Day 1 - Getting there (Here)

As we scurried through DFW, we found a "present" and also a
young boy (9ish?) with a Lego airplane with "United Airlines"
on it.  We didn't get involved in one, but did the other!

This trip seems a little discombobulated at the start.  We are spending much of the trip with some great friends (Mike and MaryAnne or M&MA).  Their trip started with a domestic connection, and frankly before we even got up in the morning.  But with the disruption of flight schedules, it was probably best that they get out soon. 

A "lounge-y" lunch!

Bill worked most of the day, then we headed to the airport in time to get into the lounge and have a late lunch (and a bit more work for Bill).  We boarded our flight, and got to our seats, and settled in, happy to start the long journey!  The Captain walked by and seeing two children in the row ahead of us, he stopped and invited them to come up and see the flight deck.  Well!!  He didn’t ask us!  The girls seemed excited and hopped up, charging forward…into the flight attendant with a tray full of pre-departure drinks!  Spilled an unknown amount.  We’re off to a great start.  The F/A was visibly annoyed, but tried to pivot to “oh, it’s ok, it’s just a little spill”, which through her clenched teeth was almost funny!  We watched a movie and had dinner, and watched another.  Tried to sleep—no luck.  So watched a third.

Let's get this party started!!

To Theresa's great delight, they served us
"shepherd's pie" on our way to Lisbon.  It was 
actually tasty, so not throwing shade!

Arriving in London Heathrow, we were curious.  Usually arriving in T3 and getting to T5 is a chore, with security, customs, etc.  But, in the last few months, they changed it so that you can get from T3 to T5 without ANY security checkpoints! (but only if you come in from a few airports in the US)  But it worked great! 

Our flight connection to Lisbon was…well… let’s just say our track record for the “home town airline” in London is consistent…ly late!  It got us into LIS about 4PM instead of 2:30.  We didn’t so much mind because, frankly, we were both zombies, so we weren’t going to do much.  The flight, for us, was mostly uneventful.  But a group of ladies several rows behind us were having a bachelorette party or something, and the flight attendant had to cut one of them off (maybe the bride?).  Well, the “party” was NOT happy!  So that was our drama.

Someone didn't pay for a gate...so we parked on a "hard stand".

These restroom signs are...odd?
So, shapely women this way, and
shapeless people that way?
Seeing the sign and then a woman
leaving the 'men's' room was odd!

Our 'upgraded' room.

We were “upgraded” to a premium (?) King room in our hotel.  So while Bill hashed that out with the check in agent, Theresa visited with M&MA.  We sat a bit in the lobby and tried to plan out the next few days a bit, while visiting with all four of us probably foggy brained from lack of sleep.  Finally, we got our room and he had to half show/half explain how to get to the elevators.  You walk toward the elevator for the “plebians” 😊 and there is a glass door, we go through.  It goes THROUGH the Starbucks with a goofy elevated walk path, almost like we’re looking down on them.  The place was PACKED at 6PM on a Saturday with kids ranging from teens to mid 20s.  Drinking coffee after six??  Kids today!!  Anyway, there is a second door, and you have to scan through that too.  Then the elevator requires a key card to scan.  So, we are very protected from those little people…like our friends M&MA!  Since it most likely will rain tomorrow (90%), our plans are a little pencilly, until we see what it looks like after church.  Tired.  Going to bed!!