Ah, the airport bar. A magical place where time seems to stand still, and social norms go on an extended vacation. As I sit here, nursing my morning Bloody Mary like a responsible adult, I can’t help but wonder: why is it perfectly acceptable to drink at an airport at the crack of dawn?
As the sun timidly peeks through the terminal windows, I find myself surrounded by fellow adventurers seeking liquid solace in the form of alcoholic concoctions. We gather, like a merry band of sleep-deprived pirates, ready to set sail on our next travel escapade. But seriously, it’s 7 a.m. Who decided this was a reasonable time to start drinking?
The irony is palpable as I sip my tomato-based breakfast cocktail, pretending it’s the elixir of champions. I’m convinced that airports possess a magical time warp, where traditional drinking habits cease to exist. It’s like entering a parallel universe where you can order a martini with your cornflakes or have a pint of ale as a palate cleanser before your morning coffee.
But let’s not forget the grand spectacle that is people-watching at an airport bar. It’s a sport of its own, an Olympic event for the socially observant. I have front-row seats to a symphony of exhausted parents wrangling their hyperactive kids, business travelers passionately arguing over conference calls, and lost souls wearing mismatched socks and attempting to conquer the world one lukewarm cappuccino at a time.
As I casually sip my cocktail, I become an anthropologist, studying the intricate behaviors of fellow travelers. There’s the “Overzealous Suitcase Roller,” who takes pride in showing off their wheeling skills while disregarding the shins of unsuspecting passersby. Then, we have the “Gate-Checker Extraordinaire,” who nervously contemplates the dimensions of their carry-on bag, wondering if it’s socially acceptable to bring an entire kitchen sink on board.
Amidst this bustling hub of human activity, I ponder the unspoken rules of morning airport drinking. Why is it that sipping on a Bloody Mary feels oddly acceptable, while doing the same thing in your living room before work earns you a concerned intervention from your loved ones? Is it the altitude? The collective “we’re all in this together” mentality? Or is it simply the universal understanding that airports are stress-inducing vortexes where alcohol is the only remedy?
Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that airports are liminal spaces, caught between the realms of reality and fantasy. They are neither here nor there, suspended in a perpetual state of transit. So, when faced with the existential crisis of an early morning flight, who are we to judge the choices of our fellow travelers?
So here’s to you, fellow airport barfly, as we embark on this strange journey together. Let’s raise our glasses of tomato-based ambrosia and toast to the curious blend of camaraderie, anticipation, and unabashed indulgence that comes with morning airport drinking. After all, if the world can be a surreal place, why shouldn’t our breakfast be too?
It’s always entertaining to sit and watch the “poop-fest” that air travel can turn into at any given moment.
Judicious day drinking is never out of style.
Safe travels. May you and your luggage arrive at the same time and same airport terminal.
Judicious day drinking is my new favorite phrase!