We're two sisters who are craft book publishers and found ourselves in the midst of an avocado grove. We bought this house where we planned to conduct our publishing business and in the deal got 4 acres of avocado trees thrown in. Now we're not only publishers but ranchers as well! This blog is all about avocados and anything else that strikes my fancy.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Sepia Saturday #121 My First Flight

It was 1961 and my sister, Barbara and I both had 2 weeks vacation coming to us. So we decided to take a trip to Mexico. I had never been on a plane before, but Barbara had. So she convinced me that there was absolutely nothing to be afraid of.

We were probably inspired by this ad to fly Aeronaves de Mexico:


There was only one thing. Aeronaves only flew out of Tijuana, Mexico. But it was cheap, so we threw caution to the wind and purchased our tickets, round trip to Mexico City.

I tried to find a photo of us the morning of our flight. But, unfortunately, couldn't find it. But it's such a funny picture of the two of us posing in front of my 1955 Volkswagon with our luggage strapped to the front of the car. The bags wouldn't fit inside.  We both had these big hairdos with blond streaks put in. We heard that Mexican men really loved blonds. And afterall, what is a vacation for but to meet men!

So off we went to Tijuana and our big adventure.  We had to board the plane from the tarmack. And note, this is a prop flight. Can you imagine? 

I white knuckled it for the first couple of hours (the flight was 8 hours!) because this plane made a lot of noise. Barbara had to keep reassuring me that everything was just fine.

But then it was time for dinner.



We had the best dinner I've ever had on any plane, even including first class flights (of which I've only had 3 - and all because of flukes). But the dinner was bacon-wrapped filets. I can still taste that wonderful dinner. So much better than the bag of peanuts you get now.

Everything was going along fine. Until I looked out the window and saw that we were losing altitude. And fast. I was panicked. Holding onto my seat for dear life. There was no announcement from the pilot. The stewardesses didn't seem alarmed. But we were descending faster and faster and all I could see out the window were corn fields. Finally we landed. No crash at all. We asked someone, "what in the heck was that all about?" It turned out they were letting off a few of the crew in Leon, Mexico.

Finally we arrived in Mexico City.We did all of the tourist stuff including a trip to Xochimilco, the famous floating gardens.

That's me on the left and Barbara to my right. I don't know who those other people are. They just put them on our boat. The nerve.

It turned out to be a wonderful trip. We had such a good time. I really didn't want to go home. I especially didn't want to get on that plane again! But I did, and we got home just fine.

Oh, did we meet any men, you might be asking. Well, the answer is a big YES. I met the man of my dreams. He even left his number in my address book:


Of course, by the time I got back to Los Angeles, Fredrico was forgotten.

But the best thing that came out of this trip was our plan to open a Mexican gift shop so we could take more trips to Mexico. And we did. Here it is on Third St. in Los Angeles about 2 blocks from the Farmers Market.



So that first flight led to many others. But the shop, unfortunately, went bust.

Take other flights of fancy by clicking on Sepia Saturday.

33 comments:

  1. Goodness what a wonderful story you tell. Who'd have thought that all that would have come from taking a flight to Mexico? I'm sorry to hear that the shop didn't work out.

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    1. Yes, it's too bad. But it did give our mother something to do with her time as she manned the shop while Barbara and I worked our "real" jobs. She became good friends with our next door neighbor who made custom shirts for men. They used to sit and drink "martoonies" while waiting for customers. mmmmm. no wonder the shop didn't work out!
      Thanks for thinking up this great theme.
      Nancy

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  2. Another great tale!! You two were apparently born fearless entrepreneurs. I can't wait to hear more about the shop and the martoonies. Imagine touring around Mexico now wearing heels like Barbara had on? What a couple of babes....you must have been beating the men off with sticks.

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  3. It was really a fun trip. I'll never forget it. And yes, we did have to beat the men off with sticks. I remember this guy coming up to me on the street, kneeling down and saying "you must be an angel." Nothing like that has ever happened to me in the U.S. And it was on our second trip to Mexico that I met my future husband. There's something about that place.

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  4. I used to present training courses in Mexico at one time and could tell a tale or two about flying there - 31 hours was the longest trip from Mexico to the UK via the USA - don't ask why if you are a nervous flyer. Definitely not a fun trip.

    It seems that your fun trips paid off in the end. In my experience the Mexicans know how to party as I'm sure you can confirm.

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    1. and I thought 8 hrs was a long flight. Wow 31 hours would be a nightmare.
      That's interesting that you worked in Mexico. I hope you loved it as much as I did.
      Nancy

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  5. Yet another example of theme meets images meet story, the kind of thing which makes Sepia Saturday posts so delightful to read. You never quite know where they are going - a little like your Mexican plane!

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    1. Thanks, Alan. Yes, that Mexican plane was definitely on a collision course. At least, I thought so. I've been on many flights since, but none as terrifying as that one.
      Nancy

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  6. Sounds like a great trip and I'm sure your mother enjoyed watching the store while it was open. "martoonies" reminds me of "mellowroonies".

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    1. My mother had TOO MUCH FUN watching (?) the store. But I think that time in her life was one of her favorite times. So I'll never blame her for the store's demise. Barbara and I should have been paying more attention.
      Nancy

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  7. What a great tale! When you were off on your Mexican adventure, I was just born!
    I laughed at Federico's name in your book; I had a few of those (not Mexican). I love the name of your shop too! Thanks for taking me on a trip "south of the border".

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  8. Oh, Kat, you make me feel so old. Ha.
    Can you imagine that I still have that address book. Talk about
    hoarding!
    Nancy

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  9. Nancy, I love your stories so much. That was really smart of you two opening the shop to finance future trips to Mexico. I wonder if Fredrico was heartbroken because you never called him. To have to share the Lordes was something else, but I'm happy that they gave you a good dinner on the plane and a lifetime of memories.

    Kathy M.

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  10. Thanks, Kathy. No, I don't think Fredrico was the least bit heartbroken. I think the minute after we left Mexico he was flirting with the next gringa in line.
    Nancy

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  11. I was wondering why the other ladies on our "Lourds" boat all had corsages. Then I blew up the photo and noticed that Nancy had one, too. But it looks like I just had one tiny flower. I can just hear me saying I'm not wearing one of those big honking corsages! But I was wearing big honking high heels!
    Barbara

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  12. I remember being served two complete dinners on a flight back from Mexico City in 1976. I already had stomach problems from Mexican food.

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    1. Oh no. Too bad you weren't flying Aeronaves de Mexico. No stomach problems at all. Only flight fright.
      Nancy

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  13. Oh I do enjoy these kinds of stories with their pictures. How fun! Not just the meeting boys either, but taking a trip, and I just know it must have totally the best time ever right! Too bad about the shop going bust in the last picture, I was just about ready to take a flight to check it out! ha ha!

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  14. Oh, I wonder what you would have found. The next time I go to L.A. I'll have to go by the old place and see what's there now.
    Nancy

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  15. You were such adventurers. I wish I had been along for the flight and the rest of the trip. And I might not have forgotten Fredrico. Wonder where he is now. Living in that spacious villa all by himself, I expect ;)

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  16. I imagine that was a very memorable trip, I know what you mean by "white knuckle"- I've been on many AF prop jobs and they were not fun rides.

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  17. What a great story! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post.

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  18. Wonderful in so many ways -- the hair, the shoes while on tour (what? no Nikes?), a prop plane for 8 hours (YIKES -- I rode a prop plane for 1 hour and that was plenty), and a forgettable hot Latin lover! Great sister story!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the sister story. we've had many, many adventures. But in the 60s we would have never worn Nikes. Had to be the heels.
      Nancy

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  19. Metal Knives + Forks! Times Have Changed!!!

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  20. Yes, I suppose the airlines have figured that it's pretty difficult to cut and eat a peanut with a knife and fork. It's saved them billions!

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  21. Your post has brought back so many memories - flights in the 50s and 60s, and much later, flights to Mexico. Altogether a great post! :)

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  22. What a fun adventure, and to still have the phone number and name of the man you met there -- bravo! Wonder where Fredrico is now? I like the way you and your sister dressed for the tour. My sister and I drove to Ciudad Juarez in 1980. I wore overalls!

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  23. What a fun reflection..on times gone by....well you can look back and laugh. Great time had by both! I never heard of anyone flying to Tijajuana. Drove to the border and walked across to it numerous times when we lived in CA.

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  24. One question, did they give you gum to chew? I always remember being given little boxes of Chiclets to help with the ear popping. A whole plane load of people chomping away and then trying to get their ears open again.

    I was lucky as a child to always have my dad telling me what every noise and movement was about. So when I went to Europe with a friend who had never flown I became her whit knuckle guide.

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  25. Oh Nancy what a fantastic story. I also liked the bit about meeting men and the address never used, haven't we all made these experiences. In Brisbane one had to go out on to tarmac still in 1990, to board the plane, it was so much nicer.

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  26. Ole!!
    Loved being there as you relived your journey.
    My first flight was not traumatic and the only reason I'd be nervous is because it would change my routine, and all of the proceedings when you check in and out. I hate waiting...
    :D~
    HUGZ

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  27. I loved your story! And that you still have Fredrico's name and phone number!

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