Singapore to home Saturday 27 September

The flight was half an hour late leaving but at this stage of proceedingsI don't care, just as long as I get home some time today. It is a 6 hour flight. I'd love to get some sleep but figure that isn't going to happen so I will give myself an early night tonight. Today's lunch was chicken satay entree, same as the earlier flight.

Appetizer was a prawn salad.

Im filling up again fast and know what's coming next so only easy three prawns. My final meal for this flights, and holiday is lobster thermidor! Bloody delicious!

Had to move the asparagus off the plate. It's only good for being ploughed back in to the land as fertiliser. And soon enough, it is wheels down and Adelaide is in sight.

Smooth landing but my ears have not liked the constant change in pressure and are now both blocked so that I feel like I'm under water. Anyway, I'm home and get through immigration and customs esily enough, after remembering to pick up my pre purchased duty free Jamesons. Was very pleased to see my suitcase on the conveyor belt, I can tell you. So now it's out into the arrivals terminal and expecting to see my driver, was very disappointed. After 20 minutes I rang the company and was told that the driver was at the airport and would be with me in 5 minutes. 10 minutes later he arrived and we set off for home. Arrived in the door at 5.30pm. Fir8t order of business was to have a coffee and then unlock the suitcase. 2 washing loads of clothes later and I'm in my jammies ready for bed at 8.30. (Just need to get my hearing back some time soon!) It has been a great holiday, so hope you've enjoyed it as much as me. Don't put the passports away in the back of the cupboard though as we are off again at the end of the year for Hong Kong. Happy travels.

Frankfurt to Singapore Friday 26 September

The hotel was comfortable and very quiet but typically I didn't get a lot of sleep. Up at 8 for shower and checkout at 9am. Obtained directions for the departure terminal which were much more simple than going to the hotel in the first place from arrivals. So headed towards terminal 1 for a 5 minute walk. Signs then indicate I can go to A in one direction and B or C in the other. There is nothing on my ticket to indicate which one so I head to A where the Lufthansa check in is. Mind you I have to go down an escalator to reach the right floor. That was easier with the suitcase than my two previous efforts yesterday of going up! Speak to some one at the check in area and are told that Singapore airline flights are at terminal C. I then have a more than 5 minute walk to the other end of the terminal. Wish I was wearing my steps tracker as I reckon I am already at the 4000 mark! Singapore check in is already crowded but I see a notice for bag drop. As I already have my boarding passes that were issued in Portugal I go to the bag drop where I am first in line. And then the fun really got underway. The brusque attendant asks for my boarding pass. I tell her that I have a further connecting flight from Singapore to Adelaide so need my bags to go all the way through to Adelaide. I will not be collecting them in Singapore. You would have thought I had asked her to chew her own arm off! With lots of sighs she reissues me with 2 boarding passes and prints up the label for my case. I check that it says to Adelaide. We weigh my bag which is 21.3k and I then go to put it on the spot for it to go through the conveyor belt but she stops me. There are 2 tunnels for the bag drop but one is definitely not working. There is a bag sitting in the other one that had been there since I arrived some 5 minutes ago. Lights are going between red and green but nothing more. Finally that bag moves out of the Shute. I'm still not allowed to put my case on the belt. I wait 5 more minutes of no action and being ignored by the lass (and I actually timed the 5 minutes because that was my patience limit). I then say to the lass that I will go and queue at the check in counter and put my case through there but amazingly she now tells me to put my case on the belt. the machine spots out a luggage receipt and she tells me it is all done. BUT my case isn't moving.... I'm considering my options of falling to the ground, curling up in the foetal position and crying or simply walk away. Discretion proved the better part of valour and I walked away. Unconvinced I will ever see my suitcase again. Then began my long trek through the terminal to find Gate B45, keeping in mind I'm in C for check in. Follow the signs for B and end up at the screening area. I go to the line for Business Class, fast flow. What a joke! There are 2 screening areas open, but at least 5 for economy and they got through 3 times quicker than me. At the almost 20 minute mark I got to put my things in the trays to go through the scanners. I go through the body scanner and am pulled to one side for a full body search. This woman patted me down everywhere Even had to take my shoes off for her to feel inside them. She patted down my stockinged feet. Only time in my life that I wish I had tinea! I was about to tell the woman that I expected wine first but she clearly didn't have a sense of humour and I'd already expended my patience limit at the bag check. Phew, am through the screening. Now to find B 45. I suddenly find myself at Border patrol! WTF? I show my passport, actually get it stamped and wonder if I have now entered a parallel universe. I keep wandering through a shopping area and see a sign for the Lufthansa business lounge. I figure, what the heck and am somewhat surprised that they look at my boarding pass and let me in! Ah bliss... I now have time to gather myself, have some breakfast and then head for the wine section! Time yo head tho the gate. The flight is 30 minutes late with boarding and then take off. Definitely cutting down my time in Singapore to get from terminal 1 to terminal 3 for my connecting flight. However I am finally ensconced in pod 12 K and am more than happy to see the last of Frankfurt airport.

Note to self... never book flights that go through Frankfurt airport ever again, It is much worse than Heathrow. Goodbye Germany.

Time to check out the menu, but I actually forgot that I had pre ordered from the special chef menu. Champagne as everyone is boarding. Im adke what I would like once we take off and I ask for the rosé. A few minutes later, the lovely attendant apologises that they are running low on the rosé, so is there anything else I would like. Those selfish buggers upin First Class must have hogged the rosè. So I am happy to stick with the Australian Riesling. Soon enough after take off, the food starts arriving. The chicken satay was delicious.

Didnt actually want the trout and eel roulade so just took the trout out of it.

Next came the tiger prawns in chilli sauce. Only ate the prawns because Im filling up fast. Even said no to more wine as Ive got 12 plus flying hours ahead of me and dont want to peak too soon!

Finished nicely with the cheese plate.

Time to watch a movie so decide on Heads of State with Idris Elba and John Cenna. True to get some sleep but as it was only about 5pm German time , sleep didn't come so watched TV programmes. Breakfast was served by I wasn't particularly hungry. And soon enough my 12 hour flight was over, arriving in Singapore, their time of 6.40am. My boarding pass said that my next flight left from terminal 3 which was going to be s good thing as i arrived at terminal 3, however when I checked the flight board, it now leaves from terminal 1. Yet another long walk ahead of me to get to the transfer trainand then once in terminal 1 I head for gate 22 only to find a very long line of people already queueing to get through the scanners. I get on line and eventually get through with just enough time to sit and catch my breath. Hello Singapore.

At one stage through the flight probably at least half way through, I got up to go to the bathroom. Just as I was about to go into one, another pertain got their first stop I simply stood to one side. As I entered the area where 3 flight attendants were, the head one spoke to me by name and wanted to apologise that the reading light and overhead lights weren't working. (I hadn't even tried to use them). As a form of apology he hoped I would accept a $200 Singapore voucher to be used towards any purchase from the onboard shop. He would email me the voucher and I could use it within a12 month period. I said that It wasn't necessary as I hadn't tried to use the lights, but he said that I had been so nice that he was ginning me the voucher! I was gobsmacked as I never saw him talking to any other passenger about this so don't know if they just get an email sent to them without any explanation or I was single or. I prefer to vote it was the latter. Anyway, sitting at the airport gate I check my emails and sure enough there is the email with the voucher! Time to get on the flight now.

Porto to Frankfurt Thursday 25 September

Well the day has finally arrived that it is time to start the trek back home. Bags out and breakfast completed. Car booked to take me to the airport at 9am. Julie leaves an hour later as she is off to Ireland for a Back Roads tour. Last look at the marina where the Estrela is berthed. No flamingos this morning to farewell me.

Traffic was a bit chaotic but we arrived safe and sound at the airport 25 minutes after leaving the car park so after an easy check in and a relatively quick bag scan check there is plenty of time to kill before my flight. The lounge at Porto airport is very low key and well below average in regards to seating comfort, food freshness and beverages But it is eventually time to head to the gate. We are loaded on to buses and then have to walk up stairs to the plane. At least I'm at the pointy end this time. We are about 25 minutes late leaving but as I don't have to worry about a connecting flight it isn't a problem. Goodbye Portugal, I've had a ball.

Once we are underway we get offered lunch. Thank goodness for the English translation as I would never have guessed what I was having!

Got some more reading done during the 2'25 hour flight. Hello Germany. It's clearly been raining here.

Smooth landing and a long walk to the baggage claim area, then a 15 minute wait for the bags to start coming through. Very happy to see my case. And then the fun really began. I am booked into the Hilton Garden Inn for the night. Travel agent assured me it was just across the road from the airport. Looked the directions up on maps and this is what I got.

Ye gods! Which blasted way is up.... But I headed off undeterred and got to the external doors which put me straight into a busy roadway with no hotels in sight. Back into the terminal and I can't find any airport staff anywhere so at a car hire counter am advised where the info centre is so of I go and finally find it only to see a sign indicating that it was not staffed. No other options provided. I then see a sign that says Visitors Section so end up walking the length of the terminal only to find that I now have to go up a set off escalators which was impossible with my big suitcase in tow! No lift anywhere to be found. I then locate a Lufthansa employee walking along reading a roll and tap him on the shoulder to ask for assistance. Thankfully he speaks English and tells me I have to go up 2 floors and follow the signs to the long distance railway lines. He points to escalators nearby and I tell him I can't use them because of my big suitcase. I ask if there is a lift nearby and he says it is too far away. Having already taken a lift down a floor I knew that one wouldn't do me any good as it only went between 2 floors and I needed 3 floors. Weighing up my options, I considered throwing myself onto the floor, curling up in a ball and crying.... or mastering going on an escalator with a large suitcase and a carry on case up 2 escalators. Just as well I was wearing my big girl pants as I opted for the latter and with my heart in my mouth I managed to get up the 2 escalators without falling over, although I was swearing under my breath! And voila, I now see a sign for the hotel and keep following the signs until I finally got to the end of the signs and found myself in a food court. WTF? I spy a lift to the side and get in that and go up a floor. Straight ahead I see the Hilton hotel sign so make a bee line for reception only to be turned away as I was not at the right Hilton hotel. I am now wishing I had taken my earlier first option.... I am directed to a door at the side and told this is where I need to go. I am now at the reception desk for the right hotel and thankfully there was no problem with the booking so I am given the key to my room and off I go,arriving at my room some 40 minutes after I set out looking for the hotel. Once the suitcase is open I contemplate drinking the custard liqueur, but instead, take off the bra, make a cuppa and enjoy flopping on the bed until I feel rested enough to go for a shower. I attempt to log onto the wifi but find I appear to need a promotional code or will be charged for the use. My booking says it is free WiFi, so I attempt to call reception to clarify the matter. The bloody phone doesn't work! So braless (but with a top on) I head back down to reception and the lass at the counter assists me log on without a code. Back up to my room to finish my cuppa so decide to put the TV on (which I don't usually do) hoping to find an English speaking channel or at least one with English sub titles but the only one I can find is CNN and that idiot T is being interviewed. That's it. I'm done! TV off. I have a blog to complete, some more reading and another cuppa warranted before lights out.

Porto Wednesday 24 September

Up early this morning to see the views as we come back in to Porto.

Time for breakfast and then up on the top deck as we go under the six bridges.

The iron railway bridge was designed by Eiffel 3 years before the Eiffel tower was built. Very pretty scenery, but marked difference between the 2 coast lines.

While we are waiting to dock (which is taking ages) I see a wind surfer about to head out to sea!

Finally time to get off the boat to get on the coach. We have quite a walk from where the boat is berthed to get back on land. We are gobsmacked to see flamingos in the sea nearby. Apparently they haven't been back here for about 10 years so this is a big surprise.

We then do a short city tour (much of what we have ashtray seen on our hip on hip of for a week so) and head to the Fonseca port winery for yet another tasting.

Great views from the hill as we enter the winery for our tour.

The tour was fairly short but still interesting. We rated 3 ports, one route and 2 tawny. The 1927 port is apparently the best and rates 100 which is the highest awarded Port. It was okay but I actually liked the earlier vintage so clearly I am not a port connisuer.

Back on the coach and back to the boat.

Time for lunch and then we are back on the coach again to shuttle us into Porto for free time. Got the chance to do some lay minute shopping so ended up with a cotton dress for myself and VJR gets another souvenir for this wonderful city.

We have a moment to rest up before dinner and during dinner was the a spectacular sunset.

Couldn't get over how many fish were right alongside the boat.

Dinner was a pleasant affair. Didn't like the Portuguese white wine they served so changed to a Rosé which was lovely and dry. We were then told that the reason we took so long to beg this morning was not because of the strong winds but because of the very low tide, we ran aground! Suffice to say that they're are now not sure if we would be able to do a night cruise along the river, but full marks to the captain as he finally got us away from the dock and we had a wonderful cruise along the Duoro to see Porto and Gaia at night. I took so many photos that don't do the experience justice. This has become the highlight of this cruise for me.

Time to turn the boat around and head back to where we were docked. Good luck with that! There are some musicians who have been brought on board to perform in the lounge but I'm ready to head back to the cabin, try and catch up on the blog and then into bed as this is our last night of the cruise, need to pack everything and be ready to disembark the boat in the morning straight after breakfast. It's been one heck of a holiday! Hope you've enjoyed travelling it with me. Now we have to prepare ourselves for the long journey home.