Wheels Up, Again

Monday, June 9, 2025

Denver, Colorado

We’re taking advantage of the generous credits Azamara bestowed due to rerouting on the world cruise last year. A back-to-back cruise to the fijords of Norway and the Scandinavian countries circling the Baltic awaits. We’re heading first to Copenhagen, which promises to be more than worth all the hassles…Arranging the flights, checking in online …paper or I-phone. Lock the luggage or take your chances. Arrange a ride to DIA in rush hour traffic. Kevin our driver knows all the back streets and work-around to avoid the horrific traffic.

There is nothing simple about getting ready to go abroad once more! Jerry is turning over his gardening chores to dear neighbor Mary as well as the paid lawn service! The rains we’ve enjoyed and Jerry’s daily attentions have manifested a wonderful display of blooms and green lawn, so we will be missing the height of peony season! Otherwise, there are some major projects underway at our condo and frankly, we’re happy to miss some of the disruptions in the building.

But the most troublesome is leaving our sweet kitty. Lucy follows us around the condo, looking curious like “what’s going on”? Getting into the open suitcase, chasing loose tags, she is simply a curious little devil. We’re so blessed with a staff of willing Lucy-sitters, Matt, Madi, and Emma will check in twice daily, feed, remove litter and spend a little time playing with our little trickster. She needs lots of stimulation and we are relieved to know she will be pampered.

But I digress, Denver International Airport is a mess! The construction outside and within has hardly improved the drop-off or the check-in procedure (#satire) We were directed by cheerful, t-shirt clad folks who pointed us to the wrong, unmarked counters only to be redirected to United on a different floor. Back at United, success in checking in and waving goodbye to our suitcases we hope we reappear in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Then on to TSA. If TSA is the answer, what is the question? Shoes on or off? Liquids? With four metal hips, and two knees and one shoulder, heavy metal has taken on a whole new meaning! Weirdly, the TSA process is confusing, and confounding, but not reassuring that our safety has been enhanced. So much for security.

Call us elitist, but we believe lengthy airline flights are only tolerable if we can stretch out and possibly sleep. Good night’s rest is not realistic, but a few hours of shut eye are essential. Goodnight USA, Godmorgen, Denmark.