Six in the morning on Saturday, April 22 came way too early! My rule of thumb when traveling is to let the other person choose what time to get up. I am pretty quick to get ready in the mornings since I am a night shower and they are usually cleaning up their act upon rising! Elva was ready and our bags were in the hall waiting to be picked up by quarter to seven. We had a relaxed big breakfast taking advantage of the European breakfast buffet as well to fix a snack for the flight home!
Our bus took us to the airport at 8 and we were assisted to check in by the viking representative. I checked my larger suitcase and again got lucky checking the carry on. Elva and I had both checked in at the same time and so I had to bag tags. Since they had the same number the girl at the counter simply printed a new one for me.
Our flight to Paris wasn't until 10:30 so we killed time with the many others who would be flying through Atlanta for their final destinations. We were lucky enough that it was our final stop. Upon arrival in Paris we were glad that the ongoing construction that plagued us on previous trips is now complete. Our bags were checked all the way through so we hurried through miles of internal hallways, up and down escalators and back up again. We went through a passport control which took about 30 minutes but by then the line behind us stretched out of sight. Although we had an hour and a half to make our connection, the long walk and passport delay got us to the gate just as boarding was ending!
On the flight from Bordeaux to Paris - Elva, Sarah, and John! Took this photo and when I went to take another the screen on my phone camera was shattered. Must have been their good looks!
The Airbus from Pariswas full and someone was seated between Elva and I. The plane was a little older with the kind of tilt out screens that could take a credit card. The guy in front of me put his seat all the way back so that when my tray was extended it was still under his seat-back and his hair was in my face! Of course, most of the time, although the seat reclined he sat up or leaned forward against the window. The Air France flight crew was not very polite or friendly. Lunch was served immediately upon reaching cruising level but was more like the terrible meals planes used to serve. I was glad I had a sandwich and some walnuts with me! We didn't see them again until just before landing. No additional water or drink service. A couple times I got up to walk around and even asked for something and they indicated the self service area of liquids. I asked for hot tea once and you would have thought it was a great inconvenience. We did hear them often. With headsets attached to the tiny movie screens shouted commands would break the sound level and certainly startled Elva awake more than once! During some turbulence an elderly man got up presumably to use the bathroom and a shouted command, "Man in the aisle. Sit down at once!" blasted our eardrums. The poor man looked confused and someone indicated to him to go back to where he had been sitting. I think he was going to sit down in the aisle itself! When I asked for a customs form the flight non-attendant said here but you won't be able to fill it out, it's in French!
Not a pleasant 8 hours at all!
Karen and Maddie met me at the airport and I admit I was grumpy which is unusual for me after a trip. Although we had zipped through passport control and our bags were waiting it was almost 18 hours after rising that I saw my home again! I did unpack, sort mail, and water plants. Then I tried to sleep but this trip has taken me awhile to recover from. I hope this isn't a symptom of future travel!
All in all a month in France in Spring is something to value and remember!
Hopefully this week I can add in the missing report of our time in Warsaw!
No comments:
Post a Comment