Eurotrip Day 5

Day 5: The Return

With the weekend over there was nothing left to do but return to Blighty. Breakfast involved another croissant attempt and tea fail, and then we made our way to the airport. Check in and security seemed pretty straightforward, largely because there were only six gates in the whole terminal. We found ours and awaited the call. When it came, Fran and Graham again had priority boarding, leaving Mum, Dad and I to wait another half hour in our seats. When we finally passed through the gate, we were squashed into a bus the was already at capacity. On the adjacent bus, which was totally full, stood Fran and Graham. Having used up their priority pass they had been made to wait, standing, in the bus while everyone else piled in. When the plane was finally ready, the buses made their way across 50 yards of tarmac before stopping to let us out. Even in the heat of the day, I suspect I would have made it on foot

Now it was a mad dash as the doors opened to grab the best seats. Uncertain which seats were best, I let Mum plough on and Dad and I followed behind, swept up by the mass exodus from the buses. We managed to secure a row of three seats, and made ourselves comfortable. Dad attempted to secure his seat belt, only to find half of it missing. In the ensuing search, the people in the seats behind became involved. When explaining that he didn't have a seat belt, a bloke behind called out 'This is WizzAir mate! You're lucky to have a seat!'

The same rush through safety arrangements in what probably amounted to two languages followed, and we set off. The flight itself was uneventful, but as we came in to land the plane bounced and broke very forcefully, then everyone broke into applause. I think I will try that tactic next time I take a taxi, and see if it gives the taxi driver any additional feeling of satisfaction to know that I appreciated him doing his job. The final kick in the WizzAir teeth was when they announced the UK time wrong, as they had done on the way out. I don't think British summer time has been noted by the ruthlessly efficient people at WizzAir.

Then a bus, a train, a tube and two more trains conspired to get me home again. Congratulations Dot and Gray, and thanks to you both, and to the GlenTomalins an friends for a truly memorable weekend. Click here to see the video.