Leaving Dubai

The van arrived, complete with a luggage trailer to take me to the airport - and yep, I'm the only one on this transfer. I was due to be picked up at 11.20, he arrived at 11.00 and so even longer to wait. We are having to have 3hr check in times at the moment, but so far no hassles.

He dropped me off at Terminal 3 and says Check In through those doors. I walk in and this huge room is absolutely empty. OMG where is everyone. An Indian boy comes in the door behind me and he says "Oh gosh it's empty"

Suddenly an airport official appears from nowhere and says through that door and across the road. Phew there are still people around. I find the area I need, I have three to choose from - 1, 2 or 4. Number 1 is the closest so I pull my bag over there and a guy asks "did you check in on-line?" Ummmmm No, I didn't, so he sends me to Area 4. Off I trundle dragging my bag behind me and am 1st in the queue. The check-in guy is from Palestine, but has lived in Canada for a long time before coming to Dubai. He takes my passport and my boarding pass from me - Guess what - I was booked in at Cairo and my seat has been allocated already. Duhhhhhh. I could have dumped my bag at Area 1. Oh well, would have missed the lovely chat with this guy. He wasn't busy so we chatted for quite a while - and I wasn't in any hurry as it was only 11.15 and my flight doesn't board until 1.35pm. So off now to Passport Control. Bit of a hold up here - the lady let me go and then called me back and went through and through my passport. She was speaking Arabic so I have no idea what the problem was, but I recall this happened when I left Dubai in 2011.

Finally through (it must have taken about 4 or 5 minutes but then off to find Gate B32. I had plenty of time to spare and could have gone up to the Diners Club lounge but Emirates had given me a free meal voucher, so I used that instead. Quite a few outlets named on the voucher, but I decided to go for a Mcdonalds. Something just quick and light I thought. Well the quick was another story - it took ages but it was good and freshly cooked and the chips were good. Quite a change after all the dips and salads in Egypt. And I took a photo and sent a postcard to John and Nathan.

So now playing the waiting game. It is amazing that in an airport waiting area for a plane that holds hundreds of people, who have to arrive up to 3 hours early, there are only about 30 chairs. Luckily I was here in plenty of time, so I have a seat to sit in, and the last seat has just been taken so pity the other 200 when they arrive. With so many gates, and areas and levels at this airport, I always like to arrive in plenty of time, and after my little hiccup on the way over going to Gate 19 instead of 29, I check, check and double check again.

Okay, next stop Spain. Bring out the winter clothes, and it will be great to put my feet up. I notice they are a bit swollen today. I didn't put my stockings on for the flight yesterday as it was only 3 hours and I didn't think about them this mornng. Silly me - and this flight is 8 hours. Will just have to keep wriggling my toes.