Let me introduce you to the wonderful Space Crew that made our Dallas layover one of my favorites EVER! I'll call them by their flags: Romania, Slovakia, Serbia (oh, that's me), the UK and Australia.
 |
| Direction: NASA |
 |
| Space Crew: Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, the UK, Australia |
Well, you know it from the briefing room: if you click with people from the very start, the whole journey is promising! And that's exactly what happened before that ultra long haul 14h flight from Abu Dhabi to Dallas. As usual we all met for the first time in our lives that same morning - perfect strangers. The fact that the layover itself was longer than usual (don't get comfortable, I'm talking about 48h layover) AND the interest we had in common about exploring the surroundings, probably helped boosting the atmosphere. We all wanted to visit NASA!!!! Yaaaaaaaaah!
 |
| Independence Shuttle on the shuttle-carrier Boeing 747 |
But after all, only a coincidence of that crazy people all in one place are assurance to have such a great time! So we rented a car that could fit 6 people and hit the road. It's a bloody 4h30 drive from Dallas to Houston, but that was the closest point we were flying to. So total of 10h drive in a day, back and forth from Dallas to Huston and back. By the end of the day we knew everything about each other and we created that special bond that only Crew know how. We had a great time all along: playing mind games in the car, listening to music or simply sharing stories of our lives. That's how Slovakia and I discovered we both worked in the past (actually in the same year, 2013) for the big commercial airline based in Dubai. Who knows if we EVER flew together before?! 👀
 |
| Space Crew visiting NASA |
The visit to NASA was extraordinary, we learned so much and had a great fun. Space Center Houston is where you can see astronauts train for missions, touch a real moon rock and have fun all along. You can go on board of a full size shuttle replica Independence mounted on top of the original shuttle carrier aircraft (it's a Boeing 747). Just imagine these two birds flying attached: must have been a memorable sight for whoever got the chance to glimpse on it! I have Independence mission patch on my jacket since that day! But the huge hangar hosting the mighty and massive Saturn V rocket is the most impressive thing you'll see or touch. Saturn V-like rockets flew from 1967 to 1973 and launched 26 astronauts into space with 6 successful missions landing men on the Moon What a power!!!
 |
| Saturn V rocket |
 |
| Saturn V rocket |
 |
| Rocking the rocket! |
What a day!!! Since then this group of people is named Space Crew. Many things we've done together since that day, like running on Go karts in Yas Marina...
 |
| Go Kart at Yas Island |
...Running (and falling into water) on Aquafun slide rafts on Al-Bahar beach. Oh, what a muscle ache we all had the day after, the only time in my life I felt every inch of my body in pain!... You wouldn't believe how tiring is to move around in and out of the water.
 |
| Floating slide-raft at Aquafun, Abu Dhabi |
 |
| Aquafun at Corniche, Abu Dhabi |
...Chilling in the pool with food, drinks and dj set at Montecarlo Saadiyat Island? Burst of happiness all in one!...
 |
| Montecarlo beach club, Saadiyat Island |
...Exploring Al-Maya island during the National day Air Show Fighters F-16 jets exhibition? The Air Show usually takes place above the Corniche, which made it perfectly visible from Al-Maya island, while we were sipping our cocktails by the pool.
 |
| Boat trip to Al-Maya island |
,,,and even celebrating New Years in the desert, on a private party in the newly constructed Masdar city with fireworks view on Yas Island (I remember that last minute run for the better view, the out of tune singing out loud in the bus on the way back and...me being the only sober because I was on standby the day after!)
I don't even know all this people, but we had a great Silvester party
...We flew together again both as passengers and Crew, working together like on that fabulous flight to Thailand with the layover in Phuket that deserves it's own story apart!
 |
| Phuket layover |
But one special trip with the UK was to Dubai to see an interactive theater play of "the Great Gatsby" directly on the retired British ocean liner QE2 (because it was indeed the Queen Elisabeth II's cruise ship), converted since 2018 into a floating hotel and now docked in Dubai, after royally sailing around the world for 39 years. Hold on, too much information - did you get it right?!! Freely walking on an immense Titanic-sized ship used by the Queen Elisabeth II... while taking active part in an interactive theatrical play (meaning the actors and the spectators would mix in the crowds and you wouldn't be able to tell who's acting and who's just watching)... But the icing on the cake was that the play in question was The Great Gatsby!!! And we were all requested to dress accordingly (meaning 1920's style) so that surely helped a lot in mingling! What a show, it still gives me goosebumps! I'll just tell you I listened to live music, danced, had a great buffet, talked to countless unknown people, walked around the ship inside out, found a piano and played it, got arrested for playing the piano, got bailed out by the UK, got some more drinks and dance and I'll stop right there (it was all part of the play you silly! My criminal record is immaculate). Memorable evening!
 |
| Great Gatsby interactive theater on QE2, Dubai |
Last time I saw my Space Crew was when the World Pandemic 2020 separated all our ways (for now). So we met once more before parting, a tasty dinner and cocktail with lots of laughter and...well it's just funny that after all those years of friendship, only now (and JUST by chance) we discovered that...actually me and Slovakia DID fly together in the past in our previous airline! And that happened to be my suppy flight, a turnaround to Istanbul! So from my very first flight as a Flight Attendant, I had my Space Crew with me all along!!! Isn't that miraculous? How did we discover it only now? Because thanks to Facebook memories (you know, when the app is suggesting you some old memories of yours posted years ago) I posted on old photo of mine from my 1st ever flight and well...she recognized herself on it!!! Ahahaha it's unbelievable!
 |
| Once upon a time and now |
We're still in touch, sharing updates on our lives that changed so much and we have our only survivor, Mr.Romania still keeping the flying flag high! Direct message: seeing you on Zoom party was fun, but I can't wait to hug you all again one day! Love you Mashallas!
 |
| Zoom party |
 |
| All we have left is...SPACE? |
