Alarm set for 5.15am - organised check out before 6am then quick breakfast before Arabian Adventures pick up for our airport transfer.
Our Emirates flight to Rome wasn't until 9.10 so plenty of time for coffee and a wander before boarding.
We had completed our check in online but baggage drop was a little interesting. The young and evidently inexperienced check in consultant who had no idea where Croatia is, processed our luggage through to Zagreb. I questioned her and her supervisor confirmed that yes we were to collect our luggage in Rome. Unfortunately she didn't reprint the luggage tags to show Rome and surprise surprise our bags weren't there! Situation was quite chaotic as a whole container of luggage seemed to have gone missing. After about an hour and a half and with many distressed passengers the container was located - but didn't include our bags! Emirates, Alitalia and Croatia Airlines were all involved in our bag search - thankfully we had about 4 hours in transit! With less than 2 hours before our next flights departure it was decided that the bags must have been sent to our Croatia Airlines flight so we went through Italian customs then checked in for our flight with fingers crossed! Was certainly a session but thankfully time for a couple of Peronis to settle the tension! Raym reckons he spotted our bags being loaded on board our little Dash8 76 seater....here's hoping!
Now really looking forward to seeing Adam - he has arrived safely at the apartment in Zagreb as our host Alen picked him up from the bus station.
Flight went via Dubrovnik - very scenic arrival and departure - which involved a quick run through passport control and customs. And yes slight panic when the luggage conveyor belt at Zagreb airport stopped and our luggage hadn't appeared - but all ok.... two lone bags circling in the international area! Much relief!
Luca, colleague of Alen was there to meet us and drove us to the apartment downtown. So thrilled to finally see Adam! He looks fantastic!
He had bought bread, cheese, salami, olives - and beers! Needless to say the next few hours were spent with much catching up! Just wonderful!