In a bid to spend our last Turkish lira, I splashed out on a massage at the airport hotel.  Wonderful! I felt calm and relaxed, ready for our day of travelling to Venice via Zurich.  We checked out at midday and trundled the cases across to the international terminal.  Then the fun began …

Step 1 – put suitcases and hand luggage through security at the entrance.  Officious security man decides to hand search my case.  Looks bemusedly at control description holders, disinterestedly at washing powder, then hones in on my little pouch of odds and ends – duct tape, Swiss army knife, rechargeable camera batteries.  Takes knife and batteries out and says “you can’t take these, you have to leave them here”. Like hell.  My Swiss army knife has travelled everywhere with me for the last 20 years and there is no way it’s going to end up in the hands of this twerp.  Arguing and handwaving ensues, until I mention “IATA regulations” and he realises he is not going to win this one. Hands back the knife and batteries but to save face, asks for my passport (1) and writes my name on a very official piece of torn cardboard.  I smile, thank him and walk away, quietly fuming.

Step 2 – head to checkin. Two security guys ask to check our passports (2), before we get to the counter

Step 3 – checkin person wants to see our passports (3) – this is normal procedure – and issues boarding passes

Step 4 – passport control (4) – checks and stamps passports in the most desultory fashion imaginable

Step 5 – security – hand luggage checked

Step 6 (after spending more lira on duty free Turkish Delight) – head to gate for boarding. Two security guys are (you guessed it) checking passports (5) before admitting passengers to the departure lounge

Step 7 – board flight and fly to Zurich

Step 8 – disembark in Zurich. Two guys are waiting at the door of the plane to check our passports (6) (I kid you not)

Step 9 – passport control (7) to get into Europe, even though we are only transiting

Step 10 – more security checking

Step 11 – board flight to Venice after stocking up on duty free Toblerone

Step 12 – disembark in Venice and head straight to baggage claim. Not a passport checker in sight – welcome to Italy!

After 24 hours in airport terminals, airport hotels and planes, it was a relief to arrive in Venice. One bus and vaporetto ride later we met up with Ilze and Pete and settled in to our apartment in Cannareggio, in the north of the islands.

The great news is that there is a big supermarket AND a gluten free/health food shop absolutely bursting with senza glutine food, run by a couple whose son has coeliac.  Ian will blog all the details but needless to say he is in food heaven.  I’m just in heaven …