Holland & Belgium Viking River Cruise
Day 1: Friday, October 25, 2024 - Travel
The day's statistics:
- Weather: low 60s
- Steps: 5,053 Linda; 7,380 Steve
- Miles traveled (approximately): 2,150
This really isn't the first day of our cruise, but rather it is the first day of travel on our vacation. This has been the norm for the five times - including this time - that we traveled for a Viking River Cruise.
The first leg of our travel was to get from PHL (Philadelphia) to Dulles in D.C.
We weren't supposed to have a meal on a flight until the Atlantic crossing, so after departing at 11:30 AM, we picked up
an Italian sub from our local Italian restaurant, La Matesina,
and took it with us to the airport.
In Philly, we parked the car in the ExpressPark South
lot at 12:30, and were shuttled to the terminal in about ten minutes. I had to download the United Airline app - while
at the ticket counter - in order to check in. It took a few minutes but it went smoothly.
My bag weighed 35 pounds and Linda's was 31.5.
By 1:00 we were through security - PreCheck certainly helped with that.
We were at the gate - D7 - in five minutes, found our flight was on time, then sat and ate our sandwich.
As we waited to board, we were informed that the flight was full - with 56 passengers, and all carry-on bags had to be checked.
The agents came around and tagged all the luggage and we were instructed to leave it at the end of the gangway before boarding
the plane at 2:05.
It was a small plane. Only three per row - one on one side and two on the other. The plane was so small, that at just six
feet tall, I had to tilt my head to the side a bit so as to not hit the ceiling.
We were in our seats by 2:10.
At 2:30 the plane backed-up, and then we sat for four minutes.
We eventually made our way to the runway and were in the air at 2:42.
It only took 40 minutes to get to D.C., and we enjoyed what liitle scenery there was to see - including the Washington Monument
and the Capital.
We deplaned on the tarmac near the gate, and a large cart was brought to us for everyone to collect their carry-on luggage.
We headed inside and to the next gate.
We had some time so we grabbed a Starbucks® and were at the next gate at 3:55 - and our next flight was on time.
Passengers were first called to board - ten minutes late - at 5:05.
Though we were sitting by 5:30, we didn't start to move until 5:50.
After ten minutes of taxiing, we finally took off.
By 6:30 they were serving a snack and beverages and, of course, we had a glass of wine. Well, a plastic cup of wine.
It was a pretty full flight.
We started to watch the latest Ghostbusters movie Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
At 8:00 ET, dinner service started. Each dinner included a roll with butter, a barley mix, salad, and a piece of cake.
Linda had the cheese tortellini, and I had the chicken.
Even without adjusting our time keeping devices - our mobiles were on airplane mode afterall - it was soon past midnight
Eastern Time, and thus a new day.