Holy Cross Euro Trip

Thursday, 31 March 2011

Leonardo Da VInci - Heathrow - YVR

We actually had the opportunity to have a little lie in (sleep in) on our last day in Rome - breakfast was at 8:00 and we didn't need to fight Italian tourists and Spanish students for the croissants!! We left for Leonardo Da Vinci airport around 9:30 for a 1:30 flight and had not trouble checking in or clearing security. We had time for a bite of lunch in an airport Auto Grille and a chance to spend our last Euros on chocolate for friends at home. Our flight was smooth and we landed at Heathrow slightly ahead of schedule.

We had to go through security again at Heathrow and, as usual, I set off alarm bells; this time for liquids in my carry-on. The security guard give me the old 'yeah, sure' look when I said that I didn't have any and then was surprised when he found none. We think it was those extra chocolate bars stacked one behind the other. Mr. Bittante also set off the metal detectors, who knows why, and one of our students had forgotten to pack the large sizes of liquids in his checked luggage. Not bad, eh?

We found time to spend those leftover pounds before boarding our flight. It was relatively uneventful except for the turbulence over Iceland - did I hear some prayers? They fed a decent evening meal, supplied us with oodles of water and juices, plus a sandwich served just before landing.

YVR looked great! The airport looks so welcoming. We checked our groups again before going through Immigration and Customs and then had the long, long baggage carousel wait. Thankfully there were no problems, no damaged suitcases and no one sent in to pay! The last bottle neck was going through the single exit to get to YOU. It was delightful to see everyone waiting on the other side of the railing.

So . . . Merci, grazie, thank you! Bye to London, au revoir to Paris, ciao and arrividerci to Venicia, Pisa, Firenze, Assissi and Roma!