February 25, 2012 we left Port Elizabeth after much stressful packing and shoving extra clothing in the small gaps in backpacks and large rolly suitcases. Packing for a trip is never a very pleasant experience in my house, the packing is always left for the last minute and there is snot and tranne(tears) because everything I want to take with me cannot fit in my bag, no matter how many times I pack and unpack and refold and roll each of the items.
We arrived at the airport early because M insisted we could not take any chances at the airport. Better to be safe than sorry. We checked in and everything went smoothly. - We were only going to Johannesburg to sort out the documentation mentioned in the earlier post Organisational skills need some work..
We were saying goodbye to my family - more snot and tranne - and waiting to go through to the gate when M realized he had lost his plane ticket. Now we are all worried that if we don't find it, M won't be able to get on the plane, or he will have to buy another ticket, provided the plane isn't full. Eventually after much stressful searching some kind old lady told us her son/cousin/nephew had found a ticket and had taken it to the check-in desk. We rushed over and sadly they didn't have it, but eventually they issued a new one. Problem averted.
We said farewell to the family hoping all our documentation would be sorted out, our visas approved and we won't be seeing them again for another year or two. Not that we wont miss them terribly. We board the plane and off we go to Johannesburg. We stayed with M's aunt and uncle during the week that we were organizing final documentation.
Then it came time to leave the rainbow nation on 2 March 2012. More stressful packing the night before because we were leaving bright and early in the morning. M's uncle would drop us at the airport on his way to work. Due to him having to be at work we would arrive at the airport about 4 hours early for the flight.
Up early, breakfast eaten, on the highway to the airport - it is about an hours drive from where they live. Even although I know we are going to be early and probably bored stiff in the airport my stomach starts getting tiny little butterflies. I'm getting more and more nervous, afraid that by some stroke of bad luck we wouldn't make it in time. I mentally, and physically checked that I had my passport and money and other essentials about a thousand times. Reassured that I had everything and we wouldn't be late, I'm getting more and more excited as we pass each of the high-way off ramps.
We passed the half way mark and now I'm nervous but certain its for no reason. When suddenly M starts swearing really loudly. By some stroke of bad luck he had left his passport in the bed side table - he had specifically put it there because he thought he wouldn't forget it.
We do a U-turn and race back to the house at lightening speed. As we are driving I notice that the rush hour morning traffic on the other side of the road has become much more congested. We would have to wade through that on the way back to the airport.
We get home and M rushes inside to get his passport and then we are back on the road, this time in the traffic. We weave through the cars and now I have knots in my stomach and my palms are sweating because now we are really cutting it fine.
We get to the airport with barely 5 minutes to spare before the check-in closes. Quickly we rush to the front of the queue apologizing profusely to everyone in the line. We check-in and now I can breathe. We quickly grab something to eat and board the plane. We take off at around 9 am and wave goodbye to the rainbow nation.
Thank goodness we were initially so early for the flight...
We were saying goodbye to my family - more snot and tranne - and waiting to go through to the gate when M realized he had lost his plane ticket. Now we are all worried that if we don't find it, M won't be able to get on the plane, or he will have to buy another ticket, provided the plane isn't full. Eventually after much stressful searching some kind old lady told us her son/cousin/nephew had found a ticket and had taken it to the check-in desk. We rushed over and sadly they didn't have it, but eventually they issued a new one. Problem averted.
We said farewell to the family hoping all our documentation would be sorted out, our visas approved and we won't be seeing them again for another year or two. Not that we wont miss them terribly. We board the plane and off we go to Johannesburg. We stayed with M's aunt and uncle during the week that we were organizing final documentation.
Then it came time to leave the rainbow nation on 2 March 2012. More stressful packing the night before because we were leaving bright and early in the morning. M's uncle would drop us at the airport on his way to work. Due to him having to be at work we would arrive at the airport about 4 hours early for the flight.
Up early, breakfast eaten, on the highway to the airport - it is about an hours drive from where they live. Even although I know we are going to be early and probably bored stiff in the airport my stomach starts getting tiny little butterflies. I'm getting more and more nervous, afraid that by some stroke of bad luck we wouldn't make it in time. I mentally, and physically checked that I had my passport and money and other essentials about a thousand times. Reassured that I had everything and we wouldn't be late, I'm getting more and more excited as we pass each of the high-way off ramps.
We passed the half way mark and now I'm nervous but certain its for no reason. When suddenly M starts swearing really loudly. By some stroke of bad luck he had left his passport in the bed side table - he had specifically put it there because he thought he wouldn't forget it.
We do a U-turn and race back to the house at lightening speed. As we are driving I notice that the rush hour morning traffic on the other side of the road has become much more congested. We would have to wade through that on the way back to the airport.
We get home and M rushes inside to get his passport and then we are back on the road, this time in the traffic. We weave through the cars and now I have knots in my stomach and my palms are sweating because now we are really cutting it fine.
We get to the airport with barely 5 minutes to spare before the check-in closes. Quickly we rush to the front of the queue apologizing profusely to everyone in the line. We check-in and now I can breathe. We quickly grab something to eat and board the plane. We take off at around 9 am and wave goodbye to the rainbow nation.
Thank goodness we were initially so early for the flight...
Hope you now carry all documentation
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