Day 20: Welcome back - from Porto to Frankfurt

4.8.2025

Today we're heading back home 🥲

Our night ends at 3:30 AM... we're already familiar with those early flights.

I have some concerns about the announced strikes currently taking place at all Portuguese airports by ground staff. Several weekends in August, including today, are affected.

I feel a bit more relaxed because our TAP flight today is 'operated by' Lufthansa - so we might be lucky, as I've read that primarily TAP flights are affected by delays.

We arrive at the airport at 4:20 AM. At this early hour, no one is at the car rental companies yet. We've been informed to simply park the car in front of the gate, drop the keys in a designated mailbox, and then walk to the terminal since, of course, there are no shuttle buses running at half-past four in the morning.

I'm missing my shorts, which are now in the suitcase. I'm so warm in long pants as we walk to the airport...

Upon arrival, we hear whistles and chants. Somewhere the strikes and demonstrations are already in full swing at this early hour.

Inside the airport building, it's quiet. Everywhere on the ground, there are 'pilgrims' partially sleeping on mats. Many have large hiking backpacks with them. Either they just returned from a last tour and want to fly home now, or they arrived in the middle of the night and are starting in the morning? We don't know. It’s a funny sight, anyway.

Our flight, an LH A321-231, departs on time at 6:05 AM local time in Porto and lands around 9:40 AM local time in Frankfurt.

I'm seated in 37 C, and the guys behind me are in 38 C & D. I hardly notice the flight itself. I'm dog-tired and sleep through almost the entire flight.

Frankfurt welcomes us with a fresh +19 degrees. Home sweet home!

And once again, a vacation is over - it always goes by way too quickly....

It's great that you traveled with me and maybe even joined me on one of my other adventure blogs.

Until the next blog - it will definitely come 🤩

For the statistics:

Walked: 3 km

Drove: approx. 20 km

Flown: Porto - Frankfurt; Lufthansa (LH1181) A321-231, Seat 37C, 6:05--9:42 AM

Weather: Porto sunny 26 degrees, Frankfurt cloudy at 19 degrees