LAST DAY IN RIO - FLIGHT HOME
14 December 2006 Thursday
Last day of a month long journey so celebrated with another great breakfast including bacon and eggs. This is one day I was able to sleep in. After breakfast packed the suitcase for the last time (those painted ostrich eggs I picked up in Durban don't weigh very much, but they take up a lot of space. We have to vacate the room by noon although our flight isn't until 10 pm. Toyed with the idea of taking the Stern's shuttle to their workshop but dedided to hang out at the pool- too hot to be in the sun and didn't think an 8 hour fluight with a sunburn would be much fun so spent time with the group in some easy chairs overlooking the resort until dinner. Then the usual airport drill began with identifying your baggage to make sure it got on the same bus you did and the hour long ride to the airport. The rat race of checking in (baggage overweight- 25 dollars please) then the security drill and finally to the duty free shops.
Of course, you can't take liguids on the plane so didn't bother looking for that great rum I'd been sampling. A late gate change and uneventful boarding. I inflated my neck pillow, got out on my eye shades, popped an ambien and don't remember finishing dinner.
15 December 2006 Friday
Awoke 6 hours later feeling refreshed, but grubby. Had packed my toilet kit in the checked baggage to avoid the liguid-gel drill, but the airline had the dispoable tooth brush (along with eyeshades) so felt decent for arrival in Atlanta. Transfer to domestic terminal went fine and flight to Cincy short and sweet. Baggage arrived witht the airplane and Emil was ready for the pick up at the terminal. Cell phones are so convenient I don't know how we got along without them. At the airport there is a cell phone parking lot so I could call from the baggage claim area and just walk out the door.
So at 1030 we drive back to Dayton. Emil and Heidi have made the big decision to take the job as ER docs in Las Vegas (I haven't been there since 1960s so I'll have to visit). Emil has been recruited by the Dayton group, but since he spent most of his life in Huber Heights and did his undergrad at Wright State as a student-athlete followeed by med school and residency also in Dayton, he's ready to spread his wings. Heidi his classmate is in the same boat so off they go.
After noting the huge stack of mail, magazines, etc. on the kitchen table- take a shower and dress for the Department Christmas Party at the NCR Country Club. The boss is cordial with the usual "are you in our department- haven't seen you around" and the buffet luch excellent. Then there is the Chinese gift exchange which doesn't go exactly as the boss would like, so with his coaching it gets funnier. We finish up after 3pm and I'm ready to get home and tackle the mail, unpack, etc. Have time to reminisce about a month well spent and nothing has happened to dampen my ardor for travel. Holidays are coming up but decided not to decorate since I'll be spending Christmas in New Jersey. After that it's catch up time.
Last day of a month long journey so celebrated with another great breakfast including bacon and eggs. This is one day I was able to sleep in. After breakfast packed the suitcase for the last time (those painted ostrich eggs I picked up in Durban don't weigh very much, but they take up a lot of space. We have to vacate the room by noon although our flight isn't until 10 pm. Toyed with the idea of taking the Stern's shuttle to their workshop but dedided to hang out at the pool- too hot to be in the sun and didn't think an 8 hour fluight with a sunburn would be much fun so spent time with the group in some easy chairs overlooking the resort until dinner. Then the usual airport drill began with identifying your baggage to make sure it got on the same bus you did and the hour long ride to the airport. The rat race of checking in (baggage overweight- 25 dollars please) then the security drill and finally to the duty free shops.
Of course, you can't take liguids on the plane so didn't bother looking for that great rum I'd been sampling. A late gate change and uneventful boarding. I inflated my neck pillow, got out on my eye shades, popped an ambien and don't remember finishing dinner.
15 December 2006 Friday
Awoke 6 hours later feeling refreshed, but grubby. Had packed my toilet kit in the checked baggage to avoid the liguid-gel drill, but the airline had the dispoable tooth brush (along with eyeshades) so felt decent for arrival in Atlanta. Transfer to domestic terminal went fine and flight to Cincy short and sweet. Baggage arrived witht the airplane and Emil was ready for the pick up at the terminal. Cell phones are so convenient I don't know how we got along without them. At the airport there is a cell phone parking lot so I could call from the baggage claim area and just walk out the door.
So at 1030 we drive back to Dayton. Emil and Heidi have made the big decision to take the job as ER docs in Las Vegas (I haven't been there since 1960s so I'll have to visit). Emil has been recruited by the Dayton group, but since he spent most of his life in Huber Heights and did his undergrad at Wright State as a student-athlete followeed by med school and residency also in Dayton, he's ready to spread his wings. Heidi his classmate is in the same boat so off they go.
After noting the huge stack of mail, magazines, etc. on the kitchen table- take a shower and dress for the Department Christmas Party at the NCR Country Club. The boss is cordial with the usual "are you in our department- haven't seen you around" and the buffet luch excellent. Then there is the Chinese gift exchange which doesn't go exactly as the boss would like, so with his coaching it gets funnier. We finish up after 3pm and I'm ready to get home and tackle the mail, unpack, etc. Have time to reminisce about a month well spent and nothing has happened to dampen my ardor for travel. Holidays are coming up but decided not to decorate since I'll be spending Christmas in New Jersey. After that it's catch up time.
posted by DT at 7:26 AM
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