I was so excited about coming home today, that I actually found it hard to get to sleep last night. It was as if I was transported back to when I was a little girl, eagerly waiting for Santa to arrive down the chimney on Christmas Eve. In fact, I was too busy daydreaming about the huge party planned for me, the marching bands, the fanfares.... Hahahaha yeah right, more like I was daydreaming about seeing my beautiful family and friends, and jumping into and sleeping in my cosy bed!!!
I was also a tad worried about the flights as well. I had been warned when I arrived at Easter Island, that the flights are random at best. 'There have been quite a few delays recently', I was warned by my guide! Holy crap, I only have a couple of hours to transfer at Santiago airport, so if the plane is running late, I may not actually make my flight home. Lets just say, that if that happens I will be gutted!! In fact, they might have to deal with a crying maniac if that happens!!
I wake up before my alarm, and the realisation that today I fly home, dawns on me, and I can't wipe the smile of my face!!
I jump up, get ready, and head off to breakfast. The last super!
I then head back to my room to pack those last couple of items. I don't know how this works, however, even though I have taken out and dumped some stuff, I actually found it harder to do my bag up today than what I did when I flew to Easter Island. It doesn't matter though, as today I fly home (insert big cheesy grin here).
Once completely packed, I walk my way to the lobby and checked out. I take a seat and wait for my airport transfer to arrive. I was supposed to be picked up at 10.15, however when it got to 10.45 I started to panic. I asked reception to call the tour company, which she so kindly did, and she old me that my pick up will now be at 11.15. Nice of them to tell me!! But it's ok, cause I'm going home today.
I patiently sit and wait, just hoping that the travel gods are on my side today!! Please don't let my plane be delayed!!! I keep repeating this mantra in my head, and then my van arrived.
As I wheeled my bag up to the van, the back door opens, and I hear someone yell 'not another bloody Aussie'..... I look up to see Cheryl, Wes, Ron and Jan. We might as well go out with a bang!! We chatted all of the 2 min drive to the airport, and then made our way in.
I arrived at the checkin counter, and they processed all of my tickets. Window seats all the way baby!!! However, with tickets in hand I started to walk away and she said 'I'm not finished with you yet'..... best I stay.
I had originally been told that I would need to collect my bags in Sydney, however after about 10mins of the checking lady madly tapping on her key board and asking her fellow work colleagues, she changed her mind and said that I would need to collect my bag in Auckland, and recheck it in there. That's fine by me.... as long as I know where to collect it from, and recheck it to, I'm happy!!
Once I finally had the all clear to go, I caught up with the others, where we stood around and chatted until the doors opened up to security.
A very good sign, a LAN plane landed.... before the departure time as well!! This is looking good. I had to restrain myself from jumping up and down and doing fist pumps, when I saw the flight captain and cabin crew wheel their cases out to the runway and board the plane!!
Whilst we were still standing around in the waiting room at the advertised departure time, they did open up the gates and start our boarding. This is looking so promising!!
I make my way on to the plane, and I find my seat. The guy sitting next to me has a case of the worst body odour, and I nearly choke as he puts his cabin bags up in the overhead compartments.
Soon after our plane takes off, I find myself squashed against the window, shielding my nose as BO man decide to continually lean across me to take photos out of the window.
I settle in to the flight, and start watching a couple of interesting movies on the inflight entertain my unit, and by interesting I mean not so good, not actually interesting. Whilst BO man next to me, has what I would consider to be my worst nightmare. On a 5 hour flight, he had an inflight entertainment unit that wasn't working. Holy crap, now that's bad luck. Lucky for him, he speaks and reads Spanish, so he could read the local paper on the flight. Unlucky for me as it was a very large paper that required him to hold it with outstretched hands. This just ensured that everytime I turned in his general direction, I got a nose full. I did survive.... and it didn't matter as I was on my way home!
We landed in Santiago on time, and I had more than enough time to head through immigration and security. I even managed to stop off at duty free, picking up a nice purchase.... well I had to use up the last of my Chilean and Bolivian money!! That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!
I didn't need to wait long at the gate, as we were soon boarding our flight, destination...... Auckland. I really have realised that I'm taking the long way round today, and I'm seriously not looking froward to the 13 hour flight ahead of me!
I find my seat, and soon meet my seat buddy...... a Chilean man, who now calls Melbourne home.
We chat whilst we wait for the plane to take off, and I soon realise that he is maybe a little sleezy. It isn't long though, before the inflight entertainment unit is switched on, and I can happily put my headphones on and start to watch some movies, meaning that I didn't have to answer any more personal questions that this guy was firing at me!!
I was so glad to see some new movie additions on this flight.... with all the flights I have taken, I was starting to run out of movie options!! So super stoked to see these new titles. I watch a couple of movies, however my eyes soon become heavy, and I switch to listening to some music whilst I try..... and I must emphasise, try to find a semi-comfortable position to sleep in!! I sleep on and off, waking quite frequently to change my position. After about 4 hours, one of my knees starts to really kill me... Purely because I can't put it out straight, so I end up resorting to standing and facing my seat, resting my head on my seats head rest. I actually found this quite comfortable, and after standing like this for 15mins, the pins and needles in my legs finally disappeared!!!
With restless legs, and aching back, I soon found myself watching another movie.... just wishing that this long flight was over with!!!
The count down was on, and with a rude awakening, all of the cabin lights were turned on to full ball. Just what every woman loves in the morning.... bright lights, showing off all of our flaws, before we can paint a war face on!!
Breakfast was served, and before we knew it, it was time to stow our trays, return our seat to an upright position and prepare for landing. Brilliant!!!
I have safely arrived at Auckland.... The one zone has completely changed, and I have lost a complete day of my life. Where did the 7th November 2014 go??