Spain Day 1 – Traveling to Spain

It’s Friday Feb 15th, 2013 and I’ve been awake for 20 hours so far. Its 5am for me Toronto, Canada time, and I think it’s 9:30am London, UK time. I’m feeling pretty foggy as I sit here on my second flight of the day, but I wanted to share some of my experience so far.

Matt brought me to the airport in Toronto and waited with me while I checked my bag and until it was time to enter security. As I waited in the cue I couldn’t help but feel sad that he wasn’t coming with me on this journey. I wasn’t nervous about flying alone, I’ve done that before, instead I was already missing him and he had only just left from my sight.

Security was fine, busy, everyone nervous they are doing it all wrong. I just hoped for everything to go smooth. It did, well other than needing a full pat down because of every grommet on my jeans setting off the buzzer, otherwise my trip through security went well.

I made my way to my gate, got a sandwich from a little restaurant where you order off of an iPad. It was a little unorganized but I figured it out. Then I sat patiently at my gate and waited to board my flight to London, UK where I would be connecting to a flight to Madrid, Spain.

I boarded a large Air Canada plane and sat in a window seat just behind the wing, on the left side of the plane. A man maybe in his 50’s sat beside me. His name was Sean; he works for Loblaws as a produce purchaser and was traveling to Dublin for 10 days with his 4 kids.

The flight was delayed departing Toronto by 30 minutes due to freezing rain and ice on the wings and inside the engine. It was really interesting to watch the de-icing and antifreeze process. Some guys in little crane size boxes with hoses attached to it came along raising up and down and all around spraying down the plane, eventually coating it in antifreeze green.

Once we got on our way it was a long but pleasant flight. I watched the start of two movies, Lincoln, unfortunately the file crashed and wasn’t available to keep watching, the second movie was Killing Them Softly, which was super boring after the first 20 minutes. So I ended up watching a cheesy but cute movie about an acapella group called Pitch Perfect and another animated movie called Wreck it Ralph (which was fantastic by the way).

I was really impressed with the food on the flight. I had called ahead and asked for the gluten free options (thanks Sly for the recommendation). This meant my dinner was one of the first ones to be served, nice and hot. It was honey mustard glazed chicken with a rice pilaf and veggies also a gluten free bun and a cold and soggy quionà salad that I didn’t eat. It also came with a gluten free ginger cookie which was very nice. For a morning snack they served a gluten free muffin, small but nice.

I loved looking out the window as we flew into London, UK. It was after 6am local time and the sun was just starting to rise. It was so dark in the countryside that it looked like the scattering of city lights and highways were floating in black water. It was very mysterious looking. This picture doesn’t do it justice.

We arrived in London, UK at 6:40am local time. After a short walk through the terminal I took a shuttle bus to the main terminal, where I continued to walk through and follow the connecting flight signs until I reached the next check in. I picked up my boarding pass for Madrid and made my way through security, where yet again I had the privilege of a full pat down, thanks jeans! Luckily for me my luggage went right from one plane to another so I didn’t need to worry about picking it up and checking them again.

Once through security I explored the airport, starting at a beautiful shop containing jewellery, handbags and scarves… I bought a scarf. Then made my way to a food stand called Pret, where their signs boasted fresh, natural food. I picked up a delicious BLT sandwich and a mango juice, both so yummy. I ate them at my gate while waiting for my flight. I loved the text on the napkin and had to take a picture because it was so witty. Overall I felt the London airport was really lovely and easy to navigate through. There were lots of food and shopping options, something for everyone really.

I’m now halfway through my second flight and going to catch some shut eye if I can. I’m in the last row of this little but sold out plane, on the isle right beside the washrooms. Fun huh? Ahh well! I’m very much looking forward to landing in Madrid and starting my Spanish journey.

p.s. Please excuse the low res touristy pictures from my pocket sized camera. Better pictures and more stories from my trip are coming as quickly as I sort through them.