Day 1 - KC to Azores

1pm:  Well the trip is off to a hectic start. We left work on time (11:45) and got to the airport on time (12:15)...but our flight is delayed. Just a little at first. But over an hour now. As it stands currently, we are supposed to land in Chicago at 3:50 and depart for Boston at 4:05.  Could be interesting. We talked to the southwest worker and this is currently our best bet -- to just wait this one out and hope they hold the flight for us in Chicago. If they don't, we're pretty much screwed for the weekend. If we don't make our flight tonight from Boston to the Azores, we don't get to go to the Azores. The next flight thereisn't  until Monday...when we are supposed to leave the Azores for Lisbon. Nothing like a little travel freak out to get the trip started...

We're trying to relax a little. Worrying about it isn't going to change it, I guess. Ate our jimmy johns sandwiches, found my licorice.  Just waiting on this airplane...

3:00 pm (in flight):  Well, our plane showed up a little late, and it took awhile to board. We definitely didn't take off at 2:30 like they said we would. I took the first spot I could find with room for my luggage overhead...which was a middle seat between two guys in row 10. The closer I was to the front, the quicker I could run to the next gate in Chicago. Matt ended up towards the back on the aisle. 

They just announced that they should have us "on the ground" at 4pm. Our flight to Boston is supposed to take off at 4:05. Not going to cut it. We were assured by two Southwest workers that we would make our connection. They better be right...

4:20pm (in flight): Hallelujah!! We made it! Well, actually we didn't make it, but they held the plane just for us! 

I was seriously starting to get a little uneasy as we started to land at 3:58. I was counting down the minutes. The guys around me were super helpful, jumped out of the way as son as we landed and told me to run for it! Which I did. Lucked out on the gates. Landed at b3 and our plane to Boston was at b2.    At 4:03, I was still on the plane from KC and my hope was dwindling. The guy behind me said, "Aahh, 2 minutes. You're toast."  Not reassuring! But he did compliment me on my "good attitude" about it all. I had decided that even if we didn't make it to the Azores, there could be way worse things than spending a weekend in Boston with my good friends!

Anyways, as soon as I could, I took off running. The next gate down was completely empty and my heart sank. I asked the guy standing there if I was too late for Boston, and he smiles and said all cheery, "No! We're waiting for you!" Not going to lie, I was pretty pumped. 

It took Matt a few more minutes to get there, but we were taking off for Boston by 4:15. (So they didnt have to hold the plane long.) Amazing. Unfortunately we didn't get to sit together since we were the last ones on the almost full flight, and we had to heck our bags, but oh well! We're on our way to the Azores! And we're supposed to land in Boston a little early...which means more time for a possible visit with Ang and Luke!

(Just had a bathroom break and got a granola bar from Matt. Going to try and sleep a little now. Pretty sure the 4 hours on our next flight are not going to cut it for me for a night!)

8:45pm: Well I couldn't sleep on the 2 hour flight from Chicago to Boston. I think I was too wound up from the drama of possibly missing it! The flight wasn't bad though. Landed in Boston at 7:10pm. And its one of those airports where it looks like you're going to land in the water before you actually barely hit ground! 

Since we had to check our bags in Chicago, we had to go wait at baggage claim. I was too impatient for that so I took off to try and find where we needed to check in for our international flight. It was down he corridor and up the escalator...and there was a pretty decent line. So I left Matt to get our bags and I waited there. I'm pretty sure I was the only white non-Portuguese speaking person in that line, haha. And everyone had multiple huge bags they were checking in!

 I was almost to the front when Matt made it up with our bags. We had both planned on just carrying them on (they're small enough to) but apparently there is a weight limit of 8 kilos - however many pounds that is? - and we were both over. So much for packing lightly to fit in a carry on! We didn't have to pay though, so it wasn't really a big deal. (Oh, and the fire alarm was going off in the airport the whole time we were waiting in line / checking in! Not one person seemed concerned!)

Got our boarding passes and called my friends. Unfortunately it was a little more of a hassle than we anticipated - takes awhile to get to and from this airport, so we just decided it would be easier to not do it. Sad to miss seeing them when we're so close, but sure don't want to miss this flight!

That all turned out to be a pretty good decision once we turned the corner and saw the absurdly long security line to go through! It took quite awhile. (The fire alarm finally stopped going off at some poin during our wait.) I don't know if the airport is just extra busy tonight or if there security check in system sucks.

Once we got through, we had a little time to kill, so we found a nice little place to eat called Vino Volo. I was a wine place, but they actually had good food, too! I had a salad and chicken sandwich and Matt had some pork tacos. Best airport food Ive had in awhile! And it was fast too! (Starbucks yogurt parfait for dessert!)

Tried on expensive sunglasses at the Duty Free shop. Just sitting around waiting for our flight to start boarding at 9:30 for our 10:15 departure! 

Midnight (in flight): Yes, I am still awake at midnight. It's a miracle. A bad one, though, haha. I need to be asleep!

We boarded the plane around 9:45 and found our two seats. Right in the middle of two large Portuguese women. It's a big plane - two on the left, four in the middle, two on the right. We both expected it to be smaller, but the flight continues on to Lisbon, so it makes a little more sense that its big. Anyways, how we ended up smack dab in the middle is beyond me. And on top of that, the seats are close together, quite uncomfortable, and the arm rest doesn't go up (so I can't lay on Matt)! He's probably happy about that, because he's been sleeping most of the flight. I am no where close to sleep. They won't even turn the lights off! It's super bright in here and they just served dinner. At midnight! Come on, people!!  Ugh. Going to be a loooong day tomorrow. Matt doesn't know what he's in for with me going on zero sleep, haha! 

Portugal & Spain

Matt just turned 30, and I'm up next month.  To celebrate this milestone, we decided to treat ourselves to a week in Portugal and Spain.  (Oh who am I kidding.  I just love to travel and decided to use our birthdays as another excuse to go somewhere...)

We leave this afternoon (Friday) for Boston.  With a couple of hours to spare there, we might try and sneak in a quick visit with my Friends Angie and Luke?

From there, it's off to the Azores for the weekend -- an archipelago of 9 volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean between the US and Europe.


They're right in the middle of the map above.

The main island of Ponta Delgada, where we will be staying, is only a 4 hour flight from Boston.  We leave around 10pm and land 4 hours later...except it will be 7am there.  Yikes.  Going to have to go on not much sleep I guess!

It doesn't seem like many people I've talked to know about the Azores.  I saw them in a movie once...or so I thought.  There is a scene in Knight & Day (comedy with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz) where they are supposedly in the Azores.  It looked amazing, so I decided I wanted to go there someday.  Turns out, it was actually filmed in Jamaica.  Ha!  Oh well, I still want to go...

There is plenty to do there...mostly hiking and seeing lakes, waterfalls, etc.  Just hoping for some nice weather to get out and enjoy.  Right now, the forecast is for 60's and cloudy with a slight chance of rain. 

Oh, and we're renting a car there.  Could be interesting if they only have manual cars.  I haven't driven one of those in years.  In fact, the last time I did was when I was living in Tahoe...and I let the car roll backwards in to the car behind me at a stop light on a hill.  Woops.  Let's just say some prayers for some automatic cars on the island.

Anyways, on Monday, we fly to Lisbon, Portugal, for two days.  One of those days will be spent traveling to Sintra and Cabo da Roca.  They both look amazing:



Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point in all of Europe



On Wednesday, it's off to Barcelona, Spain, for two days.  We booked a cheap little hotel right off Las Ramblas.  Not a whole lot planned for there, but there is definitely lots to do and see.  We thought we were going to get to see a FC Barcelona soccer game, but the schedule changed and now we're missing it.

On Friday, we fly to Ibiza.  This might be what I am most excited for out of the whole trip.  I hadn't even heard of Ibiza before Matt, but as soon as he told me about it, I knew I had to go there. 

Ibiza

Ibiza is one of the Balearic island in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain.  It is known for it's crazy awesome dance clubs and electronic music.  Sign.  Me. Up.  And as luck would have it, the weekend we are there just happens to be "opening weekend" for a couple of the clubs.  (They close during the winter months.)  We made dinner reservations months in advance to secure entrance to the club afterwards, and bought tickets for another party the next night.  I don't even really know what to expect, but as long as there is loud music (some of the worlds top DJ's play there) and lots of dancing, I'll be pumped.  And if the clubs somehow suck (yea, right) then there are endless beaches all over the island.  (And we're renting a car again...yikes.)

We fly to Madrid on Sunday morning, where we plan to hit up the Sunday flea market El Rastro (one of  the biggest in Europe).  The super chic hotel we booked for the night just happens to be overlooking the best street in all of Spain for tapas, so our evening/night should be covered there.

Monday morning we fly to Dublin where we have a few hour layover.  Maybe we will get out of the airport for a beer or two?  Then home to KC via Chicago. 

Two nights in Azores, two nights in Lisbon, two nights in Barcelona, two nights in Ibiza, one night in Madrid.  Wish us luck! :)

(All of our hotels are supposed to have wifi, so I'll try and update along the way as often as possible!)

30th Birthdays

We celebrated a couple of big 30th birthdays last week.  My sister-in-law, Christa, on May 4th and then Matt on May 8th.  (I'll join them in the 30 club next month.)

Christa had a painting party - of course.  Miss Artsy Crafty.  I'm the worlds worst painter and have negative artistic abilities, but she assured me this painting class would be a good time.  And she was definitely right, despite my nervousness.   


We went to Thirsty Palette in Leawood where they give you the canvas and the paint and then a teacher stands up front and instructs you on how to mix colors and do the chosen painting of the night.   We did the 'Cotton Candy Tree' and it seriously was so fun -- and mine actually turned out decent!  The finished product is now hanging in my closet.

(Allie's was my favorite one out of the whole class)

I've already been eyeing the Thirsty Palette calendar and scheduled paintings to pick out some to go back for!  Such a cool concept and so fun.  I mean, if they can help ME get a normal looking painting, there's hope for anyone!

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On Christa's actual birthday, we went to dinner at - you guessed it - Will Jenny's with her family and then went out for some drinks and dancing at Kanza Hall.  One of the best 'people watching' nights I've had in awhile, haha.  Some creepy old guy even bought me a drink!  None of us go out much, so it was a really fun time!



                    

Dinner at Will Jennys                                          Drinks at Kanza Hall

Enjoying watching all the line dancers!

  

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We had a bout of unseasonably cold weather last week, too.  So while Matt was in Las Vegas on his annual 'guys trip' enjoying THIS (poolside)...

I was in Kansas in THIS (snow).    What the... ?? 

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Since Vegas wasn't enough of a birthday celebration for Matt, we still had 'birthday week' back here.  I woke him up on his birthday with breakfast in bed.  I'm not going to lie, I spent some serious time on thinking this one out (I had a 'blueprint' for goodness sake), and I was pretty proud of the finished product: 

(Should I mention the syrup was MOLDY and ruined the entire breakfast??)

That night we went to one of his favorite restaurants, Port Fonda, with his brother and roommate.  They all just love that place.  Followed that up with some frozen yogurt and drinks back at the house, and they were all about to pop. (Oh, and a Spurs win.  That really made the birthday a good one.)

Friday night, the celebration continued.  We went to La Bodega, which is where Matt took me on our first date.  I don't know why we haven't been back since because we both love it. (Forgot to take any pics!) 

And then the final birthday celebration was at Justus Drugstore in Smithville on Saturday night.  It is hands down the best food either of us have had in the KC area.  Our reservation was at 6:30pm and we didn't leave until almost 10pm.  3.5 hours for dinner?  Must be good!



I took lots of pictures, but I couldn't tell you what half of the stuff was.  It's the most unique combinations of odd things that all taste just wonderful.  My entree was short ribs and Matt had a steak, but all the other stuff...who knows. We'll just call it amazingly delicious. :)

Short rib over sweet potato puree // Steak with grilled lettuce and ??

Oh, and Matt had a few drinks to help him through the night, haha.  I think a good portion of our bill was spent on these...

So many, in fact, that I convinced him to go to Mosaic at P&L after dinner.  We never EVER go out downtown, but hey, you only turn 30 once, right? 

(Holding up 5 fingers for his 5th drink of the night...)                                             

It actually was a pretty fun night!  

Some drinking.  Some dancing.  Some people watching.

Well, a fun night for me anyways.  Matt's ended half clothed and crumpled up in a ball on top of the bed (not in it), haha!  We're clearly getting too old to go out partying!

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Speaking of turning the big 3-0, our REAL birthday celebration is a trip - of course.  Traveling is our favorite thing to do, so that's what we got ourselves for our birthdays -- 10 days in Portugal and Spain!  We leave this Friday and I could NOT be more excited for it!