Back to the USA…maybe.
With a 10:25 AM scheduled flight from Lisbon, this morning’s departure was easier and less jarring than some of the pre-dawn leave takings we’ve had to contend with on other tours. A 7:30 AM bus to the airport beats one at 4:30 AM hands down. And Juanjo even arranged for the hotel’s 7:00 AM breakfast buffet to begin serving at 6:30 AM to allow our group of transportees fuel before the trip.
The airport — supposedly a “small” one — proved to be a bit more of a challenge than I expected. There was some meandering and a wrong turn or two before we eventually spotted the United counters in the distance and all was right with the world. Or so I thought.
[Insert passage of time]
I’ve just received the third text informing us that the airplane expected to fly us back to Newark has been delayed. New estimated time of departure is 11 AM — which, at 35 minutes late, is nibbling away at the already limited amount of time we have between connecting flights. The nail biting begins.
[Insert passage of more time]
Fast forward to Newark Airport. We have arrived…about one-and-a-quarter hours late. Originally, we had two hours and five minutes between flights. The nail biting intensifies.
Since all three of us have Global Entry, we breezed through Customs. But there was a delay at the luggage carousel. Hair-pulling commences.
Bags retrieved, we hustle to drop off our luggage for the next leg. But the scan man says we’re too late. We’re outside the “45 minute” window. Faces drop. Have we come this far for naught?
Fortunately, his co-worker checks her screen and announces that they haven’t boarded the plane and gives us the thumbs up. Off we go, tearing down the concourse with all the determination of Dorothy, Blanche and Rose hungerin’ for an early-bird special.
Long story short (Too late?), we arrive in Cleveland ahead of schedule and with our luggage. Whew and huzzah!
That’s a wrap on our in-depth Iberian adventure, dear readers.
Adios and buenas noches.
Spain and Portugal in Depth 