.JPG)
.jpg)
Home Sweet Home — After 25 Hours of Travel
International travel logistics are not for the faint of heart.
After 15 unforgettable days sailing across the Atlantic from New York to Rome’s port city, my journey home yesterday tested every ounce of patience and stamina I had left.
The breakdown:
• 3 airports
• 3 airplanes
• 2 rounds of passport control
• 2 rounds of customs
• 18 separate luggage-handling moments
• 12 long lines
• 1 shuttle bus
• 1 Uber home
• Endless walking… and walking… and walking
It all began with a line over an hour long just to disembark the ship. In moments like that, it takes a serious effort to stay calm and accept that sometimes, you just have to trust the process. Especially when others around you are stressed, complaining, or even yelling at fellow passengers over presumed rule violations.
My connection in Philadelphia was particularly demanding: a long trek to passport control, a wait for luggage, rechecking it for the Miami leg, clearing customs, and then—once again—through passport control and security. It felt like a travel obstacle course.
Throughout the day, I encountered a full spectrum of humanity—from the grumpy and rude, to the confused and exhausted, to the calm and gracious. But the real highlight? The crew on my final flight from Philly to Miami. They were hands-down the happiest, funniest, and most helpful team I’ve flown with in years. Their kindness was a perfect end to a marathon day.
After 25 hours of continuous travel, I arrived home completely wiped out—but grateful. I made it. I’m safe. And miraculously, so is all my luggage.
PS
“It can be especially challenging to manage all these travel logistics when you’re on your own. Without a familiar face to talk to or bounce things off of, the internal chatter can get really loud, making even small decisions feel overwhelming. Traveling solo definitely takes a different kind of mental energy.”
