Vienna: The return

I'd got it stuck in my mind that our return flight was at 11.00 and we'd originally arranged to meet our landlady at 8.30 for the return of the keys and the make-sure-eberything's-all-right inspection. A check established that departure wasn't until 11.45, so I changed landlady time to 9.00 instead. We had everything ready and fully shipshape with time to spare, we bade farewell, complimented her on her place (though it would have been nice to have a few basics already in the cupboards). She warmly assured us that we'd be welcome back whenever we return to Vienna.

The journey in from the airport had been a bit stressful in terms of changes and luggage lugging, so we decided not to use our return tickets for the CAT (City Airport Train) but to take the S-Bahn from one station down the underground line. The S7 left from Praterstern at 9.40, bang on time. We'd been there with enough time in hand to be able to sit shivering on the platform and regretting that we hadn't taken time to visit the Prater, which we could see through the station windows. Not being an express, the journey was a slow one, but there was no need for rush or panic at check-in, and we easily found our two travel companions. We stopped at a café beside our departure gate for a final Austrian beer and a snack. We'd tried several beers during our stay. Gösser was definitely the best of them.

An uneventful flight (apart from no cooked breakfasts being left on board) got us in to Dublin around 1.30 pm. Our experience of the spanking new Terminal 2 was hugely disappointing on the way out, and things weren't much better now. The problem this time was with the courtesy coach to the long-term car park. All we could see in the terminal building were signs for 'Coaches', and there was nothing outside which specified where the courtesy coaches were to be found. We had to ask outside before we realised that we were expected to walk to coach stops at the old Terminal 1. Bernard asked the driver why this was and he was told "We're not allowed to pick up at Terminal 2". Huh?

Carl and I had a coffee in my place, after which he drove back to his place. The rest of the day was exquisitely lazy; a combination of bed time and TV and music.