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Today it was there, the saddest day of each holiday – the last day, day of the return trip. Word was to get up very early, the alarm clock rang at 4 a.m. Get up, looking for some matches to keep the eyes open…

Shortly after 5 a.m. we started towards the airport. First to the car rentals to return our car – that went absolutely smooth: parking the car, take the luggage off, return the keys – done. Then we knew: we drove 4902 miles or 7843 kilometers. Then we headed for the AirTrain, and with it to the terminal. Check-in, where we had to lighten two suitcases which were some kilograms too heavy – but we could put the excessive things into other bags without any difficulty. Then we went to our departure gate. En route we found a little snack – all other things are too expensive at the airport. Afterwards we had to wait for only some minutes, and then we could already board the aircraft.

The first flight to Philadelphia went flawless, we arrived on time. The gate for the connecting flight was found quickly. Well, and there it started… The aircraft was there already, but the first announcement told something about a little delay because of technical problems with the cabin lights. Ok, should be a big deal, maybe half an hour later. The departure time was moved at the display, then re-set to the original one – has the error been found and fixed faster than expected? No, again shifted by 10 minutes. Then the next announcement came: the flight will depart 2.5 hours late… As a little compensation every passenger got a $10 food voucher. Ok, so we filled our bellies. Then we went back to the gate, and after not too much time the boarding finally started!

Now it took some time before all passengers were back, and before the aircraft got the clearance for takeoff another 30 minutes were gone. The flight to Munich then proceeded without any problems, we could make up or some lost time and arrived about 1.5 hours later than originally scheduled. Then again everything went like clockwork, the luggage was complete, and we headed for the parking garage. Put in our luggage, pay, and say goodbye – and off we went.

No – we wanted to, but after starting the second car didn’t want to follow us, we suddenly heard a horn blowing… Go back – and there it stood and didn’t want to move; at one of the rear wheels the parking brake was seized up so the wheel didn’t turn anymore. The only thing we could do was calling the ADAC which promised help during the next hour. About 40 minutes later the “Yellow Angel” arrived, and after two powerful blows of a hammer the problem was gone, the car was moving again. Thus: at the next holiday trip put a hammer into the car’s trunk…

But that wasn’t it yet. Two of us already had a misgiving, and this was confirmed: at the exit the automat told us that the exit time was exceeded… Luckily we found a helpful receptionist in the next building who could inform the parking office and thus ensured an unproblematic exit for us. Nevertheless it cost some minutes.

Then we drove home, and the ride went without further incidents. Ines was very fast used to use clutch and manual shift again, the autobahn was pretty clear…

 

Yes, this holiday in the U.S. was over now – but it wasn’t for the last time…