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Published: June 17th 2023
A homecoming surprise in our garden!
Compliments of our thoughtful neighbor, Shawn, who left a beautiful hanging basket of flowers with this banner; and planted a variety of herbs in my patio garden. Thank you so much, Shawn! XoXoYesterday we concluded our 11-week odyssey to Italy and France when we departed Paris for Orlando (via Dublin, Ireland). As friends of ours (Cindy and John Vogt) recently observed, after they had traveled from Florida to stay with us in Sorrento, "international travel ain't for sissies anymore." After our experiences during this trip, we could not agree more with their assessment!
Our return journey went about as well as we could have hoped, but it was still a stressful and exhausting ordeal. It began when our friend and taxi driver arrived outside our apartment at 6:15 AM for the drive to the Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy-en-France, 14 miles northeast of Paris. As the busiest airport within the European Union, it can be an intimidating venue for travelers, not only for the sheer volume of passengers that pass through its portals, but because of the long distances between its terminals with their many gates.
After some initial confusion, we arrived at the Aer Lingus check-in counter 3 hours before our scheduled flight to Dublin, where we would connect with a flight to Orlando. Fortunately, our pre-arranged request for Dee's mobility assistance was fulfilled flawlessly. A very friendly male
Madame Dominique's potted flowers
Outside our garden cottage, in Malakoff attendant whisked her on a wheelchair through what seemed to me, as I struggled to maintain the pace, like Dorothy's journey on the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City in the Land of Oz! We made it through French passport control, then security, with minimal delays. The flight to Dublin, which boarded by use of a passenger bridge, was not a problem for Dee.
We arrived in Dublin 2-1/2 hours before the scheduled departure time of the transatlantic leg of our journey to Orlando. Because all passengers had to exit the aircraft in Dublin via a stairway to the tarmac, Dee was off-loaded from the Airbus 320 aircraft by means of a four-wheeled contraption that resembled something from a Star Wars movie.
A human driver guided this robot-like device forward, inch by inch, until it reached the starboard side of the fuselage, where a loading ramp was raised to the level of the aircraft's door. At this point, Dee and another passenger in a wheelchair were able to exit into a small compartment with seats. Then the clumsy-looking vehicle was driven to the terminal entrance, where two different attendants escorted us through an obstacle course of U.S.
Pre-Clearance checks, including yet a second security screening (notwithstanding the security screening we had already completed in Paris).
The Aer Lingus flight to Orlando, on an Airbus 330-300, also boarded via a passenger bridge, with which Dee had no difficulty. It departed about 45 minutes late, but the flight was uneventful, apart from the normal discomfort of sitting in cramped seats for 9 hours. But as we started our descent into Orlando around 6:00 PM (local time), the flight became anything but uneventful. On final approach, the aircraft began to rock and roll like a scene from Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. The low-altitude air turbulence we encountered became so severe that the pilot made the decision to abort the landing, and then executed a go-around.
The aircraft ascended to an altitude of 5,000 feet, then flew a holding pattern, circling Orlando for the next 15 minutes before making another final approach and landing attempt. At this point, a young female passenger began to sob and wail loudly, "Get me out of here", and then "I don't want to die". Some of the other passengers may well have shared similar sentiments, but were able to display a little more
Farewell to our friend Serge
Charles de Gaulle airport, Roissy composure at our predicament. Even so, many exchanged worried glances at each other as we made another approach. Happily, the pilot was able to land the aircraft on the second attempt, and all onboard breathed a sigh of relief when the wheels kissed the runway!
When we exited the aircraft in Orlando, at the relatively new Terminal C, we were met by a female attendant with a wheelchair for Dee. She pushed her on another marathon toward baggage claim, while I fell further and further behind them. But we were surprised and elated that, unlike in years past, there were no customs formalities whatsoever! Apparently the Pre-Clearance we and the other passengers had completed in Dublin (and perhaps other international points of origin?) has now eliminated the former protocol upon arrival in Orlando that was so time consuming for visitors, as well as U.S. citizens, in the past.
After retrieving our luggage, it was but a short distance to the outside exit area where visitors can be met and picked-up. Our daughter Kristy, who lives a few miles from the airport, soon arrived with grandson Ethan in tow (our son-in-law Frankie was away in Tampa on business, while
Terminal 1, Charles de Gaulle airport
This terminal, which has been revamped and refurbished in recent years, is now a stunning facility for passengers passing through. grandson Matthew was at a sleepover with a friend). She drove us to their home, where she had prepared a wonderful dinner of tacos and salad, something Dee was craving and had requested.
We also celebrated our triumphant return, and the end of a stressful and tiring day, with a couple stiff cocktails. After spending the night at Kristy's house, she made us a delicious breakfast this morning, and then graciously drove us all the way to our home in Daytona Beach. We cannot thank her enough for making our homecoming very, very special!
Dee and I had just completed a memorable journey, but when we finally arrived at our house, and had opened the front door for the first time in 77 days, we both agreed that it was great to be home!
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Jeni
non-member comment
What a sweet welcome home from your neighbor. Glad the travel back home was better than your arrival. I wouldn’t expect anything less than Mr Toads wild ride when you hit Orlando! 🐸 much better that you were able to have a wonderful meal at Kristys along with cocktails! Happy to have you home!