November 6, 2024
November 6, 2024 - Returning home from Madrid
Enjoying a string of flights and lounges as we head home
WE HAD both tried to stay awake to watch coverage but some time in the deepest part of the night we must have dozed off. I suddenly woke up and checked my tablet to see that the commentator was not there but a blue and red screen was showing a lot more red than blue. Enough said. When I checked the time it was 559 am - one minute before my alarm was set to sound. I dashed into the shower, then asked Alex to get up. Within fifteen minutes our bags were packed and we were dragging the bike boxes down the hall toward the reception area. Not wanting to be silly, we used the elevator to bring the boxes down to ground level. It was a bit of a struggle to fit the boxes out the main doors, but we did it, then away we went, rolling our boxes down the street toward Puerta del Sol and its Metro station.
The Metro elevator was right there as we entered the square. It was a matter of paying for the ticket with the machine (simple, since one option was a ticket to the airport) then making our way down to the proper Metro line. The whole trip involved three separate lines so each time we had to disembark, make our way up elevators, stairs or escalators, and board the new train until we got to the airport. Interestingly, the Metro cost was about CAD $18 while the Cercanias trains we used when we arrived was CAD $12. With the Metro we had an extra change to do, but there was no bus from T1 to T4. Our Metro brought us right into T1/T2/T3.
With our bike boxes now on luggage trolleys, it was fairly straighforward and easy to roll to the proper check-in gate. It was only a matter of waiting for the desk agents to arrive and the computers to turn on. When they did, it was unlike some airports in that the bikes were handed over right beside the check-in computers where there was the special items (like bikes) door. Bikes handed over, we were much lighter which made the walk to security a breeze. Through the security we went up the escalator to the lounge where we got some lattes and breakfast. I have to say, though, after the evening's events that unfolded online, we were not terribly hungry. More like somewhat irate.
I wasn't sure if there was another passport control so we left plenty of time to get to our gate, until it was time to board. The scheduled departure time was 1215 pm but we ended up leaving an hour late. Despite this, we arrived to Montreal half an hour early, so we would not miss our flight to Toronto yyz. On the plane I watched some cheesy horror movie while Alex watched Oppenheimer, all the while eating and enjoying snacks and drinks.
My passes got us into the Maple Leaf Lounge in Montreal, where we ate yet again, before heading to our Toronto flight. At Pearson we made our way to the Air Canada Cafe to eat... yes, once again, though only light snacks this time. We passed the time by chatting with a fellow from Moncton then we were to our gate about half an hour prior to boarding. Uneventful flight to Timmins yts, then happily, were Mom and Dad, there to pick us and our bikes up before that endless ride from Timmins to Cochrane.
And then it was time for bed since my Alexio has school tomorrow and we were TIRED!
Alex, once again you were an absolute joy to travel with. I love you to the moon and back! xo
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Today's ride: 4 km (2 miles)
Total: 437 km (271 miles)
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