WARNING: I will be referring to our trip as a trip to Epiphany. Just know that Epiphany is in northern Africa. I will not be using our friends full names, just J, R, K, and G or the Gs for the family. I will turn on comment moderation for several months just to make sure we don't accidentally say something that we shouldn't say! Please feel free to leave comments, but I will approve them before they show on the site. If you have any questions about our trip that I can't answer publicly just let me know. We are happy to share details, just not in a way that could jeopardize our friend's new life in Epiphany. Thanks for understanding!
Our trip started early on Friday 4/17. Ian's dad dropped us off at the airport with 6 large crates, 3 carry on suitcases and 3 backpacks. As we rolled our carts into the airport we heard "Oh no, Oh no" as we walked by the baggage screening guys. I guess they thought we wouldn't know the rules- HA. All crates were between 48 and 50.5 lbs. That's what you get when you have 2 engineers packing! And they were locked with TSA approved locks. Smooth sailing from that point on. As you can see Amelia did a great job sleeping from Chicago to Paris. Ian and I did not. We did get "rest" but only 1 hour of shut-eye. This did not follow Ian's sleep plan that he had outlined on a 3x5 card in his pocket- man I love him!
Our trip through the Charles De Gaulle Airport was ridiculous. We had 1hr 40min in Paris. We got off of the plane onto a mobile staircase in the pouring rain, ran to a bus and took the bus all the way around the whole airport. We then went through a minor screening area were I almost took a ladies head off (I was tired- oops) and got back on another bus. This bus took us all the way back around the whole airport until we got to our concourse. We had 15 min to go to the bathroom, get food and go through screening at the gate. We then boarded ANOTHER bus and went to ANOTHER mobile staircase in the pouring rain and boarded our plane. Which I'm pretty sure was parked next to our original plane that we took from Chicago. Oh well, it was good exercise after sitting for 9 hours. Our flight to Epiphany was uneventful.
We arrived on time and gathered our 6 crates, 3 suitcases (which had been checked by this point due to cabin space) and looked for the stroller we were bringing our friends. This had also been checked due to space (good thing we didn't actually need it!) We couldn't find the stroller and I was getting a little panicky. So I asked an official looking guy if he'd seen it. He said no, then looked on the floor- it was right there next to the baggage conveyor belt. Again- can you say "tired?"
We breezed through customs- which I was really nervous about because of the large amount of luggage we had. J had coached us on how to get through customs so we had a 3x5 card for that too! We put the least interesting pieces of luggage on top and the most "fun" ones on the bottom. The guy asked if we had anything to declare, Ian said "no" and we walked right through. They never even opened the 6 crates- WHAT????
Then we rounded a corner and saw the G family. It was great. Amelia was super excited and we had a great time hugging everyone and saying HI. R is pregnant and looks adorable. I love pregnant bellies!
The boys had to take a taxi home because we couldn't fit everyone and all of the bags in the car. J&R left us some welcome presents (which were all very yummy by the way) and welcomed us Ephiphany style. Easlema (has le ma) means "Hello" in Arabic and it was nice to see a pic of Emery since she was at home with her auntie and uncle.
We ended the day with a bedtime story. Amelia was going to sleep in our room the first night, but she and K were so excited to have a "sleepover" that we moved her bed and she slept there. She went right to bed and did really well getting up once that night to go to the bathroom and then sleep with us for awhile.
Ian and J went to a Hamam that night for Ian's first cultural experience. From what I understand the Hamam is similar to a Roman bath. It's a mixture of a spa, sauna, hot bath, chiropractor, masseus, exfoliating treatment and a beating. At least that's what I gathered from Ian :) He liked it and slept like a baby that night. R and I spent the time catching up and hanging out. Then we cracked open the crates and she was able to see what everyone had blessed them with.
More to come later- please remember my request about comments. Thanks!
2 comments:
So cool Erin! I can't wait to read more!
I'm so glad you're posting all the details about your trip- I'm excited to read your next post! :)
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