There is a 13 hour layover in Qatar later so that should be fun

nice, i hope your return trip is smooth

Thank you! I think the first leg should be okay but the second may be difficult, the east coast is supposed to get storms the day I land

Morning coffee at the 24 hour restaurant below the hotel

This one restaurant has been a godsend the whole trip lmao

It's cheap, delicious and available even when our schedule sucks

At the airport! But I can't check in for another hour

So I got a Kaya butter donut and am just chilling while I wait

The group saying bye at the airport

So my carry on suitcase was too heavy...

So I took out 3 things, said Of course I'll just carry it in my smaller bag so the suitcase could be a carry on

Then just passed security I put all of it back in my suitcase

Boarding in about 15 min

Boarded. A small child stole my seat but he looked very sad with a half-eaten donut so kiddo gets my window seat this time around

He offered me a piece, perhaps as an olive branch. But it was chocolate so I declined

Landed in Qatar. Now to find a camping spot while I crawl through the ~13 hour layover

Aaaaand someone from my group just tested positive for covid

yay...

They weren't with us the whole time but enough that I am A Whole Concern

Since I'm stuck here 13 hours, I'm being an airport tourist

In one hallway they urge you to conserve water

The next is a fully aesthetic jungle complete with impractical waterfall

I interrogated a local and they reassured it is all recycled water

I caved and bought lounge access

60usd for 6 hours of all you can eat buffet, coffee, tea and a shower with shampoo and a towel

We are on tea 1, coffee 1, and plate of food 1

Gonna save the shower for a bit later, food first

The lounge chairs are dangerously comfy too. I sense a nap incoming

We have showered, 2 more rounds of food, coffee, tea and 4 rounds of baclava

They also have all you can drink wine???

Not really my thing but Noted

oh that's a good deal for $60

6 hour buffet lounge is done. Did I take 3 sandwiches for the road? Absofuckinglutely

And my flight has a gate, finally! Take off is supposed to be in about 2 hours so I'll camp there now

heck yeah, get your 60 bucks worth

Boarding in 30 min and dang security to get to the gate was intense. I already did airport security, this is gate screening

In other news, a woman speaking little English and maybe... Russian? Asked if it was the correct gate. After making it passed the heavily scrutinized security portion

She said "Ya shto" or me too. And I don't have a keyword for cyrillic but we get the idea. I'll see if I can convince her to go up when they ask for passengers needing assistance. She has a cane and seems to have struggled to get to the gate already

I'll guess the language barrier might be to blame

keyboard not word lol

I'm tired but not that tired

yet

Welp a child just threw up next to me on the ground, luckily we aren't on the plane yet

This is gonna be a rough ride I can already tell

ganbatte...

I have once again lost my window seat to someone lol aisle round 2

I won't gripe, it's easier to be in the aisle

I'd rather be inconvenienced by someone getting up than be the inconvenience

mood, also the reason why i hate booths in restaurants

LANDED and oh my gooooodness that was such a chaotic flight

The flight attendants doubled as babysitters, genuinely so many kids and families with young children and babies

The plane was in total chaos when I got off. Crumbs and broken things and trash all over the place. Wild

Next and final leg of the journey is at 5pm ish, catching the train back

on my way to the train

ON TRAIN

almost hooooome HNNNNNNGH

I am so tired. Help

The train is pretty cold which is good. I could still 100% fall asleep despite the cold but it's still easier to stay awake like this than if it were warm

HOME.

FINALLY.

NOW. I SLEEP.