Thursday, March 17, 2005
And so the journey begins
March 17 --- 1:20 p.m. Todd and I left for Chicago on the way to Almaty, Kazakhstan. It was really hard leaving Abbie. I know she will have a great time and be spoiled but I am her mommy. But I can’t leave my son either – so off we go.
Chicago Airport ---- Todd and I hustled to the Lufthansa gate to get boarding passes. We were 6th in line. When we got our seats and went to look for lunch, the line was about 100 deep. GULP! We made the right call. We couldn’t get exit row, but got bulkhead seats. We were next to an Indian couple with a four-week-old baby, yes, 4 week old boy. I could not sleep --- not comfortable. I did watch the two movies. Yack! Neverland and a Pierce Brosnon/Selma Hayak bad movie. By the time we landed in Frankfurt, I was dizzy I was so tired. We have over five hours to wait --- so we looked for a bench to stretch out and sleep. We both got some sleep, but it was very loud there and the bench was short. ☺
Frankfurt to Almaty --- Oh My! Teeny, tiny squished seats. I was claustrophobic. Watched Bridget Jones, part II. Read also.
Almaty – WOW!! Brand new gorgeous airport. both of us were stunned! Zipped through customs --- barely glanced at us, scanned passports. Onward. Bags took a long time to arrive. We were both getting worried. But they all made it. Met translator (Sofia) and rest of our group.
Chatted with Janet and Melinda on the way to get into the cars to head to the hotel in Almaty. We knew we would like them right away.
Charlotte and Dave Baer 2 BB and BG (10mo 8 mo)
Janet and Melinda 2 B & G
Rich, Beth and Sydney (3) 1 B
Ingrid 1 2 yrs old
We met Dave and Charlotte while waiting on the teeny tiny elevator in the Aiser. We all just wanted to lay down in a bed and sleep.
We stayed in the Hotel Aiser. Nice Room. We called Saralee to check in, took sleeping pills and zonked out. Checked out and met in lobby at 2 p.m. Loaded up and headed to the airport. Flight to leave at 4 p.m., NOT! Delayed until 6 p.m. So we all sat and chatted. Really nice actually. Checked bags and headed to the plane, oh wait --- no --- first we get on a shuttle and drive waaaay out on the tarmac to our little 40-seat prop plane. Todd was not happy. Todd determined that someone one pound heavier or one inch taller would not have fit in the seat. I agree. Good news is that we didn't get the very last row of seats on the plane, that would be Dave and Charlotee directly behind us. LOL We all tried to envision the flight back with all our kids --- total of seven. The flight was about two hours long. We drive to the Hotel Irtysh. Checked in. Small room. (see photos). Very, very hot. We opened our window to get cooler. The only problem with the window open is the dogs that barked continuously all night. Even with sleeping pills we could not do it. Shades also in, 80 soon as sun started up, lighted room up.
Chicago Airport ---- Todd and I hustled to the Lufthansa gate to get boarding passes. We were 6th in line. When we got our seats and went to look for lunch, the line was about 100 deep. GULP! We made the right call. We couldn’t get exit row, but got bulkhead seats. We were next to an Indian couple with a four-week-old baby, yes, 4 week old boy. I could not sleep --- not comfortable. I did watch the two movies. Yack! Neverland and a Pierce Brosnon/Selma Hayak bad movie. By the time we landed in Frankfurt, I was dizzy I was so tired. We have over five hours to wait --- so we looked for a bench to stretch out and sleep. We both got some sleep, but it was very loud there and the bench was short. ☺
Frankfurt to Almaty --- Oh My! Teeny, tiny squished seats. I was claustrophobic. Watched Bridget Jones, part II. Read also.
Almaty – WOW!! Brand new gorgeous airport. both of us were stunned! Zipped through customs --- barely glanced at us, scanned passports. Onward. Bags took a long time to arrive. We were both getting worried. But they all made it. Met translator (Sofia) and rest of our group.
Chatted with Janet and Melinda on the way to get into the cars to head to the hotel in Almaty. We knew we would like them right away.
Charlotte and Dave Baer 2 BB and BG (10mo 8 mo)
Janet and Melinda 2 B & G
Rich, Beth and Sydney (3) 1 B
Ingrid 1 2 yrs old
We met Dave and Charlotte while waiting on the teeny tiny elevator in the Aiser. We all just wanted to lay down in a bed and sleep.
We stayed in the Hotel Aiser. Nice Room. We called Saralee to check in, took sleeping pills and zonked out. Checked out and met in lobby at 2 p.m. Loaded up and headed to the airport. Flight to leave at 4 p.m., NOT! Delayed until 6 p.m. So we all sat and chatted. Really nice actually. Checked bags and headed to the plane, oh wait --- no --- first we get on a shuttle and drive waaaay out on the tarmac to our little 40-seat prop plane. Todd was not happy. Todd determined that someone one pound heavier or one inch taller would not have fit in the seat. I agree. Good news is that we didn't get the very last row of seats on the plane, that would be Dave and Charlotee directly behind us. LOL We all tried to envision the flight back with all our kids --- total of seven. The flight was about two hours long. We drive to the Hotel Irtysh. Checked in. Small room. (see photos). Very, very hot. We opened our window to get cooler. The only problem with the window open is the dogs that barked continuously all night. Even with sleeping pills we could not do it. Shades also in, 80 soon as sun started up, lighted room up.
# posted by demicmic @ 1:20 PM 
