I fell asleep on the couch a few minutes before 2:00 a.m., when our final load of laundry was scheduled to be completed. I managed to get somewhat of a head start on the packing and organizing required before our final plane ride but there were still some tasks that would need to be completed in the morning. Still, we were all awake by 8:00, which basically began a non-stop morning of readying ourselves, our bags, and the apartment for our return to the states.
Emmie left the sardines she made as a present for our Airbnb host Elsa.
Eilidh ventured out with me to make a final purchase of Pastéis de Nata from Manteigaria, to give to Amanda’s mom and the kids’ teachers. She was a big fan of riding the Lisbon Metro last year, and the same held true this year. She needed to be carried occasionally but was happy overall during the trip. She’s been asking a lot lately about our Ankeny house, so it was fun to tell her that we would be there later today.
Eilidh was excited about the chocolate milk we purchased at the pastry place.
We checked out of the apartment and loaded our bags into the Uber for the airport. The car seat situation for Eilidh, and especially Emmie, is a roll of the dice when we take Ubers or taxis, whether it be overseas or in the United States. Our Uber driver this morning was well-prepared for the kiddos and quickly retrieved two booster seats from his trunk. He told a story of being fined 500 Euros for not having his 6- and 4-year old girls in booster seats during a quick shopping trip to a store less than a kilometer from his home.
Three of the eight bags we were taking back to the states.
Amanda helped me figure out the self-service checked baggage process, which ultimately was much quicker than waiting in line for the assisted process, which we had to do with our TAP flight from Gran Canaria. Once our two bags were checked, we went through security, made a final purchase at Ale-Hop, breezed through customs, and found our gate for the Chicago flight. The security attendant who verified our passports brought us to the front of the line, and we were among the first dozen or so people to board our flight.
Noah did his part carrying two backpacks through parts of the airport.
Our final moments in the Lisbon Airport.
Looking out the airport window, thinking about our next trip.
No one got a ton of sleep on the return flight, but all things considered, the 9 hours went by pretty quickly. We landed on time and found customs to be surprisingly efficient, but encountered longer waits to retrieve our two checked bags from baggage claim and board the Uber to take us to our van. A shade before 6:00 Central Time, which felt like 12:00 Midnight Portugal time, we were happily loaded into our van and on the road back to Iowa.
We managed to make the five-hour drive with just two quick stops. We arrived in Ankeny just as snow was starting to fall, a little after 11:00 p.m. In a few short hours, the kids would be back in school, Amanda would be working, and I’d be making a drive to Council Bluffs to meet with clients.
Noah looks so old……