"Beautiful Newark Airport" is not a phrase you're going to hear too often among frequent travelers, but that's the way we feel this morning.
After a perfectly decent flight (although the CO crew seemed more interested in having their own little party, especially in comparison to the superb service outbound), we landed at EWR at just about 4:00 a.m. local time.
We used our Global Entry status for the first time, although the lines were sparse and Tom, Ellyn, and Haley were through Immigration almost as quickly as we were. There was a not-too-horrible wait for our checked bags (the Star Alliance Priority tags were emerging toward the front), we handed in our cards at Customs and before we knew it were in a very short TSA line.
Brian spotted a line at the end using the WTMD (walk-through metal detector) and we all zipped through there with an X-ray nor an invasive search. Of course, after four body searches just to get from the hotel to the airport yesterday (one for each Metro Train ride, the usual thorough wanding at security, and the grand finale by hand as part of the honor involved for US-bound passengers), we're just about ready for anything.
We two enjoyed long lingering showers, and we're all enjoying coffee, bagels, bananas, and cereal in the United Club.
Our flight to SEA doesn't leave for another three hours, and we'll say goodbye to Tom, Ellyn, and Haley as they board their flight to DEN about an hour earlier.
Yes, it's nice to be home.
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.