Up and ready in plenty of time – so I was able to take my time getting the bags down all the stairs without any problems.
Taxi arrived and off to the airport. This driver was the same as most drivers – our host had negotiated the price to C$30.00 and I made sure I had the exact change. He wanted more – but I had made sure our bags were all on the trolley before I paid him and said that was all I had – it is true because Ruth had all the other cash. He had to accept what he was given – good try on his part.
Next job – checking in with Air Canada. After a long wait in the queue – finally it was our turn.
I asked not to be put into the row we came on because of the non reclining seat and toilets behind us. Guess what – they had already allocated me to the same seat and Ruth into a completely different row back in the plane. Hopeless airline – but the check in girl saved the day and put us both together in the row behind the exit door – and made sure we had the three seats. This enabled Ruth to lay flat with me keeping her feet warm. Much better flight – but still did not like the food.
One other thing I need to say – these two flights are the first time I have flown in total daylight thru the night. They asked everyone to keep the blinds closed so that they could put the plane into night time to allow people to sleep. This said – at about the time it would be midnight – on come the lights and they serve everyone noddles. Ever though the time was odd – I did enjoy the noddles.
Finally we are in Shanghai and away from Air Canada.
We had left some of my stuff with another student of Ruth’s so she went off on the maglev to collect the two cases – well one was a box. I found a nice seat to rest and look after our other luggage. When she got back – we arranged things for our next flight back to Fuzhou.
We now have one big case and a box and two smaller cases and two backpacks, camera bag and some duty free ( Ruth made sure she spent all our Canadian money before leaving Toronto.)
Then she tells me we are only allowed 2 check in bags on the domestic flight. I’m worried – are they going to allow us to carry on the rest as carry-on? The short answer is yes. So off to customs and the bag checks – out comes laptop etc and they find my shampoo and conditioner bottles – well over the 50ml size. All is not lost because the customs lady was very observant and noticed that both luggage claim tickets were on my boarding pass. She let us thru – with me now carrying the laptop and all the other bags and took Ruth back outside to checkin her case on her boarding pass. It worked – praise God.
So we are thru and we have a wait for this next flight – China Eastern – Shanghai to Fuzhou.
Plane was delayed so when we got on board – I fulled our overhead locker with all our stuff.
The plane was a 777-300 same as the Air Canada – and it was full just going to Fuzhou – 60 minute flight.
Now I have to say – China Eastern service was amazing – within 10 minutes of us taking off – everyone on the plain was given a small bread roll bottle of water and a biscuit and they had everything cleaned up before we landed. I have never seen sure great service.
So now we are in Fuzhou waiting for our luggage and off to find our pre-booked taxi.
Zhiling had done us proud – we had a small limo waiting – more leg room than we had on both plains – so midnight and we are home to Ruth’s place.
Should have mentioned it was only 31 degrees at midnight – quick shower and off to sleep.