el viaje * the trip

to SANTIAGO de CHILE

We arrived in Portland wonderfully on time, checked all the pertinent information and got minor ¨business¨ out of the way. While waiting to board the plane, we took photos and then said our ¨goodbyes¨ to the families. Once inside the gate, we waited ... for about three hours. There was a delay due to something with the crew from some other airport. Anyway ... before we even took off, this is where the problems began ...

goodbyes

waiting in Portland for the plane

The plane took a ¨short cut¨ to Atlanta, so we were very hopeful that we would make our flight from Atlanta to Santiago, but no such luck. We arrived, RAN down through the airport to our gate, and the plane was still there ... but they would NOT let us board. The plane was ¨closed¨. The kids were waving at the window trying to get the pilot to let us on ... a scene, for us of another age, from The Graduate!

A long story, short: we had to stay overnight in a hotel which Will found for us. An Adventure. When we return, we have to deal with Delta because they did not cover any of our costs ... Here are a couple photos from waiting for transport to the hotel and Becca with breakfast the next morning. The overnight was nice, actually, and then a day exploring Atlanta, Georgia, before returning to the airport for our 10:30pm flight out.

waiting for the van at midnight ...... Becca with breakfast!?

Atlanta, Georgia

All together and Will with his gift from the girls .. memories of breakfast.

Yep, some of them tried southern Grits.

Soldiers at ATL airport awaiting their flight to Iraq. Very emotional for us.

So, finally back at the airport and near our gate waiting for the 10:30 flight out. These students are very imaginative. The things they found to do to keep themselves occupied were great ... fun, entertaining, and at times a bit wacky, although non-intrusive to others waiting. I was very impressed and pleased with them. Here´s Amanda watching her favorite Beauty and the Beast, Anna and Erin being crazy, and Will thinking up another game. At other times we were just waiting, waiting, waiting. THIS flight was delayed until 2 a.m. If it had been the night before, we would have made the plane ... figures, right? But this is how travel is and we need to be flexible during our adventures! Again the kids were exemplary and I so appreciated their patience.

our corner

waiting, waiting, waiting ... note on the display where it says the plane departs at 00:15 (midnight) ... it was already about 1:30 a.m. at this point .. and the flight was originally to have left at 10:30 pm!

Dubi trying to catch a bit of shut-eye wherever and whenever. When we finally arrived in Santiago (catch the next blog for that story) and at our homes ... I, for one, slept for 17 hours straight. A flight of 14 hours had turned into a trip of 41 hours ...

ah ... ADVENTURE!!