Mom & Dad's FIRST Flight EVER - Part in KLM's Business Class

Thanks to Aviodrome in The Netherlands, I did obtain a photo from KLM's Boeing 747-300 as it still was in use over 1987 when Mom & Dad made their FIRST Flight EVER; together with us!

On April 20, 1987 we left together with husband Pieter, who had circled the globe, from Atlanta via Seattle to Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Taipei to Amsterdam for some business in Europe, following his People to People Citizen Ambassador Program; both for Campbell Soup.
During the three weeks that Pieter was in the Far East, I went to Europe.
So togethe we went back to Schiphol Airport in Pieter's rental car and relaxing in the Van Gogh Room (for Business class and Royal class only).

On March 24, while Pieter was in Beijing, China, I had gone to the bank for handing Mom & Dad 1,000 Dutch Guilders, approximately US $ 500.00 as part of the ticket price.
Sister-in-law Wilma, seen on the left, did take care of the tickets on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Photo taken by brother Jan Van den Munckhof.
Pieter would be back in Europe by April 10, on April 20 all four of us flew to Atlanta...
The next day while at home in Dublin, Georgia/USA, Mom & Dad were welcomed over the radio by 'Uncle' Bo Whaley during his talk show!

In previous posts you could read about some of our trips or just Mom & Dad with me, as Pieter had to work for Campbell Soup.
Above photo shows the final evening of Tuesday, May 12, that we sat together at table, with Pieter (who took this photo) before he had to travel to Dallas, Texas next day...

Our final Friday evening together at home... We just had gotten back from visiting some friends and Mom had received a nice hand painted cloth from India, to take back to The Netherlands.

With my KLM Courtesy Card, I got all three of us checked in at the Business Class counter and also access to the Business Class Lounge AND A BUSINESS CLASS SEAT!
Mom & Dad had seat 11A and 11B and I had 11D.

Business Class in the Boeing 747-300 was in the upper deck and also in the lower deck where the 3 of us were seated.

The only disadvantage was that I was in seat 11D, about 'half-a-row' behind their seats 11A+B, contrary to other seat rows in the center and on the right side in this Boeing.
But I happily accepted that, as it gave more leg room and seating space, complete with dinner served on china and so on.
It was a night flight so one ought to sleep as much as possible...
My brother Harry with his wife Elly did pick us up in Amsterdam and I had to do consulting work in Germany the next day...
Dad had insisted towards Pieter, that I'd use their car instead of renting me a car for the 2 weeks of work in the Bremen area, Germany.

On June 3, I did travel back home from Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Atlanta, USA with business friend Jan Thielen from Lottum, The Netherlands who gave me a ride to the airport.
In return for that ride, I could share the privilege of checking in at the business class counter and access to the business class 'Van Gogh' room with my KLM Courtesy Card. Just as we could with Mom & Dad in tow. You were allowed to bring a guest...

Those were the days of classy travel with lots of privileges!
So grateful for having been able to let Mom & Dad share in it.

Related links:
Mushroom Friends in Austria and their Mushroom God Statue | read about our insane schedule before taking Mom & Dad home with us...
St. Augustine, 1st Florida city with Mom & Dad in 1987 | previous post by me

Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad with Mom & Dad and again with Pieter | previous post by me
Taking Husband Pieter back to Knoxville, TN in Mom & Dad's Footsteps | previous post by me
{Mom Lived 16 Days Short of Her 91st Birthday} | previous post by me with Mom & Dad's words in guest book
{MEMORIES of HAPPY TIMES} | previous post by me
{Do YOU all know Our Nations Oldest City - St. Augustine, Florida?} | previous post by me
Visiting A.G. Linfield Mushroom Compost Facility in England | previous post by me about Jan Thielen from Lottum, The Netherlands
{Part XVI of Husband Pieter's Trip to East Asia - Taipei, Taiwan} | previous post by me

St. Augustine, 1st Florida city with Mom & Dad in 1987

On May 08, 1987 we both drove with Mom & Dad to Florida as Pieter had taken some days off at Campbell's Soup.

Here we are in St. Augustine, Florida on one of the old walls at Castillo De San Marcos.
Staying one night at the Oldest City in USA...
On August 4, 1999 my youngest brother and his wife went there with me.

The day before on May 8, 1987 we entered for Mom & Dad their 4th State within the United States of America; Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

I'm wearing the perfectly fitting cream colored jeans that Pieter bought for me while in China the previous month.

Mom & Dad and both of us had each a room at the Days Inn in St. Augustine, FL

Now it is called Days Inn by Wyndham St Augustine/Historic Downtown (click the link).

This is where Mom & Dad stayed with us...

We were very close to Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida

We sit on the wall, shown at the bottom right in this photo and the fort is behind us, also the little building seen above my head in photo, is seen here above in the lower right section.

Behind Mom & Dad's heads in the top photo you can see this kind of turret with the openings for firing the canons. Click for going to website for more views of this star shaped 17th century fort.

This photo from HISTORIC ST. AUGUSTINE, FL — PART 1 by Stan Paregien, comes the closest by the one Pieter took form Mom & Dad and me, more or less from the same spot, except that we were on the wall to the left near the water!
We took Mom & Dad also to Gatorland and the show with the snakes was at 10:00 and we left for Kennedy Space Center by 10:30.

Mom, Dad and me at Kennedy Space Center on May 9, 1987.
On Mother's Day, May 10, we did visit Epcot.

This is a photo of me at our hotel in Kissimmee, Florida where I'm feeding a squirrel.

On Monday, May 11, we did visit Sea World and here we are near our car, picnicking on our blanket.
Yep, we had to live off a budget and there was no time for going to a restaurant as well.

This is a photo I did scan from Dad's collection that he showed me in May when he was fondly remembering this trip from 1987.

We enjoyed the show of Baby Shamu the Orka and the walrus, sea lion and otter-shows.
The dolphins and the sharks with the glass tunnel.
By 15:00 we drove home to Georgia and arrived there by 21.45 as Pieter had to start at work next day and he had to catch up on a lot!

Hope you enjoyed this fond memory and thanks for your visit and comment!

Related links:
Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad with Mom & Dad and again with Pieter | previous post by me
Taking Husband Pieter back to Knoxville, TN in Mom & Dad's Footsteps | previous post by me
{Mom Lived 16 Days Short of Her 91st Birthday} | previous post by me with Mom & Dad's words in guest book
{MEMORIES of HAPPY TIMES} | previous post by me
{Do YOU all know Our Nations Oldest City - St. Augustine, Florida?} | previous post by me

Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad with Mom & Dad and again with Pieter

Pieter had gone to China and Taiwan as a People to People Citizen Ambassador and meanwhile I went to The Netherlands.

After three weeks, Pieter briefly got reunited with me in The Netherlands and did some business for Campbell Soup in Europe that included traveling to England,  Switzerland and Austria... (see post below).
We flew back home on April 20, 1987, to Atlanta, USA, with Mom & Dad in tow for their very first flight and visit with us the coming 4 weeks.
On May 16, I would fly back to The Netherlands with Mom & Dad and did consulting work in Germany for 2 weeks before returning to the USA.
Pieter meanwhile was in Australia and in Christchurch, New Zealand for Campbell.
~ 
But on April 28, while Pieter was working for Campbell Soup, I took Mom & Dad to Atlanta for riding the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad with them.

Mom & Dad are standing in the center in front of the train that we rode around Stone Mountain.

Stone Mountain Park Georgia's No 1 tourist attraction:  click the link

Summit Skyride at present time, just click it.
This picture also shows best the Confederate Memorial. You can read more when you click on the pink.

Mom & Dad standing now before the Stone Mountain Rail Road Station and with the Confederate Memorial visible above them as I stepped far enough back.

It is HUGE, the top of the summit is 1,686 feet (514 m) above sea level and 825 feet (251 m) above the surrounding area.
To the right you see Dad pointing out something to Mom...

It was a lovely day!
Was wishing then that Pieter could have joined us...
~

On Saturday, August 8, 1987 the same year, we both went with our friend Griffin to Stone Mountain!

So happy that Pieter got to see it now as well!

So this time Pieter too got to ride the train around Stone Mountain and we hiked the 2.5 km to the summit!

Yep we dared to hike up to the summit!
Pieter wearing his Burberry polo shirt with Ghurka shorts.

What a view!

We made it back down, just in time before a thunder storm!

Pieter in the center, behind that boy...

It sure felt like being on top of the world...

We even stayed for the Laser Show!

Miss those two director chairs that Pieter got from Campbell Soup.
We had them in our front porch and a friend who watered the plants while we were abroad, had used the sprinklers and left them on without removing the chairs; they got ugly rust stains...
At least I got this photo!

Laser Show at Stone Mountain Georgia click for more info...
We spent the night in Atlanta and next day we started with breakfast at 7:30 AM and went to the Cyclorama and to the Zoo in Atlanta... Yes, a city with LOTS to see and do!

Hope you enjoyed these fond memories and thanks for your visit and comment!

Related links:
Taking Husband Pieter back to Knoxville, TN in Mom & Dad's Footsteps | previous post
{Part XVI of Husband Pieter's Trip to East Asia - Taipei, Taiwan} | previous post by me
{Mom Lived 16 Days Short of Her 91st Birthday} | previous post by me with Mom & Dad's words in guest book