I think the digestifs helped a bit last night as I wasn't uncomfortable. We were up, showered, dressed and packed by about 8:45am and ready for our last delicious breakfast.
This morning we sat next to a German couple and Sophie thought it was fun to list famous Austrians, including Hitler... luckily they were a friendly pair and didn't give us any funny looks! We didn't over-indulge today as we had a long journey ahead of us.
Plans to go and see Karlskirche were abandoned as it was raining hard outside and I didn't see the point in trawling about in the wet for just an hour and a half. We checked out and sat in the lovely, quiet bar for an hour with our books. Bliss!
Sophie ordered an Uber at 11:00am, and he arrived to pick us up looking a little stressed as he said every road leading to the hotel was closed. He was not the most fragrant of drivers and had an aura of unwashed clothes and stale cigarettes hanging around him. Sophie was not at all happy, even though he had received good reviews. We set off for the airport, seeing signs for Bratislava and Budapest. I would love to drive to Vienna one day! We made good time and it was a relief when we arrived at the airport and said goodbye.
"Don't go to the red ladies!"
We queued to drop off our two suitcases, and the woman checking them in was a little startling. She barked questions at us and then said, "Don't go to the red ladies!" What on earth did she mean? She also reminded us that we were flying with British Airways... yes, we knew that!
We had a bit of a chore going through security as I had to walk through the alarm doorway three times, and Sophie did twice. I had to remove my boots, check my pockets over and over again, and then I was subjected to a full feel-up.
We emerged into Duty Free and brought a giftpack of two bottles of Schlumberger sparkling wine to take home and enjoy. Our gate was already showing, so we walked there, flopped down in the seats and prepared for an hour's wait.
The remark from the check-in lady soon became apparent when we saw three women dressed in red at the desk. They were from Austrian Air and had just seen off the previous flight. I honestly don't think it would be possible to board the wrong flight in this day and age when everything is checked over and over!
Gradually, the seats at our gate filled up, and I checked the arrival of our flight from Heathrow. It was scheduled to arrive at about 1pm, and we were due to take off at 2pm, so it wasn't looking like we were going to be delayed.
Sophie bought us sandwiches and a small tube of Pringles for lunch, and we saw our plane taxi in, slightly later than scheduled. I hate this part of flying; the queuing to get on, the scrum in the aisles and trying to find room for belongings, and finding out who your neighbours are going to be for the flight!
It wasn't too bad, though, and Sophie had booked us both aisle seats. I had a quiet American couple next to me, and soon we were taking off and heading back to the UK.
The flight was over quickly, and our pilot managed to get us back to Heathrow twenty minutes earlier than scheduled. We passed easily through passport control, but had to wait a while for our suitcases. As we emerged from the airport to get the bus back to the car park, we saw one waiting. Sophie took the bags off the trolley, but as we approached, it left!
We then had a mammoth wait for the next one! More people had turned up, including passengers who had flown in from India. When we eventually boarded the bus, they all stood at the front next to the luggage racks and swapped stories. There was a great atmosphere until one stop when a man pushed his way to the door and complained loudly about everyone blocking the aisle! A loud argument ensued!
The journey back to the car park went on and on. It had taken us longer to get out of the airport and back to the car than it had to fly back from Vienna! We were eventually reunited with Olive and set off for home, meeting heavy traffic as we joined the M25. However, it became easier, and we made it home for 7pm.
Keith was pleased to see us, and we sat and chatted before Sophie ordered us a Chinese takeaway for dinner. Michael had stayed with Keith while we were away, which made me feel a little easier about leaving him so soon after his hernia operation.
We had dinner and watched the celebrations taking place in Newcastle after their win the other week. It was great to visit Vienna and have a little break, but it was lovely to be home!
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