Have passport, will travel

I learned something very important today. Today I headed  to Egypt on a trip that was delayed over a year by Covid  restrictions. Just getting to the airport was an adventure, as an accident on the highway caused a 45 minute delay. When I arrived at my parking facility near the Atlanta airport, I told the shuttle driver that I needed the international terminal.  As much as I have traveled internationally, I have always had my connecting flights in foreign countries. It did not occur to me that- since my first connection was in Washington D. C.- I actually needed the domestic terminal. This mistake cost me another 45 minutes. By this time it was 30 minutes before my flight. A helpful counter agent sped me through the kiosk and told me she would call the gate and let them know that I was on the way she informed me that I would have to gate check my bag, since I was too late to check it at the counter. I was not allowed to use my CLEAR since I had my large bag. Naturally the bag got pulled at TSA since I had put my large liquid items in it. I told the TSA agent what was going on and she pulled my bag over to an empty X-ray machine so she could search it, discard those items and clear it quickly. I got through TSA with only five minutes left until they were closing the boarding doors to my flight. I then ran as fast as I could dragging two bags to my gate. I ended up having to check BOTH of my bags at the gate, so I traveled to Egypt without even the emergency items I pack in my carryon. Not ideal, for sure, but honestly I was just grateful to be on the plane. And very VERY thankful to the United Airlines counter agent and the TSA agent who helped me make my flight. Two flights and eleven hours later I’m sitting in a cafe in the airport in Vienna, having an apricot butter croissant and a cappuccino and anticipating seeing Egypt by nightfall.

Sunrise at 37,000 feet

Breakfast at the Vienna airport