Back in Kentucky

We flew back to Kentucky yesterday (I say "we flew", that's an oversimplification). Had to get up early, drive to Bordeaux, return the car, take a plane to Paris (Roissy CDG), change terminals, walk several miles, take another plane to Atlanta (10 hours in a sardine can), go through immigration and customs and go back through security (third time for the day) but THIS time I unfortunately had a small bottle of water I'd purchased at CDG, and then we flew to Lexington, Martin met us and drove us home. It was a long day, but I read Sarah Waters's book The Little Stranger on the flight. The airlines seem to have thought of yet more ways to get money out of people. First, it turns out that Air France will promise you a seat with actual leg room on a flight if you pay them an extra 50 euros. Second, it appears that Delta has reduced the weight you are allowed, even as a Medallion flyer--I suspect effective July 1--as what we brought back actually weighed LESS THAN what we took, and we got hit with a 50 euro overweight charge.

And THEN, to add insult to injury, on the translatlantic flight, they are no longer allowing free booze in economy class (aka "Sardine" class). You can have either one can of beer or one glass of wine with your meal without paying extra, but spirits and extra beer or wine comes with a hefty price tag. They do still let you have water without paying extra.

I shouldn't complain; the flights themselves were uneventful and they didn't lose any of our luggage.

A followup to the wedding: Jim Krupa seems to have hung the big sign that says "Drop off location for wedding" (or whatever exactly it is) in the barn at the door to the biggest chicken coop.

Back in Kentucky it is typical July weather: hazy, hot and humid. People in southwest france complain when the humidity gets up over 50%--it does get very hot, but always seems to cool off so sleeping is comfortable--and I always tell them they should visit Kentucky in the summertime.

Lillie