Nearly one month after returning from our trip to Alaska, I guess it's time I post some photos, eh?!? Since I have 700+ photos to sort through and edit, my Alaska posts are going to be in multiple parts for easy managability (for me and for you!). Anyway, welcome to post #1: Getting There!
The outgoing trip started off on a bad foot right away when...after three gate changes and maximum frustration among passengers and crew...our flight left Dulles International airport five hours late. Yep...five hours! With a scheduled two-hour layover at Chicago O'Hare before flying on to Anchorage, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out we had already missed our connecting flight.
Upon arriving at O'Hare and standing in a customer service line for over one hot, tiring and frustrating hour (real fun after the delay in DC) we were sent away with a voucher for an overnight stay in Chi-Town because...yes, folks...the next flight to Anchorage didn't leave until morning!
Trying to find our way to the correct shuttle bus pick-up and then catching the correct shuttle was yet a whole other tooth-grinding experience. And then there was standing in line at the hotel to check in. And then trying to order pizza for a way-overdue dinner when nearly every pizza joint in the greater Chicago area refused to deliver to our hotel. The nightmare went on, but I think I've gotten the point across. They say that "getting there is half the fun." Yeah, well...whoever coined that little gem certainly didn't experience the nightmare we did on Wednesday, August 1 (and is also very lucky they weren't anywhere near me on that day, as well!!!)
Trevor was quite the trooper...it was his first time flying and nearly everything that could possibly go wrong...did! He kept his chin up and complained very little, however. I think the excitement of the whole "first time flying" experience is what kept him going. During the long wait at DC, he managed to get chatty with the flight crew (of course, getting chatty with anyone is never a difficult task for Trevor). His charm eventually won them over, as he was subsequently rewarded with a trip up to the cockpit of the plane upon arrival at O'Hare! I didn't think that could even be done anymore because of security issues, so imagine my surprise when I was even permitted to take photos!
Bird's eye view of Chicago:
Catching a snooze in flight:
Future Pilot?!?:
Next Alaska post coming soon!
