[Stef] At 3:30AM we arrived at the airport, and got ready for our long trip back to the USA. Since we didn’t sleep much we weren’t that tired – yet! We returned our rental car and went to check our luggage. The very nice woman at the Qantas desk was able to check all of our luggage all the way to Denver for us. We would have to get it in Los Angles for customs but then it would get put all back on again to go to Denver with no troubles. We were even more excited about this, since we were both over the domestic weight limit. If the bags were never re-weighed, they would never find out and charge us more! PERFECT! That was a nice option too because we wouldn’t be worried about it in our groggy state that was sure to come that day.
Our flight to Sydney was only a couple hours and we fell right asleep. That was the last sleep I got. We asked for an exit row to LA – which is a great thing on an international flight because we had a lot of legroom. Well, seeing as I am so short, I was having trouble reaching the floor with my legs. When we have a seat in front of us, I can put my knees up on the back of the seat. Here, I could not, so, my legs got really cramped as they strained to touch. Yes, I really am that short! It was really hard for me to sleep. Scott was able to fall asleep, so I watched 5 movies while in flight and attempted sleep a half a dozen times. 12 hours on a plane is awful; sleep or not!
We arrived in Los Angles and made it through customs very easily. Even though I declared some silver-fern seeds I bought, the woman asked me one question “are you American?” and once we said yes, she let us through without even so much as opening our bag.
We knew we were in Los Angles when someone offering to help us find our gate also asked us for money. We missed Australia and New Zealand already! We declined to give them money- it wasn’t like we had any left at that point! And we split up to get to our airlines. I was flying on a voucher through Frontier and Scott was flying on American Airways. It was the first time we were separated from each other at all in 5 weeks. What a weird feeling… it was almost a tearful goodbye but our eyes were so sleepy that our tear ducts didn’t work! I was able to take an earlier flight but my bags wouldn’t get there until an hour after. I agreed to it.
In Denver, I was able to relax while I waited for Scott and my luggage. Luckily, the woman in Brisbane who checked our bags, checked them all the way through under my name, so all 4 bags came in together on my flight. I fell asleep a few times at a table in the corner of an airport restaurant (looked real classy to the public, I am sure…) while I waited for Scott. Once he got there, we were picked up by Melinda, Joaquin and Cruz (thanks gang!) and we were officially back in the USA.
The entire trip was a dream for both of us. I often tell Scott that if I had known I would get two honeymoons in my first year of marriage, I would have gotten married years ago! In all seriousness, I have traveled a decent amount worldwide and I have seen many amazing, breathtaking sites, but nothing I have ever done beats the month I have spent with Scott exploring. It didn’t matter where we were as much as it mattered that we were together. This trip will be one that I will never forget. I hope you enjoyed reading about it as much as we enjoyed doing it! Therefore, in closing, thank you Intel, you have provided us with the most unforgettable 5 weeks of our lives!
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