I arrived safe, but not without excitement! My feet are hot and tired. I had just 5 minutes in Madrid to change my clothes and shoes. But I really want, is to find some tooth paste to brush my teeth.
My flight was at 8:40pm and I left the office late, I lost track of time. . . but I arrived at the airport with time to spare as I wasn't checking a bag! I must be Joan's kid, trying to get to the airport 3 hours early!
All my liquids were in one clear litre sized plastic bag including 4 100ml containers of peanut butter. I also have a titanium pot and lid, for boiling eggs along the Camino, a baggie of white powder (laundry soap) and razor blades so I was sure security would be fun! It was clear sailing out of Vancouver, but all my toiletries (liquids) are now sitting in London at the security desk. My 1 gallon bag with my shampoo, sunscreen, soap etc, which also contained 4 100ml containers of peanut butter was too big to get through Heathrow security and I was running late for my next flight, my flight from Vancouver had sat on the Tarmac for an hour when we arrived waiting for a gate, so I was late!
I was stopped at security as the gates to my flight closed and still standing at security 15 minutes later. They ignored everything else but i had too much liquid! Finally he let me through, he fought so gallantly to get all my peanut butter in the small British plastic bag, I left everything else behind. I left there and ran to my gate, very aware of my untied shoe laces, - the gate was very close and luckily the staff of Iberia were kind and understanding.
The kind ladies at Iberia not only let me on the flight, but also two more latecomers after me, and then the doors closed. In Madrid i didn't delay, I walked directly to my gate- spent 5 minutes freshening up and then boarded my plane for Bilbao.
The city bus into Bilbao leaves from the airport every 15 min, I just missed the first, but am on the second. I got a bit of wifi at the airport, sent an email to let my parents know I arrived safe, and I hopped on the bus.