I wasn't to know it at the time, but the following just calls into focus what a sadder place the world now is.
I was in Tenerife (on hols from the UK) on 9/11, having flown down from LGW in a JMC A320 4 days before.
Once south of Faro, I politely produced my PPL and asked the No1 if a visit to the FD would be possible (I remember a queue of wide-eyed kids preceeding me).
Then followed a interesting 20 mins chatting, and reviewing the approach plates for TFS (I was contemplating the IMC rating at the time). I was made welcome, just like I have been on many different airlines in many different places over the years
Coming back Northbound 2 weeks later was a somewhat different and sombre experience.
