Monday, February 13, 2012

Buses, Planes, Trains, Automobiles (and Hotels)

2012.2 Switzerland Alps
Taken with my iPad as I flew over the Alps,
maybe I need to give up my aisle seats more often if the view is this incredible.

After 3 months of 80+ hour work weeks, where I worked 20 out of 24 Saturdays and Sundays, my project is finished and I made it home.

This time getting home was in itself a lesson in patience and perseverance,  I left the office around 4 on Thursday afternoon, hiked up the hill in Lausanne (where it was freezing), grabbed my suitcases and caught a bus to the train station.

Uncharacteristically, the train was running late, so I stood around the station for an extra 20 minutes. I arrived in Geneva, found the shuttle to my hotel room for the night. I got checked in and quickly realized that if I wanted dinner I'd have to take the shuttle back to the train station because there were no options within walking distance. 6AM brought another shuttle ride to the airport where finally my journey home felt like it was beginning.

I landed in London on time and, luckily given how many flights had been cancelled last week out of Heathrow, mine was on-time. The flight to Chicago was uneventful, on arrival the snow on the ground made me slightly nervous, but I had a 5 hour layover, so surely things would be better later in the day.

Not so - only after I checked my luggage through to Salt Lake I discovered my flight had been cancelled. After standing in a few lines and talking to several people, it became apparent I wasn't getting out of Chicago on Friday. I sweet talked the airline into a voucher for a reduced rate hotel room (and thanked my lucky stars that I always pack a carryon, with the expectation that I'll get stuck somewhere.)

I braved the blowing snow to track down yet another shuttle bus to the hotel, crashed in what was probably the most comfortable bed I'd slept in in 3 months (thank you Marriott!) and prayed for a less snowy Saturday.

My prayers were answered and at noon I boarded on my final plane (for a few weeks at least.) More than 48 hours after I left the office on Thursday I was finally home. The best part of my trip home was being picked up by my sister, niece and nephew, how I've missed them.

The next time someone makes a comment about how glamourous it must be to travel for work, I'll probably grin and agree, but in the back of my mind I'll be remembering all the trips like this that turn the glamour into pain, but for now I'm going to revel in being home, sleeping in my own bed and being able to visit Target whenever I want.

Am I the last person on earth to discover Lana Del Rey? After a coworker turned me onto her album last week, its been on heavy rotation: Video Games

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18 comments:

michelle@decorandthedog said...

I don't think traveling for work sounds fun at all. :P

Glad you are back!

Laura lok said...

Welcome home!!!! Hope you get a little downtime to enjoy family and home. Funny isn't how the grass is always greener next door. Guess that's what keeps us going hope that one day we will have the greener grass.

tinajo said...

Wow, amazing how much you´ve gotten done! That pic is beautiful! :-)

~Kristina said...

How smart that you do pack a carry on "in case".

Courtney said...

This trip definitely sounds less glamorous. ;) Glad you are back home safe & sound for now. I'm sure you are as well. This is a really stunning shot. Very pretty!

Bonnie said...

It sounds like you can finally start to relax now. At least you got it all finished! :)

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Christianna said...

Sounds like you handled all the ups and downs of traveling perfectly!

The Felix Family said...

Welcome home!! I am glad you finally made it safe and sound! Hopefully you get the rest you need and deserve. Let me know when you are going to be in St. George.

Lisa Gordon said...

This definitely does not sound like fun!
Welcome home Jamie, and Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Tat @ Mum in search said...

I'm glad you made it home safely! I hope you get some rest and that travelling for work recovers its romance for you soon.

Simon said...

Just yesterday I was thinking of you....and wondering if you were OK. I'm glad, despite this horrible trip home that you are and wish you a nice respite with your family. Happy Valentines Jamie...you deserve some love. You've earned it.

Punctuation Mark said...

traveling these days keeps on getting more difficult... Happy Valentine's Day!

Cindy said...

it sounds grueling to say the least, but i'm glad you made it home safe and sound. happy valentine's day!

Diana Joy said...

Wow; what a journey to get home. Happy for you that you are now enveloped in your world and the arms of those loving children.

Sara McCarty said...

Welcome home! I'm sure it feels great to be back and get settled into a routine again. Traveling always sounds so exciting and glamorous, but it's always a wonderful feeling to be finished and back in your own home. That photo is incredible!

Anonymous said...

What a stunning photo from the plane! I agree that travel by air can be frustrating and far too long. The last three cross-country trips we've made have all involved long delays and frequently, missed flights. Glad you're home safe and sound.

blue elephant photography said...

you're home! yay! i feel the same when people tell me how exciting it must be traveling 4 times a year to China, I try not to cringe and just say nicely trust me it's all work 10-12hour days or more and no great wall in sight!

Maureen said...

I'm just catching up with some blog reading and see that you have made it back home. Like Dorothy says, "there's no place like home." Glad to hear you made it safe and sound.
xo
maureen

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