Day 10 (February 5, 2017): Managua→Houston→Newark→Halifax

All good things come to an end.  And often, with travel, the "end" starts with a BRUTALLY early rise.  The alarm went off at 3:45AM but, as with most of the team, I slept with one eye constantly on the clock, worried I would sleep through the alarm.

The Hilton prepared a full buffet breakfast for us, which was ready at 4AM (instead of the usual 6:30AM).  I feel badly for the staff who had to come in so early to accommodate us.  But it was nice to leave the hotel with some breakfast under our belts.  We piled into the bus at 4:30AM, were at the airport 4:50AM, and were all checked in within 15 minutes.  The rest of the group flew Avianca to El Salvador with a quick connection to Toronto, while I did a Houston-Newark-Halifax routing on United Air Lines.

With the SuperBowl happening in Houston today, the flight to Texas was packed.  And the George Bush Intercontinental Airport was abuzz with SuperBowl promotional items, SuperBowl paraphernalia vendors, and welcome signs, etc.

I confess to being a total "business lounge floozy" during my three-hour stopover! I used my Priority Pass membership to check out the KLM Crown Lounge, the Air France Lounge, and then the three-storey United Club Lounge.  At least it made the time pass quickly. 

All three flights were early today, which is a great thing for weekend/winter travel!  The visit to Nicaragua was educational, enjoyable, deeply moving, and interspersed with some good adventure and relaxation.  Spending the time with my fellow Board members and their family members was an incredible experience, too!  And having Pam along for the first half of the trip was over-the-top.

Thanks for following the blog - it means a lot to share one's travel experiences and to know that friends and family enjoy the tales.  If you're up to it, join me in March for Curacao, Guyana and Trinidad-Tobago.

The apron at Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua, named for Nicaragua's leader of the rebellion against the US military occupation from 1927-1933. 

Smoke plume from the Masaya Volcano, near Managua. 

Breakfast on United Air Lines (Managua to Houston). 

With Houston the site of today's SuperBowl game, the Houston Intercontinental airport was showing lots of signs of excitement and welcome for game enthusiasts.

United Air Lines Boeing 757-200 from Houston to Newark. 

Upon descent into Houston, the pilot announced there were so many private jets arriving for the SuperBowl that air traffic could be delayed. It was amazing to see this line of private jets in a special parking area of the tarmac. 

Lunch on United Air Lines (Houston to Newark). 

Upon approach to Newark (Manhatten in background), I was shocked that there wasn't a speck of snow or any ice to be seen in the lakes! Abit scary, given that it is only the beginning of February.