Monday at last, and our time in Barcelona is at an end. Today is a really long day with the flights home. We weren’t sure if we would be able to make our connection in Paris, especially with only a 50 minute layover at Charles De Gaulle, but we did make it, thanks to some Air France employees that carted us to where we needed to go!

This morning we got up and finished packing for the trip back home before heading down to breakfast one last time. Afterwards, we went to go checkout at the front desk and of course we had a surprise. Those clowns now tell us that breakfast was 10euro per PERSON per NIGHT. Although we clearly asked the first night that it was 10euro PER NIGHT PERIOD, since we weren’t actually paying for breakfast, but for the upgraded room, and that was the difference. Well regardless, we had to pay it, but at least they removed the 30euro charge for the wireless internet that disconnected every 60-90 seconds, so there was a small victory amidst the larger defeat. Oh well. It’s hard to argue in another country when you’re trying to leave quickly to catch a flight, so we just left.

We left the hotel and walked down to Plaça Catalunya to catch the Aero bus back to the airport. Wow the line was long. Everybody and their brother was trying to do the same thing, but we still had some time so we waited in line for it. It didn´t take too long and soon we were getting on the bus. I was trying to count out change and Lisa was behind me when the driver yelled at her to get on, and push me if she had to, or he would push her in or out by closing the doors on her. I moved.

Finally we make it to the airport and try the electronic check-in machines. They found me correctly and took me through the whole process except at the end it just said “you are not checked in - please see the ticket counter”. Thanks Air France, that was helpful. So we waited in line for a few minutes at the counter and everything was fine.

Our flight was out of Terminal B Gate 40, but by the time we got there it had switched to gate 49 so we go there to wait since we´re early. After awhile an announcement comes over the PA and says basically to ignore all the signs but our flight should go to Gate 48b and take a shuttle. Umm ok. We did and it went to the right place. Not sure why they didn´t just change their info boards, but oh well.

The plane from Barcelona to Paris ended up taking off about 10 minutes late. Now we *really* don’t have much time to make the second flight. At this point, Lisa and I have just about resolved that we are going to miss that flight, and aren’t going to be upset about it. When we finally land, they are announcing tons of connections over the plane’s PA so passengers know which gate they have to sprint to. Ours was listed as Terminal 2E, Gate E73. That’s a long way. Gotta try …

As soon as we deplaned, we walked past two girls holding up signs that had various destinations on them, JFK, Beijing, Houston, something else, with a 15:55 under it. Wait a second, we’re on the 15:55 flight to Houston, so I asked them about it and showed my boarding pass, they said come with us.

5 lucky folks from our flight got whisked away by these girls down onto the tarmac where we got into a van and were driven around to the other side of the airport. We got out, ran inside some hole-in-the-wall room where some important-looking dude glanced at our passport and grunted and we hopped back in the van. Then we drove to Terminal 2E, where we were escorted to our own private X-ray screening line.

After this, the girl looked at a paper and said “Houston. Gate E73. That way. Go fast.” It was about 3/4 of a mile down the concourse, and we had like 8 minutes. At least they knew we were coming, but we still had to run the entire way, and of course I *really* could have appreciated a quick bathroom break, but alas, no time. When we arrived, the guy at the counter is all casual “Bonjour, hello! Boarding pass. Passport.” He takes the ticket and shows us toward the jetway to board. Yay!

Not so fast. Just as we are about to walk onto the jetway, a lady grabs Lisa and a guy grabs me and wants to check our bags. We just went through security but OK whatever. The guy tells me “You need to relax”. I am not nervous — I just ran a kilometer to get here! “I know. Calm down.” Whatever. Anyway they check everything we own and then let us on the plane, where we proceeded to wait 25 more minutes for 2 other passengers. I could have gone to the restroom after all.

Anyway we made it and got back to Houston on time! What a trip!