“Cod, Cobblestones, and Collective Existentialism”
Block Time: 1.2 hours and one full hour of emotionally unnecessary poetic turbulence
Cargo Manifest:
- 100 scrolls of bureaucratic parchment for the “EU Council on Paper-Based Efficiency”
- A mobile poetry dispenser that only writes in minor keys
- A crate of pastel de nata “for strategic morale deployment”
- Wattles McFreedom wearing a linen blazer, sipping espresso, and muttering “I miss her” for no discernible reason
Diplomatic Purpose:
Deliver redundant paperwork to Portugal’s Ministry of Overprocessing, taste all 365 variations of bacalhau, and participate in an intergovernmental cultural exchange titled “Fado and Federalism.”
Crew Notes
- Adelyn:
Discovered LPPT’s STAR contained “an unacceptable amount of feelings.” Flew it anyway, gritting her teeth through every curve like she was steering through her own suppressed dreams. Landed with surgical precision and immediately began quietly auditing Portuguese ATC phraseology for inconsistency. - Eleanor:
Learned the word saudade, declared herself overcome with it, and refused to speak in anything but wistful Portuguese-accented sighs for the entire descent. Sang a self-written fado ballad into the cabin PA. It was 11 minutes long and featured a ukulele solo. - Noah:
Created a Lisbon food map coded to GPS and emotional state (“Hungry, but yearning?” → Bairro Alto). Got adopted by a tile artisan and now owns three small ceramic businesses, accidentally. Suggested turning Wattles into a cultural ambassador. No one objected.
Passenger Vibe Check
- Dr. Moretti:
Claimed fado singing improved her posture. Scheduled an MRI to confirm. May or may not be in love with the chef at the Ministry of Culture cafeteria. - Raj:
Proposed a blockchain platform for managing EU poetry subsidies. Called it “VerseChain.” Accidentally shut down a museum’s Wi-Fi for two hours. - Colonel Hawke:
Declared Lisbon “tactically gorgeous.” Tried to annex a tram. Was politely but firmly told it’s “not how democracy works.” Declared the custard tarts “enemy-calming confections.” - Yuki:
Created an immersive art piece called “Descent into Bureaucratic Fado.” It consists of 3 tons of shredded paper and a live violinist sighing on loop. UNESCO is investigating. - Camila:
Filmed an abstract short called “Lisbon, If You’re Listening.” It contains no dialogue, only wind, cobblestones, and Eleanor wailing into a potted plant.
Flight Highlights
- Adelyn reported “visibility good, emotional clarity poor.”
- Eleanor announced “final approach into the heart of longing.”
- Noah coded the EFB to automatically display Portuguese poetry upon touchdown. Adelyn said, “No.”
Mission Summary
- Success Metrics:
- Landing: butter smooth, though emotionally crumbly
- Paperwork: delivered in triplicate, with artistic embellishments
- Crew: partially existential, mostly fed
- Diplomatic Outcome:
- Portugal accepted all cargo with a shrug and a pastry
- Eleanor is now considered “Fado Adjacent” in one Lisbon dive bar
- Wattles was declared “melancholic poultry of the people”
- Crew Rating:
- Adelyn: 8/10 – secretly moved by Lisbon, pretended not to notice
- Eleanor: 17/10 – performed an encore in Alfama under moonlight
- Noah: 10/10 – received a certificate of artistic legitimacy signed in sardine ink
Debrief
Yuki’s paper installation briefly blocked access to the national archives. Raj’s VerseChain token is currently trending in Moldova. Camila’s film was rejected by Netflix but greenlit by a student festival in Iceland. Eleanor’s PA system now only plays traditional string instruments. Adelyn filed a formal complaint with herself.
Next Stop: GMME – Rabat, Morocco
Objective: Cross the Strait of Gibraltar, blend diplomatic nuance with mint tea, and prevent Wattles from declaring himself Sultan of Fez.
Shall we fly to Africa?
Around the World in MSFS 
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