Pakistan > Flight from Islamabad to Amsterdam

Despite the short night, I slept well. In the dark, we drive to the airport at half past two. The broad highway is quiet. At the airport, we say goodbye to Yassir and the driver. Yassir has guided the group very well over the past three weeks. He will stay a few days in Islamabad until a new group arrives. To enter the airport building, I have to show my ticket and passport. The security guard asks something about my name. In my passport, it has spaces; on my ticket, it is written as one word. I can't imagine this is the first time he’s seen this. I am allowed inside. I check in my luggage. According to the scale, I have 21.5 kilos of luggage. On the outbound trip, it was only 18.5. I don’t think I packed anything extra. I’m allowed to check in thirty kilos, so the weight is not a problem. At customs, I get my exit stamp. We still have time for coffee. I order a cappuccino. Boarding starts at five o’clock. It’s incredible how much hand luggage some families bring. They stuff their suitcases into the overhead compartments. It doesn’t fit. The stewardess has her hands full trying to find some space somewhere. I rest my neck pillow against the window and doze off. I wake up again when we take off. The served meal is disappointing: one dough bread roll with spinach. I take a few bites and the roll. After the meal, I close my eyes again. I fall asleep — a deep sleep for me on a plane.

Pakistan - Departure from Islamabad

This makes the flight go by quickly. Just before landing, a sandwich is handed out. At nine o’clock local time, we land at Istanbul International Airport. We have plenty of time. The flight to Amsterdam doesn’t leave until two o’clock. The gate for the connecting flight is not even known yet. We find a place to sit. Despite the ridiculous prices at the airport, we order coffee. When boarding for the flight to Amsterdam, some passengers are rebooked. The plane turns out to be smaller than the original aircraft. Everyone with a seat number above forty gets a different seat. This causes problems. A few seats are double-booked. This turns out to be a clerical error. At two o’clock, boarding is complete and the plane is ready for departure. The flight goes smoothly, and we land in Amsterdam on time. On the way to the baggage claim, a surprise awaits. A sign indicates the wait time for customs is about 55 minutes. After such a trip, I don’t feel like that. Fortunately, the wait time for European passports is better. This line can use the automated machines. This doesn’t help much though. Also, the luggage is delayed. It takes three-quarters of an hour before the bags arrive. This gives me time to say goodbye to the fellow travelers. At six o’clock, I board the train home. The holiday is over.