Homeward Bound, Battered but not Beaten

When I get off this plane, I am going to French Kiss the ground. I am so completely over this trip.

Arrived.
Never has a single word brought so much relief.
The ordeal is finally over.

A map of the whole journey, outbound and return.
Time to finally complete the very last leg.

After another unexpected night in Germany, I am so ready for this trip to be over. While getting ready to leave the hotel this morning, I was talking with Tim and confessed that I was beginning to wish I hadn't gone to all the trouble to get to Craiova in the first place.

So, This is Currywurst?

After missing my flight, I needed to find some dinner. While standing in a queue, I overheard the couple behind me raving about Bavarian curry, setting my expectations quite high. I figured it was the perfect opportunity to try a local specialty.

Defeated in Munich (What IS It With Germany!?)

For an unexpected evening in December,
the weather here in Bavaria is actually not that bad.

The Journey Home Begins... Slowly

After a great week with the team in Craiova, it's time to begin the long journey home. Last night, after the Christmas party, I checked my travel plans. The airline noted a small snowstorm in Bucharest but assured me no travel delays were predicted.

The planned route home.
Hopefully, all these connections will actually hold this time.

Keeping Up with the Kids in Craiova

What better way to wrap up a successful week of Sprint Planning than with a Christmas party? The team in Craiova really knows how to celebrate, and it was the perfect final event for my trip.

A Taste of Romania

A couple of classic Romanian dishes: Sărmale (stuffed cabbage rolls)
and Tochitură cu Mămăliguță (a pork stew with polenta).

Breaking Bread in Craiova

One of the best parts of any work trip is the time spent with colleagues after the day's meetings are done. Tonight, we all gathered for another great team dinner here in Craiova.

The whole team gathered for another lovely dinner after a productive day of meetings.

A Day Late, But Here

Arrived at the Craiova office.
The holiday decorations are a nice, festive touch.

The Best Cure for a Long Journey

I am finally here! After what felt like an endless journey of cancellations, reroutes, and delays, I finally made it to Craiova and met up with my colleagues. The first order of business was a much-needed dinner at a cozy local restaurant, a chance to relax and reconnect before our work week began.

From Travel Chaos to Christmas Cheer

This is definitely going to be my Christmas Card this year!

Adding Injury to Insult

After two days of travel chaos that felt like an eternity, I am finally, finally in Romania. The journey, however, managed to throw a few more punches before it was over.

The Scenic Route to Romania

After an unexpected night in a Frankfurt hotel, I am back at the airport before dawn, ready for attempt number... well, I've lost count.

Back at Frankfurt airport before dawn,
hoping today's travel plans will actually stick.

Defeated in Frankfurt

Flying over a snow-dusted Bavaria.
From up here, you'd never guess the chaos waiting on the ground.

Snow in Munich, Chaos in Chicago

The next big work trip began with a simple goal: get to Craiova, Romania, for a week of Sprint Planning. As it turned out, "simple" was not on the itinerary.

A Last-Minute Change of Plans

 And so, the next big trip begins.

It always helps to visualize the journey.
The plan is a long one: a nearly 20,000 km
round trip to Romania and back.