The Ruby Slippers have scuff marks

Never thought this day would come……

Been gone for 7 months and even though I had such a great time and was opened to so many new experiences as well as opportunities, I realized that you learn to miss what you have gotten tired of so many times before.

Traveling is probably the hardest part of the trip. Eating lamb shawarmas is probably a close second.

I got to the airport at 3:45am this morning. Planned on leaving the apartment at 4:15, we were just too anxious to get the day started and have a relaxing flight. (Alarm one sounds).

Susie and Leslie have the same flight so they leave me to SpanAir. I begin waiting in the line of nothingness which is about 40 people waiting in a closed line to the check-in counter. The teleprompter moved us to this location but it wasn’t until 5:45 did someone show up at the counter. Two lines formed quickly from the massive large one and of course the ones in the back make it to the second line quicker because of their spunk. This sets off a domino effect of squawking in Spanish; attitudes soaring. At this point, I am just standing in the midst of it; mind you, I have lost my voice on this important traveling day, and wait till the crowd dies down. Moving the lines through the other is the next logical step and is performed twice while I patiently wait.

Traveling fact: When two lines migrate through one another and one is stationary, where does that put you? Make sure you know that anyone that approaches the line hours after you do and run into the line perpendicular, they are automatically in that direct spot.

My turn in line reveals that this was the wrong line but since no one switched on the TV above the line it was easily appointed to my misdirected psychic abilities in the early morning. Moved to line 5 at 6:15 am still leaving me 30 minutes before the plane actually flew away.

Line 5 leaves me astray but line 6 puts my bag in professional hands. For some reason, this is what I believe to be the last time I see that bag….

6:35 am I run to security and run to Gate 59….last one, one floor down; naturally. I get there and of course am ridiculed by the gate operators. 6:45 am they bus (!!!!) me to my plane and I get on at 6:50 am.

No problems on the plane and have a seat open next to me. Creepy guy stands up to watch out my window. Tempted to close the window on the Alps to move him along.

Zurich’s airport offered a mall atmosphere that I missed even though the thought of shopping as well as another denomination of money upset me. I almost got tricked into buying a magazine (English, mind you!!!! Very rare to come by the last 2 months) which was 13 francs aka 9 Euros aka 13.50 U.S. dollars. Really??!! Marie Claire could just wait.

When checking into the flight desk I was informed that they MAY loose my bag. THEY ANNOUCNCED THEY ‘LOST MY BAG’ BEFORE IT WAS ACTUALLY LOST. Reassuring…….

Most of the trip was predictable….I knew I would run across C14 sometime in my life; especially on this trip.

America has treated me well since I have been here. Haven’t had a ‘culture shock’ but still trying to get a good night’s sleep since the time difference is almost opposite. Still looking for my bag……. Hopefully the Cosmopolitan story in Britain’s version doesn’t become too familiar. Glad to be home but ready to pick up my stuff and shift again….back to STL and finish my last 2 semesters of grad school.

Next mission: finish up putting some cliff note pictures of my trips on the blog. Barcelona’s semester was more condensed and the blog was pushed to the side. “Dear Diary……sorry it has been so long…..”

Look forward to some pics in the near future and a new STL address.

Glad to be back!