Today was the day I was anticipating to feel like the “real” start of our trip, since it was our first flight since leaving home and our first time in a new-to-us country.

We had a lazy morning packing up our Airbnb for the 10am checkout time. Our flight was at 4 which made for an awkward amount of in between time, too little to store our bags and do something and too much to go to the airport. We passed an hour or two at the local park.

Then we mailed some cards at the post office and began the journey to Charles de Gaulle via metro.

There are two types of people in this world: those who like to get to the airport early and those who like to walk up right to the gate as the plane is boarding. We are a split family. Today we were 3.5 hours early and I loved it. Millie and I looked through the luxury shops and smelled every candle in the duty free shop.

We boarded the flight without incident but as we were pushing back from the gate a woman decided she needed to get off. The pilot announced “unfortunately we can’t hold her against her will” so they had to find a new gate, get her baggage off the plane, then do lots of security checks that she didn’t leave a bomb behind. 2 hours later we pushed back once again.

This would have been fine except for two big rookie mistakes on our part. First, we expected a short 2 hour flight and did not pack any snacks. Second, we let all the pre-downloaded movies on Millie’s iPad expire. She did well considering she’s been waiting for that iPad time for 3 days now.

We landed alongside a rainstorm.

As we left the airport we were greeted with the most incredible sky. Millie’s first words were, “wait? Is this real?”

We rode in the backseat of a small taxi while it started raining. I love the first transit experience upon visiting a brand new place, observing the sounds, smells, infrastructure, signage, driving styles, and goings-on of the people around us. I could see Millie taking it all in too.

Our driver took us down alleys and along cobblestone streets into the Medina. He walked us the last couple of blocks in the rain since the street we were going to is inaccessible by car. Eventually we arrived at our bed and breakfast and were greeted by our hosts.

As I write this now at 9pm I hear both Nick and Millie already snoring, and a call to prayer in the distance.