After twenty six hours I am finally here! I walked through the big doors at tullamarine, wiped the tears from my face and waited to board through gate 8. Thankfully I got an isle seat... for the next fourteen hours I was in and out of sleep and chatting to the NZ woman next to me (who was a little strange). finally it became time to land. Once in Dubai we got off on the tarmac into the stifling humidity even though it was only 5am and onto an equally as stuffy bus. I got to the connections area and spoke to an emirates man who told me to check the boards at 8am and my gate should be up, so I had three hours to kill, this I was very glad for as I knew what I wanted to do.
I took the lifts upto the airport hotel and after a lot of waiting and not very good service I found the "G force" health club where the lady was very helpful. I payed my 45 durems and was shown to my shower block which had everything you needed in it. So after freshening up and rearranging my bags a bit I went back down to the overcrowded, crazy but beautiful Dubai International airport.
I found a tiny little massage place and got a neck back and foot massage which was awesome after 14 hours of sleeping upright ! haha :) the lady was gorgeous and we talked about Australia and how she loves Australians and thinks we are all beautiful :)
I was relaxed and rejuvenated and then I picked up my extremely heavy carry on luggage again and it all went to waste! I went to a cafe and bought a smoothie and a muffin and then followed the signs to gate 120, where I would soon be flying to Venezia from.
Here, I met a young group of 3 Italians, 1 from Venice and 2 from Padova! I chatted with them and looked out the windows as the planes took off until it was time to board.
When I got to seat 22D an air hostess was there, so we got chatting and she is probably the coolest person I have ever met! She speaks like six languages and she was from New Zealand :)
So again I slept most of the way apart from when they woke me up for my "fruit platters" that I had chosen instead of the regular meals and I am very glad I did because whilst I was munching on a bread roll and fruit salad everyone else had a plate of mush that smelt bad! haha :)
Once we arrived in Venice I was called over the loud speaker to notify myself to the staff members because I am an unaccompanied minor. So I very embarrassed pushed through everyone in the isles with my big three bags and found my chaperone. She took me and a little girl through the passport check, slipping the line and then she left me as I am old enough at the baggage carousels. I found myself a trolley and a man helped me lift my black suitcase with the pink ribbon onto my trolley and again I went through those big doors and heard the beautiful sound of francesca and giulia and gian calling my name with excitement :)
I rushed over to them and was embraced in a big hug from fra followed by her mum and dad ! it was so great seeing them after two years :D
we then took my stuff to the car outside where it was very hot and drove the half hour back to the Drudi's town house in the suburb of Albergnesio :)
I got a bit of a refresher tour to where things are and Fra showed me wear I will sleep. As I was just about to unpack my things the house phone rang and they called me back downstairs because apparently I and another person had each others luggage. So after my many apologies and them telling me not to worry, we sped back to the airport and swapped the cases, I thanked Gian very much and back home we went. By this time
it was about 5o'clock. So I showered, gave the drudis their gifts and Francesca and I walked to the shops, which was nice as it had started to cool down but was still very warm! I could not believe the prices in the clothing stores everything was so cheap, in H&M I came out with two bikini tops an a knitted jumper for €8 :O !!!
after a bit of fun in the shops we went into the huge supermercato and bought some groceries, I did this thing where you get the bread and weigh it yourself and put a sticker on it for the price :) we then paid, had a little look in Kiko a beautiful make up store and walked back home! On the way we walked passed the volleyball and spoke to one of Fra's friends Maria :) She was a very beautiful girl.
we then came back here and I relaxed on the couch and ended up falling asleep, woken for cena (dinner). Giulia said to me that after I eat I should go to bed, so we had a lovely summer meal outside unfortunately so did the mosquitos!
I helped clean up and then I brushed my teeth and went to bed. I was supposed to be going out with francesca and the girls but I just couldn't my keep my eyes open.
I had a great sleep and now it is morning and I must get up for breakfast! :)
ciao ciao ✈