The Batchelorette

I’ve always had itchy feet- in the figurative sense, of course. I remember a friend once told me this and I couldn’t help but to agree. Being a flight attendant was once but a childhood dream although I didn’t really consider it as a career growing up. After all, I have a journalism degree and worked for a while in Manila to propel me to that direction after college.

I know at some point, however, curiosity would get the best of me and I would regret it if I didn’t at least try to make it to the industry. Moving to the US made it even more possible and, here I am two years after and still enamored with the job I now want to see myself retiring from when I’m older.

Being a flight attendant based in the New York City area made it strategic for me to land trips in Europe quite often. I remember being in London and Zurich back to back, in a span of a week, and barely could wrap my head around the idea. I was just two weeks-old on the line when I got assigned a trip to Manchester, my very first trip across the Atlantic. I didn’t know a lot about the city but it surprised me how much stock knowledge I have of the British culture after years of reading Sophie Kinsella novels. It was a good start though and I realized the toil of working an international flight is something I don’t mind. I will forever be indebted to this job for all the experiences that came my way after.

On this blog, I’ve rounded up the top 5 most favorite international layovers I’ve had so far. Since I started working, I’ve been on reserve status, meaning I only ever find out where I’m going either the night before or literally minutes before boarding starts. The rush and excitement of it all always thrills me and it’s in these moments that I get to prove what my dad told me when I was first applying for the job- that truly, the world is my oyster.

Top 5 – Paris, France

Oh, Paris. I still remember sitting on airport standby and getting that golden call from scheduling. My boyfriend Choco recently just got out from the military and had the time that summer to come along on my layovers. We weren’t exactly expecting anything exciting to get that day, although I was hopeful. When I was told I’d be working a flight to Paris that night, I could barely believe it. Just like most people, Paris is probably my quintessential dream destination as a kid- more so, as a rookie flight attendant. I grew up seeing my mom’s photos in front of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre which, I think, subconsciously sparked my dream to be like her.

We landed in Charles de Gaulle around 7 am and were told there’s a parade going on in the city. A big city with bad traffic sounds like a bad combination and I was a bit bummed out hearing it might take two hours to get to our hotel downtown. I didn’t let it dampen my mood, though. I was beyond exhausted from working the redeye flight yet the adrenaline of it all was enough to keep me awake. The hotel is a mere walking distance from the Eiffel, with a mouth gaping view of the tower from its entrance. To say the least, seeing it for the first time was an ultimate fulfillment of my childhood dream.

I took my usual three hour nap before starting the day. I learned it the hard way that my body needs at least a few hours of sleep on a layover like this; otherwise, I’d be crashing as early as 5 pm. Funnily enough, Choco and I weren’t packed appropriately for Paris. I mean, it’s Paris! I feel like we somehow deserve some shopping. We took an Uber to a nearby mall to get some clothes and then headed for lunch.

I think one of the things I regret from our first trip to Paris, though, was not eating enough French food! We (especially I,) were so fixated in hitting as many spots as we can in one day. We were only able to sit down for a proper meal once. Lunch consisted of pasta and steak with frites from a bistro around the corner from our hotel.

After eating, we took the metro to Trocadéro – a viewpoint across the Seine river and has a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower. I can’t even put into words how surreal that moment was. This was the very first trip Choco was able to join me and it coudn’t be any more timely that it had to be Paris. It really is the City of Love for a reason. There was a photographer there offering to take our shots for 20 euros which didn’t sound bad but we weren’t carrying any cash. I tell my friends I always get lucky though chancing upon strangers who take really good photos and that day was no exception.

Right beside the bookstore was Notre-Dame de Paris which, I didn’t even realize until we got to the focal view. Sometimes I can’t believe how proximate most tourist spots are from each other. This was also back when the church was devastated by fire just two months ago. The facade was kept in tact although the impact of that day was visible.

At this point, Choco and I were already out walking for at least seven hours and fatigue was slowly starting to catch up on us. I should’ve warned him that this is how a typical layover for me looks like- running on barely sleep while still making the most out of the day. Our airline has daily service to most European cities which only gives us 24-hour layovers and naturally, I have to seize it. We were too tired to get dinner but for our last stop, we went to Champs-Élysées- a renowned avenue in Paris where high-end boutiques can be found. We wanted to get some Pierre Hermé macarons as it is one of the most popular ones in Paris. Their array of flavors was unbelievable. I remember eating a rose-flavored macaron which I surprisingly ended up liking the most.

Top 4 – Tel Aviv, Israel

Being on airport standby that ends at 10 pm, I knew I had a likely chance to go to Tel Aviv at the last minute. The flight leaves around that time and I was a bit apprehensive about it. It would be the longest flight I would ever work, blocked for 12 hours. The service is also modified with the addition of offering kosher meals, something we only particularly do on this one. Looking back, I don’t regret being called for that trip. It would take years or some fortuitous luck to be assigned a trip as senior as that again. And Israel? Wow. It’s my first time working a trip to Asia, too. I was beyond excited.

The flight turned out easier than expected. We had at least four hours of crew rest and I was able to get some proper shuteye. This layover was around 36 hours, longer than what I usually get so I at least got some decent rest after we arrived around 7 pm. Tel Aviv is known for its vibrant nightlife and my crew planned to meet for drinks that night but I opted to stay in and just start exploring early the next day.

Our hotel is right in front of the Mediterranean sea which was just surreal. It was some time in January and the weather in Tel Aviv was just the right amount of chilly although too cold for a swim. It was overlooking from where we had breakfast. The hotel had an affordable buffet option for around 10 USD and I was able to try blintz and shakshouka among other options. Everything was so fresh and my day was already starting great; a jumpstart to how this whole trip became a culinary feast.

I was planning on going to Jerusalem that day which would be a three-leg bus ride and a two-hour trip from Tel Aviv. I couldn’t find one single person from my crew who wanted to go since most of them have been there many times before. I was determined to go until I realized it would already be too late to venture out after I lingered too long over breakfast and a walk along the seafront. Anyway, I thought being in Tel Aviv for the first time, it wasn’t a bad idea to see the city itself first. I ended up joining my crew after all to check out some nearby spots.

I told them I wanted to have some authentic shawarma so they brought me to Carmel market which has a good spot for it. I went for chicken in a pita bread with fresh vegetables and the best hummus I’ve ever had in my life. I wish Choco was with me since he really loves shawarma.

After a quick grub, we walked along the stretch of the Mediterranean sea. I couldn’t help but to be in awe with how serene and beautiful it is. The way leads to Old Town Jaffa, an area associated with many biblical stories. In the present, though, its winding alleys are filled with antique, art, and jewelry shops and from up there, we got a good glimpse of the metropolis as well. Israel is dominantly a Jewish country but it was interesting to see a Catholic church there and how two religions can thrive alongside each other.

Before we ended the day, we went back to the market to buy some goodies like fresh spices and baklava to bring home. We were set to work the redeye flight that night back to Newark so I had to get some rest before leaving. Seeing Tel Aviv was such an experience. From having no prior knowledge of the city, I fell in trance with its landscape, culture, and food. I would definitely want to go back and finally visit Jerusalem along with the Dead Sea.

Top 3 – Hong Kong

Christmas season is one of the busiest times to fly and as a reserve flight attendant, I know it might lead me somewhere surprising. True enough, I woke up with a call from scheduling three hours before check-in, telling me I might work a flight to Hong Kong after an earlier one got delayed. 16 hours after and with a 12-man crew of newbie flight attendants, we found ourselves across the Pacific.

I’ve been to many situations before where I barely have any sleep and had to power through a long duty day but after this flight, I feel like I can do anything. The night before, I attended a Christmas party and got home at 4 am, tossing in bed and hardly falling asleep. Even the 5-hour crew rest inflight didn’t help me that much. Still, it was exhilarating to be in Hong Kong. I’ve been there many times in the past but it was a particularly special feeling having worked a trip that was only assigned to me by random luck. I’ve always wondered, too, how the layover hotel would look like and it turned out to be one of the best ones I’ve ever stayed at. It’s located by the harbour view in Wan Chai which is near some of my most favorite spots in the city.

We landed in Hong Kong around 8 pm and since it was an irregular flight, the layover was extended to 36 hours. It’s very rare to have a full crew of young flight attendants and we all wanted to meet up the next day to explore. I don’t mind my own company but my perfect idea of a good layover is having some time for me to go around and have a detailed itinerary to follow and then, later on, joining my crew for a more spontaneous day-out.

I love Hong Kong a lot that for a time, I consider it as my most favorite country. Back when I was still living in Manila, I would keep an eye for airline ticket sales just so I can go back as often as I can. On this trip, I just wanted to relish the more laid back side of it, eat some good food, and go back to some of the usual spots that I missed a lot. I found a cute coffee shop close from the hotel called NOC. It’s a no-frill bar that serves really good coffee. I loved the overall minimal concept of it that I just had to savour my latte for a good while. After which, I went to the Cupping Room which is just located on the next block. I’ve always wanted to try this cafe but never got the chance to do so. In there, I had what was probably the best avocado toast I’ve ever tasted.

Since I got this trip at the nick of time, I came under packed. I took the train to Times Square in Causeway Bay to shop quickly. This a bad habit of mine even after almost two years of flying – I feel like I just never know how to pack right. My crew and I then met up after for lunch at a dim sum place called Dim Dim Sum and then we all headed to Tsim Sha Tsui to have some photos taken at the Avenue of Stars. I had to part ways with them just before they went to Mong Kok though because I found out a good friend of mine back home, Paula, just so happened to be in the city with her family. We decided to meet up for dinner in Cafe de Coral (my favorite!) and spent the rest of the evening catching up and doing a quick run to the grocery (a guilty pleasure of mine on every international layover.)

I went back to the hotel that night feeling exhausted. I still haven’t had enough sleep since the beginning of the whole trip and the drastic change in timezones didn’t help either. The whole crew was supposed to deadhead back to Newark the next day, a term we use in aviation when flight attendants would sit as passengers instead of operating the flight, but I got pulled out along with another one to work the flight back to San Francisco instead. This has been the most challenging schedule change I’ve ever had on reserve and really, they meant it when they said you have to be flexible for this job.

Our flight wasn’t until 11 am the next day so I woke up early to get a traditional Cantonese breakfast from Mon Kee Cafe which consisted of spicy noodles, a side of toast, and a really good iced coffee. It was worth it getting up early for! I feel like I was able to make the most out of this Hong Kong layover despite the unimaginable exhaustion I had to deal with. It really was a memorable Christmas for me.

Top 2 – Brussels, Belgium

Since working on a holiday is almost inevitable for my job, I at least would want to work somewhere exciting on Thanksgiving. I was supposed to go to Zürich but out of the blue, another flight attendant messaged me hoping we could switch flights. This has never happened to me before and imagine how ecstatic I was when she offered Brussels!

It’ll be my first time there and Choco’s coming along with since he wants to celebrate Thanksgiving with me. Last year, we were able to spend it together, too, when I had a long San Diego layover. It’s quite of a gamble to fly on standby on a holiday but luckily enough, he even got a first class seat.

I’ve always wanted to visit Brussels but I didn’t really know much of it. On a surface level, I just want to try some authentic Belgian waffles, chocolates, and fries. Our hotel also piqued my curiosity since I’ve only heard good things about it and it turned out to be one of the nicest ones.

After getting some rest, Choco and I walked towards a French brasserie called Les Brassins. It’s on a back street and seemingly unassuming but the ambience and the food were exceptional. We shared a plate of onglet steak with shallot sauce and a side of frites, along with a cream-based pasta. It was kind of reminiscent of our trip to Paris just a few months ago. We also found out that Speculoos is from Belgium and is a staple almost everywhere so we made sure to try a Speculoos tiramisu for dessert.

A trip to Brussels wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Grand Palace, a central square surrounded by equally opulent halls. It was marvelous to see however, at this point, Choco and I didn’t know where else to go or what else there is to do after that. We were still too full to eat again, too. Without any concrete plan, we walked towards where the crowd was and just stopped by some interesting stores along the way. It wasn’t until a few minutes later that we reached Mont des Arts, a public garden atop a hill. It was really beautiful. Come nightfall, we also witnessed a lights installation show called Submergence which, looking back, has got to be one of the best highlights of the trip for me. Choco agreed and said it was that one magical part on every trip that he experiences with me.

On the hunt for some Belgian waffles after, we also chanced upon the statue of Manneken Pis, a bronze sculpture of a little pissing man which is iconic for the Belgians. True enough, this symbol can be found on most knick knacks such as magnets and keychains. We were also right on time for the lights show back in the Grand Palace, a tradition that they only have through the Christmas season. They say experiencing Christmas in Europe is very festive and my first time was downright magical.

My crew suggested we have to pay a visit to the Christmas market, Marché de Noël Bruxelles. I never knew how fun European Christmas markets could be! Rows and rows of food and novelty stores filled the entire square that we even had a hard time deciding which ones to try. We ended up gorging on some foot-long bratwurst topped with the best curry ketchup (which, by the way, I have to get some of when I go back,) and Choco found a nougat stall which he really liked. We also shared some Belgian beer steamed mussels that tasted even better against the cold weather.

The next day on our flight, Choco surprised me with a book he got from the airport bookstore; a small keepsake to remind me of Belgium. It was one of the best trips we ever had together. A lot of people don’t find Belgium exceptional but I have to say, its Christmas revelry made it more special for us and we would definitely go back if given the chance.

Top 1 – Milan, Italy

Through winter, our airline reduces flights to certain cities in Europe which only means we get 48-hour long layovers. Getting assigned a trip to Milan was a huge deal for me. First of all, I’ve been dreaming about Italy for the longest time and second, it was my very first international flight where I worked as the purser. I was a bit intimidated at first since the rest of my crew were all senior but they were really helpful in guiding me through it all.

I remember gazing outside the aircraft window and seeing the Italian Alps up close, all covered with snow. It was absolutely breathtaking. Milan is also one of the cities I’ve seen photos of my mom of growing up so for that reason alone, I was really excited to visit.

Our hotel was a short walking distance from Milano Centrale, the main train station. Something I love about my airline is how they provide us with hotels that are centrally-located around most establishments. Most of the time, I get to save some money on train tickets because everything essential can be reached by feet.

First thing off my list, of course, is to see Duomo di Milano. I’ve always been fascinated with cathedrals and their architectural style. Seeing it loom before me as I exited the train was surreal. It’s Lombard Gothic-style architecture is very intricate and immaculate with its trancing white structure. It was the same feeling I had upon seeing La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. There’s a minimal entrance fee to get inside which I was happy to comply with nonetheless. I only wanted to at least pray and see the altar.

Located beside the cathedral is Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping center and an iconic landmark in the city. In there, I settled for an Italian restaurant for lunch. I feel like I can’t go wrong with any choice, anyway. I ordered a ravioli di magri panna e prosciutto and was surprised to find out it’s not too expensive despite being a sit-down restaurant and the portion being so huge. The pasta was nothing short of impeccable, of course.

I then met up with my crew after lunch to checkout the new Starbucks Reserve that just opened in Milan back then. It’s about a 5-minute walk from the cathedral- an ideal place to have some aperitivo. Over some aperol spritz, my crew was discussing a day trip they were planning to Turin the next day, a city some two-hours away from Milan. I pondered if I wanted to join but later on thought I might as well just see more of Milan for the remaining of the layover. I ended the night with a quick trip to the grocery and fixed myself a charcuterie platter with some prosciutto crudo and grana panado I bought.

The next day, I headed out early and traveled quite a bit for Bar Luce, a cafe designed by renowned American filmmaker Wes Anderson. The space is heavily patterned from his film aesthetics and represents a typical Milanese coffee shop. It was picturesque in every corner- from the furniture, floor design, wall panels, and even the rest room. The food selection was somehow run-of-the-mill but I would say the ambience was worth the visit.

After breakfast, I went back to the city centre and thought of getting an early lunch. I wanted to try one more pasta dish and found a place that served good fettucine alla bolognese. For dessert, I lined up at Cioccolati Italiani where a crowd was gathered (a surefire indication that it must be good,) for some authentic gelato. I’m still dreaming about their pistachio-flavoured one until now.

Continuing on with the day, I took the train towards Navigli Canal which is an area dotted with restaurants and bars aplenty. I didn’t really get to do much over there after taking a photo or two so I left for Via Della Spiga Milano right away. It’s Milan’s top shopping street filled with luxury boutiques which, apparently, leads back to the Cathedral. It was nice walking those alleys wide-eyed even if I was just window shopping.

I consider this Milan layover as my best one yet. I feel a little twinge of pain in my heart – the good kind, of course, just reliving this. I was able to explore the city unhurriedly and with enough rest and that’s actually a crucial factor for me. Someday, I’d hope to go back and take Choco with me.