The story of the lost luggage

This is a story that comes in three parts. I give some suggestions as to the moral of the tale.

Part 1

It begins in Rome. I arrived in winter clothing from Australia and could not bear the heat a moment longer. As I waited for Wiwa, I quickly changed on the stairwell.

I did not need all my stuff for a week in Greece. A traveller had left behind a slightly broken bag & I packed some of stuff into it and left it with Wiwa at the hostel, la Controra.

I also had a back pack to take on the plane. But ummmm I forgot it. Just as well, I thought, I would be hot walking up to the bus stop. The only thing I would really miss in it was the phone charger. I easily bought another in Santorini and all was right with the world again. My nerves subsided, my beloved phone would still be able to function, I could still be a part of the world.

No probs. I bought a tourist beach bag with a cat on it  and the typical white Greek buildings with blue roofs.
(I'm using it now as my handbag. And I have the golden shoe box with the golden shoes I bought for the wedding - I have the important stuff with me.)

After a week touring The islands of Greece and Athens I flew back to spend a week in Rome. I repacked and took what I thought I needed for a week in Tunisia, including the beautiful dress I bought on Paros that had been altered for me to wear to the wedding. I had a spare dress also in the luggage and shoes I had bought in Rome - high orange shoes that would go perfectly with either.

So I'm running a bit late by the time I leave the hostel. I'm quickly adding someone to facebook and answering a message from Wiwa to say I'm about to leave - she is already in Tunis and will be waiting for me at the airport.

I'm running a bit later as I have to wait for the bus. And I'm running a bit latter still because an accident on the express way is holding up the traffic.

But I get there before they close the check in gates and arrive at the boarding gates with 5 minutes to spare. Time to buy a packet of chips at the vending machine - though guys - I wish someone had mentioned to buy the VODKA!

Part 2
I land at Carthage airport. But my luggage does not. Poor Wiwa is outside the gates waiting for me but it takes me about 2 hours from the time my plane touched down till the time I can go out to see her.

She is allowed back through to help me fill out my luggage claim, to help with the language. The lost luggage claim guy was really cute, I asked Wiwa if I could invite him to dinner. Wiwa translated to me that he was not used to people being nice to him in his job as they are usually angry. It wasn't his fault my luggage was misplaced, there was no reason to be angry, it would not make my luggage appear. Anger only makes everyone feel bad.

There was a big family and friends dinner that night. Luckily I had put on a pretty dress that morning, white with butterflies. I wore it for two whole days and to the party. That party was extraordinary.

So there's me with one dress and everything that was essential packed in my hand bag. It was like a magicician's sack, when ever someone needed something, I magically pulled it out of the bag. Bandaids, the right shade of lipstick, hair band, head ache tablet, what ever, the bag had it.

The next afternoon provided me with with my own very special treat. I waited patiently. Youseff had told me that something was being organized and I would be able to go somewhere to buy some things.

There didn't seem to be anywhere I could buy nickers or even a toothbrush. We were staying in a sandy beach apartment. Right on the white sands of Korba beach. I had washed my nickers and dried them in the hot sun on the terrace before anyone else got up. Haha!

After lunch, Wiwa, beckoned me as she and Youseff bundled into the back of the car. I ran upstairs for my shoes and bag and set off with Youseff's mum and dad in the front.

We went to an extraordinary bazaar, just like in the movies. Sisha, carpets, dresses & clothes, trinkets & jewellery.

I had about an hour and half on my own to do some serious shopping.

First on the list was golden shoes. Then a swim suit. I couldn't find shorts but I got a perfect traditional dress that I wore for the next 3 days. It was so airy, it stayed fresh. I also bought a fridge magnet for my around the world collection. And a pink sheet that doubled as a towel, dress and bed sheet. (Everything dries really fast in the hot white sun).

Then we all set off on a special task. It is the tradition of their culture for the grooms family to buy the bride a necklace.  We hunted in every jewellery shop. I think they knew where they wanted to get it from in the end but needed to see others too. What they bought in the end was exquisite.  Gold encrusted with dismonds and earings and bracelet to match. So suitable for my Tunisian Princess.

And it was a special time for me to spend with her and Youseff's family.

We passed a lingerie shop & I got 3 pairs of underpants. I felt much better knowing I now owned underware.

While they were in the shop buying the jewels I went for a skulk around. I found another lingerie shop with a girl who helped me buy a strapless bra. She was amazed that I had a Tunisian friend and had come for the wedding.

I needed a strapless bra because the whole miracle of this lost luggage story is that in the luggage in Rome I had left behind a beautiful dress. I didn't think I would need it.

We had called Anna and asked her if she could go by the hostel and get it out of the bag. Which she did, and it was lucky she did as she hadn't remembered her passport and she picked it up at the same time.

The beautiful  $1.50 silk dress from the op shop looked stunning amongst my other stunning girls at the wedding.

Eventually we went to a supermarket and I was able to buy some shampoo and razors and toothbrush. The girls all lent me little things like sunblock and soap and body lotion.

We went back to the market with the others another day. I bought a pink sun hat and a beach bag to put all my stuff in.

It was so liberating not having my luggage. I didn't have the responsibility of dragging around a great big bag of stuff. (Mostly shopping I had done in Rome and Greece hehe).

When, after a few days they phoned Wiwa to say the luggage had eventually arrived at the airport we decided to leave it there. I was doing better than fine without it and it was too far to go and get it.

After we vacated the beach house, there were 4 of us left. I booked a tiny place in Tunis for the night. I thanked my lucky stars I didn't have to drag my heavy bag through the narrow winding cobbled alleyways. I only had a purse and a beach bag.

Eventually I was reunited with my baggage at the aiport. It was stored safely in a big room filled with luggage.

I took it to Sicily and then flew to Rome early in the morning. Then I got the train to La Controra to get the rest of the stuff that was being minded there and said good bye to Minu. Back to the airport in good time to book my luggage to fly back to Sydney.

Part 3
You might think this is the end of the saga. But you would be wrong.

When I arrived in Sydney, guess what?
My luggage didn't arrive with me. Haha. Free as a bird. I travel for a month all around the Mediterranean and arrive back with a small back pack and a beach bag.

And the moral of the story?
#Practice non attachment to material objects.
#The universe will provide you with everything you need just when you need it.
#Don't carry your baggage around, metaphorically speaking.
#Or my favorite, let someone else mind your baggage for you.

FREEDOM!!!!!

P.s. in my bag i have with me is a statuete I bought in Greece of Nike, winged Goddess of Victory.