Monday 1 November Time to go home

Didn't bother getting up early - I had forgotten that everywhere in Delhi is closed on Mondays, disappointed as wanted to go back to Ghandi Smriti, and there is nothing much else we want to see. We don't have to check out till 12pm so we took our time, eventually we found a cafe down the road then walked around some interesting side roads lined with small shops - tailors, thali, grocer, bread, electical, old cars, newspapers, in another road are fruit sellers, vegetables, nuts there were also numerous shops selling all sorts of everything on the main road - so busy all the time.


The hotel had booked us a taxi and off we went for the last time through the teeming, noisy, fume filled roads. The airport was very quiet and quite unbelievably we couldn't find the check in area, no flight information or times, we had to find the hidden enquiries desk, then went off to number whatever where people were milling around asking each other if this was the place for Emirates to Dubai, there was a party of men, one carrying a huge cup, they were returning from the World Body Building Championship in Varanasi in very good humour.

After some time staff arrived and put rugs in front of a couple of desks which were then opened for 1st class, overweight baggage and some special 'silver internet'? none of the staff would or could advise regarding economy seating check-in. After some time a desk was opened but away from where passengers were queuing, people were pretty annoyed as it was last come first booked in, the body builders were not happy having waited for 3 or 4 hours, eventually another desk was opened, people were all grumbling at the attitude of the unfriendly, unhelpful staff.


After checking in we found a nice expensive bar where we had beer and snacks with excellent service. When we got on the plane we had a bank of four seats to ourselves the only downside was busy toilets on either side. After changing at Dubai we were in luck again with three seats to ourselves, the plane was delayed as a passenger had not arrived so the luggage had to be off loaded, it is quite an amazing sight looking down at Dubai and all the lights.





We decided not to drink - even though it was all free - as it was going to be morning when we arrived home. We arrived to a beautiful mild morning, the English countryside had totally changed during our three weeks away it was magnificent in wonderful autumn colours. A nice end to a wonderful, happy experience.