I lived in Angola between 1973 and 1974. It was then a portuguese colony. At the age of 7 politics and race are not really important issues. Much more important was to bike away from home boudly go where no kid as gone before or play inverted beer tops races on the sand with friends or trowing a knife to slice a world drawn on the ground. Discovering, competing and winning was important and to conquer the world the final goal. I wonder if this children games are just not more than the nature of human kind. I always loved to travel, as soon as I could walk I would venture to unknown places even though not the most pleasant feeling for my parents. Maybe because my father was always travelleing or because my mother always wanted to travel. Whatever reason I did go as far as I could or knew but always came back. In 1973 I went on my first flight in this world. It was on board of Jumbo Boeing 747-100 from formerly know airline Transportes Aéreos Portugueses, now know as TAP Air Portugal. It was an exiting moment for a child. Leaving the country, traveling to Africa and by plane, this beautiful big metal bird. As I was running around the gate area, as all kids do to our pleasure and sometimes discomfort I came across a face making funny expressions as I squeezed my chicks to the window to watch the flying machines. Only years later I would realize that I knew that face, Raul Solnado. Yes he was there as passenger to somewhere and for a brief moment he made a young 7 year old smile just before the first flight of my life. And I kept smiling all flight long, the smell of kerosine sweet and intoxicating, smell which some years later would give me different feelings and sensations, but that will be for another story. The exhilarating sensation of the takeoff in my belly, the extraordinary sight of the sun setting down view from my aircraft window and the Jumbo puzzle which I got from a beautiful flight attendant and which would be my most precious toy during the two months spent in an apartment in Luanda. Thank you TAP for the present. I loved it. Still to this day this airline gives presents to children. It may be bankrupt, it may be small and it may be little known but keeps giving smiles to the young and today it gives to my children. They say they like to go with the airline that gives them the color book and pencils...It may cost more than others I know but still prefer to pay more than have my children be treated as normal passengers.  When an airline treats children the same way as an adult this airline lost its charm and charm is what aviation was all about until 911. Aviation is no more than a glimps of the past with exeptions. It is still thrilling to travel and go faster than most of us will ever go on this earth.