The bus picked us up at 3 a.m. Registration again. Security. The guard saw I had liquids (bottles from Duty Free) and said he couldn't let Polina, another guy, and me through. More problems... the three of us went to the operators, and a female manager went to check the rules regarding this. We all said in unison:

• But this was bought at your own Duty Free!!

• Those are the rules.

I got angry:

• I spent over a hundred dollars on all this, do you think I'm going to leave it here just because your flight didn't take off and we were forced to go to a hotel???

In the end, the manager went and found us boxes with foam and tape so we could pack it all up and check it as luggage. It took about 40 minutes. When I was checking my box, the operator said to me:

• Where is your sticker on your passport for your other luggage??

I said:

• I don't know, they didn't give me anything.

That's when the problems started for me alone. There were issues with my luggage; they couldn't find it. They said I'd find out before boarding. We all went through security together. The flight was delayed again for 20 minutes. We were already preparing for the worst. But thank God, boarding was announced. I went up to the operators and asked if they had found my luggage. One told me nothing was known. And that's when my eyes went dark with anger. I gave him such a tirade in English that I was amazed at myself! He started trying to calm me down. I just turned around and walked away. Later, on board the plane, one of the operators found me and informed me that my luggage had been found and loaded. Thank God.

We are on board the plane flying to Paris! Is this really true?? Polina immediately buckled up, took out a blanket, and fell asleep. So much so that when the flight attendant shook her to make sure she was buckled up, Polinka didn't even react. In the end, the flight attendant lifted the blanket and made sure everything was fine. Then Vika and I also passed out. The 8 hours to Paris flew by unnoticed.

Paris! We are halfway home. 2 hours until boarding. Everything is so expensive here!! French perfume in France costs more than in NY! A paradox! A slice of pizza is twice as expensive. And what kind of people live here??

Boarding. First class. If you've driven a BMW, you won't want to get into a ZAZ. If you've been to America, you won't want to live in Russia. If you've flown first class, you don't want to fly economy anymore! :) A separate flight attendant, a separate restroom, a stack of fresh fashion magazines, a lunch of scallops, fried chicken with spices, curry sauce with coconut milk and tomato, thick polenta with Italian cheese and baby spinach, blue cheese, and for dessert, a shortcrust pastry tartlet with mango, and, of course, French wines and champagne – it was all just gorgeous!! And the view of the shimmering Eiffel Tower and evening Paris gave us simply indescribable impressions!! We felt like truly chic ladies!!