the blue blog archives: iceland air and jetlag, working together for over fifty years to bring you happily to Europe and then make you miserable

What a great trip we had! Despite the morning snow showers in Boston turning into an all day snowstorm, despite the taxi being 45 minutes late to take us to the airport, and despite our plane sitting almost two hours on the tarmac awaiting its turn on the single open runway, we made it - and were even early. Our hour and half layover in Reykjavik turned into a ten minute security check and quick walk to the gate where they were holding our plane for us. Love that Iceland Air! And because we were the last ones on our plane, our luggage was the first off the plane, so when we arrived at the baggage claim, our luggage - and only our luggage - was already going around and around on the carousel. We snapped it all up and were the first ones out (first born, B, was very excited about that!).

On the plane, the boys got Lazy Town coloring books, a Santa's workshop sticker playset and yummy koko mjolk to drink. Icelandic is funny! Then all the kids slept. Wee one in her car seat...

Don't ask me why he has his socks off, I was sitting with wee one! Sleeping on the plane was awesome. I worked on afghan ends while we were waiting on the runway but then slept for most of both flights. I really feel like switching planes in Iceland works better for me. The flight is geared to having you eat something very quickly and then just sleeping. I feel like the longer, direct flights have more in-flight entertainment going on, take longer to get you through the food stuff and don't really get you to the sleeping part until later. When you get off to change planes in Iceland, you actually feel somewhat refreshed. You get to experience early morning rather than just getting to Europe and having it be midday already, and you feel ready to have a little breakfast on the next flight. It breaks up the whole trip nicely. We all slept well, we felt great when we got to Germany and didn't feel tired until about 7pm.

So what can ruin a perfectly lovely trip to Europe? Not just jetlag, children on jetlag. I spent the whole night going back and forth from wee one's room to the boys' room, nursing and holding her for 45 minutes, then sleeping by the boys for a couple of hours. I'd fall asleep and B would tell me not to leave. I'd fall back asleep and S would start smacking me groping for his blankie in the dark. I'd fall back asleep and wee one would start to cry. I'd get her settled and start all over with the boys. I don't know how I made it to morning. Ironically, I think it was my own fatigue that saved me.

All I know for sure is that it's dark here again already and, frankly, I'd rather fly from America to Europe again than repeat last night!

posted by alison at 11:42 am | in vacation 2007

Comments

It can only get better from here, right? I had completely forgotten how terrible it is to wait for an airport cab in Boston--I'm having a little panic attack on your behalf!

Posted by: Carrie at December 22, 2007 12:36 PM

I can just imagine B: "FOIST!!!!"

Posted by: Jason at December 22, 2007 1:13 PM

I hope you will all get more sleep the next night. Jetlag with children isn't much fun.
I wish you and your family "Frohe Weihnachten".

Posted by: Elisabeth at December 22, 2007 2:45 PM

The picture of your boys made me crack up. Wasn't expecting that! I love it when proper chair etiquette is ignored.... as well as footwear. And the open mouthed evidence of the mystery beverage-- perfect! I'm comfyyyyyyyy....zzzzzzz.....

Hope your holidays continue to

Posted by: Two Silver Cats at December 22, 2007 3:08 PM

......be wonderful, unlike my ability to finish my sentences today!

Posted by: Two Silver Cats at December 22, 2007 3:09 PM

Thank you for the update. I was afraid I would go into withdrawal.

You must be an awesome woman to be able to do all that and survive.

Merry Xmas, Alison, DBH, B, S & L (Frohe Weihnachten)

Merry Xmas and Happy Hanukkah to all blueblog fans.

P.S. Who's the kid masquerading as Wee One? She couldn't possibly be that grown up!

Posted by: Anita at December 22, 2007 3:50 PM

Very warm WELCOME here in Ol' Europe, Merry Chrismas and you will get through ;)))
Sleep well!
Yours, Eva

Posted by: Eva at December 22, 2007 4:41 PM

Next time you'll have to stay in Iceland for a few days ;)

FYI the airport is in Keflavik, Reykjavik is the capital and is about 20-30 minutes away.

I hope you enjoy your European trip.

Posted by: Luna at December 22, 2007 5:44 PM

I'm so glad you made it safely and somewhat swiftly! We were thinking of you on Thursday and Friday (really really hoping you weren't still in the airport on Friday).

I hope tonight is/was better!

Posted by: Johanna at December 22, 2007 7:32 PM

International travel with three children scares me more than bird flu, China, and George Bush combined. Blessings on you and yours, and may you all be jetlag free on the way home.

Posted by: Suzanne V. (Yarnhog) at December 22, 2007 8:25 PM

When my eldest was about 13 months old, we traveled to Holland for a week or so. It took precisely three days for the jet lag to wear off. On the third morning, I announced to my husband that I was walking home and never leaving the house again. That night, she figured it out, slept like an angel, and it all soothed out. Which saved me a very long walk.

Posted by: Kate at December 22, 2007 9:35 PM

i feel your pain. my 18 month old has suffered from a cold and an ear infection for the last week and his sleep pattern is all off. i'm worn out! hope you do better tonight.

Posted by: Cambria at December 22, 2007 9:37 PM

I'm glad to hear you had a great trip. It's always a challenge to go anywhere with little ones, let alone, Europe! Merry Christmas.

Posted by: Marcia at December 23, 2007 12:03 AM

Welcome to Europe!! Enjoy your stay here in Germany, even though we have no snow (Atleast not in the northern tip, where I live).

Oh, and I know how you feel about the luggage. When I was in Texas, I was the very first to check in in Copenhagen, and switching planes in CDG Airport, France, meant my luggage was already waiting for me on the band when I finally got through immigration - while others, who had pushed me back in line etc. stood waiting for over ½ hour. :-)

Posted by: lene at December 23, 2007 3:32 AM

I spent a couple months in Iceland and I loved the koko mjolk!! The weird thing about it though is it doesn't need to be kept in the fridge, isn;t that strange? They do something funky to it.

Posted by: Maggie at December 23, 2007 1:05 PM

Frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr!

Posted by: Anne at December 23, 2007 1:28 PM

well I guess that is good Karma...what you had to endure in MA..."two hours on the tarmac " dear g-d...that would really get to me...you were rewarded w/ Iceland...I didn't even realize one could do that...change in Iceland.

Sorry, you had a hard time getting some sleep later...perhaps they should all just sleep with you in one big giant double bed :-D

Posted by: Orli at January 2, 2008 3:28 AM