For my birthday, I always have grand ideas of what I would like to do, but often times those plans don’t come to fruition because I let time catch up to me and never actually am able to do what I would like.
This year I wanted to go somewhere tropical, but as per usual, I had no legit plans solidified. And beyond just tropical, I wanted to finally be able to use my passport that I had had for 3 years.
WELL…on April 26th at like 1-ish am, the day after my birthday, my plans finally started to come together: I booked a flight and hotel for the Bahamas!!!
Shoutout to my friend Heather for introducing me to Google Flights. I was scouring the site for HOURS over the course of a few days, until I found a reasonably priced ticket.
I had already packed my suitcase two days before, so I didn’t need to do that. I just fell asleep so that I could get a little rest before my 10:15am departure time…from New Orleans Airport…which is almost a three hour drive for me…in Jackson, MS. 🙃
Don’t judge.
I only got about 3ish hours of sleep, and I got up sluggishly, BUT I was pushing through; however, I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was really underestimating the amount of time needed to be at the airport for an international flight.
I left home after 6am, later than what I wanted, but I still felt good. However, when I got in my car, I remembered that I had forgotten to get an oil change. (I meant to get one the day before, but I got caught up in other activities. I mean…it was my birthday.)
So me wanting to make sure that I was safe on my drive, what did I do?
I stopped to get an oil change. 🙃😭😭
DON’T JUDGE! 😂
I went to the 5 minute Oil Change place, and of course it ended up taking like 20 minutes!!
I TOLD Y’ALL NOT TO JUDGE! 😭😭
So of course now I’m getting on down. NO MORE STOPS.
I FINALLY make it to the airport, and it is 9:30am, 45 minutes before my flight is set to depart. 🙃
Silly me, I was still optimistic. I ran to the kiosk to check-in, and I got the message that I was too late and that I needed to get assistance. I get in the line and there are two families ahead of me who are taking SO. FREAKING. LONG.
While in line, I look around and try to look sad and distressed so that they could call me to the front of the line and take care of me.
So I guess y’all are just determined to judge?! 😭
Well that obviously didn’t happen, and when I finally made it to the counter, there were 15 minutes until the flight was set to depart. And this being my first time flying Delta, I didn’t know that I was already too late, because they close gates at that time.
I tell the lady that I missed my flight and she looks at me and said, “Please don’t tell me it was international…”
She made a call and I’m thinking it’s going to be like the movies where they say “One more passenger,” and I run through the airport to catch my flight.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. 😭😭
The best she could do was another flight at 6:30 the next morning. I understood. And she was so nice about it.
This was my birthday trip, so I wasn’t going to let this small set back get me down. I was in one of the best cities, so I ate and relaxed until the morning.
Next Day: I made it to the airport two hours before departure time. I was NOT missing my flight again.
I immediately slept on the plane until my connector flight in Atlanta, and as soon as I touched down, I received a text that said my flight was already boarding.
I had to race off the plane…from the VERY BACK, and run through the airport to Concourse E, from Gate B. I guess I did get to run through the airport like I wanted, AND I was able to make it in good time.
The flight over…BEAUTIFUL!
It was gorgeous just from the plane. I couldn’t wait to get off and see it in person, and hoping my hotel was just as great.
It was!
Marina (Right outside my hotel)
After about two days, my time in the Bahamas was over. I definitely wish I could’ve been there longer, but I enjoyed my time. It was beautiful!
One of the best parts, my way back to the States, I was taken in the back area for questioning for possible illegal activity. 😂😂
The officers were so serious and I was just smiling and happy because I knew that I hadn’t done anything illegal.
They searched my luggage and asked me all of these questions: “What made you come to the Bahamas?,” “Where did you stay?,” “Did you meet anyone?,” “Did you have any money with you?”
It was such a wild experience, but I was here for it all!
The whole trip was AMAZING! I had been waiting forEVER to be able to use my passport, and didn’t want to go alone, though I have taken many solo trips before. I was happy that I was FINALLY able to go out the country!
Now I’m ready to be out and about…INTERNATIONALLY!
Until the next adventure!!!
Simply Dominique 