Got up at 4:00 A.M. Avignon, France time, luggage outside the cabin by 5:00 and off the ship and onto the shuttle bus by 6:00.
Arrived at Marseille airport at 7:30.
Air France plane left at 10:45 AM.
Arrived at Amsterdam for our KLM transfer at 1:30 and they finally left around 2:15.
Our landing had been delayed one hour by a nasty storm cell that we flew around. We were in one of those JUMBO airplanes that only the physicists/engineers in their wisdom allow to fly.
Huge lines as we went through passport control in the U.S.East Coast, IAD. Huge lines as we went through baggage claim. Huge lines as we went through customs. I have never seen IAD so packed! It was 11:00 P.M. our time now (although something like 5:00 P.M. U.S. time).
Arrived at daughter's house an hour later to pick up car and she fixed us a wonderful salmon and asparagus dinner. As good as anything we had in France! Digested a bit watching the grands attempt tennis in the nearby parking lot, then got home last night at around 3:00 PM our time ...up almost 24 hours and not much sleep on the plane, the sun was bright as we chased it. But we survived.
And, in spite of meeting wonderful people, being waited on hand and foot, spending great times with my sister and her husband, and seeing a country in all its historic and artistic glory, I am so glad to be home!
Glad you made it home safely. Those airline and plane issues are what keeps me from jumping on a plane to go back to Europe.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. It is great to travel. It makes us appreciate home.
ReplyDeleteno place like home
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a great trip and welcome back.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back
ReplyDeleteno place like home
and your grandchildren
like mine
growing so fast...
Except for the lines it sounds like you had a great time- Getting home is always a sigh of relief. Can't wait to hear further of your great adventures. Rest up first, by all means!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like us -- you have a wonderful time, and then come home needing a vacation to recover from the vacation!
ReplyDeleteOf course you are. Home really is where the heart is. I'm truly looking forward to reading your story too.
ReplyDeleteYes, and yes. Just last November we made a similar flight home: Rome to Amsterdam to New York to Seattle. It took 24 hours, without sleep. And yes, it was a great trip and it was great to be back home.
ReplyDeleteIt all sounds so exciting. Like you, even if I have had the time of my life abroad I am always glad to be home! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
You are so lucky to be able to travel and to be welcomed home by loving relatives.The grandkids look like serious athletes.
ReplyDeleteI can hardly wait to read your travel impressions and see your photos.
Glad you had a safe trip home. Must have been great to sit back and watch the young ones at play again. Now I'm waiting to read all about it.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to be back from a trip and still be spoiled with kindness from family. I can't think of anything better. Your grandkids look strong and energetic.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to bypass those huge lines at return from overseas, consider getting a Global Entry pass. Its a bit tedious to get, but when you walk up to the area where the customs guys are, and notice that there are two lines, one jammed with people and one that says Global Entry, virtually empty -- it's worth it.
ReplyDelete