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Published: September 23rd 2007
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Awoke slightly later, and staff reconfirmed our flights back to the UK. We were provided with vouchers for breakfast, in a restaurant situated on the square where we had previously eaten with our tour group on another occasion. Best free hostel breakfast yet, cooked breakfast and freshly squeezed juices! We will miss the fresh pineapple and passion fruit juices!
Then we prepared ourselves for our journey home. We enjoyed an early lunch at one of the local pizza restaurants, fantastic service, as we were the only ones there! After, we briefly visited the nearby Inka market, some great handmade crafts and high quality jewellery - perfect for some last minute shopping! We discovered some great little artisans on our way back towards the square. We decided to treat ourselves & enjoy some apple pie in one of our favourite eateries back on the square 'café La Paz'.
When we arrived back at our hostel, as usual the taxi driver had arrived early! We collected up all our belongings that had sufficed for the 6 month period, and had a fairly speedy journey to the International airport - after all, time is money! We had a competition on the way
to see who could spot the most dogs on the roof tops! Our last views of South America, an end of an era… Along the way next to the coastline, we saw lots of new developments being advertised aimed at the upper-market, a city with such contrasts of huge poverty alongside extreme wealth.
At the airport we were a little surprised to have to pay an additional tax alongside the standard departure tax, because our tickets were bought in the EU! We caught the 7.55pm flight to Madrid, 11 hours stuck between two men who barely moved an inch during the entire journey! Oh well, 11 hours is nothing now, however the staff on-board were incredibly moody, they tried to avoid giving out vegetarian meals (below average standard), and few additional drinks offered. The TV system was also very limited, as only one generic screen on-board, and a strange film regarding pies only on offer… Not much to keep our minds being occupied of the reality soon to be upon us!
Arrived in Madrid at 2.30pm, fortunately we went straight to McDonald's for a snack, as unknown to us there was a long wait ahead of us… With
Goodbye!
From El & Nick xx limited cash, the time went slowly, and we resorted to using the card a couple of times. The airport was very modern and clean, but the wait, which only started as a minor delay gradually, increased by the hour. What was even more frustrating was that the plane was visible and parked outside the gate, but our crew were stuck on another delayed flight elsewhere. A few people were very anxious as had connecting flights. We decided to bide our time & enjoy a hot chocolate, whilst getting to know our fellow passengers.
Eventually at 6.50pm, we boarded the flight - a cheapie, but only two hours fortunately as lots of screaming children. The company had overbooked the flight, so we were asked to move to the flight attendants seats. No views though, as all the curtains pulled down, due to sleeping children. This final flight, one of our most arduous, eventually landing back on good old English soil at 8pm on the 11/08/07. Then we were promptly informed that there would be no more connecting flights from Gatwick that night, after some speedy passengers had already exited the plane. A little sad, we were soon cheered up to be greeted by our families with their banners on display! We enjoyed coffees, had loads to catch up on and got to sleep at around 12.30pm - luckily did not suffer too badly from jet lag this time!
A lot of people have asked us the following questions, what were your favourite places, well we would have to say Borneo & our unique experience with the orangutans, and the unforgettable fearless wildlife of the Galapagos! Favourite city was Singapore, such friendly people and a unique and diverse city. Most amazing snorkelling experience would have to be the Whitsundays & the beautiful Whitehaven beach - too many fantastic experiences! Our worst experiences, would have to be altitude sickness on the Bolivian salt flats in a freezing -20 temperature and the many strikes in Peru, resulting in a few dodgy journeys.
Such a great experience, definitely recommend a career gap or time out to anyone. A chance to experience such amazing cultures, meeting so many new faces, viewing fantastic scenery, trying out things you would never normally consider & having the time to reassess your daily lives! These experiences will remain in our memories forever, and a big thank you to everyone who helped us achieve this once in a lifetime experience! Oh & yes, there are still many more places we would love to explore... Goodbye for now…. Nick & Ellie xxxxxx By Nick & Ellie's Animal Encounters Around the World 2007.
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