Hello from Oregon!
H and I have safely arrived back home for the holidays!
Minus a major case of jet lag and the slight feeling of being overwhelmed by everything returning back home after 14 months away has honestly felt like I never really left! The trip to return back home though, wow that was an adventure in itself!
Our flight was at 5 pm so we were taking things quite easy before we needed to head off to the airport. Around 10 am a light snowfall started. With the light snowfall came warnings of a major storm due to hit around noon. Major storm in Iceland, that is like a weekly event, no big deal I thought.
However around noon the storm really hit and snow was dumping down on us. Add in the huge wind gusts and you could hardly see an inch in front of you. The panic started to set in.
We wanted to be sure to have extra time to make it to the airport because of the storm so we headed off around noon to the airport shuttle bus hoping to catch an early bus and beat the storm. As soon as we stepped outside we were immediately drenched in the heavy wet snow, running with our bags trying to not trip as we made it to the car. Finally we arrived to the bus stop but when I saw the parking lot full of the shuttle buses that bad feeling in my gut only increased.
My fears where confirmed when we walked inside and where told the one and only road to the airport from Reykjavik was closed and they did not know when it would re-open, all we could do was wait. Full disclosure, I burst into tears at this point. After waiting to go home for so long the day had finally arrived and I did not know if I would even be able to go!
I spent most of these three hours pouting on the floor.
We waited for three long hours before the road finally opened back up. When we were on our way to the airport our flight was due to leave in just an hour and the time hadn’t changed on the web. Basically we didn’t know if our flight was still leaving on time and if it was we were going to miss it.
This is the end of the storm, those turned on headlights were a welcomed sight!
Thankfully as we arrived to the airport a one hour delay showed up and we were able to breeze through check in and security to make it to our gate with plenty of time. The only issue now, we were flying out two hours late and would miss our connecting flight in Seattle.
A blurry H and I on the plane waiting for takeoff which was delayed even longer due to the plane needed to be defrosted.
Finally we arrived to Seattle where we then spent the next hour in the chaos of customs. We had missed our connecting flight as well as the flight they had moved us to. As we left customs we were told to run to hopefully make it on the third flight that was headed to Portland. I am pretty sure we only got on that flight because the woman at the counter felt sorry for how sweaty and frazzled we looked but hey I didn’t care, I was finally an hour away from seeing my parents. And let me tell you it was worth the wait.
I can not watch this without tearing up!
Yes, my parents are the best. Santa cried, I cried, Mrs. Claus cried, but it was wonderful, the best reunion ever. Santa did get stopped quite a few times on the way out of the airport for pictures, talk about getting everyone in the Christmas cheer.
And that concludes my long ramble of my never ending journey home. Things have been a whirlwind since we arrived but lots of Azora and Kaelene bonding time have been happening as well.
We are both equally happy to see each other :)
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I am looking forward to a fun weekend with my family and friends!
Question of the Day?
What is your worst travel experience? Any holiday fun plans for the weekend?
