A Slow Start

Our friend, Don B. was at our home early Sat AM and we were on the way to Sky Harbor by 5. We checked in at the kiosk and got our boarding passes for all three flights. The agent who checked our bags said they would be checked clear thru to Munich, our final destination, even tho we will change airlines in Chicago. Sounds good, right? We ceched the bags and went through security in fairly good time. We sat at the gate people watching and I did crosswords while David got a cup of coffee. They finally called our plane to pre-board, and a few first class passengers went down the jetway. But they did not call for others to board. We began to think there was a problem, and the agent came on to say there would be  45 minute delay because of weather-related traffic delays in Chicago. He went on to sya that they presumed we would prefer to wait in the terminal, because if we boarded, we could not get back off. He further said they were low on snacks on the plane, so suggested we might want to use the time to buy something to eat.
David and I are reviewing our itinerary to see how much time we have between this flight and the international flight. We have two and a half hours--so far, so good. Meantime, US Airways is changing multiple gates for other flights because we will be tying this gate up. People grumble as some of them even have to go the B gates rather than D and thats a far walk. Our plane boards and we get settled in our seats. The captain comes on the intercom to say that in addition to the departure delay, we are also being re-routed to take a very long route and this will add another hour to the flight time. David and I look at each other. This is not good news. Now transfer time will be critical. The captain continues by saying that the extended route could be changed if the Chicago weather improves, and he will keep us posted.
The young man next to me is reading a book about Desert Storm and is very engrossed, so I did not disturb him. The beveragesare served  and then the captain says just as he suggested, they have now been approved to take the direct route. We are releaved. The coulds as we approach Chicago are still pretty heavy, but the thunderstorm are over and we are cleared to land--only the tower cannot work us in to the landing traffic and we have to pull out of sequence and go around to come back in for a second shot at getting a space in the landing queue.  This time we are successful and get on the ground without further delay. Still, our transfer time has been reduced and we seek information from the agent outside the exit from the plane to find the shortest way to the international terminal. He is happy to assist us and we are walking very quickly the long hallways to the area where we can catch the Chicago airport train to the international terminal. Once inside, David heads for the check in counter ar Alitalia for our international flight, but I suggest that since we have the boarding passes, we can just go thru security.We wait in a very long security line, checking twice to be sure we are still OK on time. When we reach the screener, he informs us that the boarding passes for Alitalia, but issued by US Airways, are not acceptable. He directs us to go back to the Alitalia check in to get new boarding passes. We express concernabout the long lines, and he says when we get our new passes, to come to the head of the security line. without other options, we hurry back to the check in counter and get our Alitalia-issued board ing passes. The agent also re-issues luggage checks--even though we do not physically have the bags in our posession. He says this is necessaryor the bags would not be loaded onthe international flight. The computer needs to match us as passengers with the checked bags. OK, so now we hurry back to the head of the security line, and with only a slight hold-up, are permitted through and get to the gate. They have not yet begun boarding--this out-going flight has also been delayed because of weather. David chats with a couple heading to London. They are frequent Grand Circle travellers and had taken the Russian cruise--they enjoyed it and said we would likeit too. She tells me to take both soap and toilet paper to the public restrooms in Russia. The cruise will provide them, but even when they went all dressed up to the ballet in Moscow, there was no tissue in the bathrooms.
Ourflight is called and we are seated in the center section about 2/3 of the way back in the plane. This plane needs refurbishing--the seat coverings are shabby and the seat bottom cushions have sucken in--not very comfortable for an international flight. He complains to the attendant and she offeres to re-seat us, but he decides it will be no better. There is an empty seat beside me and that will help with having more room for the overnight flight. When we take off, we are more than an hour late and David and I are already wondering if we will make the connection in Rome to our final flight. I say a prayer and know it is what it is--in God's hands. I get comfortable with my earplugs and airline slippers whis our frined Sandy S loaned to me. We are served a small dinner with choice of chicken or beef and a pasta side dish. We decided to watch a movie, a romantic comedy. I have a watch with two dials, so I can keep track of time at home while staying current with local time--but it is diffivult to know what time zone changes are occurring as we travel across the ocean. When we arrive, I can figure out that ther is a 9 hour difference, with Europe being earlier. While we watch the movie, a young Italian man stands a row ahead of us to talk to his buddies. He is not blocking our view of the movie, as there is a sort of aisleway there. But we can't help  but watch him as he is standing  in front of us. Of course, we cannot understand what he is saying, but he is very animated, using his hands, but stopping every little bit to scratch his belly. He is more entertaining than the movie!