For some reason we are never ready, and the closer it is to leaving, the more you suddenly remember that you forgot. Oh well… we always seem to make it out of the house just fine.

As with our travels through Provence, we will be leaving notes and pictures here on this site.

Please check back often and follow us as we go along!

Sitting in Orlando Airport waiting for the first flight.

Security was the normal jumble of unwashed masses but neither of us had any issues getting through eventually.

Now we are having some liquid courage before our first flight.

Our first flight is delayed.

We might have a very interesting time in JFK since when we land we have to leave our terminal building, get on a train to the next building, go to ticketing to get our boarding passes printed, go through TSA security again and then to the gate. All of that in slightly more than an hour.

Sigh…

We have an extra hour suddenly. What to do?

Manicures !!

We are on the plane and doing what we always do. At least on the short leg. Wine. Cheese. Cards.

We got here at 10, ran out of the terminal and made a beeline for the train. Took the train to the next terminal, ran to Emirates and they were already closed. Checking was closed at 10.

Beg beg beg and they finally said they will look. Flight is mow already fully booked and they have already gave our seats away.

Sad faces.

They had 4 open spots in first class, so they moved two from business to first and two from economy to business. We have two seats. Finally

One is row 46, the other is row 80. Nevermind, we’ll take it. Now back through TSA again. While we are in TSA they announce the boarding. We run again.

On the plane we negotiated our neighbors and finally got to sit together.

Our luggage will not make it.

Oh well.

We made it!

Dubai Airport is big and pretty and shiny and new. And so far we have explored only one of the three buildings that make up Terminal 3.

We have 2 hours before we can check into our Lounge.

More ‘sploring to do!

Not exactly sure how the Bently will fit in the carry-on…

Ok. So you will not be able to really appreciate the size of this structure, but this is a picture of the outside of the Dubai International Hotel. It is huge and it is framed in wood. Keep in mind there is not a lot of forests around the desert.

So after walking through two buildings and three terminals (had to get our 10,000 steps in) we decided to go and find the lounge. Little did we know it would be the start of our next adventure.

We checked the email with the barcode in and they said next to Gate B26. Off we go. Did we know those directions were approximate? Not yet…

At the inside part of the terminal, kind of behind gate B26, we find an elevator that stated:Lounges. I insisted we go ask. Up we went. There was no one up there. Finally a lady comes out, we ask and she says no, the lounge we are looking for is across the way. No problem.

Down we went and up the other one across the way. Nice lounge but… the ladies there said it is not what we are looking for. Showed us in the receipt that it says hotel. Ours is at the hotel a few yards down.

And off we trudge to the hotel. Got the check-in, waited our turn and asked the nice lady about the lounge. Nope. Not here. We need to go down again, back to gate B26 and just past the McDonalds there is an elevator.

Our first reaction was: this is the place where we started!!

We got downstairs and when we got to our starting point decided to check the original website again. Yup. We are still where we should be. Can not find the place.

We walked past the original elevator, past McDonalds and there is an elevator but it leads to a Tapas restaurant. Aarghh!

Since this is the only elevator in sight past the McDonalds near gate B26, we decided to go ask at the restaurant.

Get up there and there is a young lady at a small desk in front of the restaurant. We ask about the lounge. Without answering, she asks if we have a reservation. I showed her the email. Only then does she admit that we are in the correct place.

Sheesh lady!!!

So this very pretty restaurant is the lounge!With all you can eat and drink.

Now we are cocooned in and sitting here for four hours!