Remember the end of yesterday’s writing where I said I won’t have much to write cos it’s a travel day? Yeah well ignore that. It seems I angered the travel gods with that simple statement and they threw everything at me with both barrels!
The next part of my trip is travel through Portugal and Spain, which requires minimal luggage so I popped out early to drop off my excess luggage to a storage shop. Get to the shop and realise I’ve left my cash at the apartment. Or have I? Didn’t want to get back to my apartment and find out I’d accidentally packed it in my stored luggage so I had to open up my suitcase and rummage through to ensure it wasn’t there. Thankfully I can pay cash on pickup, so back to the apartment for final pack up and of course there’s my wallet on the counter.
Next, jump on the tube and travel to Heathrow. Waited for a couple to go through as they were jam-packed from Russell Square. I was going to be super early for my flight so no worries there, however I was mindful that a 24 hour tube strike was starting at midday so wanted to be well and truly there to avoid any possible delays.
Arrive at the airport and get myself a Full English Breakfast to sustain myself for the flight and settle down to do a bit of people watching and doom scrolling on the phone. My flight was due to depart at 1.45pm and the gate would be announced at 1pm.
1pm came, and no announcement. 1.15 and the departure board notification next to my flight had two words next to it - “Please Wait”. There were so many people standing around the board waiting to find out where to go and the frustration was obvious. 1.30pm and finally we are told the gate number, which thankfully is the closest gate to the seating area.
My phone pinged at 1.45 to let me know the flight would now take off at 2pm, however after half an hour on the tarmac we finally got airbound at 3.15.
Uneventful flight where I had upgraded to comfort and even had a spare seat next to me. Had a snack on the flight and nap and enjoyed the view as we descended into Lisbon.
And here’s where the fun begins. Because our flight was late we didn’t have a jetway to pull up to, so we had to disembark onto the tarmac and take a bus to the terminal. Another twenty minutes standing on the bus and finally into the terminal. Rather than follow everyone straight into immigration I opted to go to the loo first and that was my best decision of the day.
I had prepared for my trip into Portugal by registering on their app, so proceeded to the electronic gates to pass immigration. Unfortunately the machine failed and as a result I was sent to a manual gate to speak with an officer. There were two gates open initially and two planes of people to process. Two hours later and I was finally through to find my luggage. I waited 90 minutes the last time I was in LA and thought that was bad!
Now because I had a small backpack to check-in they made me take it to oversized baggage due to the construction of the pack. I find my way to the right belt, and no bag. I walk around a bunch of other belts and no bag. I don’t even know what conveyor my bag was on - it came through two hours ago so isn’t on the boards above each conveyor. I’m not panicking yet though, as I can see it’s in the terminal with me.
Proceed to lost baggage and the man assures me it is on carousel 11. Holding my breath and muttering under my breath I walk to the carousel and do a quick lap - and there’s my bag under a pile of other uncollected bags. Phew, breakdown averted.
My host for the apartment has given me great directions so I jump on the Metro red line, ride it to the end, then transfer to the blue line and ride it to the end. Now for a 850m walk to my hotel which google tells me will take 20minutes. 20 minutes? Why would it take me so long?
Because the travel gods were laughing at me, that’s why! It was all uphill for the first 800m. And not just a gentle slope. It was lung-busting old European cobble-steep up. Had to take a breather halfway up to ensure my heart rate didn’t top out! But such a pretty walk through the older areas and when I get a chance I’ll share some pics.
Worked out the keypad to get in and dropped my gear off before heading back out to the local grocery store for some fast supplies of meat, cheese and baguettes for something to eat as I really couldn’t eat out tonight - I just wanted to get home, eat, shower and go to bed.
So today brings another day. I know yesterday was first world problems and I need to just appreciate that I even have the opportunity to travel. So no ifs or buts from me - just lots of let’s see what the day brings.
