Thursday:
I arrived at the airport just ten minutes after receiving a phone call from my apartment complex to let me know my atm card was left on the copier. Granted, I triple checked I had my passport, but the copies looked good and I didn't think twice about the cards (yes I had my license, credit cards and passport too just in case). For those who have not traveled internationally, when going to an unfamiliar place it is recommended to make copies of your passport and carry that instead of the actual in case it is stolen. I have previously had my wallet taken in France, so I know from experience that having copies of your cards can be really handy when you want to be able to call up and cancel them quickly. Problem was all solved, as I transferred money to my sister and was on my way from CVG to IAD.
Boarding the plane in IAD after picking out a present for my sister to give to the Pope (or so I thought) at her luncheon was easy. After boarding the plane, a delay was announced due to weather. A little under 5 hours later we were told to deplane and that our flight had been canceld. We are told to go to a specific customer service location. Knowing how crowded it was going to be I gather my stuff and am ready to get off the plane as soon as I can....I even ran (yes, you read that right...ran) some of the way to the customer service center. I plug my phone (which was pretty much dead) in and stand in line. In the mean time, I had called and asked Andy to call and see if he could get me rebooked since my phone was dying. After my phone had charged a little, I walk back over just to receive a call from Andy that United had canceld and refunded my reservation (not sure what the airlines was thinking since I wasn't in my origin city! Que lastima!
Long story short, I get booked on a flight connecting through Frankfurt, Germany that departs the following day in the evening, since there were no seats left on the non-stop flight by the time they re-instated my reservation. Meanwhile I am communicating with Michelle who is already concerned about timing with her volunteer work at World Youth Day, but I was assured someone would be at the airport upon arrival, and my mom, family lives ~1hr from the airport, who said she would pick me up. Glad she did! Once I made it to the customer service desk, they told me they could provide a discount to a hotel (later found out was over $200 a night) and was not helpful at all.
Of course when I got home I researched some more about the non-stop flight that was showing up online as tickets still available. Found out that I could get a buisness class ticket, just not economy...not happy to pay extra miles and upgrade, but the following day very happy.
Friday: Got to spend some time with the family and got a temporary atm card before I headed to the airport. On a plus, my mom packed a care package for Michelle that I could bring to her. So I'm sitting on the plane enjoying a beverage when an announcement is made about a 20min delay due to weather. I call my sister to let her know and she tells me to make sure to get some sleep because the following day there would not be that option...she was right. The plane was re-routed, re-fueled and the plane behind us with maintenance issues moved, and ~4 hours later we took off.
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Saturday: Finally landed in Spain and waited for my bag for what seemed like forever (checked a bag because I will also be bringing home some stuff for Michelle to my parents house). I walked out and am greeted by Michelle, as people are not allowed into the baggage claim area to meet their party. We went back to her apartment, dropped off items, had lunch and headed to World Youth Day, as she needed to be there for an interview.
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| Sisters with WYD hats and my first time "borrowing" Michelle's clothes |
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After being at WYD for the Vigil, sitting through rain, meeting lots of new people and being super tired I finally went home. I attempted to do the sleeping overnight there, but ants crawling on me (of course I was by an ant hill), having a wimpy body and already be exhausted didn't mix. My sister brought me back to the apartment around 3 in the morning I'm thinking, but I'm glad she was able to make it back for mass with the pope! Unfortunately, she wasn't able to find the tent of friends and our sheet upon her return :(...we left when everyone was sleeping and we were all sharing our stuff.
Sunday:
Michelle returned after mass and her adventurous walk back due to the masses of people. We then went to the volunteer sendoff for the Pope. It was pretty cool, as we got close http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjO7HKe3wt4 and I really enjoy listening to the Pope speak (even though Michelle was translating some for me). At that point, I would have loved to have just had a little time to talk to him.
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