I wake up
early, hoping that will have me sleep on the long plane ride home. Then I finish
packing. I haven’t picked up much along the way – but I do decide to discard a
few things, just to make a bit more room in my luggage. Somehow it feels like I
have a lot less stuff now, but I think I just keep getting better at packing as
I go along.
I check out of the hotel and head out early – just for a last bit of wandering. I know I need to plan to
get to the airport early – it’s more crowded now, 5 weeks later. And officially
it’s a 1-hour bus ride to the airport, but there’s a ton of construction at the
airport so I’m leaving extra early.
On the way
to meet the Airport Shuttle, I hope to do a last little shopping along these
Paris streets – but most of the shops are still closed this early, so I stop at
a café for breakfast instead. They advertise Pizza Crepes, but I opt for a
pastry and some fresh-squeezed orange juice. As I make my way post-breakfast, I
am stopped by a Frenchman who asks me for directions – and (amazingly) I knew
exactly where he needed to go.
The airport
shuttle starts at the beautiful Opera House, then winds its way on a lumpy
bumpy ride through Paris streets to the airport.
Charles de
Gaulle Airport is humongous – and even just Terminal 2 has 13 sections, with 50
gates each. And, of course, I’m in the last section and at the very last gate.
Even efficient as they are, there are just sooooo many people to process. I get
to the airport early so I don’t risk running late – and so I have some time to
chill out before the flight. Besides, the stores at the Paris Airport are
Prada, Ferragamo, Fendi – so it’s a fun place to browse through.
Although I’m
ready to get home, there’s also a sadness that this amazing trip is coming to
an end. I watch Paris fade into the distance – but I also know that I’ll be
back. Europe has won over a piece of my heart.
Portugal next time!
ReplyDeleteMom
ReplyDeleteMom
ReplyDeleteSleeping in your own bed is going to feel sooooo good! And Pipa will go crazy!
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