8-19 deg C at Haarlem, 36 deg C at Dubai
Walk G: 7km; total: 662km
Walk W: 5km; total: 545km
After. Final leisurely breakfast we began the slow pack and strap the panniers into their travel bags. We checked out and caught the 11:06am #300 bus to Amsterdam Schipol for our 3:25pm flight to Dubai.
We arrived at the airport just before midday expecting to have to wait at least 30 minutes to be able to check in. However, our flight was on the board showing checking at row G9, that was about 50m away from the entrance. And, the lanes were open! There was no one in the Business/Gold lane so we were checked-in super quick and making our way through security and passport control to the Aspire Lounge 41 that is on the opposite side of the building to where Emirates departs from! We don’t mind as we knew we were going to be cooped up in a flying tin can for many hours, so we relaxed and enjoyed the walk. Have to say that this lounge is a far cry from the Emirates usual standard, but offered free food and drinks, so one can’t complain. There appeared to be the usual array of coughing and spluttering sick people in the lounge, which was a fairly confined space. Not the ideal situation when you have avoided being sick for 12 weeks and want it to continue.
We were sort of glad to be out of there and boarded the plane a little later than scheduled, but not by much. Hence we took off a little late but made up the time in the air. Business Class wan’t quite full, but most of those ‘sick’ people from the lounge joined us! We landed at midnight Dubai time (10pm Haarlem) and were quickly through security and in the Emirates A lounge that is not very busy at this ungodly hour. We didn’t eat or drink too much as we knew we would get two meals on the next flight.
At the bus stop about 100m from the hotel
An airport bus left every seven minutes - on the way to the airport we saw the most amazing public transport system
we’ve ever seen.
Our view from the Aspire Lounge
We’re heading home!
Take-off from Amsterdam
The Emirates globe with Australia at the front
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