Traveling is like getting married.
Something always goes awry.
Vegas posted this picture on Facebook yesterday. The day we were meant to leave for Barcelona. This was her caption: “Sooo… missed flight to Barcelona. The other half to explain that one later! What’s one to do? Find the nearest bar with the largest beer and glass of wine… Smashed finger makes it difficult but I’ll manage. BTW……… that’s MY passport in the photo.”
Where was MY passport, you might ask? Funny story (or, I’m sure it will be funny one day soon). It turns out, you can’t fly to Spain with a passport that expires in less than 3 months. Who knew?! I mean, why even bother having an expiration date? They should have a renew by date.
We’d gotten up at 3am to drive to LAX to catch the flight. At check in, the lady informed us that I couldn’t fly on my passport, which expires Jan 1, 2018. I almost cried. She was incredibly nice though. She told us to get to the passport office and she’d rebook us on a flight at that night at 11, no charge.
So, 13 hours later, we were back at LAX with a brand new passport. The new flight has us arriving a day later, and after 48 hours of travel… but hey, we’ll be there soon. Right now, I’m writing this WIAW post in the airport lounge in Newark.
This day of eats is from last Friday, when I was in Atlanta for my mom’s birthday. Check out my day of eats below, and be sure to link up to Jenn’s WIAW baby at the bottom!
Breakfast:
We started out with my Vanilla Matcha Latte with mom’s homemade almond milk. Then I made my morning cocktail. Thankfully, mom has all of the ingredients at her house too!
Then, I made mamma birthday breakfast. I even poached eggs! Poaching eggs seems like SUCH a pain… I don’t know why though. Once I do it, I remember how easy it is.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BawoIVWHyAi/
Lunch:
I ate some protein pudding while getting dressed after my workout. We had things to do! Also, we ate breakfast at 11.
Dinner:
Dinner was a birthday extravaganza with mom and my baby sister! We started at a wine shop, where we had a surprise Champagne tasting ready for mom. There were meats and cheeses there to soak up the booze tide us over before dinner.
From there, we took a Lyft (← affiliate link… with a $5 credit!) across town to Marcel, an amazing French-inspired steak house. Mom was convinced we were throwing her some sort of surprise party, but when we got there it really was just us three.
She was surprised by the location though! I was surprised by how many photos we had to have taken… *eye roll*
Then it was one the main course. We split all of the deliciousness below. Steak, asparagus, scalloped potatoes, and field peas.
Plus a bottle of French burgundy. That steak couldn’t have been more perfect.
The fun wasn’t over there! Mom wasn’t actually wrong about a surprise party. We nonchalantly suggested after dinner drinks and dessert at JCT, just down the street. When we arrived, her friends were there with presents and cake. I’d ordered a German Chocolate cake… with black icing. Because 60. 😉
Mom was so surprised she actually squealed. It was am amazing night!
And now, I must go catch another plane.
[Tweet “Don’t miss the #WIAW link up… and a little passport drama.”]
***
One hour until take off!!!
Do you like surprise parties? I like throwing them, but I do not like being surprised.
What does your family do most often for birthdays?
Patrick@looneyforfood.com says
Wow, I would be so mad missing a flight because of that. I hate airports to begin with, never a fun experience. Have fun!
Laura says
I don’t mind them… but not for 24 hours!
meredith @ cookie chrunicles says
OMG! This keeps happening to people I know! I am glad you were able to fix it. I just heard a story about someone I know who got to the airport, the passport was not valid AND HER BOYFRIEND WENT TO CABO WITHOUT HER. Can you imagine? Lol. He left for the trip without her.
Laura says
Seriously?! I’d have to dump him over that!!!
Lee says
Happy Birthday to your mom!
Laura says
Thanks Lee! Hopefully next time I’ll be in town longer and we can catch up!
Patricia @Sweet and Strong says
Aw SO cute you surprised your Mom for her birthday! And seriously I can’t believe that story about your passport. But hopefully it’s just a funny story now. Enjoy your time in Spain, my little sister just got back from a work trip there and LOVED it!
Laura says
It’s such a beautiful country! I’m glad we (finally) got there. Thankfully, we only lost a day.
Samantha says
Thats crazy!! I never knew that, I’m glad you were eventually able to get a flight though! Have a good time in Spain!
Laura says
Thanks! You learn something new every day… *eye roll*
Deborah Brooks says
Oh no the passport! Hope you all arrived safely and soundly
Stephanie @ Wholesome Paradise says
I briefly worked for United and I hated telling people that they couldn’t travel because of their expired passport. Some countries require them to be valid for 6 months. I had to turn one businessman away who was going to Singapore because he missed the validity cutoff by 3 days. It sucked. But being fined $27,000 sucks more.
Laura says
She told me some were 6 months! That just seems so insane to me. I didn’t know there was such a fine though! I thought you just couldn’t get on a plane. WOW.
Nicole @ Laughing My Abs Off says
Awww what a great birthday your mom had! Happy belated to her! So sorry you had to deal with that passport issue; flight problems are the absolute worst 🙁 But I hope you have an incredible time in Barcelona <3
Laura says
Thank you! We had a fabulous time… once we got there. LOL!
Carrie this fit chick says
Ugh, traveling is such a pain!! I hate it and I love it at the same time.
That meal though— juicy meat + cheese is perfection!
Laura says
If only someone would invent a travel machine. Like “beam me up, Scotty!”
Courtney Bentley says
I actually LOVE surprise parties, it was nice to catch up on your blog I have been so busy I haven’t been doing my blog reading lately! Hope you guys get to go to Barcelona and YES passport expiration dates SUCK!
Courtney Bentley || http://www.courtneyvioletbentley.com
Laura says
Thanks for stopping by!!! We’ve been crazy busy too… as evidenced by how far behind I am replying to comments. LOL! Here’s to relaxing a bit for the holidays… I hope… 😉
Kate says
My passport expired in February. I really need to get on renewing it.
Laura says
You better! It takes longer if it’s already expired.
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape says
I’m so glad you are now safe and sound in Barcelona, enjoying all the good wine and yummy tapas!
Have a wonderful time, relaxing and soaking in all the culture!
Laura says
We drank ALL the wine and ate ALL the tapas. 😉
Allie says
I could NOT believe it when I read it on FB!! That is horrible BUT, at least it was a “quick” fix and you didn’t have to cancel the entire trip. My husband had us renew ours, even though they don’t expire until next Spring, to go to Turks and Caicos. Well, now of course we can’t go because of the hurricanes so….wah wah wah
Have the best time ever < – – as if there were any other option!?
Laura says
That’s true… I would have lost it if we couldn’t go at all. Have fun in VEGAS!!!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
That is CRAZY! Like how would you ever know that???
Laura says
RIGHT?! I couldn’t decided whether to scream or cry.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets says
I’m so glad you made it despite the hassles and at least this way you had an extra day to drink and walk around. Plus you got to see Kim K.
Laura says
Kim K was certainly the highlight.
Susie @ Suzlyfe says
I’m amazed that you got a passport in 13 hours. HOLY COW. They must have known you meant business lol
Laura says
I actually had it in 5 hours… then we had to wait for the flight. That’s nuts though, right?!
Debra Eliotseats says
Wow. Going to dig out passport now to check date. 🙁 Glad you were still able to make it. We were recently at my cousin’s surprise party (thrown by his kids) and The Hubs made sure to inform me that he NEVER wanted to be surprised. Happy Travels!!!
Laura says
The funny thing was that I didn’t send it off to get renewed because I was worried I wouldn’t get it back in time. Oy!
Abby @BackatSquareZero says
How frustrating! If it did not expire until 2018 I would have though your were fine to fly too!
Laura says
You live, you learn. *sigh*
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness says
Oh my gosh, I can’t believe they wouldn’t let you fly!! I actually knew that from flying to Ireland last year, because my dad was in charge of his whole football team flying there to play, and he shared that little tidbit with me before the trip. I actually didn’t believe him at first, because like you said, what’s the point of having an expiration date then?!! So glad you finally made it there though! And your mom’s birthday sounds like such an awesome time!! You ladies all look so much alike, including your very young looking mama! 🙂
Laura says
Thanks for telling me that!!! HAHA! So ridiculous…
Isn’t mamma pretty?! I hope her genes come through strong in me. Or that I can find cheap Botox. 😉