We are back. We are changed. We are travelers of the Covid era.

Have mask. Will travel. Finally! It’s been a long strange travel drought and today, it’s time. This time my travel buddy is my mom and our plan is epic. During the depths of Covid-related travel drought, I mused about past travels and recalled the last time the two of us (plus George) were on an airplane. It was a trip from Milan to Atlanta, and everything airplaney that could go wrong did. What would it be like to take a trip to Europe without giving the airlines a chance to make us miserable? So, our game this time is take a boat across the Atlantic, Titanic style (but hopefully without the drowning). Today, mom and I met up in Chicago after taking separate trains from Albuquerque and Minneapolis. Train travel is my favorite, and this trip did not disappoint. Beautiful scenery passed by as I listened to an audio book and enjoyed the ability to stretch my legs in a very un-airline-like fashion. Union Station in Chicago is quite classy and gave us all the feels of the retro trip we’re embarking on. And just for an extra spash of the roaring 20s (not roaring like the world ending roaring we know, but the flapper girls and art deco of a cetnury ago), we are staying at the Palmer House, Chicago’s oldest fancy-pants hotel. Strategic location, it is, blocks from the train station, adjacent to the Art Institute, and steps from tomorrow’s adventures in musical theater. Six weeks of adventure starts now!