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We've made it!!! This was one long travel day: we left Calgary at 5:45pm on Wednesday and arrived at Grossaettis (Sophie's Swiss Grandpa) at 7pm on Thursday.
We enjoyed our last affordable Thai meal with a dinner stop on the way to the airport. There was no lingering at the restaurant though - Sophie so badly wanted to go to the airport and get going. Check-in went smoothly, our 23.9 and 23.2kg luggage got checked-in without any questions, our hand luggage passed inspection (a minor miracle) and we spent 2+ hrs in the not-so-fun Fun Zone at the international terminal.
I got a talking to from Sophie for not having booked a seat in the back rows of the plane, since those people got to board first..... but once she was seated and had control over her own screen she was pretty darn pumped. Our daughter isn't one to pass on a free meal and unlimited TV and so she stayed awake until 12:10am to eat and watch Peppa Pig. 5hrs of sleep later Sophie was awak again and ready for more Peppa Pig binge-watching.
Our Heathrow transfer went smoothly too - hardly any line-ups. Things fell apart when Sophie found out there was no time to play at the Heathrow playground. I ended up carrying Sophie, her backpack, my backpack, my 25.2lbs carry-on and pulling her Pinkalicious hand-luggage.... and very much regretted having forgotten to apply deodorant after my last shower......
At least on this flight they allowed travellers with small kids to board first. The cheery lady at the check-in desk told Sophie she could only get on the plane if she had a smile on her face..... which turned out to be the last straw. Sophie fell apart - tears streaming down her face... the check-in lady in shock. We somehow got on the plane only to face the next disappointments: no TV AND no meal service. The only thing that saved me was when I pulled out the 80's Walkman with a tape of "Pippi Longstocking".... it was close call.
1.5hrs later we had made it through immigration, had gotten our luggage (and I miraculously managed to pull both bags off the carousel without hurting anyone else or myself.....) and were hugging Grossaetti/my dad.
The drive home was tense - I had forgotten how tight those roads were, especially when they narrow the lanes for constructions (the lower the speed limit too but 100kmh still seems awfully fast) but we survived the drive. Sophie had a good 1hr cat nap.
We wrapped the evening up with a traditional Apero (salty snacks and a choice of chilled alcoholic beverage) and were tucked into bed by 11pm. Sophie - the best traveller ever - slept until 6am and after 15mins awake in the dark fell back to sleep until I woke her at 10am! Amazing!!! The weather is gorgous, a hot summer day with 28C. We spent the day eating popsicles, taking a dip in the kiddy pool, feeding the donkeys in the field nearby, checking out a playground.
Saturday we will link up with my sister and her family and on Monday we'll have to get some admin done: setting up a bank account, getting a cellphone plan, making arrangements for our apartment.... but right now, it's Apero time.
Love from Rickenbach, Sophie & Barbara
- comments
Sarah I just woke Charlie up laughing so hard while reading this! I will have to get the kids caught up on the cupcakes adventures! Can’t wait to talk soon! Sarah