Off to Europe!

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What better way to celebrate a high school graduation than to get on a trans-Atlantic flight the next day? That's what we were thinking when we booked our first family trip to Europe with a departure the day after Maggie's high school graduation. Let the record show, that a buffer day probably would have been a good idea. Especially since it turned out Todd was in court until 2:00pm the day of graduation, Maggie was out until about 12:30am that night, and we had so many friends and family visiting Wednesday evening that no one was really interested in (or available to!) packing prior to our actual departure day!

But, we made it to DCA airport on schedule, only to be able to spend some quality bonus time with my brother, Brian, who ended up literally spending 20 hours trying to get from DC back to Iowa that day. Luckily for us, he helped pass the time for our own flight delay from DC to Philadelphia by hanging out at Ben's Chili Bowl on the main concourse. Great way to start our travels!

Unfortunately, our trip did not go quite as smoothly as one would hope. We sat in DC, watching the minutes tick by, wondering if we would actually miss our connection in Philly to our Rome flight. Thankfully, that flight was delayed as well, and there were about 20 passengers in total trying to make that connection. So when we finally landed in Philadelphia airport, the flight attendant announced, "For those of you on the Rome flight, they are holding that plane, so RUN!" We executed our plan with military precision. Billy and Marcia took off at a run from our C26 gate, running through an obstacle course of fellow travelers to the far end of the far terminal to gate A29. Billy outpaced Mom pretty early on, and I was no doubt a sight to see, jogging through an airport toting Tommy's backpack since we had swapped bags for this leg of the trip. It totally felt like our own Amazing Race leg. We managed to sneak onto the flight as the last passengers to board, graciously welcomed by a plane load of waiting people. We were on our way to Europe! But only after a 2-hour tarmac parking job while awaiting clearance to leave.

The flight was pretty uneventful, until about 20-30 minutes out of Rome. With the 4 kids in row 8, and Todd and I in row 10, we were taken by surprise when Billy turned around to inform us that Sean was about to throw up. Unfortunately, we did not find those airsick bags in time. As the plane began its descent into Rome, Marcia and a very kind flight attendant were cleaning up Sean's tray table and seat while other passengers watched and Sean tried valiantly to not contribute any more to the mess. We managed to get him into the bathroom despite the fasten your seatbelt sign being illuminated. Once we landed, he used the facilities once more on the plane before finally feeling like he could safely disembark. A landing that will truly live on in infamy.

The delay leaving Philadelphia, though, meant we now only had 1 hour to collect our bags, get through customs, check-in at our next airline and check the bags again, and then get to the gate. The U.S. could definitely take lessons from Italian immigration as it was smooth sailing all the way. We even made it to baggage claim and the Vueling airline desk with time to spare. But then the long hike to the next gate (again, one of the farthest we could be assigned), was a bit too much for Sean's constitution. As we are waiting in the entire plane-load's line of travelers, Sean begins dry heaving into the bag we had thought to bring from our prior flight. We pull ourselves out of line as Todd takes Sean to a nearby restroom, and begin evaluating our options. At the last moment possible, Sean and Todd reemerge, the gate agents allow us to board, and we take our seats on the 1st row of the plane for the short hop to Paris, when Sean again begins retching unproductively into the airsickness bag, grabbing the attention of everyone sitting in the front half of the plane as well as all 3 flight attendants. When his stomach finally calms down and we get off the ground, Sean is finally able to fall asleep, and we have no further illness incidents the rest of the flight. Everyone was quite helpful and concerned, and one passenger even offered us her supply of dramamine, if needed. We chalked it up to exhaustion combined with bad airline food and a weak constitution, and now know to take some precautions before the flight home!

Having arrived in Paris making all our original connections (by a miracle!), we were finally breathing a sigh of relief when we realized that only 5 of 6 bags had made it with us. Todd's suitcase was nowhere to be found, so we filed our grievance with the luggage office who was nonplussed at best, reminded ourselves that it's only stuff that can always be replaced if necessary, and caught a bus downtown to Paris. Hats off to Todd for keeping a completely positive attitude about the inconvenience! But by this time, we were a weary band of 6 travelers, having flown for a day and a half to finally get here. After much discussion about whether to take a second bus, walk, Uber, metro or cab it from the bus drop to our hotel, we finally gave in and hailed 2 cabs, arriving safely but tiredly at the Holiday Inn Paris for our 1-night stay before we could get into our Air BnB by the Arc de Triumph.

Never have beds felt so good! We all collapsed for a much needed nap before rousing ourselves to enjoy a crepe dinner at a nearby restaurant, as well as stroll around the neighborhood in search of a pastry shop for dessert, which we never did find. Once we returned to the hotel at about 9:30pm, it was a fight to stay awake until 10 to try to set ourselves on the path away from jet lag and onto the right schedule. Sleep has never been so sweet or sound as in Paris!

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Comments

[Roy]

Which weak constitution?
You say the "brexit" of Sean's insides as he entered Europe may have been due to a weak constitution. His or Italy's?

[Shirley Beck]

Woo hoo! Kudos to all of you!
Glad you all rallied to enjoy Paris. I love the city. I lived there for 3 weeks when I was in high school.