Vacation recap

Kevin exhales with relief as his adoring wife picks him up in Bland, VA.

We had a fun trip back to the States. Sure, I had only been in Doha for 3 weeks prior to leaving for 2 weeks, but it was pre-planned... what can I say?

Lesson 1 seems to be "how much money is it worth saving to fly more quickly back to the States?" The only direct flights back to the States from Doha land you in DC, NY or Houston. Because we were flying to Myrtle Beach and out of Knoxville, we'd likely have had to connect somewhere in the US. We saved about $800 by taking 4 flights to Myrtle Beach instead of 2-3. Yes, I am insanely thrifty, apparently. Kevin has decided after our 24 hours of travel, twice, that $800 just ain't worth it. Message received, love.

We spent the first week in Myrtle Beach with Kevin's family (I think the fullest the house got was 14 adults, a baby and 2 toddlers). We spent a lush 7 days beaching and pooling it up. We had absolutely great weather. Pics from our vacation can be found on Kev's mom's FB here.

This trip also coincided with Kevin's mostly every-other-year Appalachian Trail hike. He started in 2001 at Springer Mountain, GA and is slowly working his way north to Maine. His mom and aunt dropped him off in Damascaus, VA on this round and I snagged him 114 miles and 5 days later in Bland, VA. Was it coincidence the nearest fast food was a Dairy Queen? I think not.

We've been back in Doha for a week or so, now. Our bags were delayed getting to our stopover in Atlanta and they were lost somewhere going into or out of Abu Dhabi. We finally got them back after 2 days and had to schlep down to the airport to retrieve them. On top of all this, the movie system on the longest flight home (13 hrs.) was busted - pretty much just in our 2 seats. BOO to Etihad Airways!

We left for vacation one day after the 3 holiday days for Eid al-Fitr, so life on the compound was still pretty desolate and had not quite returned to normal. Most expat folks seem to leave town for Ramadan and/or Eid. Coming back has been a change since now there are neighbors everywhere and life seems to be back to "normal."