Then each of us dipped into our own things. Each of us watched some TV and then he fell asleep and I continued watching movies, reading books on my laptop (which has its own internal light, so I did not wake up anyone around me. I cannot sleep on the plane, so I always try to organize it the way that time passes relatively fast.

I am happy to be on the land, though. It is as hot here as it is in Canada, just less humidity. But the Baltic sea is cold as usual, sand white-yellowish and very pleasant to walk on, fresh fish from the sea to eat at every corner, a lot of coffee shops available to sit outside and look at the waves – marvelous! Two weeks of total rest! I did not do it for 25 years – let’s celebrate!

I am happy! I would love everyone to experience that and be here with me to enjoy. Maybe one day????