Days 1-2 (July 11-12, 2022):

Just before the pandemic hit us all in 2020, we had finalized details for a July 2020 trip to Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, with a short visit to Lichtenstein on the way home.  Needless to say, it all went out the window.  But it planted a seed of desire to see this not-often-visited region of Western Asia.  So, with the Summer 2022 season shaping up to permit travel, we dusted off our 2020 plans and made some modifications.  

Given last year’s war between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and given that Azerbaijan will not permit entry to those who have an Armenian passport stamp, Armenia had to be postponed for another time.  So Qatar replaces both Armenia and Lichtenstein this time.  It will be a 13-day tour of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Qatar.

So with that context, let me share how the voyage from home to Georgia went.  We left our house at 7:10PM for our scheduled 10:35PM departure to

London Gatwick. Upon arrival at Halifax Stanfield, since nothing is open after 7PM inside security, we stopped for a quick burger before heading upstairs. Security was empty.  Everything was going great — too great in fact, given the problems plaguing the Canadian airline industry this summer. And then it happened:  delay #1 - 75 minutes. And then delay #2 - another hour. And then delays #3 and #4.  The reason they gave was a crew member flying in from Montreal on a flight that was four hours late! 

The Montreal flight attendant landed 12:30AM, and by 1:15AM, the packed flight had been fully boarded.  We took off at 1:45AM and after a six-hour trans-Atlantic crossing of trying to find a comfy position to sleep in an economy seat (which, by the way, is NOT possible to do!), we landed in Gatwick.  Customs was a breeze, but we waited 90 minutes for our suitcases.  It’s a good thing we had worked a six-hour connection space into the plan, as we just had enough time (given the flight departure and luggage delivery delays) to check in for our EasyJet flight to Athens and make it to the gate before the cutoff.  And EasyJet — as we learned the hard way many years ago — shows no mercy if you’re even a minute late.

The flight to Athens was packed.  We bought a couple of tapas boxes and other snacks and just took in the scenery as we crossed Europe:  France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece.

Athens Airport really impressed us.  We transferred underground from the new terminal, which sits waaaay out in the middle of the tarmac, over to the main terminal, from where our flight to Tbilisi departed.   Greece’s national airline, Aegean, accepted our bid to upgrade to business class, so that gave us access to the brand new Aegean Business Lounge for dinner and a rest.  The business class flight was a real treat.  We landed in Tbilisi a little early, at 4:10AM, and were at the Marriott Tbilisi an hour later.  

It has been quite a journey.  But, given what has been happening to travelers’ plans all over the world this summer, we feel blessed that we made it without too much of an ordeal.  We look forward to a sleep-in and to starting to dig into Tbilisi!

Our Westjet Boeing 737 Max, arriving from Toronto.  All it was missing was one fight attendant, who had to fly in from Montreal on a flight that was four hours late!  And, hence, we ended up taking off at 1:45AM, instead of at 10:35PM!


90 minutes before landing in Gatwick, Westjet served this hot breakfast item.  We were surprised to get anything more than pretzels on a Westjet flight.  But honestly, this was the least impressive breakfast - or any meal - we have ever gotten on an international flight.  At least the McCafe coffee was good!

Flying along the south coast of England, on approach to Gatwick.  The coast of France is due south, across the English Channel.

England’s picture-perfect countryside, looking towards the south coast.

Gatwick Airport is southeast of London.  We didn’t realize that it’s basically out in the countryside, surrounded by farmland. We had always thought it was surrounded by never-ending London suburbia. 

Gatwick is “EasyJet central”!  This is the ubiquitous Airbus A-320, which comprises the bulk of the massive EasyJet fleet.  We took the same A-320 model from Gatwick to Athens today.

The coast of France, across the English Channel. Dunkirk is up the coast on the left of the photo.

As EasyJet has no seatback screens, we were left to our own devices to figure out which parts of Europe we flew over, enroute to Athens.  These spectacular glaciers are in the Swiss Alps.

Upon descent into Athens at dusk. 

Exactly 21 hours after we left our driveway, we arrived at the brand new Aegean Airlines Business Lounge in Athens Airport.  After the Westjet delay in Halifax, the 90-minute wait for our suitcases in London, and the general exhaustion of the voyage, the lounge was like an oasis in the desert.  We had some wonderful Greek food and rested for three hours, before heading to our gate for the flight to Tbilisi.

The Aegean Airlines Airbus A-321 was parked at a remote stand, so we had to take a bus out to it. The full moon was beaming down on the Athenian night as we boarded around 12:15AM. 

The lady in front of us had her cat on her lap most of the flight!

The business class menu (in Greek and English) was quite impressive. Especially given that it was a flight leaving in the wee hours of the night and nowhere near a meal time. We didn’t even expect a meal. 

Et voila! That was our 1AM feast enroute to

Tbilisi! The Greeks know how to do business class well.