When they told us the night before that we would be leaving the apartment at 4am I thought that was an approximate time. It wasn’t. They woke us up at 3:50 and I had ten minutes to pack my backpack, brush my teeth and look half way presentable. On the way out we left them our bouquet of flowers in the vase we got and our thank you cards. We then all piled into the tiny car for the last time and drove to the airport. Our check-in line was the only line in the airport and there wasn’t anyone manning the desk. The lights in the airport weren’t even turned on yet, that’s how early in the morning it was. Once we checked in we took our last selfie together before we went through security and waved goodbye. The first flight was short and we got to see the sunrise and sleep. When we got to Madrid we had to go through passport control.
The guy didn’t even look at my passport or talk to me at all he just stamped a random page and moved on to the next person. I thought that was strange. Maria and I ate our last breakfast in Spain at the Madrid airport. I didn’t get to have my favorite breakfast but I did get a chocolate croissant so that almost made up for it. We had another 3 hours to wait for our flight so I slept sitting upright in a metal chair until Maria woke me up. This flight was the big flight and Maria and I couldn’t sit together. I had a window seat next to someone who only spoke Spanish. For the 9 hour and 41 minute flight I slept, watched 007, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and The Martian, played Sudoku, and ate the nasty plane food. I was very excited when they said that we would be beginning our decent. Passport control in America was as much of a joke as it was in Spain. I pretty much ran the conversation and he told me he was tired. He seemed extremely out of it and didn’t scan my passport or ask me many questions. Maria on the other hand got grilled because she is a dual citizen. We finally made it to the carousel to get our bags and Maria’s took so long that we both thought it wasn’t coming. My dad and grandparents were waiting for us and we all piled into the car and drove to Boca. After a quick pit stop to drop off my grandparents we drove the remaining five hours home. It took us 26 hours to get from Malaga to Gainesville. I have now recounted our entire trip to Spain and back. Now Maria and I are trying to adjust to the time difference and battle off whatever we caught on the plane.
Below are the pictures from our last day in Spain.
My new BFF
Mayan Monkey Mijas
1 of 3 ice creams
Wine at Picasso's favorite place
Noria Mirador Princess Ferris Wheel
As I write this you are sitting next to me on the couch in good ole Gainesville, FL. I am very happy I can say such things although it was awesome to read of your adventures. Thanks for keeping us updated and entertained and thanks Alonso and Clara for taking such great care of my Emma. You have been very fortunate to find such great hosts in Germany, Ireland and Spain. You have seen and done more in your 19 years than I have ever thought of doing. I hope you continue to have big adventures wherever you go and come home and tell us all about them. Welcome home Emma! We missed you.
ReplyDeleteDang Emma, first the bull was your new BFF and now it is a donkey. I am glad you are making friends and influencing animals across the pond. Glad you didn't miss out on the sunset wheel of fortune ride. Now your trip is complete. See ya real soon.
ReplyDelete