LIMA, Peru-<\/b><\/p>\n
March 21, 2013<\/b>, 01:16- Eryn is startled from her sleep by the sound of her parents packing and showering<\/p>\n
01:33- Eryn and Ethan are forced out of their beds and into their traveling clothes, packing quickly<\/p>\n
02:05- The van is packed and ready to head to Lima\u2019s international airport<\/p>\n
02:31- Four people, four suitcases, four backpacks, and two hats are unloaded onto the curb at the airport<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
03:18- Earbuds are bought so that Eryn can more easily listen to One Direction<\/p>\n
04:31- Boarding for our Copa Airlines flight to Panama City begins<\/p>\n
04:34- Family is on the aircraft and settled in for flight<\/p>\n
05:01- The little Boeing 737-700 takes off<\/p>\n
PANAMA CITY, Panama-<\/b><\/p>\n
March 21, 2013<\/b>, 08:34- Touchdown in Panama City. First time north of the equator in three months (last time was in Dubai, UAE)<\/p>\n
08:52- At Gate 23. American-style security checkpoint is viewed from afar<\/p>\n
09:08- The security checkpoint is cleared, no problem. First time being in a rather large group of Americans for the family (rather uncomfortable)<\/p>\n
09:35- Boarding begins<\/p>\n
10:05- Plane (once again Boeing 737-700) takes off<\/p>\n
NEWARK, N.J., USA-<\/b><\/p>\n
March 21, 2013<\/b>, 16:27- The Boeing (on which was shown Silver Linings Playbook<\/i> with [most] curse words removed) lands with Manhattan skyline in distance<\/p>\n
16:43- Family has successfully cleared one hurdle. Now the luggage must come<\/p>\n
17:19- Three suitcases have been recovered by Ethan, and the last one\u2014the father\u2019s\u2014is just around the bend<\/p>\n
17:32- Now officially in the U.S.<\/p>\n
17:54- Supper is sought in food court after Star Alliance lounge fails to meet expectations<\/p>\n
18:03- \u201cThe last meal for two days\u201d (pasta, salad, garlic bread, and side) is eaten, along with two heaping bowls of chocolate ice cream from Ben & Jerry\u2019s (the bowls were for all four, not two per person)<\/p>\n
19:13- The bookstore is perused. A Lonely Planet USA guide book is scorned: \u201cThe only way you can write a USA guide book is by making it 1,200 pages long.\u201d (It contained 1,198 pages.) The book even mentioned the family\u2019s hometown, Eugene, OR\u2014even though the city was barely discussed and was summarized as a hippie town (it is)<\/p>\n
19:46- The Boeing 757-200 is boarded. It\u2019s 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<\/p>\n
20:15- Take-off. Ethan watches Skyfall<\/i> while Eryn enjoys the only episode of House<\/i> available. After drinking doxy, it\u2019s off to bed. Eryn listens to all thirty One Direction songs on the plane (thirteen from Up All Night <\/i>and seventeen from Take Me Home<\/i>) as well as \u201cRolling in the Deep\u201d and \u201cSet Fire to the Rain\u201d by Adele<\/p>\n
LISBON, Portugal-<\/b><\/p>\n
March 22, 2013<\/b>, 07:11- The pilot makes another loop instead of landing. Reason unknown<\/p>\n
07:18- Landed<\/p>\n
07:44- Inside the Lisbon airport is the family, and the United Airlines agent is searched for<\/p>\n
08:17- The decision to head to the lounge on the other side of customs and immigration is made. So begins the long trek<\/p>\n
08:28- No lines, no waiting! The family is in the TAP Portugal lounge eating cake, sandwiches, and vegetables<\/p>\n
10:28- Packed up and left the lounge to head back to the international part of the terminal (most other European nations don\u2019t count as \u201cinternational\u201d due to the EU)<\/p>\n
11:43- Boarding begins after some annoying Brits bad-mouth One Direction<\/p>\n
CASABLANCA, Morocco-<\/b><\/p>\n
March 22, 2013<\/b>, 14:02- The twelve-seater lands on Moroccan tarmac<\/p>\n
14:48- Into the \u201cnormal\u201d part of the airport<\/p>\n
15:57- Family arrives at suite which originally had two beds. With four it\u2019s quite cramped<\/p>\n
17:58- The quest for a supper restaurant begins<\/p>\n
18:30- Dinner is ordered<\/p>\n
18:57- Dinner (three chicken meals, including kebabs, and one vegetarian meal) arrives<\/p>\n
19:46- The bill is paid. \u201cGracias<\/i>\u201d\u2014before realization that Moroccans speak French and Arabic hits (this is about the zillionth instance of speaking Spanish instead of French). \u201cMerci<\/i>!\u201d<\/p>\n
21:25-<\/p>\n
Ciao!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 … Continue reading