The honeymoon is over... time for some hell.

We woke up early the next morning.  We had to catch our shuttle bus to the airport at 7:00.  We were assured that we didn't need cash.  We walked the few blocks to the bus stop (while dragging 5 pieces of luggage -- 2 large pieces, 2 carry-ons, and 1 new duffle since we'd bought so much stuff!).  When we arrived, the driver was the only person to be paid and he only took cash.  There wasn't an ATM nearby, so we had to wait for the next bus.  I waited with our luggage while Philip went to find an ATM.  

The next bus was scheduled to arrive at 8am.  It didn't arrive until 8:35am.  Then there was traffic and we arrived at the airport about 45 minutes later than we were supposed to.  Not only that, but we were dropped off at arrivals instead of departures.  So, we then had to figure out where to go.  Then we had to take another shuttle to a different terminal.

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When we arrived at that terminal, we had to wait over half an hour in line so that we could have our passports checked.  Then we had to wait in line to get our tickets and check our luggage.  Then we had to go through security.  Then we had to take another shuttle to another terminal.  Then we had to go up two flights of stairs.  Finally, we were at our gate.  It was only about 15 minutes until we were supposed to take off.  We waited in line to have our tickets scanned.  Then we walked another 10 feet and someone else checked our passports and tickets.  Then we walked down two flights of stairs and got on another shuttle.  It took us to our airplane.  Then we boarded the plane.  All of that happened in just over an hour and a half!  It was exhausting!

You'd think that would be the end of the adventure, but not so much.  When everyone was finally seated, we were running behind (obviously!  How that airport functions on a daily basis, I have no idea!).  We got in line at the runway and waited our turn.  Well, when our turn came, the brakes on the plane were too hot for us to take off so then we had to wait another half an hour for them to cool before we could take off!  Phew!  It's a long day already!

Finally, we began our 10 hour flight.  We didn't allow ourselves to sleep because we wanted to be on the right schedule when we arrived in the U.S.  We watched some movies and I read a book.  

When we landed, we had just over an hour to get through customs, go back through security, and board our plane.  Customs in Charlotte is just awful.  They had 3 tellers open for an enormous amount of people.  It took far longer than it should have.  But, we made it through.  We found our luggage and re-checked it for our flight to Indianapolis.  Then, we went back through security.  Again, it took way longer than it should have.  We arrived at our gate with about 10 minutes to spare.  Unfortunately, they still weren't even boarding.  

Let me tell you something about me and flying.  I cannot remember the last time I was on a plane that took off and landed at the time it was supposed to.  It just doesn't happen for me. 

Anyway, we took off I think about half an hour late.  When we finally arrived in Indianapolis, I was exhausted.  It must've been around 8pm.  So, at that point, we had been up for over 20 hours.  We met my parents at the baggage claim and then started our two hour drive to their house.  We spent the time talking about our trip and the drive actually went quickly.  

When we arrived, I was so excited to see our pups.  It had been a long time since I'd seen them last!  We said our goodnights and then Philip and I went to bed with all four of our pups on the bed with us.  I enjoyed our honeymoon, but boy was I glad to be back in the U.S.!

Leaving on a Jet Plane!

I wasn't really sure how to start of, so I'm just going to pick up on the morning after the wedding (I can't wait to get the pro photos back so that I can do the recaps!).  

Anywho, we stayed at the Comfort Inn & Suites on our wedding night.  We thought we'd wake up with plenty of time for breakfast (it is served from 7 to 10am), but we were wrong.  We went to bed around midnight but we didn't wake up until 10:45am -- only 15 minutes before check out!  We quickly got our stuff together and checked out.  Then we drove back to Dave & Melisa's house (our reception site) to gather all of our luggage for the trip.  We also took showers and printed our boarding passes.  

Then, we headed over to Philip's Nanny & Pappy's house so that they could drive us to the airport.  However, because of the flooding in recent weeks, the route that our GPS was trying to take us was out of the question (there were bridges out).  So, we had to drive around in Amish country until our GPS figured out a new way to get there.  We arrived at their house a wee bit late, but it was okay in the end.  It took less time to get to the Philadelphia airport than we had thought it would.  

Philadelphia Airport  (Source)

We drove right up to the international terminal and found the U.S. Airways entrance.  Easy peasy.  Then we hugged Nanny and Pappy goodbye and dragged our luggage into the airport. We dropped our luggage off at one of the self-check-in booths and then headed up the stairs to security.  Security there was very simple.  The line was fairly long (it started even before the stairs started), but it took less than 20 minutes to get through.  

Then we made our way to our gate to wait almost two hours for our plane to take off.  We checked email and, of course, Facebook.  I read for a while and Philip checked on baseball stuff.  Soon, it was time to board.  The boarding process took forever and, of course, we did not take off on time (I can't tell you the last time I was on a plane that actually took off on time).  

Then, we spent over 8 hours in the air.  I read for a little while and tried to get as much sleep as possible (we were arriving in Italy at 8:30am).  I wanted to be rested.  Well, that's impossible on a plane, but I tried my darndest and managed a few hours of rest.  We also watched Something Borrowed -- I don't recommend it.  

Soon, we were being fed breakfast and then it was time to land.  The landing was smooth.  We exited the plane and were herded through the airport.  Apparently they no longer stamp your passport in Italy.  Total bummer.  

We paid to have our hotel pick us up from the airport.  Well, our driver wasn't waiting for us when we arrived at the baggage claim.  We wandered around for probably 20 minutes before we finally found him.  I think he was late and just pretended he was there the whole time.  He drove us out of the airport and I got my first taste of just how dangerous riding in a car in Rome can be (it's terrifying!).  

He dropped us off at our hotel and then we checked in.  Our hotel room was already ready, so we took our luggage upstairs and cleaned up a bit before wandering out to see the beautiful city that is ROMA!

Flights!

Last night (well, technically very early this morning), Philip and I booked our flights.  We will be flying from Denver to Philadelphia on Thursday, September 22nd.  Then we'll spend Friday getting everything set up.  Friday evening we will have our rehearsal dinner.  And Saturday will be the wedding!  :)  

Then on Sunday evening, we will be on a flight headed for ROME!  It's so exciting!  After an eight and a half hour flight, we will arrive in Rome on Monday morning.  We will spend TEN days in Italy before flying back to the states on Wednesday, October 5th.  After a 10 hour and 45 minute flight, we have a 2 hour layover in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Then we have another hour and 40 minute flight to Indianapolis.  We will arrive in Indy at about 7:25pm.  

Then it's off to my parents' house in northern Indiana.  We will spend a few days relaxing with them and then they are having a party for us at their house on Saturday for the friends and relatives who couldn't make it to the wedding in Pennsylvania. 

Then it's back to Colorado on Sunday, October 9th!  Phew!  It's going to be an exhausting few weeks, but I know it will definitely be worth it!  :)

Honeymoon Plans

Me in front of the Trevi fountain in Rome.

This past weekend, Philip and I really started working on our honeymoon plans.  We've known since the day we got engaged that we were going to Italy for our honeymoon.  

I visited Italy in March of 2008 (with a class) but Philip has never been.  I would love to go back and Philip has always wanted to go.  So, it was decided!  

Anyway, this past weekend, we started working on the most expensive part of the honeymoon: the flights.  Our flights are a little more complicated because we have to fly to our wedding destination, then fly to Italy, then fly to my parents' house in Indiana, then fly home to Denver.  Phew! 

Well, I think we've found the right multi-destination tickets for us.  The only layover will be when we come back from Rome.  We have a layover in Charlotte before we fly into Indianapolis.  That seems reasonable to me!  

We still have a lot of planning left to do, but at least we have the big part pretty much decided now.  :)