Last Stop. Monserrat. And then the Long Trip Home...

When our cruise and associated travel was booked, our travel agent arranged an airport transfer for us from the boat on the morning of departure, however our flight was not until 4pm, and that would have meant sitting around at the airport for most of the day with more of Spain sitting right outside, sight unseen. So we took the lead of our other Kiwi clansmen and women and cancelled our transfer, booking instead a cruise tour which also deposited us at the airport.

The trip was to Monserrat, an old (no longer functioning) monastery high in the hills beyond Barcelona. For the devout, there was the opportunity to pass by and touch the Black Madonna in the magnificent church, where a mass was being held when we entered.

There was not a lot to do there, but the beauty and reverence of the place definitely made the visit worthwhile. Far more attractive than a morning spent at the airport.

We always knew the travel home would be hideous. Barcelona airport was fun for me, having to run to all ends of the airport and stand in many, many queues to get my tax back on my Florence purchases -sure earned my €65.

My watch remains on Dubai time, where we arrived late at 1a.m. last night after our 6 hour leg from Barcelona. Our next flight was not scheduled to leave till 10:15 a.m. Dubai time, and the promise of a good few hours asleep in a hotel on Emirates' tab proved a fallacy; by the time we got there and checked in it was 3:30am and the morning transfer was 7:30 am. Oh well, at least we had a bit of horizontal time.

We left Dubai 45 mins after our scheduled departure time, so have already been on our butts for 5 hours. My on board info now tells me we are still currently 9 hrs from Sydney. From there a refuel and then the flight to Auckland.

It is what it is though, and I will paint on my smiliest face as I brave my first day back at work on Wednesday! 

PS Looking forward to seeing these fellas...