Before we left the plane when we landed in Marrakech the flight crew told us about the retirement party they were throwing for Tony, our head pilot, that night as our trip is his last RTW flight, and next to last flight overall before he must retire at 65. They gave us each a mask to surprise Tony with when we boarded leaving Marrakech…

We then settled onto what has most certainly become our home away from home during this trip, our plane The Explorer. We have now been flying for over 60 hours and have come to know and love our crew. Better care has never been so happily and graciously provided, and will just add to the difficult transition into regular economy flight travel that will soon once again be our reality.

Our flight back to Orlando, we find out, is to be broken into two segments: three hours to Lajes in the Azores Islands, then seven hours on to FL. The stop in the Azores is required as the US does not allow direct flights from Morocco to land. What that masterpiece of governmental thinking thus created was a stopover where we literally walked into the terminal through one door, picked our bags from the baggage carousel, turned around and handed them to local personnel (to be put back on our plane without inspection or second thought) and walked out the next door over to buses that took us right back to our plane. Everyone in the US should feel much safer that we underwent such rigorous screening.

The most interesting part of this two hour stopover was when we landed. The sun was shining – through a pouring rain squall. That coupled with winds of 30-40 mph kept us on the plane for 15-20 minutes before disembarking.

When we did get to leave the plane on exterior plane stairs, we stepped into winds that were building in strength, now 40-50 mph. Passengers had a difficult time making the short walk down the stairs out to the buses. It was too windy even for pictures.

Once back on the plane headed for Orlando the atmosphere was that of the last day of summer camp. People were walking the aisles hugging, talking, and trading contact info. Pictures were taken and pledges of continuing friendships and mutual visits rained down.

Toasts were made by the NatGeo staff and flight crew. A beautiful tribute and toast to Tony’s remarkable career was made and shared by all…

When we landed we said goodbye to the crew and got on on last NatGeo bus ride for a final night at the Orlando airport Hyatt. I will miss these folks !

Dinner and breakfast whiz by, and we wake up at 4 AM, reacting to our body clocks set to six hours later, with the reality of it all being over descending upon us.

Then we are off to our flights home. The Orlando airport is jam-packed, we aren’t whisked through security as has become standard, and more than anything aren’t greeted with smiles, hugs and cold beverages when we board our planes.

Flights home are on time and easy enough all in all. We come home to a pile of mail and freakin’ huge memories.

I have to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this blog. It was never a burden to keep up, rather was a nice respite and review to capture the highlights of this extraordinary adventure. As I have said several times, I wrote it as if I was speaking to my mother so she could travel along with me.

Give me a little time to digest it all, and get re-acclimated, before I try to sum it all up. I have some overall thoughts brewing I want too share, so since you have been along with me this far, I will offer those final takes.

By and large, I don’t know how many, or who, are reading this, but I thank you. C and I have been so fortunate to be able to take a trip like this, and it just seemed right to share it.