We’re done? So soon? 

Ten days after we arrived in Europe, we left. It went by in a blur — but our suitcases weren’t the only things that were packed. Every day was stuffed with stuff.  Hearty, delicious meals … long bus rides … daily Mass … praying the rosary … walking, touring, photographing, shopping, gawking, feeling awed and overwhelmed by history, fervor, faith and bold witness.

One great lesson of this trip: saints are awesome. 

As I mentioned the other day, we were up very early Friday to get to the Lisbon airport for a crack-of-dawn flight to Paris.  That went pretty smoothly. The hotel provided us with a box breakfast, including a sandwich (ham and cheese, a bad idea for a Friday in Lent) and fruit. Otherwise, the bus trip to the airport was quick and uneventful.

The Charles de Gaulle Airport, though, is not exactly a small place. Okay: it’s ginormous. It took us a long walk to find our gate and get settled in.

We had a lengthy layover in Paris. I mean, really long. I think it was about seven hours. Honestly, I lost count.

Siobhain and I killed some time by browsing the stores and grabbing breakfast: quiche!

About two hours before our flight began boarding, we learned that our gate had changed.

This is the kind of  information that, it seems, the French like to keep to themselves.

There was no announcement. Zero. There was just a sudden change in the sign by our gate. I got a text message from Deacon Kevin Meece, from another far-off corner of the airport, confirming it. He tried to explain how to get to the new gate — which evidently involved a lot of walking, an elevator trip, and a brief bus ride. Really?

I was concerned about our oldest pilgrim, Jose, who needed a wheelchair to navigate the airports. An attendant at a nearby gate agreed to arrange for motorized transportation, to help Jose and his luggage get moved. When this electric vehicle showed up, it had three seats and plenty of space for bags. The driver invited my wife and me to hop aboard.

Off we went — seemingly to the furthest reaches of Western Europe — to find our new gate.

For a brief moment, it almost felt like we were on a ride at Disney World. But it’s not a small world, after all. Really. Trust me.

Eventually, we boarded our flight and we were on our way.

Ten hours later, after a couple meals and almost zero sleep, we landed in Orlando. We walked yet again on a long trek to reach passport control and baggage claim — but I have to say, compared to some other airports where I’ve done this, MCO was a breeze.

We had a very easy time connecting with our mini-van that took a bunch of us back to my parish in Apopka — kudos to our driver, Gustavo, and the folks at Fly Guy Transport who made it all happen. They were prompt, professional and very reasonable; a mini-van (that can hold up to 14 people, plus luggage) from Apopka to MCO and back — roundtrip! — came to $270, not including tip. For my group, that was just under $34 per person — a lot cheaper than Uber.

After dropping everyone at the church — by this time, it was about midnight Saturday — Siobhain and I headed home.  I-4 was empty. Life is good. I was exhausted.

I had slept very little on the plane, or at the hotel in Lisbon. Once we walked into our bedroom at home, I passed out before my head hit the pillow.

There will be a lot to absorb and pray about over the next few days and weeks — but a pilgrimage should have that effect on you, I think. It transports you. It relocates you, challenges you, shuffles your notions of time and place. (What day is this again?) It takes you out of the ordinary routine of life, and the journey doesn’t end once you unpack your souvenirs.

But there are also a few lessons I learned this time — practical tips that I want to pass on for anyone considering a trip like this. I’ve posted some impressions and tips before, and a lot of what I learned on the first trip I led, to the Holy Land, still holds.

So, here are four quick takeaways for you from our pilgrimage to France, Spain and Portugal:

  1. Pack Kleenex. Seriously. Most of the hotels where we stayed did not have tissues in the room. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of blowing my nose with toilet paper. We ended up buying a couple small boxes at a truckstop in Spain. Particularly in the spring, when allergies and shifting weather can make your sinuses go nuts, Kleenex is a necessity!
  2. Bring a small crossbody bag or sling. This will be your best friend. And it could save you a lot of headaches. I usually travel with a vest with a gazillion pockets, which is great. (Scottevest has a lot of fine choices, and you can find cheaper variations on Amazon and Google that will do the job.) But this time, since the weather was unpredictable, I just packed a puffer vest and a fleece jacket. They kept me warm enough, and had lots of (unzippered) pockets, but I was constantly patting myself down to find my wallet, phone, itinerary or sunglasses. I really think it’s simpler to just have some sort of travel sling. Keep everything there, in one place, around your shoulder all the time, and you can be sure of where things are. (Orbitkey and Alpaka have good options. Again, you can find cheaper ones if you hunt around.) Women, naturally, are smart enough to know this secret about bags. Men, not so much. We’re new to the whole bag thing — the phrase “man purse” still makes me shudder — but when you’re traveling, frankly, it’s the best solution. During this trip, one of our pilgrims lost his passport and his cellphone — thank God, our hotel in Paris retrieved them from his room, but he had to spend hundreds of Euros to have them delivered by courier to our next stop. If he had kept things in a small travel bag, and kept it with him at all times, that might have prevented that problem (and saved a lot of money!)
  3. Pack all your meds, folks!  One of our pilgrims ran out of diabetes pills halfway through the trip. I’m not sure how she resolved it — our tour manager was asking for ideas and suggestions from people, and even asked if anyone on the trip had a similar prescription to share. Don’t let this happen to you. Make sure you have enough!
  4. Be prepared to walk. A lot. I mean A LOT.  That sounds obvious, but people can misjudge what they can handle on a trip like this. Walking 15,000 steps a day at home is different from doing it on a tour. There are vast stretches of shiny floors in the airports. There are steep hills, covered in cobblestones. (Railings may not be available.)  There are narrow, slippery, marble steps in ancient churches that take you down to grottos where you celebrate Mass. (Getting down there is one thing; you also have to get back up.) Some restaurants may have multiple levels for seating. Make sure you understand just what you are getting into. As a footnote: I would strongly discourage older travelers (say, 80 or above) from making this kind of trip solo. A companion — spouse, son, daughter, friend — can make a journey like this a lot easier and more enjoyable. And: Another pair of eyes and ears can also help serve as a helpful backup when there’s a lot of traveling and unpacking and repacking. (And it can happen at any age. Case in point: me. My wife kept me from losing a LOT of stuff on this trip. “Did you remember your glasses? Where are your meds? Where’s your phone?”) God, I love her.

Which brings me to one final point: you can’t do a trip like this without a gifted Tour Manager / Guide. All hail Teresa! She brought passion, compassion, strategic skills, humor and an unshakable faith to every hour of this pilgrimage.  She was our teacher, translator, mother hen, therapist, collaborator and voice of reason. I’ve always been happy with the guides Select has given us for these trips, and Teresa was no exception. We were in very good hands.

Where will I go next? I’m open to suggestions.

But for now, I think I’ll go take another nap. I will dream of croissants, basilicas, incorrupt bodies of saints, cobblestones, miracles, and rosaries by candlelight.

Remembering it all, it brings tears to my eyes.

I only wish I had a Kleenex.