The trip to the airport was really a trip. It took a bit more than two hours because of all the heightened security. A total of three searches before even getting to the check-in counter! The Metro stops had teams of police with dogs who I assume are trained to smell Muslims. When I got to the train station I had to go through security and that was before having to go through another set of security screenings before getting to the Aero Express train to the airport. There was yet another screening of all luggage and you had to pass through a metal detector and then get a pat down just to get into the airport. Finally, I was cleared to go to the check-in counter to get a boarding pass so that I could go through yet another screening, this one a full blown one to include taking off almost all of your clothes. Somehow, with all of that, I don't feel any safer.
Lufthansa used to be one of the best airlines in the world, and in many respects they are still excellent, but German Punctuality has taken a nosedive. We were late departing, quite late arriving and then we had to wait for forty minutes for luggage, and all of this for a very light flight. The flight attendants certainly know how to keep the Russians in check. First of all they limit the alcohol they serve. Just some wine and beer and only one at a time, despite the pleas of Russian men for four beers all at once! They, unlike Air France, do not allow the Russians to open up Duty Free booze and drink themselves silly. On our flight from Paris to Moscow there was a guy across the aisle from us who opened a full liter of scotch and managed, with the help of his girl friend, to finish almost all of it before landing. Needless to say, they were not bright eyed and bushy tailed after landing.
I’m staying at The Munich Airport Novotel, which is a mid-level budget hotel chain. I got a good deal and checked to make sure they had a restaurant and a bus to get there since it is a bit away from the airport. While waiting for my luggage I asked a Lufthansa agent how to get to the hotel. I was told to follow the signs for Hotel Shuttles, which I did. When I got to the assigned area for shuttles, there was a little sign that said, in German, For Novotel take city bus 658 at stop 15! This was across the street and I turned just in time to see the bus leaving, which gave me twenty minutes to figure out where my Euro change was since it was going to cost 1.45 Euros for the ride. Forty minutes later, I arrived at the hotel bus stop, and walked the rest of the way to the hotel. When I checked in I mentioned how inconvenient this process was, and how the website never mentioned all the little details, I was told, “ Well it says you take the bus.” I was too tired to start an argument so I simply asked for an evaluation form, which I’ll fill out in the morning. If you want to know if things are expensive here, just think about how much food you could buy for 27 dollars. That is what BREAKFAST costs! Needless to say, I’ll get something at the airport before the flight.
Yesterday I went shopping for dinner to make sure that Cindy had at least three to four meals to get her thru the week. I decided to do a Swedish meal since we were going to finish the aquavit and sing Swedish drinking songs. I splurged and got a lovely hunk of smoked Scottish Salmon, which I sliced and arranged on a tray with lemon, sour cream, pickles, hard-boiled eggs, crudités, and hot broccoli blini. It was a lovely starter and gave us ample opportunity for song. The next course was pan-fried baby octopus, with lemon, olive oil, garlic and paprika, which was served with hot new potatoes tossed with fresh parsley and garlic. We had grand white Bordeaux with this and it was a very lovely meal.
It is time for a walk before it gets too dark. Happy March, which did not arrive like a lion. Ciao, wm
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