No More Sleeps - Or 24 hours Awake!

In twenty four hours we will be in Europe. I can't wait - it feels like Christmas eve today. The dining room table is strewn with clothing and there are packages filled with travel sized sundries like stocking stuffers all over the living room. This is a trip I've been waiting to do for years. First we go to Rome, then Venice and finally Paris.  It's sort of my own version of Eat Pray Love. Rome is about inhaling the history. We are booked on several tours. I have read a lot about Ancient Rome and I can't wait to walk the streets Marcus Aurelius and Sulla walked.  Venice is for indulgence - food, visions, senses. To eat when and where, to stop and watch, to admire and bask in sunshine and beauty. And then there's Paris - we're meeting up with my cousin and wandering around the city of love.

Then it was time to go. We were packed and on our way. No problems chceking in, no problems going through security. Boarded easily and then the plane left the gate. Then the plane stopped. Then 2 1/2 hours later they informed us that the mechanics could not repair this plane's malfunctioning engine and so back we went. But and this is the kicker - we who has travelled a mere 50 meters now had to go through customs to declare any duty free items and relinquish them. Arthur was now near having a meltdown and by the time we exited the plane someone had alerted the flight attendants - a nice lady decided it would be best if she moved us through the crowd quickly and we were first through and first to get to the Timmies to order something to eat and thus first to board the replacement plane which arrived with a new crew and then had to be prepped etc. So our flight left 7 hours late. Of course that meant new connections and unfortunately for us that meant that we wouldn't arrive until after 9pm thus missing our wonderful dinner cruise down the Tiber looking at the sights and enjoying a lovely meal. We were tired and cranky and I was very disappointed about the lost cruise ( not to mention that it had been prepaid!)  And for all our grief - Air Canada offered us compensation - $50 off the next Air Canada flight we book! Hardly the compensation I am looking for.

In the end it took over 24 hours to travel. My darling husband has a new theory. If you travel anywhere past the neighbouring province - it takes 24 hours. Shanghai - 24 hrs, Newfoundland - 24 hrs, Rome 24 hours.  I'm beginning to believe him.