August 21 Returning Home

 August 21, Sunday - Returning Home

We got up at 5:00 AM. Our debarkation was scheduled for 6:30. This gave us time to have breakfast in the Lido. Then we organized our carry-on bags one more time. At 6:15 we went to Ocean Bar to sit and wait for our 6:30 call. This gave the stewards a chance to start to change over our room. At 6:30 we checked off of Oosterdam for the last time. It was bittersweet to say goodbye. We started with the bittersweet catamaran charter without Sean. We ended with a bittersweet goodbye to newfound friends. It has been a wonderful seven weeks.

In the luggage hall, all three of our suitcases were together. This made it easy to gather them and roll them out to the coach for our transfer to the Venice airport. We were all aboard the coach by 6:45 and we left at 6:50. The ride to Venice was uneventful. We parked in the same remote lot that we walked to on our arrival at 8:55. Arriving passengers were already gathering to board for their transfer to Trieste.

The walk to the terminal is a long one. Halfway there we spotted a few free luggage carts. I put all of our gear onto one of them and had an easy walk the rest of the way. The airport has many many gates. Some are on the lower level and some are upstairs. We found a board that displays flights and gates. Our flight was listed but it had no gate. The gate would not appear until one hour before departure. Then the scramble begins. We were grateful to have booked business class. That gave us priority check-in through a very short line. We went to the Marco Polo lounge for a snack before departure.

At the gate, we waited a bit before boarding began. Then we joined the first group to board. What looked like the ramp to our plane was not. We went downstairs and waited for a bus to take us to our plane for the flight to Lisbon. It turned out that business class had its own bus. We left first for the long ride to the aircraft. There we boarded first. It was all very efficient but the staff was less than friendly. The only hitch in this was that TAP Air Portugal required us all to wear masks for the entire flight unless eating or drinking. They were strict about that. We departed on time and arrived a little early. 

That was fine. It gave us ample time to make the transfer to the flight to Chicago. Again, for the long flight to Chicago, we had to wear masks. The aircraft was an Airbus something. The business class seating was not nearly as comfortable as United’s 787 on the way to Europe. The service was impersonal and unfriendly. The food was not as good as we have experienced on other airlines. The conclusion is that we will not fly with them again.

We arrived in Chicago on time. We had a very pleasant surprise when we got to the global entry kiosk. We had not used one since March of 2020 when the pandemic began. Then we had to do the fingerprint scan and respond to questions. All we had to do now was get our face image in the outline on the screen and let it take our picture. No passport or fingerprint scan is necessary. An agent at the end of the line handed us a pass and told us to proceed. We gathered our luggage. All three pieces came together. That is one plus for TAP. We wheeled our luggage cart to the last customs station. The agent welcomed us home and took our pass cards. We were almost home.

Once in the main terminal, I used the American Taxi app on my phone to order a cab. Alice went to the restroom and joined me as I got to the exit for taxis. When we got outside our driver was just pulling up. No waiting! This was a first. He loaded our luggage and we were off. By 9:30 we were home. The ride was a bit harrowing at times but he got us home safely. I turned the water on and lit the water heater pilot light. We were in bed by 10:30. 

We were weary and thankful travelers. We have many stories to tell and experiences to remember. 

We are truly blessed.