The LONG way home!!!

I don't need reading glasses this morning to write the blog. I'm on my big computer with a big screen! I love my mini portable office, even though it's super small. It does the job and frankly, without me documenting the trip, I'd remember nothing, or at least not in the order things happened. 

I blogged from the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Frankfurt yesterday. Today I'm home! 

The Air Canada Lounge in Frankfurt

It was very foggy and rainy when we landed in Frankfurt. So much so that you could barely see anything, but as long as the pilot knew where we were going, I was OK.

Fog and rain in Frankfurt

It's always confusing when you arrive at a new airport and have to figure out where to go next. Our layover was seven hours, even though another flight was leaving for Toronto within two hours of our arrival. Perhaps the booking agents had thought it was too short a turnaround time, or the fare didn't match what we were willing to pay? It didn't matter; the seven hours passed pretty quickly. 

They had quiet areas with this lounger chair where you could relax, so I had a good nap. I also blogged in a different area, ate a bit, and then read my book. Before we knew it, it was time to move on. 

The quiet rooms at the airport

Two things happened before we got to the lounge. As we came out of the gate from the plane, border people were there shouting, PASSPORTS, PAPERS!!!! Thankfully, my passport is in my waist belt, so it was easy to get. No issues, and we were good to continue. 

Then we figured out where we needed to go — not to the exit, but to the next wing of the airport, and where we needed to go through security. AGAIN! My bags have been X-rayed so many times. I happened to have a whole bottle of water in my bag that I grabbed before leaving the plane. So I had to drink that in a hurry, as we are no longer in Africa, where they don't care about liquids. 

All was good, although it took a long time!! Once we spotted the sign for the lounge on the other side, we were on our way! 

When we visited family in Dar es Salaam, they enjoyed watching game shows from Britain. There is one called The Chaser. Well, they have a German version of it as well! It was on the TV in the lounge. Maybe we even have the same show here? No idea. And I don't really care, but having never seen this show and then twice in two countries - it must be a European thing. 

The German version of The Chaser

Then it was time to board the plane for Canada. OK --- this was the worst boarding of any of them on the trip. Another document check to ensure we had all the proper credentials to enter Canada. Then we waited - the plane was delayed by 20 minutes, but that wasn't a big deal. It was the fact that there were no lines, it was hot, and there were some very pushy people, including one woman and her husband (she was the pushy one), who insisted that she could board with the preboarding people. 

She was just rude and obnoxious, and I said that she needed to look at the sign. Let it go --- pole pole!!!!

We flew Lufthansa again on this last leg of the trip and on a 747-400, and we were up top! There were only 24 seats up there, so it was nice and quiet. We heard NOTHING on this flight. 

Jumbo jet!!

Do these planes (Condor) not look like giant bugs? They have them in all colors -- green, orange, beige, and probably lots more. A very popular airline, as we saw loads of planes. 

Striped airplanes

I think this was the most spacious space we had - it was enormous. And we ate well. I took a nap on the plane because I was tired. Even though I slept most of the other flight, it wasn't enough. I didn't want to sleep too much, so I wouldn't throw my schedule off. But very comfy seats, and how could I resist? I would almost say those lie-flat beds were more comfortable than the ones on Air Canada and Brussels Airlines. 

Loads of leg room

This was our route --- we flew north to go over the top of the British Isles, next to Iceland, and then straight into Toronto. All was good. 

The flight path

Of course, they make you disembark at the opposite end of the airport from where you need to be, so it was a bit of a hike to get to customs. And there's that sculpture in the International area. It's always exciting to see it on the way out, and even more exciting to see it on the way in! 

The sculpture in the International part of Pearson

We breezed through customs with our Nexus cards and were waiting at the carousel for our luggage. We had decided to check the luggage so we didn't have to worry about carrying it through the airports, and we had no rush when we landed. 

As we arrived at the carousel, our luggage was coming out. WHAT? That can't be!! We did NOT wait for our luggage - well, maybe a total of two minutes. There was a customs guy (or whatever) with his sniffing dog, and the area surrounding where the luggage came out was blocked off. 

The dog was sniffing everything and sat down in front of one bag. So it was hauled off the carousel. It had a lock on the bag, and the guy promptly snipped it off, opened the suitcase, and rifled through it. It was set aside! We had no reason to worry about our bags passing the sniff test. I was worried that the straps on my backpack would get caught, but there were no issues. 

Sniffer dog hard at work (he's behind the suspect suitcase)

And then our last car ride on this journey. We grabbed a limo and were home in good time despite it being rush hour. HOV lanes on the highway work well! 

The last ride!

But two things crossed my mind as we drove home. Waiting for the traffic lights. That would never happen in Africa!!!!

Traffic lights!!!!!

And how many cows, sheep, and goats could graze along the edges of our highways? 

Look at all that land to graze animals!

Of course, the girls were beside themselves when we arrived!!!! MOM'S HOME and dad too!!!! Murhpy was her usual goofy self, but Lexi was very clingy, which is so not like her!!!!

MOMMY --- I missed you and Dad so much!!!! I thought you were never coming home!

MOM'S HOME!!!!!!!!   Dad too!!!

And of course, they had to entertain us with their shenanigans. 

MOM --- look what you missed!!!!!

So we traveled well together. Of course, there were a few incidents, but I don't need to elaborate on them. I've learned to keep my mouth shut - it works out better that way for both of us. Will we do it again? I don't see why not. Oh, gosh — did I just say that? Where to next? 

I went to bed around 8:30, which was fine; I was a bit tired by then. However, I was awoken around midnight by Miss Lexi. I could hear her cavorting in the living room, which she never does in the night, so I got up to investigate. She was not having a good night and was, in fact, telling me she had to go outside, which is NOT her. So I put her on her leash and took her out, where she proceeded to do her business. 

I lay on the couch in the living room in case she was lonely, and she was happy for me to be with her. But then she couldn't settle, so out we went again. And that happened several times during the rest of the night. She has a very delicate stomach, and the fact that we were back was too much for her to handle. Poor thing --- hopefully her system will get back to normal soon. 

So I'm wide awake, and have been for a while (I've finished another book!), and I have a sneaky feeling that a nap will be needed later today.

I'm already thinking about the prep plans for the Buckhorn Quilt Show next weekend. I have labels to make, samples to quilt and embroider! It's going to be a busy week, because I also have several other events this month, and some of them require a significant amount of prep. 

So be sure to come out and see me at the Buckhorn Show -- it's going to be a blast. As I mentioned yesterday, come and check out how you can use an embroidery machine to make, embellish, and quilt your quilts. So many inspiring ideas!!!! 

And remember, there is a Virtual Retreat this weekend. 

Saturday, August 30 --- starts at 6 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82693702241?pwd=QpQkm8Ppppy1XwCPOqva1bcgJCWKdP.1

Meeting ID: 826 9370 2241
Passcode: 795071

Sunday, August 31 -- starts at 3 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81073536036?pwd=uxRqMnK1aSKrmrcSO78w8QQs5g44eA.1

Meeting ID: 810 7353 6036
Passcode: 596838

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!