Saturday Departure & Arrival

We got up at 4:30 because the van was supposed to come by at 5:00 to take us to Seville which is about an hour and 10 minute trip. It was quite cold and the pouring rain didn't help a bit. The van arrived at 5:10 and we headed out. I rode shotgun to keep the driver company while Mom sat in the back with Carmen and Elizabeth who were also going to the seminar.

The driver took the new freeway to the Jerez airport and for a moment I thought that there was a connecting road to the A-4 Autovia. After continuing down the national road which is just a 2-lane unlighted highway winding between the fields, I found out that he was just trying to avoid the toll gate. His English was limited so Carmen explained to him that he needs to get back on the freeway or we might miss our flight. After a scary 30 minutes of driving in the pouring rain and sharp curves, we were able to find the connecting road. It was pretty much routine once we got on the freeway and we arrived at the airport with time to have some coffee and pastries. The plane departed on schedule and we landed at Barcelona where we had an hour and a half layover for the connecting flight to Naples.

It was also cold at Naples and lucky for us, the rain had stopped because it would have been a long wet walk from the airport to the BOQ. Taxis are not allowed on base and its only a short walk from the airport to the gate but the BOQ is a long 15-20 minutes walk from the gate dragging your luggage. We stopped at the NEX first and were lucky to be allowed in because the doors were just closed for the day. Bought some snacks for the room and then checked in.

We rested for a couple of hours and then met up at the base restaurant for an early dinner of pizza and hamburger. Carmen and Elizabeth returned to their rooms afterwards while we went to see Flags of Our Fathers. Parts of the movie were shot on location in Iceland due to the similar terrain and the shooting just wrapped up when Mom went TAD there last year. She was able to recognize some of the areas that she visited. It was a very good movie but I got a bit dizzy because it was set on wide screen (stretched) and a little out of focus. Movies are free though so I can't complain. Turned in for the night afterwards to get some rest.