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I've safely landed in Portugal and now am on the ship. It was an interesting trip from L.A. to get to Portugal. A story to be told already. All I can say is Whoa!!!! In an excerpt from a recent email I sent I wrote "I'm writing from the airplane right now. It's about 7am Frankfurt time and about 10pm L.A. time. I'm both lucky and unlucky. I'm lucky 'cause I'm sitting about 1 row from first class and didn't have to pay for the upgrade. That's right. I forgot to ask for a window seat at the check in counter so I did it at the gate. Where I had another stroke of luck and my 65lb bag that was supposed to weigh 50lbs didn't get an overweight charge. She ignored it!! At the gate my luck would have it the plane was full and the only window available was in business class (practically the same as first class). I really don't know what the difference is. I have TONS of leg room, my own video monitor with an array of entertainment and movies, a 5 course meal with free liquor, hot towels, a seat that reclines fully into a bed (SHUT UP!!), and a plug to plug my laptop into. All conveniences I wouldn't have been able to get in economy. In fact the leg room is quite phenomenal. What's the unlucky part you ask? I CAN'T SLEEP. Shut up. It's because I'm trying to sleep between 6pm and midnight. How unfortunate that I have the tools to sleep comfortably, but can't despite all the liquor I drank, lol. I'm usually out at the first sign of comfortability. Those who have driven with me KNOW that. The gentle murr of the engine, a gentle rock of the movement, and zzzzzz land here I come, but not today with all the comforts one could get. Oh well. I guess that's the trade off. The comforts outweigh this small inconvenience. I was reading in my pamphlet that I was even supposed to get internet here, but that's not seeming to pan out and I'm surrounded in darkness and by people who CAN sleep. I'm going to find out when we land how much my cast hates me right now, lol. One of our dancers (Michael) came in to see how I was doing and I'm sure gave a full report to the rest in the back of the plane. Even to our production assistant who arranged everything. Oh, and incidentally, my other not so lucky thing is that I can smell the bathroom seeing as I'm also 1 row away from it. Lol. Oh well. Small price to pay. I'll just take it all in right now. I stilll can't believe it." Let's face it. Business class IS first class. I don't know WHAT the difference is really. To start you get a drink BEFORE you take off. I had a Chardonnay. I had to read the manual on the seat I was sitting in because one remote controls the seat, the TV, it's a game controller for the video games available, it's your light switch, AND your call button. Can I just say overwhelmed? So, I get to my seat to discover there's a little goodie bag waiting for me as well. What's IN the goodie bag? A pair of socks? Yes!! A Pair of fresh socks to slip on your feet while you fly. Also a wet wipe, toothbrush and toothpaste, and some face lotion. Also included were blinds for sleeping and some protective earmuffs for the headset. So I slip on the socks, set my chair the way I like it (tell it to remember this setting so I can go back to it at anytime with the touch of a button), and select my first movie to watch during my 5 course meal on real plates using real silverware. Along with this VERY tasty dinner I had a glass of Riesling that kept magically refilling every time I looked away. Lol. I had I don't know how many little glasses of wine, but dinner lasted about an hour from salad to dessert. So there you have it. After the movie, I reclined into a full flat position. Like I said these seats turn into beds. Although, it's still not the most comfortable. The only redeeming factor really is that I was laying down completely, but the seat is still a seat. 'Tis no mattress and that pillow wasn't very fluffy, but that aside I'm in business class which I'll just call first class anyway because for the third time there isn't a difference that I can tell. I think I got SOME sleep. After all I am in a time warp right now. I wake up and finish another movie and catch up on some e-mail. Now the sun is shining bright on the next day just maybe 3 hours after it go dark. Breakfast arrives. Yum. Croissants with a delicious omelette. I'd like to say the omelette was made fresh right in front of me, but this isn't a hotel. It's still a plane. The next flight was not as extravagant and I quickly noticed how different the service is in business/first class than it is in economy. There was no leg room. Food was in disposable containers with disposable utensils. People were just packed together and it was so uncomfortable. Boy was I spoiled. The hotel was fabulous. It was a smart room where you have to insert your hotel key in the light socket in order to keep the lights on. Nice wood floors. Good location. I was so tired though arriving at the hotel, it was literally a place to just let my head rest.