R&R: Getting to Barcelona

The price difference between a straight flight ticket from Dubai to Barcelona and a ticket with multiple stops was several thousand dollars. Even purchasing this airfare a month in advance didn’t seem to fetch a fare price. I opted for the cheaper multiple stop ticket.

Even though I’m a little jetlagged and suffering from sleep depravation, I can still muster the will to enjoy this first day off from work. It’s really nice going back to the first world, where infrastructure, luxuries and niceties are the norm.

Leaving Kandahar went rather smoothly. Just about everyone on the plane was is high spirits. Planes flying from KAF to Dubai means one of three things. People going on emergency medical leave, people completing their contract and going home for good, or people going on R&R. Judging by the demeanor of the passengers, I’d guess most were headed out for R&R.

The flight out of Kandahar to Dubai took about two hours. Dubai has one of the screwiest airport layouts I’ve ever seen. The terminal I arrived at was on the other side of the airstrip of the departure terminal. This means I have to formally enter the UAE by going through passport control, pick up my baggage, hire a taxi to take me all the way around to the other side of the airstrip (with traffic, a 20 to 30 minute ride), enter the departing terminal, formally exit the UAE (back through passport control), and then check my baggage and find my gate.

I found another expat who was willing to split the cab fare. At first he said “thirty” for one person, then changed it to “twenty” each for two people. I estimated 20 UAE dirham was a little less than $7 each, so we agreed. This sly cab driver waited till we were almost al the way to our destination to inform us that we owed him $20 a piece (in US dollars). We argued for about 5 to 10 minutes, calling him everything from a scoundrel to a thief until we finally just paid him off and decided that it was a learning lesson. Always always always negotiate cab fare BEFORE agreeing to the ride, AND be explicit in what currency they are asking. It was obvious that this joker was scamming us.

Unfortunately, I had a layover of just over 7 hours. Luckily, Dubai airport has free wifi, and numerous electrical outlets. I was able to access the internet and chat with my Mom for a few hours. It still amazes me that I can literally be on the other side of the planet, and have a real time conversation with my mom back in Texas.

After getting checked in and finding my gate, I decided to take advantage of the airport’s lounge for some peace and quiet. I met an Aussie who was passing through and killed time with some good conversation. After boarding the plane I slept for about 3 to 4 hours, just long enough to spend the remainder of my flight watching the first half of a movie before landing in Amsterdam.

The last time I passed through Amsterdam I had a long layover, so I left the airport to do some touring. This time it was just long enough for me to leisurely stroll to my gate and get on the next plane to Rome. I don’t feel to bad about not having a long layover in Rome, because my wife and I have plans to visit here in about 4 or 5 days. At least I can formally say I visited Rome before she did!

After about a 3 hour layover and some confusion in the airline changing gates, I was in the air and on my way. The flight ended up being about 45 minutes late and finding the hotel shuttle pickup point took a lot of time, so I ended up getting to my hotel later than expected.

After some hiccups with my room check-in and hotel staff, I finally got to the right room. I opened the door, and Donna (my wife) greeted me with a hug and kiss. I walked in scanning the entryway for London (my 3 year old daughter). As I spotted her, I noticed some hesitation on her part as she took a couple steps back. She probably could not really believe I was there.

I squatted down, dropping my bags, and opened my arms out and enthusiastically called her name. Upon this gesture she sprinted towards me and jumped in my arms, wrapping her arms around my neck in a tight hug. Being deliriously tired, sleep deprived, and not seeing her for 2 and a half months put me in a surreal moment. I was grappling with all the emotions of a lengthy separation as well. For the rest of the night she was my little barnacle, never leaving my side.