The Long Road Home

Traveling is always a challenge, especially the road there and back, but this time around, our road back was especially trying, though the idea of getting back home is what helps you get through it.

We started our return trip home on Tuesday, and it seemed like one long, difficult two-day journey home, with complications on the way. We really enjoyed Old San Juan, and would have liked to have stayed longer, but at least now we know. We spent one night, though it was dampened (no pun intended) by a torrential downpour that went on for most of the night. Since we had packed for a beach trip, we didn’t have any rain clothes to speak of.

Now we had a rental car that we were returning to the airport, and we had until 12:30 on Tuesday before they started charging us for another day. This made life a little challenging because our flight didn’t leave until 5:00PM. That meant long hours at the airport, which can be a drag. It’s nice to have some time and not be rushed, but at some point the long hours can be a drain.

We dropped off the car around 12:00, and then had a load of time. It was too early to even check in, so we headed over to the food court for more greasy food. Talk about a burden on the GI system. The food wasn’t half bad because we stuck to the beans and rice, but you couldn’t find fresh vegetables or fruit if your life depended on it. That’s airport food for you.

After a couple of hours, our flight finally showed up on the board, so we went through security and to our gate. One benefit of having so much time is that it’s no big hurry to get through security. When you’re pressed for time and standing in the awful line, you can feel the stress stripping the years off your life. The plan was to tough it out and get lunch in Newark, where our connection would be. At some point, however, it dawned on me that we wouldn’t make it to Newark until 6:00, and then there wasn’t much time to make our connection. I.e., we wouldn’t have time to eat. The airlines don’t offer any food on flights anymore, and you’re lucky to even get a drink, so we had to find food.

We didn’t want deep fried junk, so we inquired and learned of a Subway in the other terminal. I ran over, got some sandwiches, and ran back just in time to board. Once in our seats, we chowed down on the sandwiches and then sat back for the flight to Newark, where we would catch our connection and land in Boston around 11:30. From there, we’d get a hotel and then catch the bus in the AM.

Of course, things don’t always go according to plan. Our connection was late, and we ended up departing getting to our hotel around 1:00 AM. We went straight to bed, had breakfast, and then proceeded to miss our bus back home. We spent a few hours in Boston South Station and caught the next bus, but needless to say, it was a long trip home.

One bright note was that the hotel we stayed at in Boston was outstanding, we loved it. We hope to visit the city again and will most definitely stay there.

Now we’re home, getting back in the groove, and it sure feels good. I will say this: it was a great trip, a great beach vacation, perhaps one of the best. I think PR has a lot to offer, and I think we’ll go back again one day.

Until then, thanks for reading, and thanks to me'nthedogs for the pic.