The Return Trip

Thursday, December 31, 1998

Thanks to my malfunctioning alarm clock, I was woken several times during the night. I checked out of the Fenix around 5:00AM. I need not have hurried. When I arrived at the airport, I found out my 6:30 flight had been canceled due to mechanical problems! Hmm, this could really mess up getting back to the US as the connection in the UK was very tight. But what the heck, I´d get to spend another day in Lisbon. As it turned out, British Airways figured out how to get me on another flight to London and to Denver through Chicago.

The flights went quite nicely. It was a very smooth transition to the London-Chicago flight once I got to London. In fact, they put me in the top cabins on the 747, which was very cozy. While it’s not First Class,  it’s a business class area, the ride is smooth, and one gets a lot of attention from the flight attendants.

During the flight I was marveling while looking out the window at the huge aircraft wings, at how incredible it is that we send these hunks of metal, wire, and jet fuel up and over a very cold north country all the way to Chicago and other parts many times a day. And here I am inside snug as a bug in a rug, with my glass of wine, my overhead reading light, a good book, and being waited on hand and foot. Well...not all travel is this nice. I remember flying once in a North Sea helicopter in a mild state of panic after being lifted from a oil rig during a particularly bad storm. But this flight sure is nice and I enjoy it. In Chicago, I followed my advice and immediately after departing the airplane went as quickly as I could to the gate of the next flight leaving for Denver. I was lucky and was able to walk right on after a brief check-in. The flight was crowded but I managed to get a seat at the very back. (Later that night and for several days after, the entire Chicago airport was shut down due to severe weather.)

By the time I reached Denver, I was very, very tired. But I still had a 1 hour drive home. I stopped in Castle Rock (halfway to Colorado Springs) to get some coffee...but they were fresh out. I could have drove around trying to find some, but I just decided to keep going. I eventually got home safe and sound. The dogs were waiting. Ahh, now that was a great trip! Thanks for the free ticket Uncle Rossie.

More pictures on the last page, with links to sites about Portugal...