The alarms were set for 5:30am and we also set a wake up call through the ship just as a back up. Breakfast was available starting at 6am, so we were there shortly after to at least get a good meal in before our very long day started. I headed up to breakfast first and as I crossed the top of the ship to get to the dining area I looked out over Amsterdam and thought to myself how weird it is to wake up here, so very far away from home, but know that tonight I'd be sleeping in my own bed. My heart was a bit heavy, as it usually is when a trip has come to an end, but I'm thankful for cell phones and apps that allow me to talk to my family every day either by phone, text or sometimes we'd even Facetime so I could show them things I was looking at right at that very moment. Homesickness isn't even factored in because we are always in constant contact. Therefore, it makes it harder to come home when you've had such a good time. This cruise goes to a different location next week, so I could have totally stayed onboard for another two weeks.
After breakfast we gathered up the few remaining items in our room and headed for the theater where our shuttle group to the airport was supposed to meet. We were there 15 minutes early and stood around for about 30 minutes when we started to worry as no one from the ship was in there to talk to us. When we went out to find someone from the crew, they were in the process of being blasted by another passenger telling them to get a staff member in the theater to assist those who are waiting. He was right. Shortly thereafter an announcement was made that immigration was about 45 minutes late boarding the ship and everything was delayed by about an hour. We still had plenty of time to get to the airport, but some others were cutting it close. Finally on the bus, we were taken to the airport where we were once again delayed because not all the luggage had arrived and there were about 4 coaches of people all lined up. They made us wait on the bus and people were starting to get nervous they'd miss their flights.
Finally off the bus and with luggage in hand, we started the process of checking in and going through security. It wasn't horribly long, but had it been worse we might have been pushed to get to our gate in time. But as it all finally came together, we even had a few minutes to do a little duty free shopping and get a few last minute items. At the gate I popped a few night night pills and by the time I got buckled into my seat, sanitized the area and blew up my pillows, I was fast asleep. Guy said we sat on the plane for 45 minutes before it took off. I couldn't verify that. :) But I did wake up in time for sinus meds about 4 hours before landing and then just as we were decending I finally woke up. So I got nearly a 10 hour nap.
At Chicago we have Global Entry, so we bypassed a lot of the lines and got our luggage to go thru customs which was a snap. We went to the United desk to see if we could get an earlier flight to STL but it was overbooked. So what's next? Food. Well, Chicago isn't the hub of great restaurants and Guy had passes to the United Club (which was absolutly packed with several hundred people) but we finally found a seat and Guy grabbed a Coke, bread, cheese and cookies. We ate a bit and as I sat there I logged onto their free wifi and ALL MY PHOTOS uploaded within about 15 minutes. I am not joking. Gah! How I've missed fast internet!
Our flight home was a quick 48 minutes and Rosalie was there to pick us up. We visited for just a minute, but passed out hugs and headed home. It had been a long day. In Fairview Heights we stopped at 5 Guys for cheeseburgers and laughed about how early it got dark here. We are used to daylight at 10:30. When we got home we called the folks and then decided we'd try to create a zen space for the cat. Last year was the worst our absence has been on him and he got pretty sick with a panic attack and had to be tranquillized. So we came in kinda quiet, left all the bags out in the car so as not to make a racket. No TV, soft voices, showers and lights out. He seemed to be doing pretty good. My sinuses were completely messed up from the flights, so I just slept out in the living room in the chair. Nero slept on me off and on, but seemed to be good until about 4am. I was awake anyway, but the scratching and yacking has started. So we'll see where today leads. At least I'm off work to stay home with him.
So this is it. The end of the blog and the end of a wonderful trip. It's early, I've been up since 4am. But life will resume to normal in the next few days. Just thankful to be home safely and look forward to planning our next adventure! Until then....
Welcome home!!! 😊
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