2012_11_10 Abu Dhabi

Rich had texted us to make sure we got to the airport in plenty of time leaving Kathmandu.  Good advice!  The traffic is unbelievable!  Cars, trucks, taxis, motorbikes, bicycles and people all going every which way and weaving in and out of each other.  The concierge told us the local cab should be RS400-500 for the trip to the airport.  That's about $5 U.S.  I handed the driver RS500 and he said we had to pay $750.  I explained what they said at the hotel and he insisted we pay more.  Eventually we just walked away - I half expected him to cause a stink with the police/army but not so.  Then into a queue where a policeman checked your passport and boarding pass at the door to the terminal.  Good thing we printed the boarding pass at the hotel.  Once in we went thru security (separate line for women) and into where we collected our actual boarding passes all the way through to Chicago from the Etihad agent.  Then customs and another security check with stamps on everything - tickets, tags on carry-ons, etc.  Finally to the departure hall where we waited for the call to board.  We were pleasantly surprised to be upgraded to 1st class just before boarding the plane.  Actually business class as this plane really didn't have 1st class.  Whatever you wanted to call it it was quite nice to be able to stretch out in our seats!  Too bad it wasn't for the flight home tomorrow morning. I guess the business class section was pretty empty - they upgraded a lot of Westerners into business.

Four and a half hours later......

Just arrived at the Airport Hotel in Abu Dhabi where the local time is 12:50 a.m on the 10th.

Wake up call for 8:00, boarding at 9:25 for a 10:25 local time departure for Chicago.

Just looked and it is 2:56 pm in Chicago on Friday the 9th.  So in a little more than 24 hours we should be landing in Chicago.

8 hours of sleep (hopefully) and then board the the plane.

This is the departure hall at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.  This is on the 2nd floor level.  Shops are down below on the first level.  Sort of cheating.  Took this when we passed through Abu Dhabi on the way to Nepal - not last night when we arrived.

Woke up this morning around 6:00 and cleaned up for the flight home.  Having some tea and watching a bit of t.v.  In not TOO much of a stereotype we were just watching highlights from last night's camel races.  Riderless camels that Connie said look like big greyhounds to her!

Here's our plane with the airport control tower in the background.  Shaped like a dhow (sailboat).