We leave Lisbon early so that we can get to the airport in plenty of time. Its been raining 2 full days so we figure its a sign that its time to head home.
Its third time lucky… given that our first 2 flights have cancelled so we aren’t really holding our breath for this one.
The first sign that things were perhaps not going to go to plan happened pretty quickly. The morning that we left for the airport, we reached our second subway station and because there were no escalators to get across to the other platform, we decided to take the elevator rather than try and lug our 30kg bags down the stairs. Well, big mistake! We got into the elevator, the doors shut, we pushed the down button and…. nothing happened… nothing moved. OMG! This was the last thing we needed. After a short debate, we decided we better push the alarm setting off the lights and a siren. Ten minutes later we were still waiting! I suppose that at 6.30am in the morning, there aren’t a lot of security guards around. Anyway, Mr Carter came to the rescue and strong armed the door open and while he held the door, I managed to squeeze past with all our bags. Whew!
Thankfully, that was the only scare we had, the rest of the trip went smoothly. We flew Lisbon to Madrid with quite a full plane with everyone wearing masks the whole time. Then we flew Qatar airline from Madrid to Doha and we were issued with face visors to wear in addition to our masks however this flight was practically empty and then the flight Doha-Brisbane-Auckland was probably half full. So, all in all, not a bad trip home.
On arrival in Auckland at 5.30am, we get through customs very quickly (as you’d expect being the only flight in that morning), and then directed to a bus outside the terminal and told we were on our way to Rotorua for managed isolation. Yikes! Oh well… a hotel room is a hotel room no matter where you are.
After spending two months in Europe wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing, I must say we are grateful to be home in a country that is safe and Covid free.
This adventure may have come to an end, but it has only wetted our appetite to do and see more.
From the bottom of our hearts, a thank you to everyone who supported us in our desire to help those in need in Africa, to all those who followed our blog, and who sent messages of love and support…. it meant a lot ❤️.
The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.
They must be felt with the heart.
Helen Keller
So glad you reached home safely you guys! Loved all your adventures😀 happy your elevator problem did not become more of an adventure for you! Can’t believe how empty the plane was! I remember Rotorua well when we were there.
Sherry 💕