FINISHED!

Such an amazing operation to get hundreds of people off the ship, with their luggage, and taken to airports, hotels, or a variety of trips to fill in the day for those flying out later.

We were taken on a bus tour of Rome, which was great. We saw just about everything, and didn’t have to walk till the end, when the bus was parked in an underground car park, just a short stroll from the Vatican! Even our pal in the stilettos managed it - and she doesn’t do tours.

After a pleasant morning we were dropped off at the airport, with a couple of hours to relax in the Business Class Lounge. Things were going to plan, but they were about to take a turn for the worse… Not only was there hassle with claiming the VAT back (which we’ve never done before so didn’t know that you had to actually SHOW the item, not just the receipt - this meant scrabbling around in suitcases) when we got to the check in, bags checked etc, we were asked for our COVID status. No problem - we have the Scottish NHS app. Except… except… the Scottish Covid status app DID NOT WORK!!! It came up with a ‘NOT VALID’ message!! I tried and tried and tried. NO USE. Two nice Swedish people from the ship were behind us in the queue, and tried to help. The desk attendant would NOT accept my back up printed page stating that I have had two vaccines and a booster.  ‘But there is no date!’. She made us take the suitcases back and go and sort it out. Eventually, JR’s app worked, but mine did not. I rang the listed ‘Help Desk’ and some very unhelpful bloke on the other end cheerfully told me, ‘Oh, we’ve had some problems with that recently’, and suggested I try the NHSInform website. 

But I was NOT going to be allowed to go any further! Then eventually another page came up (NOT the COVID app) which showed a QR code, and this satisfied the woman. PHEW! Just as well we had plenty of time. 

Though plenty of time was something we did not have at Schiphol. We happened to check the departure time as we came in to land, and knowing the size of the airport, realised that it would be a bit of rush. And I can’t rush. We asked the flight attendant which gate the Edinburgh flight left from, so she found out and showed us on the map, and it wasn’t as far as it could have been. This saved us a LOT of time. And, she reminded us, there are, of course, moving walkways…

Except that many of them weren’t. I was just about bawling when we eventually got there, to find out the plane had been delayed for half an hour (which they had texted me about but I hadn’t had time to browse on my phone) 

NOTE TO SELF: Book assistance for next airport transfer.

But we did enjoy the two flights with KLM - lovely meals, and nice Dutch coffee with cream and a biccie. 

And we made it home safely, after an unforgettable trip.