Filling in some gaps in Spain, a Greenland cruise and I'm getting a tattoo!

[RooFlyer]

I’m still amazed about the number of bus to/from DOH given all the expansions…

My interpretation is that when this happens (at any airport), the aircraft isn't needed for an onwards flight - so they park it out of the way, and bugger the passengers being inconvenienced.

 

[SYD]

My interpretation is that when this happens (at any airport), the aircraft isn't needed for an onwards flight - so they park it out of the way, and bugger the passengers being inconvenienced.

I had a bus to an IB (QR codeshare) plane to MAD. No F (nor J!) buses for that one…. It was obviously on turnaround back whence it came.

 

[RooFlyer]

A good night at the Crowne Plaza Changi, Jewel Wing; love those rooms; big bathroom, desk, good aircon. A few minor issues in the room, reported on departure and instantly awarded 1,000 points.

SQ217 dep SIN 11:10 arr MEL 20:35, J, 14K
This was another award flight, booked using converted VA points.

I guess everyone knows about their very old J seats with offset footwell. Its OK for a day flight, but never overnight, again.



Chicken satays...



Sea bass - not a patch on QR's.



I guess the flight was OK, as I took no other pics and can't recall much - except that the FAs insisted on opening the loo door every time I approached. Also, SQ seem to have gotten their trigger finger off the seat belt sign for mild turbulence.

Arrived MEL to an almost deserted terminal. I was the first to an empty Passport control area and ours was the only bag carousel in operation. Note to self - always try to arrive MEL at this time. Its usually horrible, in my experience.

Walked to the Novotel - stay recounted here. Then a VA flight to Hobart next morning, and that was that.

 

[Pushka]

You sound a bit weary this time, not jet lag stuff. ,Maybe weary of travel and things not going as well as planned?.

 

[RooFlyer]

You sound a bit weary this time, not jet lag stuff. ,Maybe weary of travel and things not going as well as planned?.

Good observation. Yes, definitely and as I think you probably observed, a but grumpy towards the end and yes, very much less tolerant of things not going as they should, especially in the expensive places.

I had 2 x month+ long European trips this year in three months which I knew would be a strain and the second one was, but its just the way it panned out.

I've been trying to shorten my trips down to 3 weeks or less, but there's always so much to see! My next 2 trips are 2 weeks each, which should be better and maybe I'll be brighter


Summing up:

Spain - terribly hot, I loved Barcelona and enjoyed the mosque cathedral at Cordoba and the city in general. Spanish trains were good (Confort class).

I didn't enjoy the Scottish highlands as much as I thought I might. I love the lowlands; highlands were OK, but for some reason didn't resonate with me (my ancestors were low landers). The crowds may have played a part!! Harry Potter train was a major fail (diesel on the day, due to fire risk).

Greenland cruise - very good. Greenland is interesting - few land wildlife to be seen (hunting), its mainly a cultural experience. But lots of whales and its iceberg central. The Ocean Albatros was a good cruise outfit. Not as polished as, say Ponant and fewer inclusions but the expedition crew were excellent. I'd recommend them. The wifi was poor, though. Get mobile data - coverage is remarkably widespread.

Copenhagen - bloody expensive!

Next trip - a December cruise from Bali through the eastern Indonesian archipelago to Irian Jaya and down to Cairns. Nothing else!

 

[RooFlyer]

Oh, @Cossie - I looked for a number plate in Greenland but no dice, sorry

 

[Cossie]

Oh, @Cossie - I looked for a number plate in Greenland but no dice, sorry

Thanks for trying, those and the Faroes are very hard to get.

Your next trip is a beauty, it's also on my never ending 'want to do list'.

 

[RB]

Thanks for taking the time to do another report. I always gain a lot out of this section of the forum.

 

[VPS]

Good observation. Yes, definitely and as I think you probably observed, a but grumpy towards the end and yes, very much less tolerant of things not going as they should, especially in the expensive places.

I had 2 x month+ long European trips this year in three months which I knew would be a strain and the second one was, but its just the way it panned out.

I've been trying to shorten my trips down to 3 weeks or less, but there's always so much to see! My next 2 trips are 2 weeks each, which should be better and maybe I'll be brighter


Summing up:

Spain - terribly hot, I loved Barcelona and enjoyed the mosque cathedral at Cordoba and the city in general. Spanish trains were good (Confort class).

I didn't enjoy the Scottish highlands as much as I thought I might. I love the lowlands; highlands were OK, but for some reason didn't resonate with me (my ancestors were low landers). The crowds may have played a part!! Harry Potter train was a major fail (diesel on the day, due to fire risk).

Greenland cruise - very good. Greenland is interesting - few land wildlife to be seen (hunting), its mainly a cultural experience. But lots of whales and its iceberg central. The Ocean Albatros was a good cruise outfit. Not as polished as, say Ponant and fewer inclusions but the expedition crew were excellent. I'd recommend them. The wifi was poor, though. Get mobile data - coverage is remarkably widespread.

Copenhagen - bloody expensive!

Next trip - a December cruise from Bali through the eastern Indonesian archipelago to Irian Jaya and down to Cairns. Nothing else!

Thanks again for the TR - Spain is definitely on my radar for the next trip.

I know you needed to be there for the cruise but I just couldn't travel when it's hot because I'd just stay inside in the aircon

 

[Flashback]

So the trip home begins. Following my preference to break the trip up - its CPH-DOH on QR, short overnight in DOH; DOH-SIN on QR, overnight at SIN; SIN-MEL on SQ, overnight in MEL, then finally MEL_HBA!

Let me say CPH is n ot my favourite airport.

Check-in was OK, once a couple who needed to unpack at check-in got out of the way. Then - passport control!! A long line of 2-3 abreast came into view

View attachment 467978

Which crept along, turned the corner, and then:

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Just 3 booths for hundreds of people. Total cough.

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Then to the 'Eventyr' lounge. There was an elevator, but it seemed to be stuck, so I took the stairs. 2.5 stories of them!

View attachment 467981

Then to the lounge which, typical of Denmark was poorly air conditioned - ie was warm, on this warm day with the sun pouring in. Food only average ("chicken stew" ) but they did have a range of self-pour beers.

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Very noisy with kids running round, so I decamped to the gate lounge. Or so I thought. Very strange set-up. The actual gate lounge is roped off, so you wait in the corridor. FAs arrive and wait in the gate lounge.

View attachment 467986

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Finally, they open the gate lounge and you can go in and ... wait.

View attachment 467988

No, I don't mind if I don't use CPH again.

I think it is due to a bank of international departures around that time (with large(r) planes)? Mrs FB and I departing on the 9.45pm BA flight was great, lounge was dead quiet and passport control reasonably quick. When we first arrived in CPH though, PP control easy for her (EU passport) but took aaaaaaaages for me.

I’m still amazed about the number of bus to/from DOH given all the expansions…

Totally agree about CPH. Although my one and only departure (also on QR albeit pre COVID) was different. The lounge (different one) was before passport control and I made the mistake of leaving and heading to the gate. At the time, there was nothing past PP control other than gates and one loo…. To rub salt in the wounds, QR didn’t do alcoholic PDBs - said it was a CPH rule. Only time I’ve never been offered bubbles on QR….

Interesting, did an ex-CPH on QR 12/2019 and standard PDB service.

You sound a bit weary this time, not jet lag stuff. ,Maybe weary of travel and things not going as well as planned?.

I promise it wasn't due to the company. Honest guv'na! Or maybe it was.......

Copenhagen - bloody expensive!

Not too bad if you know how to do it right! There's some good value (without comprimising quality) restaurants / eateries to be found. Hotels can be bought on the cheap by purchasing points (Choice Hotels), etc.

Most hotels in that region tend to do a pretty kickass breakfast, so load up before heading out and then you only need to have a late lunch / early dinner anyway.

Oh, @Cossie - I looked for a number plate in Greenland but no dice, sorry

I found it interesting also that all seemed to start with the characters GL or GR. They didn't have (that I could see) the country code slip on the side like most EU/EEA countries do, despite their Danish links. Passport stamp into SFJ had DK as the country code.

 

[Pushka]

I think it is due to a bank of international departures around that time (with large(r) planes)? Mrs FB and I departing on the 9.45pm BA flight was great, lounge was dead quiet and passport control reasonably quick. When we first arrived in CPH though, PP control easy for her (EU passport) but took aaaaaaaages for me.


Interesting, did an ex-CPH on QR 12/2019 and standard PDB service.

I promise it wasn't due to the company. Honest guv'na! Or maybe it was.......

Not too bad if you know how to do it right! There's some good value (without comprimising quality) restaurants / eateries to be found. Hotels can be bought on the cheap by purchasing points (Choice Hotels), etc.

Most hotels in that region tend to do a pretty kickass breakfast, so load up before heading out and then you only need to have a late lunch / early dinner anyway.

I found it interesting also that all seemed to start with the characters GL or GR. They didn't have (that I could see) the country code slip on the side like most EU/EEA countries do, despite their Danish links. Passport stamp into SFJ had DK as the country code.

He's already exonerated you lot and a highlight.

 

[RooFlyer]

I promise it wasn't due to the company. Honest guv'na! Or maybe it was.......

Def not. Too much travel.