25 Months later the journey begins again!!

 13 April 2022: PE/ JHB

So finally after 25 months being left behind due to covid ,i am off to Miami to join hubby again.Ticket prices are crazy and only one suitcase has been quite a challenge ,so going with the bare minimum!! Crafts,wool,embroidery,pencils and watercolours are more important than clothes at the moment.On my flight to the USA i can only take 1 suitcase and coming back 2 ,weird world of traveling or should i say flying 

Staying at the Premier Hotel close to OR Tambo International Airport ,the flight and getting to the hotel went well, nice hotel ,would recommend it and a shuttle to and from the airport every 30 min ,so did not even wait 5 min for the shuttle to arrive , was great.

Think i need to travel even lighter pulling that big 23 kg suitcase after you and looking like a pack donkey with my other stuff on my back and dangling in front of me ,is a workout on its own !!

It is a beautiful autumn day, going to try-and have a early night and tomorrow it is covid testing time before i can board my flight to Zurich and then on to Miami.Also need a PCR test to board ship ,so we hope all goes well.

14 April 2022 OR Tambo JHB

Had a lovely supper and then i hit the bed think i was asleep before 20h30.Am not sure if loadshedding woke me but woke up when the TV went off during the night and a floor light came on against the wall,then went rolling of the bed when i turned around in my confusion and for a minute did not know where i was,seker te lekker geslaap!! Got my bearings quickly and then it was back to sleep.so now it is off to the Intercontinental Hotel for my testing and then the long wait begins before boarding.All went well had my PCR done and also came back negative so nou is ek reg vd skip 

Sleeping over has been rustig and think this is the way to go to avoid any extra stress when it comes to catching planes especially international flight.Have had a few stressful situations in the past and don't have the nerve for that anymore.On one of my travels abroad had delays in PE and had to run like a hare and jump the passport control line to catch my flight ,was not lekker,and needless to say the people in line were not happy with me either ,but i knew if i don't throw all my manners overboard now ,i am not flying anywhere!! so sorry,sorry,sorry and off i went, het omtrent in n sweet uitgepak na die affere.

Well the covid testing went smoothly and i must say very well organised and professional ,was very impressed.Was so thankful for my negative antigen result so now we wait for the PCR result that will be sent to me in 2 hours time.Can say with the PCR swobbing they dig deeper, not very pleasant but survived.Then it was time for a fruit breakfast and tea.Decided to buy myself a new T shirt at Woolies so if i need a new change of clothing after all the hours in the air , i am sorted.Time to check in now so until later.

We boarded our plane and all looked good but departure time came and went! Our captain then informed us that we had a technical problem that had to be sorted and that enough to get your mind going to all sorts of places when you know you are going to be flying for 11 hours but after being delayed for an hour we eventually got going. Flew into Zurich at sunrise on Good Friday with the most beautiful view of Zurich in Switzerland. Snow capped mountains , just beautiful  Have a 5 hours layover before i have my next 10 hour flight into Miami then i will be ready for a nice hot shower and bed

15 April 2022 Miami

The flight went well but dont think you ever get use to the small,cramped space on a plane.All the flights were full ,packed to the brim!! To bend over in your seat and try to put socks on or off not so easy anymore a thing you call a fat roll seems to get in the way! So being in cattle-class better than no class,hey!

How i would love to maybe only once be able to fly in the smart class all i can do now is touch the seats on my way in or out of  the plane.Lets call it the business class dream, one day when i am big!!In Zurich we did not have to wear our masks but to Miami we had too. I also had a women not to far from my seat who coughed during the entire flight which made me wonder and i kept grabbing or touching my mask, making sure nose and mouth closed tightly, please no germs my way.Got this far and  don't want unwanted germ guests at this late stage of my travels

The airport was not so busy and clearing passport control went smoothly.I have to admit i am always so glad to see my travel companion ,my beloved suitcase it actually survived the trip to our destination.You hear so many stories about getting lost ,arriving late or even worse disappearing.

The plan was to take the hotel shuttle to the hotel but after fighting with the plastic wrap  that got caught in my suitcase wheel and a unwelcome guest called a hot menopause flush,the deal was done and a taxi was the answer.Tired,hot,sweaty and fighting with this lot not a good situation or combination.The hotel felt like an oasis in the desert.A long hot bath that covered my feet was magic.(at home you bath in a few drops because of our drought)Had a good nights sleep and in 3/4 hours i join my hubby on the ship.

My next post will be after week 1, so bye for now