The Trip Home

Wow, it has been two weeks already and it's time to go home!  There was a morning workout and a handful of swimmers attended.  I was still not feeling well so I didn't go.  Managed to eat a tiny bit of toast and watermelon for breakfast (was not supposed to eat fruit, but it's hard not to when it's so good).

Bus came to get us to drive us to the airport.  We were still trying to snap off a few pictures.  Here is Erin, Hannes and me as we are waiting:

The bus ride to the airport was interesting.  I think the driver took the same "short cut" that Alfredo took when he brought us home from the kayak tour.  I seemed to recognize the "river" that went across the street at one point.  This is supposed to be faster than going on the highway for a little bit anyways.  Then we got back on the highway and crazy driving!  Don't know if I'll ever get used to it!

Huge lineups upon arrival at the airport.  Their security/customs officers/army officers or whatever they are, hand examine every single piece of luggage individually.  As you can imagine, this takes quite a while.  There was a drug sniffing dog but she was sleeping, lol.  They open up everything in your suitcase so be prepared...He thumbed through my wallet and money, driver's license, etc. He looked at my flutterboard and pull buoys and I had to motion with my hands what they were for.  I also can't believe that he let the leftover Gatorade crystals through.  Had a very puzzled look on his face.  Neither Hannes nor I said anything, just as well.  I had to repack my suitcase after the examination.  Once finished in round 1, go then go through the scanner so on go all the luggage pieces to be x-rayed.  They we get to walk through the scanner, followed by a "pat-down" which I have to say was the first time I have had that experience.  After all that you have to hand in your immigration card that you got upon arrival.  I had trouble finding it and the guy said to do a new one.  I thought no way, luckily I found it.

Once this is done, you then go to the Canjet counter and check your bags, get seat assignments and boarding passes.  Then you get to go sit in the airport terminal for the next four hours.  We found out that our plane was late arriving and we would be leaving at 3:30 p.m. rather than 2:00 p.m.  Apparently on the way down, they had storms on the eastern seaboard and they had to go around them.  They also had to stop in Punta Cana to refuel.  So the normal five hour flight took eight hours.  Poor people coming in!

While you are sitting in the airport, they will randomly call out names.  If you are called, you have to go to a room with door closed and the "officers" will then go through your luggage again!  Two swimmers were called and had to go through this.  If you don't go, you won't get on the plane.

Here are some pics at the airport:

Hannes and I should have purchased some revolutionary souvenirs!  lol  My brother Jack would really get a kick out of that for sure!

Here is Agente Canina, the drug sniffing dog who really seemed to enjoy sniffing garbage and eating bits of food that people were giving her.  She just plopped herself down near us and was giving us the big puppy dog eyes as I am sure she wanted more food.  She is intently staring at Alex, who fed her some of his leftover sandwich.

There was a lot of book swapping during this entire trip.  Reading was a good way to pass the time in the airport.

Rosemary and Nadia are from Revelstoke, BC and Jo-Ann is my teammate from Thunder Bay.  I purchased an I-book for Hannes and he read from the I-pad.  If anyone wants the name of a good read try "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein.  It is a story told from a dog's point of view.  Hannes loved it.  I'll be reading it very shortly. 

Time to board the plane, goodbye to beautiful weather...

I will wrap up with a final post with my thoughts about this whole experience.