Getting to Venice Was Like Having a Root Canal

 I left off with four of our group heading to the gate for Brussels. As we looked out the window of the airport we saw dark clouds and rain. Oh No! This can't happen again! We did not want to be diverted to Rochester, NY airport and miss another flight. We kept checking the weather radar on your phones, trying to keep positive.  There was a delay, but no cancelation. Still, there was concern that we would not be able to reach our connecting gate to Venice. 

Is the rain going to delay us again?

I will make this short. Ann and I did not sleep at all on the flight to Brussels. We knew we would not be time for us to make the connection. We talked with the head flight attendant who told us he would do his best to convince passengers who did not have connecting flights to remain seated and let those of us who did, leave first. ( I forgot to say that when we had to reschedule we ended up getting seats in the back part of the plane, not near the front as ours had been on the first flight.) The flight attendant also told us to request wheel chairs as they would be able to get us through the airport, through customs and to our gate in the speediest way. Ann and I decided to get wheelchairs and Michael and Ray would run along beside us. And yes, I did feel guilty, but this was a decision made under sleep deprivation.

We landed in Brussels and people were so kind to those of us with tight connections. Some of them even cheered for us as we walked down the aisles. I tried to thank each one of them as we walked by.

The motorized wheelchairs zipped along winding around people and through customs without having to stand in line.  Next we were transferred to a larger people mover. Michael had disappeared ahead of us, and Ray was still trotting along side of us. It was then we heard a panicked voice. "Help us, please, we can't make it!" Behind us was a younger woman and her mother. (It reminded me of when Ray and I had to run from gate to gate at O'Hare Airport. That was another tight connection where Ray had to run ahead hoping to have them hold the plane for me. I was lugging a carry on and had this stupid purse that kept sliding down my arm and getting caught in the wheels. I was also wearing a mask and that made my asthma kick in. But, I made it.) We asked our driver if he could stop and pick up these women. There was only room for the mother, but the daughter was fine with that. She and Ray ran along with us and we made it to the gate where we saw Michael waiting for us. 

Here is a picture of our plane. Isn't it beautiful! We were going to be on our way to Venice! Yes!!

Look at our plane! And the sky is blue, so no weather delay!

We were so excited. We couldn't wait to meet Stephanie and Bruce who had lucked out to get a direct flight to Venice from Newark. We planned to meet them at the Venice airport and finally begin our journey. Our excitement was peaked when we felt the wheels touch land. We were in Venice! We shuffled out of the plane and headed to baggage claim.

We watched bag after bag slide down the luggage ramp to the carrousel. Ours were not among the others. We watched happy people grab their luggage off the carrousel and head on to their own adventures. We waited with great anticipation for another batch to come down, but alas, we were directed to a waiting area with many helpful people. The sad new; our luggage was not on this plane. The good news;, fill out the forms and the baggage would be delivered to us.  It was hard to be upset because everyone was nice, unlike the people in Newark, and there was a waiting area so we did not have to stand in line. We were given a number and  went to the window when it was our turn. Plus, we were in Venice! So let's be happy and take a water taxi to our hotel.

To be continued.....