So the adventure home:
We decided not to leave until 12 noon for the airport since we had a 1:21 flight. Traffic was a disaster. I would not recommend waiting this late. We checked in and then were told to get to the gate and get checked in as soon as possible.
We got there and found out that the airport was shut down to incoming flights due to ash. But, planes could take off, so it was not due to the ash, it was due to a work stopage. So we sat until 3 pm (our plane was diverted to El Salvador. We were told we we would be leaving at 3:40. We all got on the flight and then 15 minutes later, 3 other guys got on. They had cases of alcohol with them. As we were pulling away from the gate, one of the guys threw up- they had been sitting at the bar drinking during our delay, so they were quite drunk by the time they got on the plane. the flight attendants decided to take up back to the gate, get the guys off the plane, clean up the row they were in, and then we could leave. So we left Guatemala at 4:40. At this point, I knew there was not enough time in Atlanta for us to clear customs, re check our luggage, and get from the international terminal to the domestic terminal for our flight. I booked a hotel quickly from the airport since I assumed we would be on the first flight out in the morning and that email came in before we took off.
Our flight to Atlanta was uneventful for the next 2 hours then the captain came on and said there was weather in Atlanta and we would be circling until a decision had to be made about diverting to another airport. We had a an extra hour of fuel. We circled for an hour and then were allowed to land. Delta had booked us into a hotel. so now the reservation I made was not needed. YIKES. Come to find out the hotel I booked as 7.1 miles away from the airport. so we used the hotel that delta booked for us.
Now, we came in at the internal terminal, the shuttle to the domestic terminal was 20 minutes!!!!! we had to go there becuase the hotel shuttles dont come to the internal terminal. The lines at the hotel shuttles were UNBELIEVABLE!!! No way was I waiting there- we would have been there all night. So I used UBER to get us a ride. Unfortunately, the first 2 rides got lost in the airport and never came. We finally got to the hotel at 12:15. We were in our room at 12:30 with a 4:30 am wake up call to get the shuttle back at 5:15. Once we got to the airport, we had to get in 2 lines to get our baggage checked- because the automatic rebooking showed we already had 3 bags checked even though we had them with us at the hotel (needing cleaning clothing).
So lessons learned-
never take the later flight home from Guatemala
always have clean underwear/socks and shirt in your carry on bags.
never drink and fly
We got into Cincinnati at 9, to our car by 9:30, picked up the dog at 10:15 and then home by 10:30. I started the first load of laundry and then went to lay down until the AC service man was due. He came early!!! After he left at 1:30, we took a nap until 3:30. I was hoping to sleep in tomorrow, but it is going to be very hot, so we need to get up by 8:30, I need to go get gas for the lawn mower as the back grass has not been cut for 2 weeks now. The boy will start cutting the grass at 9 am, I will go grocery shopping and then we are going to work out and then swimming. We want to be home by 1 pm to watch the world cup game.
Well, that is all for today and maybe the weekend.
Love and hugs,
Deb
