July 8th...good-byes and welcome homes

 Nick was ready...as we all were...at least, physically.  It was time to board the coach for the last time and head to the Madrid airport...

 We went through the toll booth one more time....

 It was time for some last minute photos...of Marzio and Amir...

 What a duo! 

 This is the team that guided the delegates and the adventure from last September till July 8th! 

 Lynne and I have talked at length at how much we adore Amir and Marzio...how much we will miss them...

 One of the delegates said, "Group Hug!"  and Amir was crushed.  You can barely see his head.  Find Nick with his hats...Riley in the blue hat is in front of Nick...and below Riley is the back of Amir's head...

 The delegation adored him...with good reason.  He was an incredible delegation manager...one of the very best I've had in all my years with People to People...

So long Amir...so long, Marzio! ... and off we went into the Madrid airport.  The officials there wanted us to do the self check in...which didn't work...so we ended up at the ticket counter (thank goodness!).  As we weighed our bags (Ciara was .6 lbs over...but they didn't make her pay!), we congregated over to the side until everyone was checked in....then off we went to go through security.  

 We had to take a tram to get to our area...and we ended up...well, not where we were suppose to be.  Then it was a race to find the right area..to get back on the tram..to get to our spot.  Pratik was a little lot nervous...knowing his visa expired that day...This photo is on the tram...we're all in one car and Lynne and Steve were in another.  (Why???)

 

This is the plane that carried us from Madrid to DFW

 

Telling Abby good-bye at terminal C at DFW.  Abby joined our group from Washington...so she had a different flight from DFW.  

We obviously made it...made it to DFW safe and sound after a 10 hour flight.  We were suppose to have a 4 hour layover...which turned into 5 hours...but at 11:30 p.m., we touched the ground at SFO.

 I wish I had a photo of the paparazzi that met us...cheers and tears...it was so sweet!

So here we are, safely back at home...after a grand adventure in Europe..for 19 days...with 39 incredible delegates!  Wow!