Homeward bound
Trip Start
Oct 25, 2007
1
13
Trip End
Nov 06, 2007
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
This hotel still has THE best breakfast. I gobble down the yogurts and the mixed granola cereal. The OJ is like juice here. Most of the other hotels juice was probably Tang.
Back up stairs to check the room and grab a few photos from the room to the Mosques. Then I decide to put my new cashmere scarf in my carry on. Not much in there, except for my fuzzy socks, my microfleece blanket and two books to read on the long flight.
Then out in the hall to get a different view of the town. Then down to the lobby to hang out. Michele is there and we go out to get a photo of the "eye" in the front of the hotel. The rest of the group are here and Mustafa is moving us out.
The scenery is the same as we saw coming in, but the weather is overcast and matches my mood. I really want to stay a few more days. Julie and I discuss hoping the plane is sold out and we can get bumped!
Getting in line at the airport, I realize I don't have my carry on. OH GOSH. My tickets and passport are in my camera bag, but I really am hoping that my carryon bag is still on the bus.
Mustafa came into the airport with us, and I go in search of him. He takes me back out to the bus to see if it was left there. Then calls the hotel. No luck. Well, I lost one really comfortable pair of socks and my scarf.
The real problem is I have nothing to read on an eleven hour flight. This will be pure torture. No english books or magazines in the airport stores. Julie and I look thru the craft stores. She grabs a scarf that is my favorite colors, and on impulse I would have bought. Today is just NOT my day.
But I find gelata. And I pay more for that very small three scoop gelata that I have paid anywhere. I consider it my therapy.
Elena, Julie and I get some last minute photos before boarding the flight.
My seat buddie is not going to be friendly. He wants my arm rest and part of my seat. That is the first indication. The next is when he tells me he doesn't like to talk to anyone. Ok, I think I know what not to do now. But I so wish I had one of those books to kill some time on the plane. It didn't take that long to go thru the free Turkey flight magazine.
I'm looking out the window at nothing but clouds. And starting to get fidgety. Since I'm not teckie, I don't know how to use the little screen and remote control in front of me. Desperation kicks in, and I'm studying the instructions like a mad woman possesed. With the cheap headphones on (and one side is broken), I discover how to turn on the sound.
Tried repeatedly to play solitare, but couldn't get the cards to move. Then went to a feature movie. That took away a few hours. Lunch helped, except the nasty man wanted to eat his food in my seat. My arms were pinned to my side due to his intrustion in my seating space.
Back to the remote and some info films on photography, then a movie about a guy traveling thru Provence. And some more infomercials. Then checking the flight plan, and seeing what it looks like in front of and behind the plane. More clouds, unfortunetly.
This is where I have now decided to put a book in my carry on and one in my pocket. If I loose one I at least have the other one.
Finally it's time to land and I am now smiling. Julie, Elena and I walk down the ramp, and I turn on my cell phone to see if I got a call from the transfer company. Nope, but then the phone rings. It's Kary. I'm trying to tell her that I am nearing customs so I can't talk right now. BUT she says. "You are going to be a great aunt! " I'm so excited that I am jumping in the aisle. My niece Carli is pregnant. What a wonderful end to a vacation, and something to look forward to.
We get thru customs and do the hug and teary eye thing before everyone leaves for their connecting flights or home. I'm gonna miss everyone, but we've promised to keep in touch and send photos. And we've already been discussing where the six of us can go next year.
