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Published: October 27th 2023
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Today we start the long journey home. We got up at 7:00 am our time which is 1:00 am home time. We fly out at 1:35 pm Switzerland time (7:35am USA). It’s a 9 hour flight scheduled to land at 4:30pm USA (10:30pm Swiss). We then have customs, new security, and fly out of JFK at 8:15 pm USA (1:15am Swiss). We land in Pittsburgh at 10:15 USA (4:15 am Swiss). Then we pick up bags and a rental car and drive home fir 2 hours. We’ll get home about 1:00am USA (7:00 am Swiss). So you see it’s a 24 hour trip home! I hope to sleep some in the long flight but we shall see!
We get to the airport and find out that the Delta counter doesn’t open until 10:30…..3 hours before our flight. So we go get a cup of coffee and sit down. Once Delta opens we drop our bags, go through security, stop in a few shops, and go to the lounge. We stayed there until time to board.
I always like to do a review of every trip with whoever I am traveling. So here goes. Nanci felt the best part of
the trip for her was going to Ireland but she loved England and Scotland, but “who doesn’t love Zurich?” Of course knocking items off her bucket list….kissing the Blarney Stone and drinking a Guinness in an Irish Pun….was priceless. She also loved visiting her ancestry homeland and the place of their immigration. She loved the beauty of Lucerne…lake and snow on the mountains AND Westminster Abbey was incredible. Becki agreed with all that!
Favorite foods: fish and chips in London, especially the chips at Victoria pub and Angus steakhouse. It doesn’t get much better than that. AND the Swiss chocolate…..yummy!! We both loved Colm, our guide, he was such a wealth of information!!
Most jaw dropping thing was the architecture! Truly amazing!
Bad news is our flight to PIT was delayed….,we’re ready to go home!!! The flight was delayed about 6 more times, then they flew in a new plane from Boston. We would be taking off at 11:40.
I had rented a car from Enterprise and contacted their national number (believe it or not enterprise at the airport has no phones) and found out they closed at midnight. They wouldn’t be open to give us
a car.
With the help of Delta I learned that Avis and National would make arrangements for late arrivals. I called Avis, explained the situation, confirmed that Avis “would wait till all planes arrived” and rented a car from them.
We boarded the plane and took off just before midnight. We arrived at about 1:15. We quickly hurried to baggage claim (Nanci) and car rental (me). I was totally surprised to find the Avis counter closed. I called them and was told no matter what assurance I received when I rented the car, I wouldn’t get one until 7:30 tomorrow morning. Guess what counter was manned and open……Enterprise!!!
I talked to the young man at the enterprise counter and finally convinced him to rent me a car…they were technically closed but after a call to his supervisor, they rented a car. We were so grateful!!
We headed toward home, met very little traffic, and arrived home at 4:04!!! What a night!!
In spite of the problems getting home it was a great trip for great friends!!
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