My final day in Brazil, checking out of Copacabana and flying overnight from Rio to Madrid.
A Quiet Morning Before Departure.
I had my last breakfast at the hotel buffet, still as underwhelming as ever, and spent a couple of hours reading my Kindle before checking out. I left my suitcase and laptop with the doorman, who locked them safely away.
Gail soon joined me, and we walked to a nearby Italian restaurant for my final meal in Rio. I ordered a steak, which was probably the best I’d had in the city, though still nothing special. Gail didn’t eat, as she’d upgraded to first class and planned to use the airport lounge later.
Taxi to the Airport.
We returned to the hotel, collected our bags, and the doorman called us a taxi. We arrived at the airport too early to check in, so we sat and waited. After a while, I checked the desk again and found it had opened. I messaged Gail, who joined the first‑class queue.
A staff member saw me waiting and directed me to the disabled queue, where I was checked in very quickly.
Airport Security Adventures.
As usual, I set off every alarm at security. They made me remove my belt and checked me for metal. Then they asked me to take off my knee support and ran it through the scanner. It turned out the brace had metal inside it, which was what triggered the alarms. Good to know for next time.
Once through, I wandered the airport shops, bought a can of Sprite, and went to my gate. I read my Kindle until boarding began. When the gate opened, I was again taken through a disabled entrance to avoid the queue. As I walked toward the plane, Gail passed me on her way to first class.
The Flight to Madrid.
The Spanish passengers on the flight seemed incapable of following simple instructions. Even as we were pushing back from the gate, people were still swapping seats to sit with friends. The flight itself was uneventful. I watched films on the seatback screen, then read my Kindle for the rest of the night. I’ve never been able to sleep on planes, and this flight was no exception.
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