Last night, after work, I drove to Hiawatha and arrived at Titus’s place around 9. Titus greeted me at the door, and after chatting with his folks and diving into a few engaging conversations, we turned our attention to last-minute preparations. Shoes and backpacks were inspected—and speaking of backpacks, my new Osprey Farpoint 55 is a gem. With its built-in smaller daypack and carry-on-friendly design, it’s perfect for this trip. Feeling ready, we enjoyed one last restful night of American sleep.

The Journey Begins

The next morning started with a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs, courtesy of Mitch (thanks, Mitch!). Kansas City International Airport (MCI) was our first stop. Having opened just a few days ago, the new terminal was impressive—almost a destination in itself.

Our flight to Detroit took off smoothly, despite some fog and light turbulence. We touched down at DTW around 2 PM and reunited with Chad, who had been patiently waiting since 9 AM. Before boarding our next flight, we grabbed some delicious shawarma at a Mediterranean spot in the airport.

Bound for Amsterdam

Soon, it was time to board our next leg: an Airbus A330-200 bound for Amsterdam. This would be our home for the next several hours, and as we crept down the jet bridge, the buzz of anticipation was palpable. Winter’s grip required deicing before takeoff, but once airborne, we settled into the journey ahead, eager to see what awaited us across the Atlantic.