Day One of the 2012 Adventure

Monday, February 6th was a beautiful morning in Richmond.  We hurried about our chores to get ready to go away; simply washing and drying linens, making coffee, straightening up so Jessica could move right in!  Mike re-checked an e-mail he had received about AMC (Air Mobility Command) flights out of Baltimore. Quickly he registered for a flight to Ramstein AFB, Germany with a show time of 3 PM.

Our plan was to try to get on the Baltimore flight to Ramstein; if we didn’t make it we’d drive to Dover and try a flight there.  Dover would be a little more complicated in that flights were going to Rota and to Spangdahlem, not Ramstein, but they had a show time later in the evening.

Thanks to the wonder of iPhones and other communication devices, the folks at Baltimore had questions: which branch of service was Mike in and what was his rank when he retired.  But, driving up I-95 before we even left Virginia we were able to respond to the questions that AMC had and clear up any issues.

The Waiting Area in Baltimore for AMC Flights

We arrived at Baltimore, parked the car, checked in at the AMC desk for stand-by or space available at 1:20 PM.  At 3 PM the Air Force co-ordinator started calling standbys by name.  We were beginning to get worried, we had seen many families with children check in with orders, obviously being transferred to Europe, loaded down with everything they own.  They were even permitted to bring their dogs along provided they had their inoculations up to date and vet assurances. The scene reminded me of the sacrifices that my Mom and other military service spouses make to keep their families together during those many transfers.

Yeah! We get to fly!

Suddenly, we heard “all remaining space available passengers proceed to the desk for confirmation” and we were in! Mike spoke with the Air Force coordinator and we were assigned seats 37 A and C on a new Airbus A330 – complete with individual television screens.  We were finally able to check our bags and pay our fee to fly. Boarding took about 2 hours – not something you would see in the civilian world but it was orderly with no one trying to jump the seating call.

The Airbus 330 that carried us to Europe

While we had wi-fi, Mike checked transportation options from Ramstein to Luxemboug, our first choice for a two-day stay until the apartment in Paris we rented was available. Yipes! first a bus or taxi, then a train, then another bus – all with our suitcases in tow! After checking the weather in Germany and Luxembourg, we decided to contact the owner of the apartment in Paris to see if we could get in early.  Despite all the time differences (owner lives in California, we were in Baltimore, and Phillipe our contact for the apartment was in Paris), we were able to determine that Paris was our destination on Tuesday.

So many of the young military families were traveling with small children who were very insulted and upset with the trials and tribulations being forced upon them – but even commercial flights are prone to having babies and young children aboard.  We were even served a hot dinner: chicken with vegetables on rice, salad, and the trimmings. Plane was chartered by Ryan Air so flight attendants were limited.  But what does one expect?

We arrived at Ramstein at 7:15 AM local time after an uneventful flight and each and every passenger was greeted and welcomed by the base commander, Brigidier General Charles Hyde and his wife. Turns out the plane we were on was the inaugural flight of “the Patriot Express” a new service designed to move military personnel and their families (including the four-legged members) more efficiently and effectively to Europe from the US bypassing Frankfurt and commercial airlines which are costly to the government. It was quite a personal touch to have the commander welcome us to Ramstein after we passed through immigration and customs.

The square in Kaiserslautern

We caught a taxi to Kaiserslautern train station, bought tickets on the TGV to Paris’ Gare de l’Est. Germany was bright and sunny but COLD. Coffee from the coffee shop was very much appreciated. The temperature was 3 degrees Farenheit. The train was 30 minutes late and we almost froze on the platform waiting for it to arrive. The TGV to Paris only takes 2 hours and 20 minutes.  We passed through Germany’s snowy countryside and entered France which had a smattering of snow left but a whole lot of green and warmer temperatures too.

In Paris, we updated our NAVIGO metro passes and hopped aboard the 4-line toward Porte D’Orleans getting off at the stop Etienne Marceal, a stop about 3 or 4 blocks from our apartment.  We met with Phillipe, got the keys, determined Wi-Fi was working, and, after rebooting the cable box, determined the tv works too. The apartment is acceptable, probably not what I would do in terms of finishes and furniture – but you all know me.  I think it needs updating and a flat screen tv instead of the boat achor it has now, new cups, wine glasses, linens, etc.

After checking in, Mike and I wandered up rue Montgueril, past the fromageries, boulangeries, restaurants, poisionneries, wine stores, and found a little corner bar for our first glass on Cotes-de-Rhone in Paris on this trip.

Welcome to Paris! A glass of cotes-de-rhone at a neighborhood spot!

Then to a boulangerie for a baguette, to the grocery store for a few groceries – like coffee, and to the wine store for a few bottles of wine! Now we are settled in – especially after we unpack and relax listening to CD’s!

Stay tuned for more fun from France!