Worlds Part Eight: Farewell to Valladolid

[crystalcazzie]

Part Eight: Farewell to Valladolid

Sunday started with the teams final.  For the final there was no choice, just two 1000 piece puzzles to complete.  I was tempted to buy them but worried about space in my suitcase.

Then Abbie messaged the group asking if someone could pick them up for her.  I said I would and figured that if I was queuing up anyway I might as well get copies for myself!  

I went around to the cafe with some of the others.  I had the Valladolid puzzle that I'd brought all the way with me and had planned to use as teams practice and I really wanted to do with with someone!  So I asked if anyone wanted to do it with me and four of us had a go.

Completed in 59:50!  Under an hour!

Go team!

While we were doing this, the team that had Stitch in their round were doing that puzzle to see if they should have chosen him after all:

They agreed that it had been the right decision not to!

Some of the Puzzle Chicken puzzles were brought out and we did them but with the timer counting up rather than Chicken rules.  

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I did this one in 9:14.  Should have gone for ten minutes as my prediction when I played properly! 

We then went back inside for the closing ceremony.  It was slightly less chaotic than the opening one!

Rachael won a prize so I got to see how the big novelty cheque works.  Turns out there's an envelope with cash inside stuck to the back!

Lynn and I went round to the cafe for a farewell drink.

Had to be sangria!

We were joined by her husband and dog and they sat with us for a bit before the three of them headed off.

I went back to my hotel to tackle the issue of packing. I found out that putting a 1000 piece bag in a 500 piece box and the 500 piece bag and box in the 1000 piece box meant I was able to fit a lot more in!  

View from my hotel room.  I couldn't remember if I'd taken a picture already!

Nice picture I took near where our final night drinks were.

The original plan had been to go out for a meal, but we were unable to find anywhere big enough, so drinks it was! 

I got to the location quite early and couldn't see anyone, but then Jason and some Australians turned up.  They were going to a Mexican place to eat, so I asked if I could become an honorary Australian and join them!

I chatted to them as we walked and one said that she used to go on holiday to Hastings a lot as a child!

We shared a plate of nachos and a jug of frozen margarita. Lovely!

When we went back to the drinks place (Largo Adios, a place I'm certain was chosen entirely based on the name!) there were lots of people there, Brits and Australians.  And chocolates on the table that had apparently been given to us all by Alejandro! 

It was lovely, albeit a bit cold and I wished I'd actually bought one of the hoodies in the dome!  (Something I couldn't imagine thinking a few days before, when we were all roasting!) 

Some of us moved inside, it wasn't that big but it was big enough.  I chatted with more people and said goodbyes as others left.  I didn't want the evening to end and stayed until I got too tired and had to call it a night.  I got lots of hugs and hopes that they'd see me again at Cardiff.  Which they hopefully will as I have bought tickets now! 

~*~

The next morning I was packed and ready to go.

So many puzzles in these bags!

I managed to fit ten in my suitcase and three in my hand luggage.  Could probably have bought a few more, to be honest!

I walked to the station and felt good about myself for how early I arrived.  I saw my train was delayed, but not by much so I wasn't too worried.  But then it kept getting later and later and I felt myself getting more and more stressed!

I saw Allison and we said our goodbyes.  I also saw Catherine and we chatted for a while and talked about not having teams for Nationals so we decided to join up.  I messaged Ved to ask if she'd be interested in teams as well and she said she would so I made a WhatsApp group for the three of us!  

The train eventually stopped getting later and later on the screen, which I think must have meant it had actually left its starting location.  We got to Madrid and Catherine and I shared a taxi to the airport rather than trying to find the underground, which I think was probably a good idea with how I was feeling!

I wish I was a more relaxed person, but my anxiety was getting to me and I wasn't the best company.  Catherine was calmer as she had a later flight so wasn't cutting it quite as fine!

Still, we got there.  And in enough time for me to be able to buy giant bags of Milka and Toblerone at the duty free.  And to say a quick hello and goodbye to Jason and one of the Australians who were already there and having a coffee.  

The flight back was good.  I went for the fish this time:

Still had red wine with it, of course!  

Being in business class has even more perks than just the food.  Because we were at the front of the plane we got to get off first, which meant no queues at passport control so I breezed through there.  Then our luggage is a priority so it arrived really quickly.  I was out of the airport in record time!  I did consider going home rather than staying in the hotel, but that would have meant I was travelling through London at rush hour and I really didn't want to do that!

I went to the Premier Inn and helped a couple who weren't sure which stop to get off at.  Mum and I messaged each other as we both watched Pointless together. I went to the restaurant but they were full so I had a meal in the bar area.  

I travelled home the next day and took a picture of all my Worlds puzzles:

Not a bad haul! 

Overall I had a lovely time and I'm really looking forward to doing it again.  And to seeing all the people I made friends with again at Cardiff and Nationals next year!