My final adventure was getting back home. I got up early so I could say goodbye to the boys. They seemed a bit tired that morning because they probably had too much fun over the weekend. Plus going to bed immediately after eating dinner so late and going immediately after has gotta be a little strange on the system. The three of us sat at the table eating breakfast before they left for school with their dad. I got some kisses and hugs goodbye from the three of them and off they went to start their day.
We said goodbye and off I went out of the apartment, said goodbye to the Seine and headed up to the T2 line. I hopped off at La Defense, bought my ticket from the same girl who couldn't help me before (she was the only truly curt French person I encountered) and off I went to the center of Paris via the RER A line. Once in the middle of downtown, not that I would know it because I never left the station I transferred over to the B line to the airport. For the second time I needed to go to the end of the line. All and all it took me a little over an hour to get to the end of the line. The nice thing was I didn't have anyone else touching me while traveling in the middle of the day. It was a nice way to conclude my metro experience.
When I finally got into the airport it took a bit of time to get checked in. They have 3 large terminals with the number 2 terminal having probably 8 arms on it. I found 2G and walked almost the entire length of the check in desks. I checked in in one area and was sent to another location further down to check my bag. That might have been a mistake because I have to pick it up in New York after customs. Finally I made it through the passport check and into the terminal. They were very efficient getting everyone though bag checks and through the metal detectors and I didn't even have to take my shoes off!
Once I got in there were all the fancy shops and a couple Paris souvenir shops. I stopped in the souvenir shop and bought a small travel wallet with the money that Alice would not take. After I found the macroon shop that I was hoping was there. I bought some of them to take home with me to share with the family since I knew they were good from the day before, in fact too good. I swore to the money gods for buying the wallet and not finding the macroons first. So I had a bit left to spent in Euros buying a soda and some Kinder bars.
Finally it was time to board the biggest plane to date, the A380. Two complete floors full of passengers. The plane is huge! We got off late due to baggage getting on board and then sat on the runway for a while. Finally almost an hour late we were off for the States. Since I was an Air France flight it came with an aperitif of champagne before the meal. The meal was actually pretty good and of course had a bit of cheese on the side. I watched a couple movies and never got up from my seat for the entire 8 hour flight. Wow!
I got into New York city around 2 in the afternoon. I went through customs again very quickly. The US residents line was practically nothing while the visiting passports and visas had at least an hour. Good thing because I only had about an hour between my flights.
Per security requirements I had to claim my bag, only immediately to recheck it about 30 steps away so it could be checked by American security. Right...
The next step was finding my terminal. I had come into the international terminal and needed to find the domestic. I looked on the map and it looked like it was next door. So a wandering I went. No there, not there. Oh the terminals are not connected. Go outside and walk to the terminal. Ok... We I finally made it there with about 30 minutes to spare. I got on my flight to Kansas City which was a little commuter jet. 3 seats across with about half of the plane open. My last flight had 11 across with no open seats. A bit of a difference.
I made it home by 7pm which was 3am in Paris. I stayed up for a couple hours to try to get back to central time. I had such a fantastic time on my entire trip.
London, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, York, Hardrian's Wall
Scottish Border, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh
Bath, Stonehenge, London
Disneyland Paris
I hope that I get to have an experience like this again in my lifetime.
I got into New York city around 2 in the afternoon. I went through customs again very quickly. The US residents line was practically nothing while the visiting passports and visas had at least an hour. Good thing because I only had about an hour between my flights.
Per security requirements I had to claim my bag, only immediately to recheck it about 30 steps away so it could be checked by American security. Right...
The next step was finding my terminal. I had come into the international terminal and needed to find the domestic. I looked on the map and it looked like it was next door. So a wandering I went. No there, not there. Oh the terminals are not connected. Go outside and walk to the terminal. Ok... We I finally made it there with about 30 minutes to spare. I got on my flight to Kansas City which was a little commuter jet. 3 seats across with about half of the plane open. My last flight had 11 across with no open seats. A bit of a difference.
I made it home by 7pm which was 3am in Paris. I stayed up for a couple hours to try to get back to central time. I had such a fantastic time on my entire trip.
London, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, York, Hardrian's Wall
Glasgow, Loch Lommond, Belfast, Giant's Causeway, Aran Islands, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Killarney, Blarney Castle, Rock at Cashel
Dublin, Llangollen, Cardiff, Bath
London
London
Versailles
Paris
Paris
I hope that I get to have an experience like this again in my lifetime.
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