Monday started as all of my days in Paris had started, with pastries, coffee, yogurt, and fruit.
And then we started our experiments in bending space and time, because leaving nirvana shouldn't be smooth, right? There were four of us leaving for the airport at 9 am (the other couple in our party left at 7), and so we looked with consternation at the sedan that appeared to take us to the airport. Yes, four adults, 4 large overpacked suitcases, 8 pieces of carryon, and one sedan. The three women in the party climbed into the backseat, then with purses and packs wedged between our knees, two large duffel bags were layered on top of us.
Still, we arrived at the airport safely, and our spirits rallied as we cruised through security and immigration. We then had two hours to wander the airport dutyfree shops and spend our remaining euros. The flight from Paris to Minneapolis, although delayed by 30 minutes, was smooth and uneventful. I was pleased to discover than Quantum of Solace survived the translation into in-flight movie successfully. (Truly a mark of an exceptional movie!)
And then we discovered the snafu that is international arrival at Minneapolis. A gazillion people, all trying to make connections, struggling through immigration, bag pick up, customs, re-checking bags, and then the insult of one working x-ray machine as we watched the minutes tick by until our connection to Portland would abandon us. Freed of the TSA we sprinted a "short way" (not my words) through one wing, the center of the airport, a second wing, and into our gate to find our flight boarding and the attendants beginning to give away unclaimed seats to standby. We proffered our boarding passes, and walked onto the gangplank.
And that, was my trip to Paris. This week of readjustment to "normal" life has included a dozen loads of laundry, Sweetheart G's tooth extraction (all four came out well), the removal of the Easter decorations, and lots of snuggletime with Big E and my girls. Tonight is the school's auction and I am nervously waiting to see if anyone has money to spend.