It was time to leave paradise and return to the United States.
Our morning began at 5am (4am Idaho time) to reach the airport by 5:30am. As we neared the airport, we realized we didn't remember where to return our rental car and just about freaked. Justin thought about dropping Trey, me, and our belongings off at the front doors of the airport and I just about screamed. "NO WAY" I said and it was off to find the rental company. Luckily we found it in the nick of time, no problems with the car, and we were free from any charges! (We did have a water leak within the car, coming up from the floorboards, (we never did find the reason), but the rental company didn't see it! Oh well!)
Justin's parents left at least 30 minutes before we did, and it seemed to have not made any difference. The only time it was a perk to have a child at the airport was at this airport. They took us immediately and began to check us and ALL of our luggage in! By the time we were completed with our 6 check-in bags, our stroller, car seat (which by the way I doubt we EVEN needed by Mexican laws. I saw ONE infant carrier, and that was laying on the side of the road (now that I think about it, I surely hope there wasn't a baby lying inside of it. That is a terrible thought!) I never saw one car seat installed in a car.) and Baby Kelty Backpack, it was Justin's parents turn to check in.
I quickly took Trey to the restrooms, which I have to admit I loved. They had fogged glass doors on every bathroom stall and were as clean as a whistle. If I wasn't thinking clearly, I could have drunk RIGHT OUT OF THE TAP but didn't dare, that would have only irritated my stomach even more then it had already been!
We tried to use up all of our Mexican money in the airport shops and then it was time for us to board. This flight was to take about 3 hours and we would land in Dallas/Fort Worth.
On our flight I got a coke from Russia (the only way I knew it was from Russia was the label said, "Kona Kola" and at the top it said "Russia Coke.") and we shared two huge cookies.
Trey got about an hours worth of sleep on this flight. I quickly filled out our Customs paperwork, listing all of our items we purchased in Mexico.
We approached Dallas/Fort Worth and had to go through Customs again. Poor Marie. She was searched very thoroughly; the airport employee questioned her mascara, her creams, etc. She was the one who followed the rules of the air to a TEE, and she was the one who was stopped. I was questioned twice as to what was in Trey's water bottle and ended up just dumping it to make everyone happy. They didn't even question what was in my SIGG water bottle. I would have thought the x-rays couldn't penetrate THAT steel bottle.
Marie watched two women try to bring vanilla in their carry-on bags but were sent away to put the vanilla in their check-on bags. Poor women, they probably missed their flight for 3 bottles of Mexican Vanilla.
We made it to our flight with a little time to spare, and then realized we were headed to Orange County. WHAT? I had no idea and thought maybe we would be arriving into Portland in no time. NO SUCH LUCK. I found out there would be a 2.5 hour flight to Orange County, about an hour layover, and then to Portland.
On this flight we watched The Bucket List. The saddest movie I have seen in a while and it was VERY hard to mask my sobbing. Trey kept asking me what was wrong, and with my headset on, I tried to tell him in my quietest voice (which probably wasn't very quiet considering the headset. I wasn't about to miss a moment of the movie!) that I was watching a very sad movie. Thank heavens I wasn't wearing an ounce of make-up because it would have been ALL over my face. (Hey, if YOU had to wake up at 5am and get yourself and a 2.75 year old ready for a day of flying, you wouldn't be concerned about your mascara!)
Once we landed in the O.C. airport, I was able to call my mother. I think a week had been the longest time we have had without a phone call. It was 20 questions and then some all at once!
I ventured into the restroom and was disgusted by the sight I saw. So sad, the Mexican airport was spotless and THIS airport was a disaster. So nasty, I just wanted to barf. And, I have to say, the O.C. fashion style is MUCH more different then Idaho. I am sure they have some fantastic shopping, just by the looks of what people FLY in!
Trey ran, and ran, and ran the entire layover. He was so happy, I on the other hand was happy to talk to my mom instead of watching him dodge the wheelchairs and the luggage carts. STRESS ME OUT! Thanks Justin for watching him the entire layover!
During this layover, we found out that Justin's uncle Lloyd, who just lost his wife in a tragic car accident around St. Patrick's Day this past March, was getting married in one day. What a shocker! We couldn't wait for Larry to get off the phone with his brother to get the scoop on the new woman in Lloyd's life. Seems so sudden and quick, but Lloyd seems very happy and at peace.
Our airlines switched from American Airlines to Alaskan Airlines, which was a great change for most of us in our group. The seats were leather and a little more spacious. I on the other hand could care less what the chairs looked or felt like at this point. I wanted to be DONE with flying and would much rather be laying in a horizontal position in a nice, comfy bed. My back and stomach couldn't take it any longer. Onward Portland, Oregon!
Trey enjoying some American water, wrapped in his Blanket because it was so chilly compared to the nice weather we were used to!
We arrived in Portland, Oregon at 5pm, and were met by Megan, Justin's sister. Poor Justin spent quite a long time searching for our car that was parked in the "Economy Parking" garage. Justin had failed to notice what color the garage was marked with and stood in the wrong line for a shuttle bus. That was okay though, it gave us time to find 2 pieces of missing luggage! For some reason, 1 piece of our luggage, 1 piece of Larry and Maries got separated from the rest of our luggage and arrived in Portland before us. STRANGE!
We stopped by Megan's home, dropped our cars off and walked to VITA, a neat little eatery which I swear was Vegan. (Justin says they just specialized in Vegan meals, but I swear, I think they were KNOWN as a Vegan Eatery. Is Skippy peanut butter Vegan? I noticed that is what they made Trey's Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich out of! Just wondering!) The appeal of this eatery is that they claimed to have a Bocci field on their patio. They had a nice little sandy area that was used for Bocci, along with a chalk board painted on the side of their building for kids to draw, but 15 minutes into enjoying each other’s company outside on the patio, it started to storm and we were moved inside.
Besides the SLOW service, the food was great. I had a Caesar salad and a Thai Coconut soup which I thought was delicious! There was a wide variety of people in the eatery. Young, old, couples of all sexes, not too many young families like us but it was very enjoyable.
Megan's apartment in the Alberta area of Portland was so nice. She had just pulled up her carpet and sanded the wood which was found underneath. She had some great paint colors on the walls and decorated so nicely. After saying "good-bye" to her, we made our trek back to my father's condo. WHAT A TREAT it was, wandering around the streets of Portland, trying to find the freeway to my fathers. Poor Justin, he thought traveling in Mexico was difficult; the freeways in Portland are not that much better!
All I can say is I was glad to be home, my feet planted on American soil, with my family all in tact!
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