LIMA, Peru-
March 21, 2013, 01:16- Eryn is startled from her sleep by the sound of her parents packing and showering
01:33- Eryn and Ethan are forced out of their beds and into their traveling clothes, packing quickly
02:05- The van is packed and ready to head to Lima’s international airport
02:31- Four people, four suitcases, four backpacks, and two hats are unloaded onto the curb at the airport
02:49- Checking in is complete: everything that is needed to get to Casablanca of Humphrey Bogart fame is in the hands of the foursome
03:18- Earbuds are bought so that Eryn can more easily listen to One Direction
04:31- Boarding for our Copa Airlines flight to Panama City begins
04:34- Family is on the aircraft and settled in for flight
05:01- The little Boeing 737-700 takes off
PANAMA CITY, Panama-
March 21, 2013, 08:34- Touchdown in Panama City. First time north of the equator in three months (last time was in Dubai, UAE)
08:52- At Gate 23. American-style security checkpoint is viewed from afar
09:08- The security checkpoint is cleared, no problem. First time being in a rather large group of Americans for the family (rather uncomfortable)
09:35- Boarding begins
10:05- Plane (once again Boeing 737-700) takes off
NEWARK, N.J., USA-
March 21, 2013, 16:27- The Boeing (on which was shown Silver Linings Playbook with [most] curse words removed) lands with Manhattan skyline in distance
16:43- Family has successfully cleared one hurdle. Now the luggage must come
17:19- Three suitcases have been recovered by Ethan, and the last one—the father’s—is just around the bend
17:32- Now officially in the U.S.
17:54- Supper is sought in food court after Star Alliance lounge fails to meet expectations
18:03- “The last meal for two days” (pasta, salad, garlic bread, and side) is eaten, along with two heaping bowls of chocolate ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s (the bowls were for all four, not two per person)
19:13- The bookstore is perused. A Lonely Planet USA guide book is scorned: “The only way you can write a USA guide book is by making it 1,200 pages long.” (It contained 1,198 pages.) The book even mentioned the family’s hometown, Eugene, OR—even though the city was barely discussed and was summarized as a hippie town (it is)
19:46- The Boeing 757-200 is boarded. It’s a much nicer plane: the family is in Economy Plus, meaning more leg room and personal screens. The only major problem is that the seats of the younger three members of the family (children and mother) do not lean back because they are directly in front of the emergency exit row
20:15- Take-off. Ethan watches Skyfall while Eryn enjoys the only episode of House available. After drinking doxy, it’s off to bed. Eryn listens to all thirty One Direction songs on the plane (thirteen from Up All Night and seventeen from Take Me Home) as well as “Rolling in the Deep” and “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele
LISBON, Portugal-
March 22, 2013, 07:11- The pilot makes another loop instead of landing. Reason unknown
07:18- Landed
07:44- Inside the Lisbon airport is the family, and the United Airlines agent is searched for
08:17- The decision to head to the lounge on the other side of customs and immigration is made. So begins the long trek
08:28- No lines, no waiting! The family is in the TAP Portugal lounge eating cake, sandwiches, and vegetables
10:28- Packed up and left the lounge to head back to the international part of the terminal (most other European nations don’t count as “international” due to the EU)
11:43- Boarding begins after some annoying Brits bad-mouth One Direction
CASABLANCA, Morocco-
March 22, 2013, 14:02- The twelve-seater lands on Moroccan tarmac
14:48- Into the “normal” part of the airport
15:57- Family arrives at suite which originally had two beds. With four it’s quite cramped
17:58- The quest for a supper restaurant begins
18:30- Dinner is ordered
18:57- Dinner (three chicken meals, including kebabs, and one vegetarian meal) arrives
19:46- The bill is paid. “Gracias”—before realization that Moroccans speak French and Arabic hits (this is about the zillionth instance of speaking Spanish instead of French). “Merci!”
21:25-
Ciao!