Day Two
My Grandchildren read this Blog so to put it politely I have to say
“Oh My Gawd”
TODAY HAS BEEN AN ADVENTURE – we are not in Cancun!!!!
The day started out great, we arrived at the Buffalo airport in good time, checked in our baggage, got our boarding passes then fell into the line up for the security check before going to the boarding waiting area. That is when it all started.
You have to understand this was an area of MASS CONFUSION; it was not a busy time because we always arrive early like they tell you to. These security people had time to kill and they made the best of it! The people ahead of us were going into the metal detector coming back out and going back in several times each before they got into the air puffer chamber – I don’t know what happened to them after that. We got so caught up in our situation we forgot about them very quickly. We were the next in line to go into this section so while trying to listen to what was happening to these people – wanting to familiarize ourselves with what was coming up, we were told to put our carry on bags on to the conveyer belt and that cameras, laptops and other electronic devises were to be separate and who knows what else????? There just seemed to be so much commotion for so few people! Oh yes we had to take off our shoes so they could go on the conveyer belt and through the scanner too – I was expecting this but it was yelled at us as though it was an after thought on their part as we were on our way to the metal detector. God knows maybe in all the confusion we both missed their first “shoes off!” command!
It doesn’t get any better! We both passed the metal detector and the air puffer (my medical training didn’t give the same definition for air puffer). We were then told to sit in specific chairs (there were only 4 and all were empty – big decision for us stupid people) to await their viewing of our shoes, carry on luggage etc. This was an experience! Three women went through everything – they looked at us, did the “t”sk thing (with the tongue behind the upper front teeth – you know the way you scold someone) rolled their eyes and shook their heads. Seems we didn’t pack right – I used LARGE zip lock bags for liquids, sprays and gels – you are only allowed one quart zip bag each which is about the size of a sandwich bag – that really ticked them off! They were confused as to why my shampoo, cream rinse and body wash was in smaller containers than my body lotion???? They repacked these items with disgust; then Allan’s bag went through – he didn’t have his tooth paste and shampoo in a zip bag and we were only allowed one tiny bag each remember -so I had to toss my shampoo, cream rinse and body wash to make room for his stuff.
Finally we were released to go on our way. All was well – we waited in the boarding section, I sat with our carry on stuff and worked at setting up the “Translator” that staff gave me as one of my retirement gifts. Allan was off doing his mix and mingle thing and the area was filling up without my noticing it happening. A man and woman came by looking for a seat so I told them I would move over so they could sit down. The two of us had been taking up 4 seats – which wasn’t a problem up until now. They thanked me for the seats and sat down. Once the three of us were settled I confessed to the lady that I have a bad habit of spreading out all over – doesn’t matter where I go I always seem to use more space than I should or that I need. Her reply was “It shows” . We both laughed about it and her comment then continued in trivial conversation. Who would have thought – she and her husband were traveling first class and he was wearing $110.00 shirts – I found that out in the first 10 minutes.
Our flight left on time, we had a bit of turbulence but nothing to worry about, we landed in Charlotte, North Carolina on time and were able to have lunch and catch our flight out to Cancun at 11:30. All was going well. We would be in Cancun in three hours, at our apartment probably by 4:00 Cancun time.
It didn’t quite happen that way. We were in the boarding area, the person on the loud speaker said, “Flight number 815 to Cancun is now boarding, have your boarding passes and passports ready.” We followed instruction, then Oh My Gawd – I didn’t have my passport!
I went through everything – 2 carry on bags, my purse, the pouch we use to carry our passports, etc. in; and the computer bag – no dang passport! Allan went back to the US Airways desk to see if it had been left on the plane, the lady went and checked where we had been sitting – nothing! Oh poop, now what? The flight was held up for a short time due to them having to find our luggage so it could be removed – we were not going anywhere without my passport unless we decided to go back to Buffalo. The US is so stringent with the passport law that we were not sure they would even let us back into Canada and there is no Canadian Consulate in Charlotte North Carolina to answer our questions. We were so sure we had everything in place- all was looked after. Well don’t ever be so sure! I photocopied every credit card, even my organ donor card but didn’t copy our passports! Nor did I have the pamphlet that came with the passports – I don’t think I even kept it! So stupid!
Dwayne and Nancy had just recently received their passports so we called them, Dwayne was able to get some phone numbers for me to call, I was a little reluctant to call the passport office because I was afraid they may have immediately cancelled my passport once I reported it lost. Then what would happen if it were miraculously found? What a dilemma – I asked the man at the US Air desk what happens when someone looses their passport – he politely said “ In my 25 years here I have never had this happen.” Thanks!
Allan went to pick up our luggage at arrivals, on his way he found out that if he picked up our luggage he would have to take it through security – all checked baggage would have been opened and searched before he could get back to the area were I was. Oh and he didn’t have any keys for the luggage - I had them in my purse. Along with this valuable information the nice man told him he had passed over the (imaginary) line and could not return to where I was until he had a boarding pass. He then went to the US Airways ticket office, the ticket officer was well aware of the imaginary line and freely gave him the 2 boarding passes to nowhere. He then had to go through security – taking off his shoes and belt again and emptying his pockets. Thank God he didn’t have the ticketed luggage – it would have now been considered carry on luggage, and you know what that would mean – nothing was in small zip lock bags. He managed to get through without any problems and finally got back to where I was. I wasn’t making much progress – he seemed to be covering more turf than I.
Shortly after his return an employee from US Air came by and told us my passport had been found on the plane we traveled on from Buffalo to Charlotte and it was now in Syracuse, New York. I was so happy! The passport will be here for us to pick up at the baggage check in counter tomorrow morning. Our flight leaves for Cancun at 1:15 and if all goes well we should be at the Cabanas in Puerto Morelos by 6:00. I must say the staff at US Air were very supportive – they couldn’t do much in finding the passport but they did make phone calls for us and helped in any way they could. They gave us tickets for tomorrow’s flight at no cost to us!
We are at the Best Western in Charlotte for the night, I have had a couple of bud lights and we are now laughing at the day’s events. I have always prided myself in having a sense of adventure – I had somehow forgotten that until I got Dwayne’s e-mail reminding me “It’s not a holiday, it’s an adventure.” Thank goodness we had him to call on.
All is well that ends well – our accommodations in Puerto Morelos are being held for us, we have a nice room for the night and we have the tickets in our hand for our flight to Mexico tomorrow – what more can we ask for??
All in all it has been quite a day, an adventure!
Until next time - Take care,
Anne
