Day 2, February 17th - or Doha take 2...

I stayed at a local hotel near the Dulles airport to make sure I didn't miss my flight.  The hotel would only let me stay until 2pm so I went to the airport 7 hours and fifty minutes before the flight.  I went to the line the lady night before told me I would need to get in.  The agent at the end of the line - asked "International?"  Yes, I said.  She said you need to go around to the other side this way...  I confirmed "this way?"  She said yes.  So I walked the length of the counter the direction she sent me to the other side and found I had to walk the length of the counter to the other end (directly opposite of where I was and had I walke THE OTHER WAY, I would have been there in half the time).  Checked in to my flight 7 hours early and found I was too early to check my bags.  Dammit.  What should I do, I asked the airline rep.  He said "There is a tavern over there, a little pricey, but you could hang out there for a couple of hours and come back to check your bags.  So… to the tavern I went.  Nothing eventful to talk about, the wine was good, but I was anxious to get going – also a bit nervous.  Needless, to say I went to the check in to drop my bags five hours in advance of the flight and went to the gate.  I bought one of those neck pillows.  Does anyone know how to wear one of those things.  The natural inclination is to put it on the back of your neck, but your head tilted one way or another is the most comfortable.

It was suggested I take two Tylenol PM pills to help with sleeping.  I don’t know if it was the lousy United seat, the discomfort from the pillow or the felling I got from the pills, but the sleep was not restful.  I woke up in Frankfurt to cold air and a mist.  Found my way to the next gate, which by the way required a pass through security.  I never thought a plane from the US to anywhere in the world would require re-screening, but it did.

My next flight from Frankfurt to Qatar was on Lufthansa airlines – another 9 hours in the air.  I must say the Lufthansa flight was much more comfortable.  I watched a movie – Due Date with Zack Alifinakis and Robert Downey Jr.  If you haven’t seen it I highly recommend it for a good laugh.  It is a bit Trains, Planes and Automobiles, but it is good entertainment.  Of course, I slept most of the rest of the way (not what I wanted to do).  We stopped in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – dumped 80% of the people, refueled and an hour later went on to Qatar.