Two days recovery in Miami

Crossing the Atlantic took us more than ten and a half hours. The good thing of being on a plane, is to be able to watch movies all the way through. Guess what! I slept more than nine hours and did not watch more then the ten first minutes of one of the movies. Impossible to find out witch one it was! We had talked with Shana about the immigration process in the USA. We tried to explain to her how long it was going to be and how bad the lines of thousand people were going to be organized. We thought we had make it sound really bad, hopping that in real time it could only be better. Arriving in Miami the airport at first didn't seam so crowded. We got our hopes up to be able to pick up Kiru and Laska very fast. Walking to the Immigration room we were really shocked. It was worse than we had expected! Even worse than the nightmare stories we had told Shana. The crowd was overwhelming. We were tired, tense not knowing how smoothly things would be with the dogs and the minister of Agriculture. At the time we did not no how our two dogies had gone through the flight. Corona Virus on the way and all those people on top of each other. Coughing, sneezing and for sure not holding on to the security distance. 38 counters in the immigration room. 38 possible counters should I say. 7 counters open! We don't get it. And the line kept on growing. Kids screaming, people talking much to loud...and our expectation to go out fast, not a good combination. After two hours of immigration process we made it to the baggage claim hall. Here are the two dogs boxes waiting for us in the middle of all the suitcases. Both dogs are very calm and very happy to see us. But it is not time to get out of the boxes yet. Minister of Agriculture first. The dog's passport are ready, we just have a lot of suitcases to move around. That part was much easier as expected. Our dogs have been in their boxes for more than 14 hours. Our airport journey was not over. I have no idea how we made it to the rental car place! Like overloaded Sherpa, walking through the long halls and even taking the airport train. It looked like a bad movie, suitcases falling out of the cart several times and our moods swinging to the edge of the unbearable.

We had rented a family Van. Every peace of luggage that we were carrying fitted in perfectly, even Shana had a sit! Our moods were back to sunshine and were driving smoothly to South beach. Almost 17 hours after saying goodbye to Switzerland, the dogs were free, walking on the dog friendly part of the beach wearing their long and very think winter fur. We were relieved and exhausted almost ready for bed at 5 PM. We had only one day planed in Miami. One day to do some needed clothes shopping for Shana, who had outgrown all of her summer clothing and to visit our Tios Gabay. We had a lovely time in their gorgeous garden. Dogs running around, happy to be free. Shopping was short and successful. It was already time to pack again for the second flight.

Early morning wake up again, 7 o'clock ready for check in. At the counter with American Airlines our journey took a new delay. American refused to check us in with the dogs, It was supposedly to hot for the dogs in San Salvador. Instead of making a big fuss with the fat and unfriendly lady, we called Globetrotter our Travel agency in Switzerland. 10 minutes later we were booked on the Avianca evening flight. Thanks Isidor! Yes, evening flight ! It was by the time 9 AM ! On top of all, Avianca and American are very far away of each other. Meaning walking trough the whole airport, pushing all 6 peaces of luggage, 2 dogs boxes and our carry on. What do you do a day long in Miami airport, Corona Virus on the way? First you have a nice breakfast and after that you walk, walk and walk. In and out of the airport with the dogs. 10 hours are long when you are frustrated of being at the wrong place and have nothing better to do than walk around the little shops.

The dogs are finally ready to go. Packed again in the boxes. We don't feel as comfortable leaving them as we did in Switzerland. We are scared they could be left behind and don't make it in the plane. As we got in the plane, through our little window we saw Laska's box waiting to be put in the hold with all the suitcases. The stress rises. We don't see Kirus's box, probably already in, but we are not sure. Laska is still not in the plane, as the captain tells us: "plane ready for departure" ! We stand up and find the stewardess. We are very clear of making a scandal, our dog is still out there! She tries to stay calm and have us sit down, by explaining that both dogs will get in and arrive to destination! Finally we see Laska's box roll in the hold. Kiru? we just hope she is with us...Still nervous, we finally feel we are closer to destination...