Breakfast in Paris, Lunch in Zurich and dinner in Malaga!
A 48 hour whirlwind of taxis, lounges and navigating airports! The Thai lounge in Bangkok was pretty awesome - free massages, several stations of food, Chinese food, Thai food and western food. I had pancakes and bacon for the first time in ages! The endless cup of perked, not instant coffee was a welcome change. I can't decide if the lounges are the best part of flying business or if its the fact that you can board the plane whenever you want. Then there is the fast track lane to customs and also your luggage is labelled priority and comes out on the belt first. Thanks to areoplan I was able to live the good life on this journey!
The flight to Paris - about 14 hours was obviously long and the in-flight entertainment was terrible. The lay flat bed and the food were great.
I arrived in Paris and it was midnight my time - went through immigration -in a flash with my fast track card - merely a passport check and stamp. No more paperwork in the EU. Collected my bags and got out my one page of instructions on how to get from Terminal 1 to terminal 3, level 5 where I would get the hotel shuttle. It was all good until I found a barrier going up to the train. You weren't allowed to take a cart up the escalator. Humm 3 bags and two arms - I stopped the airport helper (they are everywhere) and she said there was no way to get through - I asked her about going back to arrivals and getting a taxi. She said because it was only about a 2 km trip they would probably charge me 30 Euros. So, I looped one bag over the other and with the help of a french kid made it up the escalator. Got to the shuttle stop and arrived at the hotel about 2 am my time. Needless to say I was knackered and went right to bed. Next flight was 10 am to Zurich. Was up at 6 and back to the airport drop off at 7:15. Did the reverse trip back to Terminal one - this time with only 2 bags. Checked in and went to the Lufthansa lounge. It was OK - great yogurt and granola, pastries and of course coffee. The flight was delayed because the French air traffic controllers were on work to rule -- ahhh! Arrived in Zurich, a very small airport but tons of walking. Made it to the SWISS air lounge - beautiful! Lots of choices and bowls of chocolate!
Once again the flight was delayed - this time because the French Air traffic controllers were limiting the number of airlines in French air space. The pilot had to change the flight plan and reroute us over the Swiss alps.
Spectacular scenery!
SPECTACULAR SWISS ALPS
Another long day, arrived in Malaga about 4. Bags came through and the customs officers were out in full force just watching as people wheeled through. Not sure what they were looking for. Made it to the BUDGET desk and after the slowest service ever finally got all the paperwork done just to be told to go to the next level and get the car. Off I went and got the keys - absolutely no explanation about the car. I told the guy he needed to help me and he reluctantly came over and hooked up my GPS. It was underground and so dark I couldn't see anything in the car let alone the outlet for the GPS. No satellite reception so therefore no GPS - left the garage and ended up doing a u turn in the middle of the road cause I was headed for the highway. I pulled over and let the GPS grab a signal then headed off in the right direction. I can't believe how fast they drive here!!
Apartment is wonderful and has great views of the Mediterranean. Two bedrooms, three bathrooms and two balconies. Even an oven!
Drove to the mall this morning to get a SIM card - 20 Euros for one month and 30 GB of data ....that's a deal! Went to the grocery store - what a pleasure - even tho I didn't recognize a lot of stuff it was clean and nice! More on that later. Jet lag is taking it's toll and I feel the need for a wee nap!
The flight to Paris - about 14 hours was obviously long and the in-flight entertainment was terrible. The lay flat bed and the food were great.
I arrived in Paris and it was midnight my time - went through immigration -in a flash with my fast track card - merely a passport check and stamp. No more paperwork in the EU. Collected my bags and got out my one page of instructions on how to get from Terminal 1 to terminal 3, level 5 where I would get the hotel shuttle. It was all good until I found a barrier going up to the train. You weren't allowed to take a cart up the escalator. Humm 3 bags and two arms - I stopped the airport helper (they are everywhere) and she said there was no way to get through - I asked her about going back to arrivals and getting a taxi. She said because it was only about a 2 km trip they would probably charge me 30 Euros. So, I looped one bag over the other and with the help of a french kid made it up the escalator. Got to the shuttle stop and arrived at the hotel about 2 am my time. Needless to say I was knackered and went right to bed. Next flight was 10 am to Zurich. Was up at 6 and back to the airport drop off at 7:15. Did the reverse trip back to Terminal one - this time with only 2 bags. Checked in and went to the Lufthansa lounge. It was OK - great yogurt and granola, pastries and of course coffee. The flight was delayed because the French air traffic controllers were on work to rule -- ahhh! Arrived in Zurich, a very small airport but tons of walking. Made it to the SWISS air lounge - beautiful! Lots of choices and bowls of chocolate!
Once again the flight was delayed - this time because the French Air traffic controllers were limiting the number of airlines in French air space. The pilot had to change the flight plan and reroute us over the Swiss alps.
Spectacular scenery!
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| Free foot massage in the Thai Lounge |
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| Slippers on and feet up - 14 hours to go! |
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| Champagne to start - Thai Airways always has orchids! |
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| Lufthansa lounge at Charles de Gaulle - with the wave of your hand the seat gets a new plastic cover! |
SPECTACULAR SWISS ALPS
Another long day, arrived in Malaga about 4. Bags came through and the customs officers were out in full force just watching as people wheeled through. Not sure what they were looking for. Made it to the BUDGET desk and after the slowest service ever finally got all the paperwork done just to be told to go to the next level and get the car. Off I went and got the keys - absolutely no explanation about the car. I told the guy he needed to help me and he reluctantly came over and hooked up my GPS. It was underground and so dark I couldn't see anything in the car let alone the outlet for the GPS. No satellite reception so therefore no GPS - left the garage and ended up doing a u turn in the middle of the road cause I was headed for the highway. I pulled over and let the GPS grab a signal then headed off in the right direction. I can't believe how fast they drive here!!
Apartment is wonderful and has great views of the Mediterranean. Two bedrooms, three bathrooms and two balconies. Even an oven!
Drove to the mall this morning to get a SIM card - 20 Euros for one month and 30 GB of data ....that's a deal! Went to the grocery store - what a pleasure - even tho I didn't recognize a lot of stuff it was clean and nice! More on that later. Jet lag is taking it's toll and I feel the need for a wee nap!
