Lianna and I were set to board our flight to Ireland on Air Transat and after a year or so of planning we were ready to jump right into our 8 months of travel. Unfortunately, our trip would be delayed 2 hours as Air Transat was ridiculously late. But if this was our only frustration, it would be fine. I was wrong. To follow was the most uncomfortable noisy and intolerable flight I have ever experienced.

Towards the end of the flight Lianna began to feel nauseated and had to make a dash for the bathroom. She passed out smashing her face into the bathroom door sending the flight attendants into a panic. I waited patiently in my seat wondering why Lianna was taking so long. Lianna felt pretty awful for the remainder of the flight and once we departed the plane, we were happy our troubles with Air Transat were about to be over. Again, I was wrong.

While waiting for baggage Lianna’s bag was one of the first to come out. We waited around until the belt began to slow, I did not have my bag. When traveling for extended periods your whole life is packed into your rucksack and after 6 hours of hell I was furious to be without my pack. Forms were filled out and the girl promised she would try her best to find my bag by tomorrow’s. In the meantime, we spent the afternoon at Lianna’s Grandad’s house enjoying the company of this charming quick witted man while being entertained by Lianna’s extended family. In the evening, we were driven to Bray, a small town on the coast to stay with Lianna’s Aunt and cousin in their beautiful home and even though we were both exhausted we ended the night perfectly with a few pints in the local pub. It was very easy to get to sleep.

The following day I woke wishing and hoping my bag would be returned and as anyone knows who has lost luggage, wearing cloths for 35 plus hours is not enjoyable. After 4 or more phone calls to the luggage department finally I reached someone who was able to tell my bag was supposed to be on the next flight but they couldn’t be sure and the next flight out was not until Tuesday, that meant no bag for our entire stay in Ireland which would have been impossible, my anxiety increased. Our day was spent with Aunt Gaye and Tom driving us around the beautiful countryside stopping for plenty of photo ops and lunch along the way. Lianna’s family made it easy to forget my stress of the lost bag by immersing us in some of the most breathtaking spots Ireland has to offer. Around 3pm a magical phone call was received that my bag was on its way. Pure Bliss. I was reunited with my bag at 7pm just in time to grab some clothes for a night out in Dublin with Lianna’s cousins.