The Ultimate April Fool's

So, last Saturday, we started the trek back home. What we didn't know was how much of a journey it would, indeed be!!

Our plane was scheduled to leave from Florianopolis at 1630 (4:30) on Saturday afternoon. So, we got up early, did some last minute shopping and went sight seeing in the afternoon. We got to the airport right around 1430 (2:30). The first hurdle was when the lady at the ticket counter told me my tickets were cancelled. Not good. Steve was standing behind me and took over with Ron Greenwich, the missionary we were staying with. Apparently, our little unscheduled stop in Campos messed everything up...for everyone! So, that go settled and figured out. Then began the wait for the plane. About 3:30, we got word that the plane wasn't coming at 1630, but at 1830...two hours late!! So, we pulled out the iPods, books, laptops and traveling pillows to settle in for a long wait. At 1730, it got changed again to 1930. Another hour of waiting!! Yeah!!! So, we pulled out the second books and the iPod chargers and changed positions. Well, at 1900, the time got changed again to 2000 (8:00 pm). We finally took off about 2045. We were delayed yet again because they were having difficulty closing a cargo door. I felt every rivet turn and them turning every wrench...I was in the back row!! All of this should have been a good indicator to us of what exactly was going to happen.

We finally made it Sao Paulo, after we circled for another half hour. We landed in the industrial section of the airport and were bussed past the Fed-Ex airports to the international wing. Good grief. The Youngs and I rushed past the customs and left the rest of our group to run to the American Airlines terminal, hoping we could make our ridiculously delayed flight. We got there just as it was taking off...but it wasn't our plane anyways. It had left two hours earlier on time...

So, we started camping out again, completely oblivious to the fate of the rest our group. I called my parents here in the states, after a week and a half of not hearing from them. I got a little emotional at this point. I wanted to do nothing but cry. That isn't an option, though. We finally found someone that works for the airport at the international connection counter. They told us to stay put and someone would be with us and the growing crowd shortly. About two hours and a nap later, they came back. They called our names and told us to wait about 50 feet from where I was lying down. My hopes were raised that this is it...we're going home now! No such luck...we were taken down to baggage claim and instructed to get our bags.

Down there, we all found our bags. And discovered we weren't the only Americans. We met up with a group of very...vocal women from New York on vacation in I think Argentina. There were also 3 Army Reserve guards who had been on assignemnt in Salvador--they didn't even have Brazilian visas!! We were then taken upstairs to the TAM counter (the Brazilian international airline) and were told that we would be given vouchers to go to hotels and get dinner as well as vouchers for taxis. At this point its about 3:00 in the morning. It was at this point we realized...it's Aprils Fools!! Then, we were told that TAM wouldn't be furnishing our vouchers because technically, we wer on an American Airlines flight, so they would be responsible. Sheesh!! So, we stood in the American Airlines line and realized that everyone was being told a different story, and was getting different information. The joys of international traveling... The army guys were given guaranteed flights out (together) two days later and put up in the equivalent of the Swan hotel at Disney. We were told there were no available confirmed flights for over a week and the only way out was to take standby flights... we took what we could and went to find a taxi to take us to the hotel. We promised to meet Victoria, our new traveling buddy there.

We pulled up to the Novotel at about 4:30 in the morning. It was all lit up and there were bellhops waiting on us at the door. We felt like we had died and gone to heaven! There were fresh beds waiting on us and breakfast would be ready in an hour. Glorious!!! We were taken upstairs and shown into our rooms. Feather pillows and the best shower I've taken in a long time were waiting on us. While Joy showered, I went scavaging for food...in my pajamas. We ate breakfast and crashed. For a few hours. It was so difficult to sleep...kids runnig up and down the hallways, the anxiety of not know what was going on next. Around 1:00 we gave up and got up. We both another shower and went exploring. I was attempting to call my parents again, when we got a phone stating that we had 10 minutes to get out, or we'd have to pay for a half day's use of the room. We ran to get Steve and Janna (Joy's parents) who were leisurly relaxing in the pool, unaware of the time limit we had. We hurriedly checked out and waited on Victoria as she checked out. Then wen to the dining room to eat dinner. But, wait sorry! You've checked out. You can't use your voucher... Thanks Tam!!!

So, we did the only thing we could do. Went back to the airport-home away from home. We got there and learned that most international airlines are mobile!! Where American had been the night before, is South African airlines. American doesn't come until 5:30 in the afternoon! Yeah. So, Joy and I went exploring...again. We found Pizza Hut and ordered pizza and paid too much for drinks. And, we found the rest of our group! They were even worse off than we were. Flying Delta, they hadn't even been given vouchers and were paying for everything themselves. Because, Delta isn't operated by TAM, therefore there is no obligation to help them out. They were attempting to get out via United, but nothing was guaranteed. By 6:00 they had left to go back to the hotel. So, we stood in a line with about 500 people waiting to see what our fate would be. We got our names put on a list and told to wait to the left of the counter. On the ground. No chairs. Right where the baggage carts are taken back out, so watch any appnendages you want to keep!

Nothing was available on the 8:30 flight, so we sat some more. At 9:00, my name was called!! I got the last availble seat on the second flight out to Miami... Hallelujah! There were angels singing with me!! It was 9:06, and had to get on American Airlines flight 906 in twenty minutes. There was still 2 security stops and customs and airlines to get through. Plus a long run down the terminal. The gate was in the very back of the terminal. This was going to be fun! I took off running. I was a little bit rude to the people in line with me, whispering "vamanos, vamnanos" under my breath. "I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone, why should you? Just walk!!" Then, here comes the American Airlines guy...my savior out of this line!! He rushed me through security, and customs and gave me one piece of advice...run!!!!!!!!! And run, I did. Like I haven't done in long time. With two carry ons flailing behind me and my passport, tickets, boarding pass and customs declarations in my hand. Praying that no elderly people would bust out in front of me in those little motorized scooter thingies. Success!! I got to the gate with no hesitations or difficulties. The little guy even told me that I hadn't needed to run so fast...they weren't going anywhere without me!!

I got on the plane and was informed by another passenger that my seat was changed so the he could sit by his wife. Uug. So, I walked back up the aisle and across in front of the big screen and back down again. I sat down next to the ever primping wife and took a deep breath. I was going home!!! I watched Miss Potter and ate dinner, only the 3rd meal I'd had in nearly two days, and listened to Josh Groban and slept as best as I could on a plane.

We landed in Miami at 5:30 in the morning on Monday. I got a phone call from Joy saying they were an hour behind, me and should be on the connection with me. So, I drank a real diet Coke and pulled out the book...again. Then, I got another phone call...the Youngs had gotten stuck in customs and weren't going to be able to make the connecting flight. :-( I was on my own again...

I got on the plane to Tampa. I was seated next to a mom and her little boy flying from Miami to Tampa, headed to vacation with her family. It was fun to see flying through the eyes of a little kid, again. I read more Jodi Piccoult and noticed the 3 empty seats a row ahead of me. We landed in Tampa a mere 45 minutes later. We disembarked and I waited the hour it was taking my mom to finish the drive from Ocala to Tampa. And was oh so happy to be in the States again.

Joy and her family made it a few hours later and Joy was back in her condo by 4:30. The rest of the group didn't make it back to Alabama until late Tuesday afternoon. As Laura Ingalls-Wilder would say... Alls well, that ends well...