Day 13 - The day of departure 🛫🌺

Yes, this morning is the day.

The day of departure.

I wake up at 7:00 am today to have breakfast with João one last time, because he takes the bus to the Universal Studios at 7:45 am 🚌.

Enzo and he are already sitting outside at the table when I arrive, because if my roommate hadn't already left so early, I would have overslept 😂😁.

By the way, if you leave a plate outside, something like this happens... 🐦

After the two of them say goodbye, I pack myself a 'Lunch-Box' for the airplane. Bananas, Apples, Bread and Cream Cheese 🍌🍞🍎.

Until now I haven't started packing and I must be out of the room by 11:00 am.... 🎒💼

So let's go!

After finishing and bringing down my stuff, I go on a 'farewell tour' one last time.

One last time past the tennis courts, past the coaches, past the buildings...

When I come back, I meet Polina and Alexandra. Both are also leaving today.

Polina already at 1:00 pm, so we keep her company for lunch at 11:00 am 👯.

Afterwards, Alexandra decides to get herself some sushi. And after I tried a piece, I can say that it was the best sushi I've ever tasted 🍜!

When Polina leaves, Alexandra and I pass the time a bit until she gets picked up at 3:00 pm.

After that, I'm alone. And actually, I wanted to go to my stuff, which is downstairs in the dorm building. 

But we are on Weather Safety 🚨😂.

This is like a real apocalypse, thundering and pouring rain ⛈.

So I have to stand in short clothes in the full air conditioning....

And suddenly a car comes and Alexandra gets out 😁.

She missed her flight, which was supposed to be at 12:45 pm. But since IMG told her she would be picked up at 3:00 pm and the driver has her name on the list, her flight for tomorrow is paid for. So she goes back to her room 🙆🏼.

Then we meet Rica once more after I've put on my long clothes.

I was supposed to be picked up at 5:10 pm, but my driver is already there at 4:50 pm, so we get going after saying goodbye 👮🏽😊.

The driver is a very sympathetic man who is about to retire. He tells me that he loves his job and that he loves talking to the kids he picks up from IMG because they have such a focus on their sport that they align everything to it. He says he finds that very important and that he fishes to relax in his free time. And and and. All in all a very interesting conversation 😊.

After an hour, we are at the airport ✈️.

After check-in, I go to the gate and the security and wait a bit before boarding starts.

Oh yeah, good thing there's a sign in front of security reminding me to get rid of a few things... otherwise I wouldn't have made it home 😬😂.

There are still more than 60 seats available on the plane, so I'm lucky to have a whole row to myself in the back 💺☺️.

At 8:10 pm local time, we finally take off.

Away from Tampa, away from the USA, towards the end of endless incredible experiences that I am so grateful for 😍.

The evening sun says goodbye one last time on the runway ☺️🌞.

After dinner, I lie down to sleep.

After about 6 hours, I wake up again. 2 more hours until landing in Frankfurt 🛬😊.

After breakfast, everything goes very quickly.

Off the plane, to the connecting flights, through customs, where a sample of explosives is taken from my waistband and laptop 😂💣 and then to the gate.

When I have a little time there, it suddenly hits me that it's already Sunday noon and no longer Saturday evening 😅. It also confuses me that people read my messages immediately again and are not just sleeping when I write to them 🙆🏼😴.

After a delay and a gate change, I am finally allowed to board 🎫.

It takes a while until we finally take off. And the flight from Frankfurt to Düsseldorf itself only takes just under 30 minutes 😅.

After that, it's just a matter of going to the baggage claim area 💼.

And then to the big reunion ☺️👨‍👩‍👧.

After lunch and a cappuccino 😍☕️, it's time to go home.

The whole trip back seemed so short to me and I can't believe I'm sitting here again 🙆🏼.

But I remember so so so many great moments that I experience as if I were still in Florida 😍🗺.

And that makes me so so happy ☺️.

I'm so grateful that I had this wonderful experience and I want to thank everyone who was involved in it.

Starting with TravelWorks, of course the IMG itself, my parents and family, the friends and acquaintances who supported me so much. 

And also especially those who show interest and read my blog.

Thank you! 😍

I will let all these experiences sink in for now and then write one or two more entries about how it feels after the trip ☺️💫.

Thank you so much for reading this far, you have been such a great support to me! ☺️😍

I wish you all a wonderful summer! 😇❤️