I recently had a very enjoyable trip to England but eventually it was time for me to make the journey back to Paraguay.
It is always a long journey. The distance great and no direct routes available.
However it is a journey I have made many times. So I am quite used to it.
This particular time it began one Wednesday lunch time.
After a short taxi ride I reached the Bedfordshire train station where my travels would begin.
As I approached the station I saw train I had intended to catch pulling out of the station. Fortunatly with this being the Thameslink train line I knew I would only have to wait 15 minutes for the next one.
That I caught without any futher issues. Although I did have to carry my bags up and down the station stairways.
Once seated I discovered the the train I had caught was a slow train that was going to be stopping at every little station south of London.
I could also see that the train a further 15 minutes behind was a fast one that would get to the airport quicker. That being so I alighted my train a few stations down to line to transfer to faster one.
All the way the weather had been grey and damp with rain slowly getting more steady. There was thick low cloud as I passed through London taking away much of the view down the river.
Inside the train however it was warm and dry and about one and half hours after leaving I reached my first destination, Gatwick Airport.
With the train line running through the station the transfer from train to plane was smooth and simple. All done indoors away from the rain.
I had arrived early for my Air Europa flight and so the queue at check in was short. Also being an early arrival I was assured of better seats on my flights.
Having dropped my suitcase off and checked in I headed directly to security and airside in the airport. There was far more to do there than around the check in counters.
Swiftly through Gatwick security I set about looking around the various shops in the departures hall. I didn’t have anything I was looking to buy but it was a far better way of passing a couple of hours than just sitting on a seat.
In due course the gate number appeared and I headed off to board my flight bound for Madrid.
Again everything was very smooth and I was soon aboard the aircraft and waiting for take off.
That happened in heavy rain. The view from my window was water and little else. It was now 5.30pm.
This being a short flight there was nothing in the way of in flight entertainment beyond the in flight magazine. I was expecting that to be the case so settled down to read a book for a couple of hours.
A good flight and soon we were on the ground in Madrid and waiting for a bus the take us all over to the terminal.
I had a 3 hour connection, so there was no need to rush anything. I could make my way through the terminal, through security again and then down to the gate at leisure.
Once there I had ample time to explore the terminal and have a coffee before wating to see what gate the plane to Asuncion would be flying from.
Unlike in London once the gate number appeared people did not take a seat at the gate but instead immediatly formed a long queue stretching out across the terminal. To aviod being last on the plane I joined the queue also. The last to board always have a problem finding a place for their hand baggage.
Boarding the took place at the appointed time. Afterwards however we sat for an hour on the tarmac. The plane was waiting for passengers from a connecting flight which had been delayed.
For me that was ideal. It meant the flight would arrive in Asuncion at 8.30am rather than 7.30am. A much better time to arrive.
Eventually we were again on our way. Once more a good flight. Just the usual turbulence Mid Atlantic and then again crossing thunder storms over Brazil.
I found a film to watch. Blow Up, an old film I had never actually seen before. That and the evening meal helped pass away a couple of hours.
Then somehow I managed to get a few hours sleep. Something that is never ease to do on a flight.
So before long we were getting a breakfast snack and heading down into a bright and sunny Paraguay.
A second good landing and quickly to passport control. There was quite a queue there with everyone arriving at once. However it moved swiftly and soon I was being welcomed back into Paraguay.
Then came the only delay of the whole journey. A wait for my suitcase to appear.
Once it finally did a quick walk through customs and I was back in Paraguay.
In arrivals I soon found a taxi driver to take me into the city. During the day there are always plenty around. So price agreed I was heading to a hotel.
After the long flight and as I was still on holiday I decided to use a smart hotel.
That being so I got the driver to take me to The Hilton.
I don’t usually stay in such comfortable places but was glad that I did. A well appointed hotel and at a price that I would never find in England.
It did me well as a base for a couple of days whilst I got a few things done in the city and met up with various people who knew I was coming back to the country.
After that I was then very fortunate to have someone offer to pick me up and drive me home. I was very greatful for that.
So then after starting me journey in England on Wednesday lunch time I finally got back home Saturday evening.
And the sun was shining.
If you have not yet done so, and would like to see some of the views of Paraguay click on the link below to my YouTube channel.
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