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Home at last..... #242535
12/14/2020 02:09 PM
12/14/2020 02:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline OP
Traveler
pat  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
So here we are, home again. And I won’t say at last here because that might intimate I’d rather be here than where we were and we all know that’s not true and particularly with the snow flurrying out there. But it’s reality time.....

We left BSV, having had a lovely two weeks trip. The accommodations are perfect for us and the staff couldn’t be anymore obliging and pleasant than they are. We picked up Lesley Bruce on our way to the airport at 11:30 - very convenient car return. Got to the airport way too early as we jumped through all the hurdles and were in the gate area by 12:00 with almost two hours before take off but all was good. The flight attendant on our arrival flight said we had to be there a full three hours ahead of time and we were pretty sure she was clueless on that but what the heck! When it’s time to go, it’s time to go!

Airport observation - they are socially distancing passenger seating in the departure lounge and given we left on a midday Saturday flight, there was still plenty of seating to go around and we couldn’t help but miss the Saturday crowds we’re accustomed to. Just a sign of the times, but sad for the island and the airlines.

Our flight had lots of empty seats and AA was still holding center seats open, at least in the preferred seating area. The flight was fine and typical for the year of Covid - no food, no drinks to speak of, no snacks but we got to CLT safe and sound and that’s all that matters, right?

I had a wheelchair assist in the terminal and after some initial confusion and a serious shortage of transporters, I was really glad I did. Believe it or not, and I think it was due to where they landed us, we were asked for the old blue immigration entry forms which we haven’t seen in at least 4-5 years but there were no GE kiosks in our arrival area. Quickly filled them out and we were on our way again, this time to claim our luggage and take it for a walk to the recheck area. Chores done, we began the walk to the E terminal gate area - at least three quarters of a mile away - and finally we reached our destination and our wait began anew. After two weeks of gourmet island food, we grabbed a Burger King dinner in the gate area.

We had an AE flight to our regional airport, 23 passengers in all, one for every row of the plane if you were of a mind. Smooth flight and we were a few minutes early until the pilot announced a visibility problem on the ground and the possibility we might end up in Philly instead. Groans from all corners of the plane......... But all’s well that ends well. He circled for a bit and in the end we were runway bound at our airport of choice, and even with the brief moments of drama we were only about five minutes late in our arrival.

HPN observation - not sure what branch of the military they were but we were greeted upon arrival by a group of soldiers questioning us as to whether or not we had completed the NYS Medical Entry Form required and providing the same forms to those who had not. We handed ours off to the last soldiers before we entered into the main terminal at which point we thanked them for their service and we were home free.

Grabbed our bags, met our driver and we were home and in bed by midnight. And now as the flurries continue and there’s much talk of a major storm for later this week, we hope for April soon come!

Got our PCR tests done this morning - feeling fine but just need to be safe for those we love.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
SXM Sponsors
Re: Home at last..... [Re: pat] #242538
12/14/2020 02:18 PM
12/14/2020 02:18 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,486
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,486
Central Florida!
Thanks for the confirmation that you are home safe and glad that you took us along on your trip!


Carol Hill
Re: Home at last..... [Re: pat] #242541
12/14/2020 02:39 PM
12/14/2020 02:39 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,263
Kennys Online content
Traveler
Kennys  Online Content
Traveler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,263
Thanks and Happy Holidays !

Re: Home at last..... [Re: pat] #242544
12/14/2020 03:16 PM
12/14/2020 03:16 PM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,929
Connecticut
The_Lurker Offline
Traveler
The_Lurker  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,929
Connecticut
santa

Welcome back! usflag

Re: Home at last..... [Re: pat] #242547
12/14/2020 04:29 PM
12/14/2020 04:29 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,477
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
Traveler
ruralcarrier  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,477
Ohio
Glad you are back safely and thanks again for taking us all along.


J.D.
Re: Home at last..... [Re: pat] #242575
12/15/2020 06:52 AM
12/15/2020 06:52 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 389
East Haven, CT
Wingman Offline
Traveler
Wingman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 389
East Haven, CT
Welcome home Pat. Keep warm with the storm coming, looks to be our 1st "blizzard" in a few years.

Re: Home at last..... [Re: pat] #242589
12/15/2020 11:23 AM
12/15/2020 11:23 AM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,000
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
RI Bob C Offline
Traveler
RI Bob C  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,000
North Kingstown, Rhode Island
The blizzard we will see tomorrow night will make us wish we were in SXM, but welcome home.

Re: Home at last..... [Re: pat] #242596
12/15/2020 01:00 PM
12/15/2020 01:00 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 367
CT
MamaB Online happy
Traveler
MamaB  Online Happy
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 367
CT
I was so happy to see your post. Once again, you have given all of us an informative and entertaining summary of your trip.
If I may ask- where did you get your tests? I'm just beginning to look into it for our upcoming March trip. (First time in 34 years we are not going in February!!)

Re: Home at last..... [Re: pat] #242602
12/15/2020 02:02 PM
12/15/2020 02:02 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline OP
Traveler
pat  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
Sue,

After a lot of nonsense and wasted time, and because we were dealing with holiday week travel, I begged my doctor for scripts and since I had some ‘stuff’ going on - nothing too serious before you ask - he finally obliged for both of us and we went to the local hospital Covid testing lab. But I don’t want to start to explain what happened before that nor the hassle we were put through with the island EHAS program. Hopefully by March things will have eased up a bit and there will be more clarity to the requirements.


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Home at last..... [Re: RI Bob C] #242603
12/15/2020 02:06 PM
12/15/2020 02:06 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline OP
Traveler
pat  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
Thanks, Bob.

I just listened to the noon local news and weather and now, after all the storm hype we’ve been hearing for over a week, once again they’re back-pedaling which is perfectly fine by me if they got it wrong.

I have to tell you, after two weeks of 80+ degree days, I had to go grocery shopping this morning and my car temp said 34 degrees. Brrrrrrrr.

Sure, it’s great to be home?


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."

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