On August 5, we start our trek home at 6 am by taking the ferry to Skiathos (1.5 hours). We had breakfast in Skiathos and then hopped on our 2:30 pm flight to Athens (45 minutes). Too late to get a connecting flight out to Rome so we stayed at the nearby Holiday Inn Airport Hotel.
On August 6, we had a 4:15 pm flight out to Rome. We arrived about 6 pm and went to stay at the nearby Courtyard Marriot Airport Hotel.
On August 7, we had a 9:50 am flight from Rome to NYC. we arrived at the airport at 7 am. At 9:30, we were informed that the flight was delayed because the arriving plane had to stop in Geneva due to a medical emergency. We were told it would leave about 1 pm. At around 1 pm, the departure board showed a 3:30 pm departure but no announcements so we had to rebook our connection from NYC to Edmonton to leave the next morning as there would no longer be any flights out when we arrived in NYC. At 3:30, we were told the flight was cancelled as the plane arrived from Geneva but the defibrillator had been used and no spare was available and the plane could not fly without it - but it apparently could fly from Geneva to Rome without it. They shuttled us to a hotel where we spent the night. I spend an hour on the phone with United trying to rebook our connections.
On August 8, up at 4:30 am to catch a 5:30 am shuttle to the airport for our 8:30 am flight. Utter chaos as 250 people try to get on the first bus that arrives. We ended up on the second bus. Our flight eventually leaves at 10 am. Flight time: 9 and one half hours. We arrive in NYC to find out our NYC to Toronto flight has been delayed. No problem, we still have an hour to make our connection. No such luck, storms in the Northeast US and we sit on the tarmac for one hour to obtain alternate flight route and then take an extra one half hour flying an alternate route. Can't make our Toronto to Edmonton connection. We arrive in Toronto and have to rebook to Edmonton. We finally arrive home at about 10:30 pm. So glad to be home!
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