So this is going to be a lons story. On Tuesday the 2nd I decided to try and get on a military flight going to Dover, Delware. I was successful in getting a sit for myself and Braydon. Our plane was going to fly from Sicily to Spain and spend the night then fly to Dover on Wednesday. We arrived in Spain and Braydon and I went to our hotel and got some sleep. Then on Wednesday we went to the air terminal and got ready for our flight. Our flight kept getting delayed because they were working on the auto pilot. Eventually our flight got cancelled and I found out that all of the hotel rooms were booked. Luckily another couple who had a room offered me theirs. It all worked out in the end because they were able to get a room too.
On Thursday I went to the terminal and was told our plane was fixed and we would be leaving that night. They boarded us on the plane where we sat for 1 1/2 hours only to deboard because the fuel pump to the engine was not working. They informed us this would be a quick fix. After two hours of waiting in the terminal they canceled our flight. There was a flight going out to Hopkinsville, KY which is Fort Campbell and 35 mintues for Nashville. The flight had 17 seats available and so a bunch of us waited around to see if we could get on that flight. The flight was carrying about 58 soliders back and so we had to wait to see if they would open the extra seats. We overheard the troop master of these soilders say he didn't want to open the seats and intermingle with us. So Braydon and I headed back to the hotel and had some really good pizza and went to sleep.
Friday morning came and I was talking to another gentlemen who was also waiting for this flight and he informed me the plane was fixed. He offered to drive Braydon and I to the terminal so I could save money and not get a cab. Then after he dropped us off at the terminal he drove us to the Commissary and Exchange. Braydon and I did a little shopping and ate lunch and headed back to the terminal. Original our flight only had 29 passengers on it, so that meant a lot of room to spread out. Now our flight was completely full. I really didn't care as long as the flight left, and it did.
We arrived in Dover at around 9pm. We sat on the plane for an hour waiting on the customs offical. Finally we deboarded and got onto the bus. While we were driving to the customs office, we noticed that there was a plane unloading caskets. Come to find out that a plane had just arrived from Iraq with five soliders who were killed. That puts everything into perspective and the waiting didn't matter anymore. We had to wait 2 hours for our luggage because of the terminal shutting down to perform a homecoming service for the soliders who died. After I received my luggage I called all the names on the taxi list and no one would come get me. Finally an Air Force guy called for me and found someone to take me to my hotel. I checked in and we went to sleep at 1am.
On Friday morning I went to pick up my rental car and drove the 2 hours to Baltimore Washington International airport. Braydon and I checked in, ate lunch and then boarded the plane for Chicago. We arrived early and got our luggage right away. We walked out front and there were Dad and Dottie waiting for us. I have never been so happy to finally be done with traveling. That is until Braydon and I make the trip back to Sicily.
