I sit on the plane to Cape Town as I write this. By the time I am able to post it I will hopefully be in Cape Town, but had a lot on my mind after the Paris layover. Im in the final six and a half hours before arriving. I stink, I’m tired, my knees are creaking.

On the positive side: Delta international has made this trip amazing. I don’t know if I will ever choose to fly another airline overseas again. For real – crew and experience has been amazing at making your long uncomfortable flight seem like a comfortable one. Props to Delta!

Also… shout out to Mama Schulte for French braiding my hair before I left and I’m not constantly battling with that.

The layover in Paris was short but slightly overwhelming. It could have been numerous factors of reasons why I felt this way, such as: just enduring an 8 hour flight from Cincinnati, the time change, everyone is moving a 100 miles an hour, busiest airport I’ve ever seen, or just the simple fact that I didn’t understand anything said over the intercom. All employees were welcoming (I partially believe this to be true because they could see the terrified look all over this American girl’s face as I made my way around)

Let’s just say I was happy to board when it finally got to be that time.

Once aboard I quickly popped some ZZZquil gummies and hoped they would kick in soon. The seat next to me remained vacant until time for take off do that was a burst of sudden joy! SO MUCH ROOM FOR ME AND MY THINGS!

It was 10 am in Paris so the sun was still heavy but after turning on The Mule I eventually drifted off to Clint Eastwood’s voice… unfortunately I woke up after only a short snooze to a French pilot over the loud speaker and, I believe it was because I was drowsy, but I immediately had this fear that we were landing and I knew it wasn’t time yet!!

Low key freaking out and with a sudden urgency to pee I make my way to the restrooms in the back of the plane and ask the stewerdist if the plane was landing? I think she saw that I had just woke up cause her immediate response was to be careful standing up and walking before answering my actual question 😅- all I’m thinking is “this poor woman, she probably deals with disoriented American girls my age all day 😂”

I ask for a class of white wine and sit down with a little more ease. A baby is crying and that is rather… disrupting.

I know the trip just started but the best piece of advice I’ve received would be the highly recommended noise canceling headphones from friends (and frequent overseas flyers) Carrie and Pontus!

The headphones have made this flight a ton better and while they are charging as I write this I am anxious to put them back on to get rid of the plane flying noise as well as the baby…

That’s all I will write for now, a little over 6 hours until I arrive. Hopefully airport pickup goes smoothly and all my luggage ended up in the right place 🤞🏻

My phone is pretty much useless at this point so I couldn’t use the Delta app to track my luggage before leaving Paris (another great perk of Delta) so I am once again a bit anxious, but I am going to again try to drift off, or get another glass of wine.