Its 5.30am and the alarm is buzzing annoyingly. Oh well at least its buzzing. I have had another disturbed night dreaming that we missed the plane because I couldnt find anywhere to park our hire car? What! that was returned a week ago!
We get up for a breakfast if our left overscoco pops, choc au pain and orange juice! We are only 15 minutes walk from the bus station which has a very efficient airport bus. In fact all the Spanish buses have been very efficient. If only we could replicate this in the UK people just might start using public transport. Over the cobbles we gowe are again cursing the ‘never to see the light of day again suitcase that loves to jump all over the place.
We have opted for the 7.50am bus which should get us there at 8.10am - the exact time that bag drop opens. The next bus or the bus after will still work should there be any problems as they run every 20 minutes. According to google, our bus is ‘not too crowded.
suitcase! The bus area is rather crowded with homeless people and there is something decidedly dubious going on in the mens loos as I walk past. I wanted to get a photo of their tram, but maybe it wasnt such a good idea after all.
I return to Ian and the luggage. The airport bus arrives fauve minutes early and we are allowed on board straight away (some drivers have made us wait outside till the exact hour). The air con is delicious but one thing we wont miss is the mask wearingwhich is strictly enforced. We stow our luggage in convenient storage bays - we are the only ones on the bus.
The bus leaves in time, picking up three other passengers at various stops on the way. Its still quite dark and theres very little traffic on the roads yet so the only thing holding us up is traffic lights. Observant Ian has noticed that, whilst the traffic lights do have an amber, they never use them so its always either stop or go.
We arrive at the airport in half an hour and locate our check in counter. three trolleys piled high with luggage
are already queuing without their ownersif that had been Gatwick those case would have been taken away and destroyed by now!
People are starting to arrive and a long queue is forming behind the trolleys. At 8.10am exactly, the check in opens and a group of six people head over from the cafe to reclaim their bags and their apparent right to stand at the front of the queue. Its quite amusing really. But now the priority lane has also been set up so we jump ahead of them anyway. Smug haha.
OK, now for security. Usual hassle with the titanium hip but all the staff are very pleasant. Seville airport is nowhere near as phrenic as Gatwick ir Malaga.
Straight into duty free. I need to buy some Jerez sherry for my brother in law who is a sherry connoisseur. Ian is grumbling as its twice the price in duty free as buying back homeyes, but dies Morrisons own from Jerez? I hardly think so!
Right, were an hour early but lets go to the gate anywaymay as well sit there to wait. Its a 15 minute walk through the airport and now
we have reached passport control. Two guys at the kiosks are not exactly shout ly shouting, but certainly forcibly telling a Japanese tourist t9 get behind the line and wait. Its 08.58am and they dont open till 9am.
At nine precisely we all file through the control, one by one and making certain not to put a single toe over the line before the desk is clear. I find it helps if you say good morning to the guy in Spanish as well.
We have arrived at the gate with a couple of others. Plenty of space to sit and wait. There is a huge wall mural informing us (in Spanish) about the huge crocodile - we assume its stuffed - hanging over the door in Seville Cathedral. We were there yesterday. How did we manage to miss that we wonder? The creature was presented to King Alfonso X in 1260 by the Sultan of Egypt on a state visit.
