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Published: August 2nd 2009
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US Part 6 Florida
July 18
So for the rest of us (Joe, James and I) that had the luxury to continue our vacation for another week and a half, it started with us almost missing our flight. It wasn’t that we hadn’t allowed enough time at the airport. It was the check-in agents working too slow. But I haven’t missed a flight yet, and wasn’t about to do it this day either. We ran from the check in area to the gate and ended up being the last ones on the flight. After a short lay-over in Phoenix (PHX), where we bought the weirdest things yet, Scorpion lollipops, we landed at McCoy international airport (MCO) in Orlando. Grandad was standing there waiting for us. Joe and James were really excited to see him. I picked up a rental car which I of course had to drive in on my own. Joe and James wanted to ride with Grandad. After a short ride we arrived in Cocoa.
We relaxed, got some Domino’s pizza and called it a day.
July 19- 29
The next few days all Joe and James wanted to do was relax. After all the
previous running around we needed it. We hung out with granddad, watched lots of movies in the air conditioned house (most days it was between 90-95 with high humidity outside), went to the beach (very warm water in the Atlantic compared to the Pacific and surfed on the great waves, watched some serious thunderstorms and shopped. Say what you want about Wal-Mart, but it is cheap and has everything. It still makes me feel uneasy and my better half tells me to boycott the place in support of the workers in there.
My cousin came down with her son from Atlanta for a few days. It was great. Joe hadn’t met his cousin since he was 5 months and the he was 3 months old. They had lots of fun together.
We didn’t see any alligators this time and the shuttle had just taken off for the ISS two days before we arrived. But the dolphins were swimming right next to us in the ocean and our good old friends “the lizards” were all around us, as they are in these more humid parts of the world. Sometimes they even sneak in to the house. Yuck!! Well, the kids like
them and keep talking about “de-tailing” them… Boys!
July 29th
So after 10 very relaxing days it is time for us as well to go back home to Sweden. The check-in lady at the airport is giving me a lesson about, that in the future, when I travel to The US I should tell my travel agent to cross reference my domestic booking to my international booking so that I wouldn’t run the risk of having to pay for the bags on the domestic flight. She would let me slide this time. She continued informing me that two of my five bags were over the limit by one measly little pound (half a kilo) but she would let me get away with that as well. Little did I tell her I was my own travel agent. We said goodbye to my dad. Shedding a few tears, had a quick lunch, and went to the gate.
Now the trauma begins. The flight started out being half an hour late. OK I thought to myself. I silently thanked a colleague of mine that had advised me to make the lay-over in NY longer than I (the time optimist) had originally
booked for myself. We would still have time to catch the flight NY - Stockholm. Well, half an hour tuned into 1 hour, that after sitting on the runway for an hour turning back to the gate, getting off the aircraft, back on again after yet another hour, there was no way we would make the NY- STO flight. No matter how many short cuts the pilot would take. All of this was due to several thunderstorms at Newark airport, and the air-traffic control closing it down, not letting us leave Orlando. I called my friend B in NY telling her we would probably need a bed for the night. I had asked Risto to call SK in Stockholm to cross reference our booking with the Cotinental booking so that they would know we were on a late incoming flight. The SK agent at the same time told him that if we missed the flight we would have to buy new tickets for the next day’s flight (Yeah right). I called SK in NY that gave me a lecture about that if you don’t book thru fares this is the risk you take. As if I didn’t know that. But
she also told me the Copenhagen flight would be delayed and that my destiny was in the hands of the airport personnel. When you land in NY get over to the B terminal as quick as you can she continued telling me. On the flight I told Joe and James that I had not, until this day missed a flight, but that today could possibly be the day we did. James didn’t seem to mind staying a night in NY, while Joe was less thrilled about the idea. Landing in NY at 6 pm, 40 minutes after the scheduled departure of the Stockholm flight, I took a kid in each hand and ran. Not knowing what time the CPH flight was to leave or if the STO flight had left. The monitors in the C terminal only tell you about Continental Airlines flights. When we got to the monorail that would take us to the B terminal we read the monitors again. I cursed loudly. The CPH flight had left. I then took a look at the Stockholm flight. Delayed until 8pm. Joe screamed with joy. I, not knowing if SK had given away our seats would shout just yet. We continued to run for the check-in Counter where the check-in lady was very surprised. She called to the gate agent telling them she had a mother with two children in front of her, the gate agent immediately asked; is it Robinson Aalto and Hewitt? We are expecting them. I still have their seats, send them down.
The bags were checked all the way through to STO. We made it!
At 8pm we left the gate... At 8.20 sitting on the runway I could hear the engines being turned off. Quietly I was thinking to myself that, we are not getting home tonight. No one else around me seemed to notice. 10 minutes later the captain is telling us that the airport has shut down again and that it could take 10 minutes, or until the next day. He would let us know. At 9pm we took off. What a relief. 40 minutes up in the air we still were not through the clouds and a funny smell started coming through the cabin. I was just seeing myself for the 3rd time this day having to spend this rainy night in NY, with 5 big bags and two tired kids. Another 15 minutes pass before the captain is telling us that it is due to all the static outside the plane coming in through the vents. Nothing too be afraid about. It will go away as soon as we are above the clouds. Hmmm. Scary. Another 15 minutes and we are out of a scary part of mother nature, and finally on our way to STO.
Arriving in Stockholm 3 hours late the next morning, none of hour bags made it. Oh well. Do I really care? No not yet.
July 31st
Still no bags……..
August 2nd 9:30 PM
The bags have arrived!!!
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