The Journey Begins

The idea of traveling together for 9 days through Italy on a bus with a tour group created an ambient amount of stress in my body for months leading up to the actual trip. As with everything, the amount of mental energy wasted on worrying proved to be just that. While this trip would not be without its challenges, in the end it was one full of amazing family memories and expansive historical perspective.

Of course no international journey begins smoothly. All 9 of us convened in the Delta terminal in Detroit and began the first of many "group exercises" led by The General. He fastidiously input all of our passport information into the machine one by one as we all offered frustrating words of suggestion on how he could/should do it differently. When we finally moved for the first time as a group, it was like learning how to dance with an exoskeleton made entirely of carry on luggage. We tripped over each other before eventually piling into one area to wait for our 7pm departure.

CROSSING THE ATLANTIC:

Flying overnight from Detroit to Paris presented another level of stress on me personally, as I have developed some kind of latent form claustrophobia. Being "trapped" in a tube for hours in the dark over the vast expanse of the North Atlantic was a thought I had to push out of my head more than a few times leading up to this. But, we were pleasantly surprised to find that apparently on international flights, they just give you as much booze as you want. And while this might appear an egregious amount of alcohol for one to consume on a plane, rest assured that my wife had half of it...

Not only were we given bottomless cocktails, but also the savory delights of Indian cuisine, which seemed to be a particularly fragrant choice of food for a long plane trip. But by the time the butter chicken was served, the vodka had taken hold and all of the voices of terror had been replaced by the warm embrace of cheap vodka and microwaved curry. An odd pairing, but one which seemed perfect in the moment.

TOUCHDOWN IN VENICE:

While on the plane from Detroit to Paris, the flight attendent learned that it was mom and dad's 50th wedding anniversary. They presented a card and a fine bottle of champagne, which ended up being confiscated by the Paris customs. I'm sure they just kind of stole it because they could tell we didn't speak French, and were rushing a 9 person group wildly through the CDG terminal in order to catch our connecting flight to Venice, but either way it was a nice gesture by the Delta folks.

We spent a brief hour or so in Paris, sweating from a fitful night of micro-naps followed by high altitude curry and vodka sweats. I could tell we probably didn't smell awesome, but as the saying goes "when in Rome". Odors be dammed! We are on to Venice!