The flight from Amsterdam to Houston was ten hours – left Amsterdam at 10:10 AM. While this morning was quite early, breakfast was good, the coach driver was nice, and I absolutely loved the fog – such a seaside atmosphere and one last hurrah of mild weather before returning to Phoenix. Like the city itself, the Amsterdam airport was rather crazy, but everyone was awake with anticipation of going home.
We had to leave our dear Adam at the airport, as he was obviously not coming back to Houston. We had taken up a little collection for him along with thank you notes, and Marshall presented him with all of it at the gate. We were all very sad to see him, his antics, and his intense directional skills go.
While I do miss my family and this whole living out of a suitcase gig is getting a bit old, it seems almost a crime to leave Europe at all at my age, much less when we’re so CLOSE to every country we didn’t visit. Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Greece, Austria, etc. A shame, I tell you!
We flew in a Boeing 777, which has three sections of seats across it.
Thankfully the AM-HOU flight was tolerable even though I didn’t sleep. I had an aisle seat, plenty of room, drinks, food, and even ice cream!
What really got me through, though, was a fascinating book about the like and exploits of hunter S. Thompson. I also was able to play a mean game of Alchemy in the seat’s headrest. Thank you, Continental.
It was nice to get to the airport and be able to occupy more than 4 square feet of space at a time. Customs was a new experience. We collected our bags at the carousel, then walked through an exceedingly awkward and creepy hallway where a couple of agents sat in the middle and looked at everyone like they were about to shoot them down in an old cowboy movie. I think about four of the delegates and leaders were pulled aside in that strange place.
The bags went back onto a conveyor for another check before we were allowed to have them for good, and then through security again with our shoes and carry-on and etc. We had more waiting to do at a new gate then back on another plane. Our break consisted of bathrooms, water buying, Wendy’s, and a bookstore. Finally being reunited with cell phone!
The Houston to Phoenix plane was much smaller and older than the ones we flew internationally, but the ride flew by, and I was glad to see my mom after two weeks. We made a obligatory Taco Bell stop, went to grandma’s to see her, the I slept for about 16 hours.
A trip well spent.
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