Homeward Bound

Rome’s Termini Station looks deceptive upon first glance. The taxi had just dropped us at the entrance and we approached the Arrivals/Departures board to await the platform allocation for my train to Fiumicino Airport. Maureen’s was leaving 40 minutes after mine so her’s wasn’t even on the screen. Seven minutes before the scheduled departure time it was allocated platform 28. Panic set in. The platforms that we could see were in the single digits, so we both made our way to the right and followed signs which pointed to platforms 20 to 30. Arriving just in the nick of time as platform 28 was miles away from where we were, Maureen helped me get my luggage onto the train and we farewelled each other. Poor Maureen then needed to get back to where we started to check on her train to Milan (and then eventually to Schaffhausen). I hope she made it back OK and found her platform. Nothing’s ever easy.

Arrived at Fiumicino Airport 30 minutes later and checked in my baggage (21.9kg this time – an increase of about 3 kg). It wasn’t a problem though. The frisking department always picks on me and I had a water bottle with about an inch of water in it which they made me drink. My backpack was checked twice – maybe it was the salami roll I had made for my lunch (from the breakfast goodies) that had caught their noses. My backpack is starting to fall apart on one of the zippers, so I hope it lasts the distance.

The flight on Cathay Pacific was longggggggggggg - 12 hours.  I watched 5 movies including "The boy with the Striped Pyjamas" which had me in tears.  When I wanted a midnight snack of noodles they told me they had run out.  What th'......!  Aren't they supposed to cater for certain numbers??  I didn't dare ask if they had any ice-creams left as advertised in their Flight Details.

Arrived in HK 20 minutes early and explored the airport.  Found the Travellers' Lounge and paid 600 HKD to spend the next 15 hours there so that I had food, drinks, TV, newspapers, showers, WIFI and a massage.  Cathay Pacific should have another look at their schedules and close the gap up a bit.  I'm flying out at 11:30pm.

CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOME!