We were able to get a little sleep before we left for the Mumbai airport at 11:30 P.M. last night. A car from the hotel took us to the airport, and we were shown where to go. I find it interesting that only ticketed passengers with ID and guides with permits are allowed to step inside the terminal. Each piece of carry-on luggage has to be tagged, even cameras, purses, and laptops.
After going through stricter security where everyone gets a free massage, then waiting at the gate, we finally boarded the Lufthansa plane. I again had a window seat, and Paul had an aisle seat. Unfortunately, the plane was full, so a young woman took the middle seat. I watched three excellent movies during this 9-hour flight to Frankfurt:
Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick – The Accountant
Emily Blunt and Haley Bennett – The Girl On the Train
Leonardo di Caprio – National Geographic – Climate Change
We had a 7-hour layover which was longer than planned because our connecting flight was two or three hours late. When it arrived, they had to refuel and clean the plane, and put baggage and catering aboard.
It was tiring to wait. We managed to find an Italian airport restaurant where Paul and I each bought a slice of Ham, Mushroom, and Cheese Pizza. As we waited at the gate, I envied a young woman who could actually sleep during this wait.
When we finally boarded the next flight, no one sat in the middle seat! The entertainment system on United Airlines doesn’t begin to compare to foreign airlines and Delta’s international flights. There were overhead screens placed in a few spots, and everyone had to watch the same movies. The free wifi wasn’t working, so other entertainment couldn’t be accessed. That made the 11 1/2 hour flight seem even longer. The lunch food was the best airline food that I had eaten on a plane during this trip. I also managed to sleep for a while!!! That is a first.
As we approached San Francisco, the cumulous storm clouds were very impressive. I love to take cloud pictures, and these show what it was like to be above the storm.
When we landed, I called Kevin. He said he was at home and the roads were closed. He had made a hotel reservation at The Vagabond Inn near the airport. Their shuttle picked us up and took us to the hotel. Linda called just after we landed, and told me that since Joy is out of the country, she was calling to tell me about the hotel. Joy sent a message to my iPad with the hotel reservation information. I am so pleased that our family works so well together to help each other when needed. We have a first floor room. We can look out the window and see the water and airplanes landing and taking off from SFO.