The Prodigal Daughter Returns

Leaving Spain was strange. I couldn't manage to convince myself that this was the last time I'd walk through Plaza Mayor for a long time...it just didn't feel real. So I jumped on a bus to the train station, and caught various different trains through to the airport, only to have a minor panic attack when I saw that an earlier flight to Frankfurt had been cancelled...because of snow. Argh!! Thankfully my flight was more or less ok, although it left a bit late because the air traffic controllers in Madrid were gratuitously delaying planes for half an hour. Go Spain. Not.

So I had a tightish connection in Frankfurt, and it was a long walk to the gate so I ended up running through the terminal. My boots-with-not-much-grip were very unhelpful, and at one point I fell over and landed quite hard on my right hand. It didn't start hurting til I was through security etc thank goodness but when I boarded the plane (yes I made it - but with only about 10 mins to spare) - YEOWCH!!! It didn't look too bad, it swelled up a little but it really hurt all the way to Hong Kong. There I bought some herbal bruise cream stuff which has helped. It has a very strong smell which the cats hate though.
I was lucky in Frankfurt when I left the EU though. The spanish govt hadn't sent me word of my renewed residency card, so all I had was a letter confirming that I'd applied for a renewal. The border control guy looked at it for a few minutes - I forced myself to wait patiently, even though I had to run to my plane - and eventually just handed me everything and said "fine, go". I guess his spanish wasn't so good! Lucky for me! I didn't realise at the time but Dad pointed out later that there was a danger of being labelled an overstayer if he couldn't be bothered looking at my papers properly so I think next time I'd better chase everything up.

Hong Kong looked exciting, although VERY hazy. I was excited to see so much water and I had several hours, so I was keen to enter the country and go on a ferry trip, but I really needed a shower and the only showers available were through security, so I had to choose. I went for the shower. I will have to go back one day though.

The flight to Auckland was long and boring, although I did watch Mary Poppins. The guy in the seat next to me had also flown from the EU and he obviously hadn't taken a shower in Hong Kong, and the chinese guy on my other side had no concept of elbow room or 'avoiding digging other people in the ribs when you want to do ANYTHING'..gaah. But a Steinlager helped. Even though I had no idea that it was a New Zealand beer. Thanks Air New Zealand.

Then half an hour to wait after clearing customs in Auckland, and 45 mins on a plane to Welly, and I FINALLY got my hug from Mum. Oh it was good to be home.