Friday 24 June 2011

Brouhaha in Brussels

HTemp: 38c
Rain:  0.3"
`-$:  44.95


Our red-eye from JFK landed on time in Brussels and our first taste of India, Jet Airways, pushed without delay.
 
As fresh as one can look at 3am EDT
We dutifully waited for our row to be called, but when that never happened, we sheepishly approached the agent and asked if we could board the plane.  She laughed in surprise that we'd been waiting to hear our row number, because, she said, "No one else ever does." Welcome to India!

Takeoff was smooth but about 10 minutes into the flight we notice flight attendants speaking sharply to a passenger and quickly subduing him.  We haven't left Belgian airspace and we have an international incident?  They grab extra seat belts to strap him down.  He starts yelling in Spanish about his Barcelona Futbol team.  The plane yawls, the sure sign of turning around.  The pilot announces such.  We land back in Brussels,  swarms of security invade the plane, then a frantic search for his bag, passengers rushing the bathrooms, refueling and finally off again 45 minutes later.  So much for extra sleep in New Delhi.

Before taking off again, an attendant got on the P.A. and was kind enough to have all the passengers, "search around your seats, as one of the federal agents has lost his mobile phone."


Nothing to see here, folks, just your average futbol drunk causing mile high mayhem...

James couldn't help thinking about a verse in a Bob Dylan song while the above events unfolded.  A star to whoever names the song:

I left Rome and landed in Brussels
On a plane ride so bumpy that I almost cried
Clergymen in uniform and young girls pullin’ muscles
Everyone was there to greet me when I stepped inside
Newspapermen eating candy
Had to be held down by big police
Someday, everything is gonna be diff’rent
When I paint my masterpiece

6 comments:

  1. hi to you both,
    looking forward to reading about your adventures. wish you both the very best. safe travels, good work, have fun! jamie

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  2. Dang, I had so hoped to be your first comment. Kind of like the Scottish tradition of "first footer." But I see Jamie beat me to it.

    So you are off, with an exciting re-detour to Brussels. Got the blog bookmarked and am looking forward to James' photo captions.

    It is hot, sunny and miserable here, but we got McKeon back. Orchid says hi.

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  3. can't keep a writer from writing...looking forward to your postings on the posting...

    all the best to you both
    mm

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  4. "When I paint my masterpiece" also recorded by the Band. Love, Tony

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  5. I think the guy they took off the plane was supposed to be the new Marlins manager, but when he heard his star player was hitting about .200 and they hadn't won a game in the last few weeks, he got drunk and didn't want tp leave European airspace. They hired some old guy "McKeon" or something like that. I will check back for the next exciting episode. Hope all is well. Louis

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  6. wow, i'm glad you guys made it there safely!

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