ahh...the honeymoon (day one)

Two weeks ago today (June 11), at this very moment, Al, Dana, dad and I were in my car headed to Detroit Metro Airport. Dana was flying back home to Colorado, and Al and I were off to our honeymoon in Ireland--a nine-night trip that we were really looking forward to. Dana's flight, unfortunately, wasn't until about 6:00 or 7:00 that night, but Al and I were to be off at 3:00 - or so we thought.

Dad dropped us off at the airport around 1:00, and Al and I headed to the ticket counter to check in and drop off our luggage. We were to fly to Boston and then head out to Dublin from there. We got up to the window and the Northwest clerk informed us, "You're not going to Boston. You're going to Paris. Your flight has been cancelled. You'll be flying Air France instead of Northwest and Aer Lingus."

Paris?? That didn't sound bad to me, and I actually hoped for some sort of a layover so we could get out of the airport, but it was a no-go. Then the bad news: "Your flight doesn't leave until 7:00 pm." Ugh. Then the good news: "We've bumped you up to business class, and we'll give you each $20 food vouchers to use in the airport while you wait." Business class? Just as good as first class--yippee! Sounded good to me, except for the waiting. We couldn't even check in for another two hours, so we went to the airport hotel, got Diet Pepsi, and watched television while we waited for 3:00 to roll around.

When 3:00 came, we were able to both check in and meet up with Al's brother, Mike, and our sister-in-law, Kim, and their son/our nephew, Aidan. We decided we'd all hook up once we had checked our luggage and cleared security, since we both had a bit of waiting time ahead of us. Then Al and I got up to the counter: "That's funny, they didn't actually reserve seats for you or book you on this flight." Ugh. I pointed out the clerk who had helped us at Northwest, and they figured it out and got us on the plane to France. Good news: "You're in business class..." bad news: "but you're not sitting together. Sorry. Maybe someone will switch seats with you." As we walked away from the counter, I almost started crying. A six-hour flight to Paris, on my honeymoon, and I may not be able to sit next to my new husband? "It'll work out," Al said, and calmed me down.

We got through security and found Mike, Kim, and Aidan waiting for us by the fountain, which was on--a first since I've been traveling through that terminal. We visted with them until it was time for us to board our plane, since their plane back to New York had also been delayed--they had a plane, but no pilot (also Northwest--see a pattern here?). Then we boarded, and let me tell you--there is nothing like business class (as far as I know, there was no "first class" on this flight--I think it was all "business") on an international flight. Big comfy chairs that recline and have foot rests, so that you can practically lay flat, and lots and lots of space for each person. But first we had to figure out seating. I was seated by the window in the fifth row (I think), which was right behind the bathroom, thus giving me extra extra leg room on top of what was already there. Al was seated directly behind me. The first person to arrive was the person seated next to me, and he refused to switch seats with Al. Big old meanie. I anxiously awaited Al's seat-mate to arrive, moping, and hoping and praying that he would agree to take my seat. The flight attendant knew of our plight and checked in on us every once in a while, wanting to make sure we could get seated together. The next man said yes! I moved to my seat next to Al and our journey began.

As soon as we were moving, I was given champaigne (Al refused it). Next thing I know, I'm being offered red wine, and how could I refuse a nice Bordeaux--especially since I was flying a French airline? I had two glasses of wine, which complemented my orange ruffy with rice pilaf (my dinner) nicely. Al watched movie after movie after movie, and I enjoyed my short trips to our business-class private bathroom, decked out with Evian facial refreshers. I might have read for a while, but they soon asked us to pull down our shades, because it was getting dark and people would like to sleep. I pulled out the nice blanket they provided, stretched out on my comfy chair, and slept/dozed for the rest of the trip. They served breakfast in the "morning"--it came very, very quickly since we lost five hours--but I wasn't hungry, so didn't really eat and don't remember what it was.

Thus ends day one of the honeymoon, of which, unfortunately, we don't have any pictures. Stay tuned for details on the honeymoon day two, coming tomorrow.