Up very early, at 4:40 AM to catch a connecting flight from Terminal 1 at CDG to Brussels Airport. Kind of ugly time, but the ticket price was excellent. Janie, during check in, had requested a 5:30 AM pick up via shuttle and breakfast to go bags so we could have some sort of snack prior to security/check in/etc. We got settled fairly quickly, after a thorough security check at CDG… remove belt, electronics out, clear bags in tray, and even a hand swab. All good though… I’d rather have a safe flight than not! All hands grabbed the free wifi, Janie sourced a snack for the kids, and we had coffee and relaxed while waiting for the flight which departed about 15 minutes late (extra security I think). In fact the extra security seemed related to a terrorist arrest in Brussels we saw headlined in the gate televisions. Regardless, there was a double check on passports!
Then a smooth flight to Brussels… Can’t think we spent 45 minutes in the air. Never been on Belgian soil, but would very much like to visit at some point. We’ve hit all around it after stays in The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and France. Perhaps someday… But today it can’t be more than 2 hours! All worked out well. Interestingly, we had an extra “security check” on passports/ boarding passes prior to boarding in Brussels, one in which they placed a small sticker directly on the outside of our passports. Will have to look that up to decipher that new hoop. Regardless, very smooth and such checks probably eliminate issues earlier as we departed from the gate perfectly on time.
We sat 4 across on this Air Canada flight… Nice way to share the journey across. Kids and Janie were quickly into the movies, I updated text for web stuff on the iPad. It’s been an excellent tool for travel… Never an issue connecting to solid networks, light and easy to fit in my kitbag, bigger than a phone which I have increasing difficulty viewing and typing on, and, even though an older machine, works like a top. Janie and I have gotten better at airports; flight transfers for connections, security checks, indeed the entire process. De-stresses that part of travel to some degree. The flight across, from Brussels to Montreal was estimated at 7hrs… Pretty long flight for the kids but they seemed up to it! Monica picked up a cough and wasn’t herself the last days of the trip, so we were hoping she’d get some much needed rest!
Landed softly in Montreal… We were quickly around most folks in the customs line up as one can move pretty smartly with no checked luggage. Then off to our Moncton departure gate for a quick couple of emails before the last leg of our series of flights for the day. No matter how great the trip, it’s always a comfort being back in Canada. The rest went like clockwork… Arriving in Moncton at 5:25 PM, and in the drive way at home by 8:15 PM. Slick when things go right!
Safe travel home after a truly impressive trip.
We had an excellent trip Eileen… Just departing from Trudeau and hope to be in Moncton by 5:30 or so! Hope you’re following that StFX game today!