Checking In With The Jays

This was fun. I tried to do it a couple times. I'm the one in Paris.

From Valencia To Paris

The line at security was long in Valencia – as always.

Arrival in Paris. This was moments before I found out my luggage was already on its way to Dubai.

Thank goodness the airport hotel had one of these.

A bit out of sequence. But a nice photo before my departure from Spain.

This was my room at the Ibis hotel.

That big wall with the door is the bathroom.

And here's a look inside.

Really nice – and clean – compared to some airport hotels.

I woke up early Monday morning to find out who won the Super Bowl. The BBC had a photo of it.

Yep, I'm in France now.

The razor and shaving creme I sprung for in the vending machine.

On My Way To Dubai

This will be a quick post with no photos because I am getting ready to board my flight to Dubai in Paris.

Things were seemingly going well in Valencia Sunday, early evening. I enjoyed Sky Priority status in getting my bag checked for the flight to Paris. But what I wasn't told was that my suitcase was being checked straight through to Dubai.

So when I got off the plane and waited for my luggage, I was left waiting. A check at the Air France desk told me my bag was already on its way to Dubai. Ugh.

I made it to my hotel just fine, but with no change of clothes or anything but my backpack, it was a bit depressing. Like really depressing.

So I awoke this morning, showered, and put my (stinky) lululemon clothing back on. It's going to be quite a day since I don't arrive in Dubai until midnight. And one other issue: I don't have my visa. Supposedly, it will be there – handled by the race organization – when I arrive. I sure hope so!

Heading Back To Spain

This scene in Atlanta reminded me of the "Up in the Air" promo photo.

There is nothing "typical" about travel to Europe. But my trip Wednesday into Thursday was pretty smooth.

My new backpack was ready.

I was able to enjoy first class travel on my flight to Atlanta. There, I enjoyed some time in the Delta lounge, something now permitted when traveling on an international ticket. I made a good decision to eat before the flight, as it turned out to be an Air France flight for the trip over the pond. That means three things: no "economy comfort" seating in the first four rows of economy, meals that are not as good as on a Delta flight and a movie/music selection that is not as extensive.

I did enjoy the company of a gentlemen from Annapolis – Mitul – who was on his way to India. A self-proclaimed "idea guy," we had some very interesting conversations. I'm going to keep in touch. And if you see a bike race taking place on the deck of an aircraft carrier or a barge or other large boat, that was originally his idea...

On to the photos:

I ate here last month before my trip to Spain. Couldn't pass it up this time.

Mitul and I posed by this athletic "teamwork" photo at Charles De Galle airport.

It was a very cold morning in Paris. The jetway was absolutely frigid.

Travel Home From Spain

Delta got me from Paris to Detroit to Omaha ... but not my bags.

It seems getting home from a trip to Europe is never easy. And when you are traveling near the holidays, it becomes even more complicated.

Today's venture home started off OK. I actually got a good (five hours) amount of sleep at the Valencia airport hotel before heading out at 5:45 a.m. Thanks to the tiny taxis in use there, my travel party of three (Ted McDonald and Amaël Moinard were also making the flight to Paris with me) was immediately split up. But I waited for Ted outside the terminal so he could check in with me, like last year.

Even arriving more than an hour before my flight, I sensed things weren't going to go as planned. For starters, the line to check-in was long. Thankfully, I have Sky Priority status. The line at security was equally as long – and there I had no Sky Priority line to speed me through. In fact, Amaël arrived much later than Ted and me and took a different line to breeze through before us.

Our flight took off more than an hour behind schedule, turning my one-hour-and-50-minute layover into one much tighter. And that's where my bags must have had a problem. Because when I landed in Detroit, my bags were nowhere to be found. This put a bit of a damper on the special "Sky Priority" baggage claim that Detroit has installed. Also at baggage claim: several Omahans who would be on my next flight.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that a rather large man sat next to me (in Economy Comfort) on my nine-hour flight from Paris to Detroit. Sitting next to me was more like sitting a third of the way into my seat. It was rather uncomfortable having his sweaty body pressed against my leg and shoulder. So much so that I complained to Delta and received some complimentary miles, which was nice.

My final flight from Detroit to Omaha was slightly delayed but we still arrived on time in Omaha, completing about 18 hours of travel. Here's the day in photos:

It was pretty foggy before 6 a.m. in Valencia.

This is what I faced when I arrived at security: a line that wasn't moving.

The line at security was absolute chaos.

It was still pretty foggy in Valencia more than an hour later.

I don't think everyone made the flight, even though we were delayed.

Photo with travel partner and lululemon yoga guru Ted McDonald.

The in-flight monitor on my flight from Valencia to Paris.

Getting from the terminal to the plane is always an adventure in Europe.

I love having Sky Priority status.

Here's the aircraft for my flight from Paris to Detroit.

Seeing the window open reminded me of TWA Flight 847, which was hijacked in 1985.

Trans-Atlantic Travel

I landed in Paris as dawn was breaking.

Paris – I have gradually worked my way up the status ladder on Delta airlines enough that typically, I am seated in "Economy Plus" on international flights. This section boasts a bit of extra legroom, it's located closer to the front of the cabin (meaning you are served meals faster) and typically, I can get in a bulkhead seat, providing me even more extra legroom.

Unfortunately, for my flight from Atlanta to Paris, I was back in the "peanut gallery." And the flight was a code-share with Air France. That means fewer movies, cuisine that's a bit more international and no personal air conditioning device above your seat. It's not a great mix. But not too bad, either.

I always tell the person seated next to me (in this case, I was on the aisle in the middle of a 2 seat-4 seat-2 seat configuration) to elbow me if they need to get up. Generally, I get up more than they do. But on this flight, the woman next to me decided it would be easier if she just crawled over me. So twice, I woke up to her trying to creatively crawl on top of me to get to the aisle. I don't believe she tried to wake me up either time.

Anyway, my always-sleep-going-east strategy didn't work this time, despite taking three sleeping pills. It was a bit of a nightmare. I finally started getting drowsy in the seventh hour of an eight-hour trip. That's never good. So when I landed in Paris, I was not at "full strength." Here's some photos of my travel today – 18.5 hours door-to-door.

It was a busy Sunday morning at Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport.

Fortunately, I was able to enjoy lounge access in Paris. I always go downstairs. It is less-crowded.

In this terminal, there's no mistaking you are at Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport.

I exited the plane out the back upon my arrival in Valencia, Spain.

Breakfast

Yes, that is chocolate cake. In the Air France Lounge.

Transfer Day

One of several rest area/restaurants where we stopped during a seven-hour drive Saturday.

We dropped Philippe Gilbert off at the airport.

This will be a quick one – much like the drive across France went. (Don't long drives always go better when you sleep through them?)

I'm writing from a Novotel hotel somewhere near Paris. We drove here last night and I recharged all my devices, wrote up the final stage of Vuelta al País Vasco and finally put out the Paris-Roubaix roster release.

The hotel where we are staying is a nice one, with a restaurant – which I did not know. I put on my stocking cap to leave for dinner, only to walk around the corner of the hallway and into the dining area.

Next stop is the rendezvous point. I am getting word that my rush to the TGV station after the race has been changed to a drive to a hotel for a meeting and dinner, then on to the hotel at Charles de Galle airport. So that will be different.

On to the pictures from Saturday.

Air dryer at one of the rest areas. Similar to the ones at Aksarben Cinema.

Arrival In Paris

The no-frills Air France lounge in Terminal G at Charles de Gaulle airport.

An Easter Sunday arrival in Paris meant a bit of downtime and, thankfully, there was an international lounge for my laptop and phone batteries to enjoy.

It really does say "Hop" on the side of the jet. How fitting on Easter.