We successfully exited the ship. This process is a fairly long one of gather then wait, walk then wait, ride shuttle then wait. I will say that I’m really a fan of how European countries handle customs. About all we had to do was get a stamp in the passport and pick up our luggage, no long customs lines like the ones I expect when I get to the states.
Our hotel room was not ready when we arrived, so Howard and I enjoyed lobby con with many of the other instructors and attendees. It was very enjoyable to sit and talk with no action items looming. The late afternoon was filled with ninety minutes of cruise post-mortem. This is a meeting with all the staff where we discuss what went right, what went wrong, and what we plan to do differently next year. The meeting always runs long because we’re all tired and we’re still unpacking our experiences. Additionally, the fatigue makes us unfocused.
Group dinner always follows staff meeting. And then it was time for bed.
In the morning Howard will board a train bound for a tour of four castles. I will board a shuttle to an airport and a flight which will take me home. I type those words, but outside my window is still the water where the cruise ships pull up. I’m surrounded by things German. My brain still has so much to process and there isn’t quite space for me to unfold the home thoughts yet. Additionally, I’d love to get blog posts written for the remainder of the cruise days before I’m fully out of cruise head space. Perhaps tomorrow during my two layovers. One week at home then I meet Howard in Indianapolis for GenCon.
For now, I’ll enjoy my last hours of being in Germany. I think one of the biggest gains is that the thought of foreign travel is far less intimidating than it was before. I have no idea when I’ll get to do it again, but that is okay. I got to have this trip and it was lovely.
I am sure international travel will come your way again!
I’ve enjoyed reading all your lovely blog posts about your trip.
Have a good flight home! It’s been so fun seeing Europe through your eyes. I’m looking forward to the ex post facto posts, as well. 🙂
Aargh! When you refer to “the Euro zone for customs”, you have managed to conflate three things. Firstly there is the Euro-zone – the countries that use the Euro currency. It has nothing to do with how quickly you can get into the country. Secondly, there is the customs union which is to do with how much paper work there is to import goods from one country to another. Thirdly, there is the Schengen area, which is what you were actually talking about! It is to do with (essentially) the absence of immigration controls when entering one Schengen country from another. Switzerland is part of Schengen, but not the Euro or customs. Ireland is part of the Euro and customs union, but not Schengen. UK is part of the customs union but not the Euro or Schengen. Montenegro is part of the Euro but not the customs union or Schengen I think most of the other combinations exist too!.
Sorry, I’m a little sensitized to these things. EU citizens get them wrong too, and they have a stake in them.
I’m glad you had such a good time! I’ll be looking back on the older posts so I can enjoy the pictures!