FLYING HOME -- LA REVEDERE ROMANIA

So here it was May 22nd and time to go home already. That time sure did go fast! Left my hotel in Cluj VERY early to get to the airport for my 7 a.m. flight -- do NOT picture O'Hare. There were 2 departure gates. And in case you find yourself in the Cluj airport -- there's no food to purchase, just so you know. Didn't feel like eating so early anyway. So we boarded our prop plane for the Cluj to Milan flight. I'm still trying to understand why it takes so long to go such a short distance. Two and a half hours?! These planes are safer than they look, but many people had very reluctant looking faces. Or maybe they were more afraid of the Tarom flight attendants. They are pretty scary looking too! They still think it's the Communist days, and their service (or lack thereof) was really dreadful. Also towards the end of the flight, I think one of them was in the bathroom smoking which I thought was pretty interesting -- considering they're the ones that are supposed to keep us from smoking! But then I guess smoking is a Romanian hobby! Not much time between planes in Milan, so on to the Alitalia 9 hour flight. Some day I want to fly 1st class!!!...Immigration and customs very crowded at O'Hare. Plus when they saw I'd been to Romania, I had to go through the U.S. Agriculture line. My guess was that it had to do with the bird flu!...I'm glad to put my feet on the ground! My mom and sister were there to meet me. Thank you God for giving me this vacation and for bringing me safely home.