It was one of those days you just want to get done.
We caught our tour bus at 7.30 for the airport to meet the needs of the earliest travellers. After an hour or so we arrived at Izmir Domestic terminal, but could find no decent food for breakfast.
Our flight to Istanbul was mercifully short but our joy was shortlived. We landed only slightly late but then taxied for 25 minutes before finally parking the damn plane.
Our onward flight to Brussels would display no gate and showed a delay. When we did get a gate, the flight was overbooked. Turkish Airlines managed to bribe some Turks to fly later.
Next was a shambolic boarding by bus. Thankfully we got fed on the three and a half hour flight to Brussels. The aeroplane was making strange noises at take off and landing so it was a relief to arrive only half an hour late.
We moved very quickly through the new European entry system. Our bags found us quickly, the staff got us tickets on the train to Brugge, and an hour and 15 minutes later we arrived, caught a taxi and found our Air BnB. So, after 14 plus hours, we are here at last!
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