Chapter II.
I studied German for five years, in high school and at Purdue University.
I knew it was in my best interest to stay in Vienna. My parents had lived in West Germany from 1964-1966, in the military, and had traveled to Vienna for eight days.
I got my $500 traveler's cheque’s cashed for Euro’s at the Vienna International Airport, by one of the most uninviting clerks I had ever met.
Three of my four bags made it to Vienna, Austria. One bag went ahead to Odessa, Ukraine.
Fortunately, the green bag that went ahead was full of lingerie and sportswear for Oksana. Her Christmas in July.
Specifically, Chemise Gowns, boy short panties, panty/bra sets were part of the gift basket, along with tonics and lotions. I met some American travelers in the Waterfront Kitchen of the Hilton, from St. Louis.
I walked along the Danube River, and decided to take some photos. I e-mailed my parents in Indiana and Oksana in Odessa to let everyone know what had happened, and what my travel plans were for the next day.
I spent $7.00 Euros on his in-room mini-bar on Cokes, because I did not want to risk drinking the water. I took a hot shower in my plush hotel room that morning at 3:30 a.m. I left for the airport at 6:00 a.m. on July 1, 2003.
I went downstairs, and had Euros to spare, after my checkout. I needed the Euros to pay my friendly taxi driver, Mathias, to take me to the airport.
My flight out was not until 10:45 a.m. I just wanted to make sure everything was copacetic on this day.
It was a steamy, sunny morning in Vienna. I bought a red plaquet shirt ($40 Euros) and a Lanvin Parisian tie ($70 Euros) at the airport.
There were many delectable looking German pastries, at the Vienna Airport eatery. I went through Passport Control, approximately fifty times that day, because I was meandering in and out of stores; purchasing items, perusing images, and looking in on Western European Culture.
Ergo, I came back to the United States with Wein, stamped all over my passport.
That morning my plane left from Vienna right on time; Aerosvit Flight #PS 819, to Odessa, Ukraine.
I met a woman on that plane, seated next to me, who was working at a Baptist Mission, established in Odessa in 2001.