Other Worlds

I write today from our 'other world' as I call the Pacific Northwest these days.  We are in the United States for our annual break from Greece, our expat world.  

Cascade Mountain Range and Downtown Manson - our other world

As with each trip back, our mental state the first few days is a bit etsy-ketsy, as we say in Greek, 'so,so'. Getting from one world to the other requires three days, no matter how we break up the trip. 

Heading to Athens International Airport

This year we drove to Athens and spent the night at the airport hotel. The next day an early morning 3.5-hour flight on Aegean took us to Copenhagen where we spent a couple hours before an SAS flight of nine hours brought us to Seattle. The third day we drove across Washington State. By that evening our jet-lagged brains were mush, but we were settled into our 'other world'.

Traveling through time zones - what a trip!

The first few days we wake at 4:30 am and are headed to bed by 8 pm, with a nap thrown in for good measure. While it makes life a bit topsy-turvy for a time, it is one of the concessions one makes for living in 'other worlds' separated by a 10-hour time zone difference.

The Journey

SAS plane that would take us from Copenhagen to Seattle

As usual, The Scout, began searching for our flights between the worlds several months in advance. In recent years British Airlines has transported us between Kalamata, Greece and Seattle, Washington via London. That airline and routing, while the most convenient, priced itself out of the running this year. So, we tried SAS, Scandanavian Airlines; the Copenhagen-Seattle route had just this spring been reinstituted by the airline. 

Landscape approaching Copenhagen 

The Copenhagen airport was far less congested than London's Heathrow, and had all sorts of interesting shops, such as the one selling 'red deer, antelope and reindeer jerky' and 7-11 Stores that served as both convenience and bookstores. Service on board the flight was great, and the food was tasty. It will definitely be in the running for future trips.

Canadian Rockies as we approached Seattle

Passport Control in Copenhagen not only perused and scanned our US passports, but our Greek residency permits as well.  I don't think the transit would have been as smooth had we not had valid permits in hand.

However, entering the United States in Seattle was quick and efficient.  With Global Entry, we simply looked at a terminal screen and were cleared to enter the country. It was so fast it took a minute for the screen's message, 'Proceed to Exit' to register in our jetlagged brains. We didn't show passports or fill out customs declarations, nor were mobile phones examined. 

Transitions

Lake Chelan from Chelan looking towards Manson

Now in our eighth year of traveling between our two worlds, I think that we've finally gotten the hang of it. This house is familiar, it feels like home albeit if for a short time each year. Routines here are familiar. 

We've learned to balance our stays with 'to do' projects and time with friends. We no longer come with an unrealistic attempt to see everyone and do every project. After 8,000 miles to get here we are content to stay in Manson and not travel further.  We see as many as we can and do as much as we can within our time here. 

The welcome mat is out again

We no longer feel like strangers in the gated community in which our home is located. We are surrounded by good neighbors; with the exception of 'Gladys Kravitz' whom regular readers met last year in my tales of HOA (Homeowner Association) hell. She is still with us but keeping her distance.  

Tabs, Tipping, Tattoos, Technology

Each trip back is a reminder of how far removed we are from this world when living in a small fishing village in rural Greece.  The most ordinary of things here will leave us gobsmacked. For example:

- Tabs and Tipping.  It seems the act of giving a bit extra for excellent service on top of a bill in a restaurant has become an expected bonus in many retail outlets.  As we paid for a purchase at a favorite meat store, we were given a bill that included the option of tipping the salesclerk who took the meat from the display and sold it to us.  Suggested tips usually start at 18%.

An example of Wine Country prices

Prices have always been higher here in one of the state's designated 'wine country's' than in Greece. While we think we are prepared for it, we are taken back when handed the tab from a dinner out.  The menu pictured is pretty much representative of the prices at wineries and their tasting rooms here.

We've been spoiled in our Greek village where a glass of good wine can be sipped for about $5US. Okay, so in all fairness, the Athens Sofitel airport hotel where we overnighted was charging 11 - 16 euros a glass, just under $12 - $19.

But back in Greece a tip of 10% is considered generous and would only be left at a dining or drinking establishment for excellent service.  Many there don't tip, and others leave just a bit of spare change that would round up to the next dollar.

Tattoos seemed normal in the South Pacific, not so in Central Washington

-Tatoos.  We have a carpet installation project going on this year and first step was to have the rooms measured.  The tech doing the measurements arrived with pink fringed hair, body piercings and his arms and legs pretty much covered with body tattoos.  A few days later, a cable television tech, his body decorated with ink as well, arrived and got our television working within minutes. 

Yes, I know we shouldn't judge a book by the cover, I am just saying we don't see a lot of that in rural Greece.  

The rider-less floor cleaner at Walmart still freaks me out

-Technology.  I am missing humans and that connection we once had when shopping or having work done.  Our reminder calls for the television tech's appointment were automated, giving me the choice to press 1 to cancel, 2 to confirm and 3 to change the appointment. And the mechanical voice told me that if I didn't choose one of those options, the appointment would automatically be cancelled.  Luckily, I didn't hit the wrong key when confirming the appointment.

I also have been startled when shopping at our big box store (saving myself an hour's drive to the next closest stores) to see a driverless floor cleaner coming at me.  Thankfully said big box still offers three human-staffed checkout counters amid its half dozen 'do it yourself' bays.  I've chosen the human every time!

On the flipside 

Fran sells far more than flowers at the Market

I was delighted to see that Fran is back at the Farmer's Market every Saturday morning serving up canned goods, fresh picked vegetables, loaves of homemade specialty breads for $5 and making a bouquet of flowers to order in a vase for $7.  

Teri Fink sells her novels next to Fran at the Market

This year we have, Teri Fink, a Wenatchee-based writer who sits at a table next to Fran, selling copies of the three novels she's written. She, like me, is a former communications director for a school district and was a member of WSPRA, the professional organization to which I also belonged in my working days. I purchased one of her novels last week and it was so good that I bought a second this week.  Her stories are so well researched that I'm learning a lot about this part of the state.

And in Chelan I met the new owner of Riverwalk Books, a delightful independent bookstore that has been a mainstay of the town's retail hub for decades.  Actually, I 'met' Tyler while back in Greece. I enjoyed his posts about books and customers so much that I wrote him to tell him so.  I then ordered some books to buy while here. We finally met face-to-face last week.

My other world market treasures.

Living in other worlds does have its benefits.  It keeps us fresh (after recuperating from jetlag) and mentally on our toes. It reminds us to appreciate the good things about each world.  And the importance of getting out of one's routine and comfort zone. While not everyone of you is ready to try out different worlds, you might find that just a day-long jaunt away from 'your world' could kick start your enthusiasm and energy.  This trip is certainly renewing ours.

I'll leave you with that idea and hope to see you all back again for another travel tale.  Safe travels to you and yours and thanks for the time you spent with us today!