I took another Bolt for another €2.50 to the bus station, arriving twenty minutes before departure, the bus was already there, it being not even half full. It was an uneventful trip, we got to the airport at 3 am, long before the check-in for my flight opened. I did not dare to sit down, for the fear of dozing off, so waited for close to an hour. I smiled, seeing the check-in for Budapest being busy. As far as I could tell, there were only Georgians flying there, did not spot anyone from Hungary.

The check in for Vienna opened around 4 am and I was the first in line. - and It took 3 minutes My bike is a heavy one, plus the box was stuffed with two extra bags, so it was quite heavy, but they did not complain. I was told to put my bike box on a conveyor belt which no one was guarding...hmmm. I had a weird feeling - anyone could have gone there, picked the bike up and leave the airport building....or it could be forgotten. I was assured there would be no issues.

Security check was quick, passport control longer, my passport causing yet another alert, it took forever for them to go finally stamp the document. I was through and still had a lot of time. An employee I asked assured me the bike has been already loaded.

The Budapest flight was really crowded, there was a big commotion when boarding began - and I remember my flight in May (actually, it was June) that was also quite full. As luck would have it, this was not a full flight and had three seats for myself...well, sort of. First, an old couple sat next to me, it turned out their actual assigned seat was one row ahead and on the other side, so they left. After take-off, a pretty lady sat on the aisle seat (I am a window guy), hmmm, maybe we will chat, I thought. suddenly her companion showed up and wanted to take the middle seat. Quite firmly - and this was not very socially responsible from me - I asked why on earth would he would want to cramp me in and that I had practically no room to place my leg...luckily, there were other free seats, so they left. Now I really had the three "private" seats.

Take-off was very shallow, so shallow that I was even worried whether everything was working well. During the flight, the first officer went to the back of the plane, when he came back, I got up and politely asked if I could ask him about the start. He confirmed it had indeed been a shallow angle he had chosen, it being due to the fact that we had slight tail wind, plus we were rather light. It then turned out he was Hungarian, so we chatted for like 15 minutes - while the captain and the auto-pilot were busy flying the plane - talking about Georgia (he is stationed in Kutaisi), flying and biking...

We flew over Bucharest, where my train arrived a month ago and soon thereafter, we were above the Danube near Vienna, on a crisp, but chilly morning. Such views are the reason I am a window guy.

My bike box

My father greeted me int he arrivals hall - and forty minutes later I was re-united with my mother as well...thanks, Dad!

After landing...

...my mum was waiting for me with a delicious breakfast...thanks, Mom!

It is worth goiing on long trips - to be greeted with such a breakfast...!

Well, this is the end of my month-long trip, where from Austria, I went to Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia and Northern Cyprus...