From leaving NZ soil to touching down in Malta was an exhausting and testing experience to say the least. Did I sleep, no! Dozed for the odd hour on the longer legs! The planes were all full to the brim, no option of shifting to a less cramped position. Due to my departure times in the countries of each flight I qualified for breakfast each time..,,I felt I was breakfasted out with a variety of waffles, hotcakes, bread rolls and jam, and a handful of chopped fruit! Where were the scrambled eggs of old? Offered once and declined due to its serving companion – baked beans!
Needless to say as I was either stuck in a window seat – unable to move as my neighbours slept the 11 hour flight, except when I did manage to get out at the 10th hour to trial the restroom area – I was abruptly told to “sit down seat belt light on” by a very busy Turkish hostie, legs crossed until the terminal!
Travelling alone, through large international airports, catching trains between connections, packing and unpacking for customs checks – what seems like an unnecessary exercise on arrival in transit and departure from the same place,when the legwork needed from terminal to terminal mostly did not make provision for a bathroom stop let alone shopping time!
So it was up and down. Running through airport cites, undressing and unpacking for various men at customs checkpoints and sleeping with one eye open to ensure one didn’t miss the only distraction (meals arriving) in the shoulder to shoulder , knee to seat confinement of the 2 foot square of personal space allocated for the duration. No longer the glamour and excitement of international travel as planes packed with kiwis and Australians leave the antipodes in hoards!
Along the way we lost the mask wearing – somewhere around Istanbul where temperatures of over 30degrees C were starting to creep in. My first day was a blur of overtiredness… my second day was a work catch up and try and manage some Maltese admin tasks – will let you know how that goes..
View from my home for the next couple of months! One way and
Construction the other way. Today is a public holiday – The feast of St. Peter and St. Paul – shall go for a wander and get into the mood for the day which will be full of fireworks and festivities!
Have confirmed that lemon and Lime (the Irish pub in Marsacala) will be playing the live Allblacks vs Ireland rugby test at 9am on Saturday (Maltese time) – it will be breakfast for breakfast (not dinner) as we Don our all blacks jerseys and support the minority on the other side of the world!
All who wander are not Lost girls 