heading home . . .

the alarm went off at 5:30 and we scooted up to our last meal in the terrace cafe.  still half asleep, dining was very light.  grabbed our carry ons and trudged down to the riviera lounge to await the bus for marco polo airport.  i swear the bus was a mile from the check point but once settled, we were off . . . to another long trudge from parking to the terminal.  hum.  something could be better but then again, this is italy and life is different here.  caught our lufthansa flight to frankfort and with two hours to wait, decided to grab something to eat.  mc d's was the only thing available because we definitely did not want to go through german customs again.  nine long, boring, cramped hours later, we set down in orlando.  next time i fly i will have won the lottery and will sitting up front in the big boy seats.

got off the plane at 5:46 which was right on schedule.  i knew going through customs would be a big deal but they have upped the ante in the last year.  we went through an automatic process, then a live person process, then a find your luggage process and then clear with it process, and finally we were free to leave . . . with our luggage and an escalator and no elevator.  priceless.

made it to the budget car rental only to have to wait in line an hour and a half.  by now i am past grumpy, sick and not looking forward to driving home in the dark but between the two of us, we persevered.  yes!!!!

a quick bath and my body dropped into bed.  the end.