Ciao Sydney, Rome here we come!

 It’s been a while but it’s going to be a while longa!  (Hear the pun with Linga Longa!)

Scheduled to leave Wingham at 10 am on the train, the train was over 2 hours late.  It then lost another hour in transit, so I was arriving in Sydney 1 hour before the flight to Dubai was to depart.  HOWEVER, during the morning the flight was delayed 2 hours…”Thank Goodness” I thought - I’ll make it.    Just as I got into Sydney, another message came through - flight cancelled, we’ll book you for 1 pm the next day, then a 17 hour layover in Dubai for onward to Rome.   At this time, we count we loose 1.5 days in Rome, 

Luckily V4 was onsite at the Airport waiting for me…she got to a counter, got a hotel voucher and when I arrived we went to a hotel - The Branksome.  A great room, and an even better dinner we enjoyed courtesy of Emirates.  A good nights sleep and we are back to the airport with our fingers crossed to  get to Dubai.  

The life of travellers! Stay tuned.

PART 2…..

We left Sydney 1330 - some 17 hours after we were initially due to take off.  Dubai had the biggest rain event in 75 years which caused chaos at the airport.  Flights arriving and departing Dubai were cancelled, rescheduled, cancelled again and people were missing baggage left right and centre.   We arrived at 2130 local time (0440 Sydney time) to walk the concourse with people sleeping on pizza boxes!  I was a little trepidatious, but my Qantas Club membership pulled through.   V4 and I are in the Business Lounge - in a quiet area, with food and drink as we wish.  A shower is available and we will wait out the 17 hour wait for our connection to Rome.  

PART 3…

We made it.  Two passengers, two checked bags and the carry on luggage have landed in Rome.  We caught the train into the Termini, walked two blocks - met the loveliest Accommodation Host and have just had a glass of wine at a local wine bar before showers and sleep.  

Tomorrow…we wander Rome!

An evening glass of vino before sleep!