Home again! Goteborg to Sydney

 Wednesday 25 September

This morning the temperature outside was down to 0 degrees. We made our farewells to Pernilla who had to leave early for school. Mirja came to collect Pernilla's car and us to drive us to the airport where we enjoyed our last cup of coffee together.

The check-in gate opened while we were having coffee so we got into the short queue leaving Mirja with the coffees until we had checked in. All worked smoothly and we soon bid Mirja goodbye and proceeded to security. I got the random shoe check and pat down this time and we'd both forgotten to empty our water bottles but it was all quite an easy security check this time.

Up then to wait for boarding, Elaine pacing and I writing and reading.

I was able to have a short snooze on the flight to London so arrived fresh. Now for our 9 hour wait for our next flight! We just followed signs, caught the shuttle bus to our new terminal and followed more signs. It turns out that our Qantas frequent flier cards allow us to use the American Airlines transit lounge to wait until our flight gate opens. This is fantastic!It is quiet, with free food and plenty of comfy chairs and separate rooms to watch TV or snooze. We thought we would have to spend 9 hours in this...

But instead spent 9 hours in this...





I spent about 4 hours updating the blog with our Swedish adventures and Elaine was able to get online, wander, watch TV etc. 

 

 

 

 

 This makes travel much more pleasant. There are even showers, and a bed if you want to pay for it. I wonder if you can sleep overnight?

We boarded the plane with all the normal security checks. A reasonable flight to Dubai but only time for about 2 hours sleep between dinner and breakfast.

At Dubai we had to get off the plane with all our things and go through five different security checks. Just when you think you are all through and fill water bottles again then there is another check and they take them from you. Elaine even had hers confiscated empty because it was too big while others were allowed to keep theirs. There are a long of not very happy campers.

After the horrible next leg with too little sleep we touched down at 5am and through passport and customs checks, into a taxi and home before 6am. That was incredibly fast. Elaine continued on to her place in the same cab.

Now we just need to catch up on a bit of sleep and get unpacked ready for normal life.

In all a fantastic trip but I am now happy to be home.