Day 1
Location: Denver, CO
Today we set out on our trip to Lithuania. With a 22 month old in tow it promises to be a roller coaster ride.
We are visiting my dad who lives just on the outskirts of Šiauliai in Lithuania. Our travel path includes a stop over in Chicago, Warrsaw and Vilnius before a car ride to Šiauliai. A total
40 hours in travel... Almost two days separated by layovers and time zone changes.
Hour: T-3:00
We arrived at the airport at 1:30 with our flight leaving at 4:09. The nice thin about The Denver International airport that very few people know about is that there are three security areas, two which 90% of the traffic goes through and one less known one which spans the main terminal and concourse A. It took us about 10 minutes to clear, pretty sweet. Travel advice, pack an empty water bottle, it will serve you well. Traveling with a toddler I recommend bringing an empty bottle and sippy cup, once you clear security fill the with whatever you please.
Hour: T+1:00
So far so good, we boarded the plane and took off without much effort. Update: 10 minutes into flight I have urine and milk on me due to diaper malfunction and curious baby. Keeping a pretty good attitude considering Aida is behaving very well in the confined space of my lap. An hour has elapsed since we took off and she is just laying around sipping on milk hugging her faithful monkey companion kicking Elizabeths shoulder. Elizabeth is felling the numbing effects of her motion sickness pills and is saving frozen Vikings on her phone. So far so good.
Hour: +2:00
So officially I have become a parent. I have changed a diaper above 30,000 feet. You don't often get an achievement like that.
Upon our arrival to O'Hare international the transition was pretty easy. But traveling internationally you get to become part of O'Hares dirty little secret otherwise known as Terminal 5. Terminal 5 is the international hub to the world, in other words, it's the crapiest place on earth because foreigners don't complain.
The first impression of Terminal 5 can be foreshadowed by it's proximity to the rest of the airport... it's way the crap out there. So far away actually, that you take a train to it. You realize there is no Terminal 4 and can only assume it was torn down to increase the isolation of Terminal 5. Upon arrival, you are greeted by a McDonalds on the left and security on the right. Once past secucurity there is no life, no food, and no drinks. Your only choice is an overpriced concession stand that has questionable and overpriced sandwiches and a few soft drinks. Needless to say we paid $21.25 for two drinks and a yogurt. All while greeted by people who clearly hated their lives...
To our luck we managed to find a fenced-in learning center where Aida was able to run around and play while we huddled in the corner plugged into the pillar with electrical sockets. We were greeted by a mother traveling on the same flight as us. She had a 23 month old boy named Yusef (Joseph) who was only one month older than Aida. Were were only so fortunate to spend the next two and a half hours watchin the two run themselves ragged with delight.
Location: Denver, CO
Today we set out on our trip to Lithuania. With a 22 month old in tow it promises to be a roller coaster ride.
We are visiting my dad who lives just on the outskirts of Šiauliai in Lithuania. Our travel path includes a stop over in Chicago, Warrsaw and Vilnius before a car ride to Šiauliai. A total
40 hours in travel... Almost two days separated by layovers and time zone changes.
Hour: T-3:00
We arrived at the airport at 1:30 with our flight leaving at 4:09. The nice thin about The Denver International airport that very few people know about is that there are three security areas, two which 90% of the traffic goes through and one less known one which spans the main terminal and concourse A. It took us about 10 minutes to clear, pretty sweet. Travel advice, pack an empty water bottle, it will serve you well. Traveling with a toddler I recommend bringing an empty bottle and sippy cup, once you clear security fill the with whatever you please.
Hour: T+1:00
So far so good, we boarded the plane and took off without much effort. Update: 10 minutes into flight I have urine and milk on me due to diaper malfunction and curious baby. Keeping a pretty good attitude considering Aida is behaving very well in the confined space of my lap. An hour has elapsed since we took off and she is just laying around sipping on milk hugging her faithful monkey companion kicking Elizabeths shoulder. Elizabeth is felling the numbing effects of her motion sickness pills and is saving frozen Vikings on her phone. So far so good.
Hour: +2:00
So officially I have become a parent. I have changed a diaper above 30,000 feet. You don't often get an achievement like that.
Upon our arrival to O'Hare international the transition was pretty easy. But traveling internationally you get to become part of O'Hares dirty little secret otherwise known as Terminal 5. Terminal 5 is the international hub to the world, in other words, it's the crapiest place on earth because foreigners don't complain.
The first impression of Terminal 5 can be foreshadowed by it's proximity to the rest of the airport... it's way the crap out there. So far away actually, that you take a train to it. You realize there is no Terminal 4 and can only assume it was torn down to increase the isolation of Terminal 5. Upon arrival, you are greeted by a McDonalds on the left and security on the right. Once past secucurity there is no life, no food, and no drinks. Your only choice is an overpriced concession stand that has questionable and overpriced sandwiches and a few soft drinks. Needless to say we paid $21.25 for two drinks and a yogurt. All while greeted by people who clearly hated their lives...
To our luck we managed to find a fenced-in learning center where Aida was able to run around and play while we huddled in the corner plugged into the pillar with electrical sockets. We were greeted by a mother traveling on the same flight as us. She had a 23 month old boy named Yusef (Joseph) who was only one month older than Aida. Were were only so fortunate to spend the next two and a half hours watchin the two run themselves ragged with delight.
