I'm at the airport having only been
stupid twice in thirty minutes.
1st, I noticed that I forgot my phone when I got to the train
station. I left it next to my computer. I had it packed and
took it out to call you and forgot. Dumb One
2nd, I took the wrong exit from Pavelaskya, somehow I got
twisted around and found myself outside with no sense of where
I was. I asked lots of questions and walked three blocks to
the right train station. You are suppose to exit at the front
of the train for the Aeroexpress and exited from the rear.
Even with all that nonsense I still made the train, which was
PACKED with drunks and others who smelled bad.
I opted to spend the extra two hundred rubles and sat in the
peaceful clean business class section and had a lovely hostess
serving me water and papers. Very civil.
The train is good but my there is a lot of walking involved.
When it pulls in to the airport, you still have to walk for
five hundred meters, without cover, to get into the terminal.
This after having to line up to show your ticket to get out of
the track platform. They certainly know how to slow down
“express”.
Just had a few small open face sandwiches and a big bottle
of water. I didn't dare drink anything since I knew there wouldn't be any
toilets in my future during the trip out. They have some traditional Russian
food on offer here, but for the life of me I can't understand why they would
serve stewed cabbage with hot dog bits to anyone about to get into an enclosed
capsule? Lots of buckwheat here so the shortage must be over.
The Metro seems to run every minute during rush hour, quite amazing. The trip
from when I got on the green line until I got off at Pavel, was only twelve
minutes. That is a lot of distance to cover in twelve minutes. Everyone seemed
to accommodate those of us with luggage so that wasn't an issue. A bigger issue
is the lack of ramps and escalators. I was carrying my luggage up and down too many times.
The train works best when you travel very, very, lightly. When I go back to WV
I'll most likely only need one small case since everything I need with be at
home. I'll take the big suitcase so that I can bring back your formal clothes.
The LH lounge is just lovely, with big windows, comfortable seating, and this
nice computer center. They even have a smoking room and the door seems
permanently open so I have to keep my distance. Lots of Americans in here so
I'm not sure if they are going to FRA or if they are on the United Flight to IAD
which is right outside the window.
You are exactly right about them having the right concept but poor execution.
If you take Business Class, you are the farthest from the exit to DME, but the
first to the exit in Moscow. Can't imagine doing this if foul weather since
there really is a lot of outdoor walking that needs to take place if you are
going to take the train.
According to the boarding pass, we board at 13:20 so I'll be out of touch after
that. I'll hook up and skype you as soon as I get to the hotel, well after I
have a glass of wine or two in the half price bar.
I feel so silly about the phone. I have a rule that if you take something out of
your packed luggage you stand there to use it and then place it right back. I'm
losing a step in more ways than one.
For most of the way out here we pass lots of dense housing and factories, but
about fifteen minutes before arriving we went through a thick forest of birches.
The contrast of their white bark and yellow and orange leaves was just lovely
and relaxing. There didn't seem to be much traffic on the road, but at least
when you get on the train you know you'll be at the airport in 45 minutes, no
variables.
Ok, time for elevensies. Love, wm
Sometimes I am so embarrassed when I'm around dumb American travelers. They
just have no class. You can spot them a mile away, with their running shoes,
jeans, untucked shirts, loud voices and arrogant attitude. This lounge is very
lovely and they have staff to make sure everything is clean and neat. The food
is very good and there are plates and silver and napkins everywhere, yet the
Americans insist on opening one of the glass coolers where they have pastries
and they take one, eat it, grab another and eat it, all the while crumbing the
little pastry wrappers and leaving them on the counter when there is a place for
trash six inches from their fat little faces. I finally had enough and got up
and gave one of them who was feeding at the pastry display, a plate and told him
where the napkins and silver were. He looked at me like I was from Mars, but
then he took the plate filled it with eight or ten little pastries and proceeded
to place them in a plastic bag he had and slip!ped them into his luggage. Oh save me!!
I have a very drinkable glass of white wine here. LH has gotten smart and they
don't have any self service booze in their lounges anymore. This must cut down
on drinking a lot and not only saves them money but spares others the prospect
of drunks on planes.
The day here has turned quite lovely, with high clouds and blue skies. I hope
the weather is good on the flight since I'd love to see what thinks look like
from here to D-land.
When I checked in at the LH counter they made me place my carry on bags on the
scale and announced they were too heavy to carry on. I said let me adjust the
bags and I slipped out the computer from the side and held it beneath the desk
and suddenly, I met the weight requirement and she gave me the tag that said it
was ok. When she asked for the passport she looked and asked if I had a
residence card. I handed her the Karkoshka and she beamed and handed it all back
and told me that I could use the Business Class security line. I got upstairs
and was delighted that I had that option since the lines for economy were huge.
There was no one in the Biz line so I just breezed thought immigration. I got to
security screening and just had to take off my shoes and jacket, didn't have to
take out my gels and liquids or computer. How very civil. From the minute I got
off the train until I was though with formalities was exactly one hour. Not bad
at all.
Darling, the wine is a French Blanc Sec, that is all I could determine, but once
I chilled it with ice, it was good. They serve everything warm and there is one
itsy bitsy bowl with a few pieces of ice in it. I had to have them go to the
back room and get me real ice. No charge this time, wish I had the DP now.
The Duty Free here is more expensive than the prices at the local grocery
store??? I suppose the Vodka is cheap, but the other stuff is crazy. $26 for
Campari compared to $18 at the grocery store.
For the record, I'm the only one in the lounge with a tie on that doesn't work
in the lounge. Savages!
Judging by my colleagues on the Metro today, everyone in Russia is hung over
this morning! I swear I felt like I had just entered a brewery when getting
train. These folks take drinking very, very seriously. When I got off the
Aeroexpress at the airport, I walked by three guys who were finishing off a
bottle of Vodka before heading to their flight. I hate to say this, but we are
real light weights when it comes to drinking compared to these hard core
Russians. We'll have to consider serious drinking as our New Year's Resolution.
I think I could have left the house forty-five minutes later and still have had
plenty of time to get here, but I'm always comfortable sitting at the airport
instead of sitting on the way to the airport.
I just had a little piece of Bienkuchen? It is the honey cake that is
multi-layered? It is very, very good. They just announce that the Munich flight
is delayed. To think, I could have made Oktoberfest. I didn't know they had a
non-stop to Munich. That is a much better place to connect than Frankfurt.
Time to go. I'll be thinking of you the entire flight. Love, wm
No comments:
Post a Comment