1980 Backpacking in Europe Begins

My past experience, plus an article in a March 1980 issue of The Journal News, inspired the Thompson girls to go backpacking in Europe.

Monday, June 30, 1980

‘Twas the usual – last minute packing, have we got our passports, our money, our brains?!

Tamiko has the money

Terry has the camera

Kathy is packing in plastic bags

Terry packs her duffel bag

We joined the long line already formed at the Capital International Airways ticket counter at JFK. It was only just after 21:00 and the flight was scheduled for 23:00. Lo and behold, we learned it would not truly depart until 04:00 tomorrow! Reason: Change of aircraft. (The scheduled plane malfunctioned and they are now negotiating to buy a new one for immediate delivery with crew.) The ticket fellow sounded incredulous, “only one bag for three passengers?” My huge suitcase (for possible staying on in Europe) was the only one checked. Our duffel bag cum backpacks will go as hand luggage. (I had reconfigured the straps so that we could carry the duffel bags like backpacks.) We got our boarding passes, and then had hours to waste. 

We took a hike to the main international terminal to go to the restrooms (the first attempt was locked), to register our cameras, and to change money (the popular currencies were unavailable, but the money-changer himself was! The cutie teased that he wanted to come along with us!).

Registering our cameras
Mom, Terry, Tamiko, Kathy (GJT)

Exchanging money
Tamiko, Mom (GJT)

Waiting...
Mom, Tamiko, Terry, Kathy (GJT)

Going through x-ray
Terry, Kathy, Tamiko (GJT)

We were all set at 22:30, so we said our goodbyes to Mom & Dad (Kathy via handshake) and sacked out at Gate 4. After noting stares from the nearby cocktail lounge, we moved to behind a low wall to Gate 5. So we are not to leave until July 1^st.

Kathy napping at the gate

Airline ticket cover

Airline ticket

Boarding pass

Luggage tag

Tuesday, July 1, 1980

A Transamerican Airline jet has arrived at Gate 4. We assume they won’t have time to paint in their new name, but hopefully they will clean it up inside, fuel it, and stock it with food and a reliable crew. The airport Muzak is appropriately boring, but is continually interrupted by electronic belches and tinny voices announcing Delta Airlines comings and goings. There are a couple whirling dervishes named Patrick and Theresa racing around with a courtesy wheelchair. An employee is machine buffing the floor, and two passengers are discussing Eurailpasses and a bus strike to begin at 04:00 (?).

‘Tis broad daylight outside. We are sipping our “cocktails” and listening to tunes on our airline-provided headphones. The movie “Time After Time” is promised after breakfast! The plane left the gate “on time” at 04:00, but it wasn't until 20 minutes later when we finally left the ground. During take-off, a movie projector swung out of the ceiling, a closet door slid upward, a movie screen swung around, hangers harmonically jangled, and a stewardess fell asleep. Capital has put us in the competent hands of Transamerica (!), on a DC-10 jet! I say no more!

Had a rather substantial breakfast at 05:30/11:30 with a cheese omelet, sausages, hash browns, and grapefruit sections. We saved the muffins and Danish for a future meal. We all fell asleep during the movie and were awakened at 09:00/15:00 for lunch: sandwich, cold chicken, and a Hershey bar. We really had no appetite, so we saved most of it. All we can see are clouds below us.

Transamerica DC-10 plane in Brussels

It was raining in Brussel/Bruxelles when we landed. Got our passports stamped and then retrieved my checked bag which had lost a buckle. Walked by the customs men who just nodded. Followed the signs to the train to the Brussels stations. Had a bit of a mix-up concerning validating our Eurailpasses with the conductor who eventually let us get on free as long as we had the passes validated at the Central Station. On this train a Spaniard started a conversation with Kathy in excellent English. He also spoke French and Flemish. He told us the trains are terrible in Spain. He wished us "Bon Voyage" in many languages. At the Central Station we ended up walking outside instead of up to the main lobby. Outside was a Belgian wafflemaker who wanted to "help." Finally found the main lobby to check my bag (80 cents a day! We may retrieve it and store it elsewhere.) and to get our Eurailpasses validated. The fellow validated them for three months, but we had him correct the error to two months. In the short wait for the 18:13 train to Amsterdam, we saw a fellow in kilts with a bagpipe, and a guy whose briefcase leaked milk. It is pouring rain outside.

Eurailpass front

Eurailpass back

Eurail Map

Got off to change trains just inside the Netherlands border thanks to someone who informed us that our train was returning to Brussels. At Rotterdam we had a few minutes before the train to Utrecht left, so we bought some food which Terry ordered in French: sandwiches and cookies. In Utrecht we found we had just missed the train to Copenhagen. We made our way to Den Haag, where we hope to camp out until morning when we will begin some productive touring rather than just train riding. The land is flat with occasional dikes and a rare windmill. Neat brick houses with lace curtains and plants galore in the windows. Here in Den Haag we had hoped to take advantage of a warm restaurant, but a besotted old guy decided to sit at our table. We obliged by leaving him alone. Later some guys wanted to know if we spoke English. So we are getting a foretaste of the adventures to come!

Next: Den Haag/The Hague.