A drive through north-west France

[RooFlyer]

A reminder that the walls merely hold back random piles of millions of bones.









Of course, while the ossuary was being created, the French Revolution was raging above. The Place de Greve was a central staging point for the revolutionaries. Also Paris' major execution site, including the first by guillotine in 1792. The ossuary served as a morgue for those killed in combat.







The Ma(g)deleine cemetery was used to dispose of the bodies of those guillotined in the French Revolution, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. They were exhumed in 1815 however and their bones are not in the ossuary.

In the middle of the area called the Crypt of the Passion, or the “tibia rotunda”, is a supporting pillar hidden by skulls and tibias that form a barrel shape. On 2 April 1897, a night concert was organized here between midnight and 2am. The information was circulated in the newspaper and the concert drew over one hundred participants to hear Chopin’s Funeral March and the Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens, among other pieces. Already at the time, this place fascinated thrill-seeking Parisians.

And then exit! Now I know more about the place and background, I'd love to go back.

 

[OZDUCK]

More great photos thanks.

Driving around CDG is certainly a test for your sanity. When I had to drop a leased car off there it turned out that the in-car navigation system was useless as the authorities had decided to reverse the direction of flow of a number of one way streets around the drop off point a few weeks previously. In June last year we also had problems with lifts and escalators out of action at the CDG train station.

 

[I love to travel]

Your trip reports and incredible - thank you

 

[RooFlyer]

I didn't realise it at the time, but this video was taken at the bones of the St Innocent cemetery, the first cleared, deposited here in April 1787

 

[ellen10]

I love driving the rural areas of France. But driving to CDG airport scares me too much!

Great photos and commentary, thanks @RooFlyer!

 

[RooFlyer]

I had 5 hours to kill before check-in at the airport for my Oman Air flight home, so I checked into the Ibis next to the Novotel under day rate. Horrible! Smell of mould and cleaning product, trying to disguise the smell. I went down and they changed my room. But really.





At last check-in for the start of my journey home. I planned a nice 'unwind' few days getting home, knowing that my trip in France would have been very busy. Didn't work out, unfortunately.

No probs checking in at T2, nor through security (phew - I've had some bad experiences at CDG security). Directed to the Prime Class Lounge, which looks after the non Star-Alliance hodge-podge that uses T2. Cathay Closed.



It was very ordinary, Limited food options, virtually no booze - I noted a bottle of red, some spirits but no mixers. Hardly any power points.







WY132 dep CDG 21:20 scheduled MCT 6:30, B787-9, 11A

Choice of lemon-mint drink or Champagne on boarding - I had both. Then Arabian coffee and a date





'Dine on demand', but pretty obvious to have it as soon as available, on this flight. I skipped the entrée and had lamb mains, which was a bit tough, but you can gnaw on the cutlets!!, and a rocky road with rose syrup for dessert. The Champagne and Medoc were excellent.





Like many WY meals, presentation is lacking (or absent) but substance OK.

On my outbound, I had 10A - bulkhead window with massive legroom as it's accessed by a little corridor from the aisle. I wondered if 11A I had on both my return flights would be the same, and it was. Maybe a tad less width for the feet, but still tons. Excellent hard product.





I took this pic to remind myself to say how bad the wifi is on board. You pay through the nose for a limited amount, very slow (I tried on the outward journey - never again!!).

A bit out from MCT I looked at our route - over Persian Gulf! Umm .. OK ...

 

[Quickstatus]

Is Paris geologically stable?

 

[RooFlyer]

Clearing immigration was a bit fraught. I knew from @Seat0B 's posts that Omani immigration was interested in any prior visits to Oman, but that seemed to be for on-line visas (or so I thought). I was getting a visa-on-arrival, so wasn't prepared for the official's questions about: when I was here before 'a long time ago' I answered - when? Can't really remember, sorry. Do you have a photo of the passport used then? No, sorry. He flipped back and forth through my passport and then stamped it and I was away. I didn't feel at all welcome in Oman.

Uber had told me it operated here, but turns out it doesn't, just taxis. But OK to get - go to desk, get a ticket, walk out to get taxi. The ticket is un-necessary.

I was off to the Movenpick and I anticipated a nice relaxing 24 hours, by the pool etc. No desire to look around as it was very hot and I'd been there before.

Nice welcome amenity



Very large room and the aircon thankfully worked well.



Not sure how long you'd be staying to take advantage of the dressing room:



View - oh, well ..



I went down for brekkie and the spread was excellent. Much more than this pic shows.



Anyway, the main item for the day was the pool, which I'd checked out on-line, and it was as promised:



But then the wheels started coming off the whole stay. A sign at the pool said that, due to the heat (max of 31 deg today, feels like 39 deg) 'the Ministry' had decreed that all pools closed between 11am and 4pm. WTF? Yes, its hot! That's why we use the pool .

So I just had to retreat to my room, work on the TR and generally mooch. And than I started noticing things about the room. Light 'switches' were flat sensor panels with about 8 choices of lights around the room. No way you can tell where to touch to activate a particular one in the dark. Also, the showed, while being OK, after you shut it off, water slowly runs across the floor. So if you come back a bit later and don't notice it, major slip hazard. (I pick up and hang the mats when I'm finished., so they can dry).

Also, whare are the towels? There - above the bath. Many folk wouldn't be able to reach them. Just stupid.



At 4pm I hit the pool. It was quite warm, but did the trick for a bit of exercise. Not much lazing by the pool though.



The lounge was good - sapcious and a good spread of food and drinks. Better than shown here, as there were people about.



OK, so then turn in. Of course, then outside, the work starts in the relative cool of the night.



Noise! Cut a long story short, I rang and asked reception if they knew how long the work will go for. 'Call you back in 5 minutes'. 25 mins later I go down - needs to call 'manager' and on Saturday, manager isn't answering. I ask for another room, just to sleep in. Can't do. (I've never come across when they won't do that, if the noise is demonstrated; I'm Plat). All staff have no initiative or authority to do anything. All 'manager must approve'. Manager AWOL. A bad night's sleep.

 

[Quickstatus]

I went down for brekkie

Extra for early checkin?

 

[RooFlyer]

Extra for early checkin?

No. I e-mailed saying I'd be very early and asked for early check-in. The place was nearly empty, as far as I could tell.

__________

The previous night, I'd asked for a wake up call at 6 and a taxi for 6:30. As I woke at 5:30, I called down and asked for the taxi to be at 6am. Went down at 6 and no taxi. Hadn't been called. Person busy with someone else. There are a couple of taxi companies in Muscat - one is Otaxis - there is an app and I went to order myself. BUT not allowed to service hotels.

Arrive airport. MCT is incredibly badly signed, or ambiguously in English. I missed business check-in but got that done OK at 'bag drop' and then through business security quickly. But really hard to find the lounge. I'd been there on my outbound, but that was transit. Finally recognised the elevator you have to use and went up.

Noted the Aerotel for possible future usage.





The lounge is good - very large, with buffet and a la carte. Very hospitable staff - which makes a change from everyone else I'd met in the airport so far.



On board WY815 dep MCT 8:40 scheduled BKK 17:45. B787-9, 11A

Pretty much rinse, repeat from my previous leg, except the food menu.


Used dine on demand to make this late lunch, not breakfast. As I mentioned before, presentation can be improved, but the tucker is good. Angus short rib was falling apart tender.







We were going to be early into BKK, but ended up having racetracks on approach, and then we bypassed the airport for a very long excursion out into the bay, arriving 20 mins late.









Overall, quite happy with Oman Air - would fly again, as they are cheaper than most others. Only let down by their often non-daily scheduling and small fleet - risk of B737s on flights to Asian ports.

 

[RooFlyer]

At BKK I was really worried about long immigration times I'd read about. But not to worry - there was a priority lane - which was signed for aircrew and Thai nationals but seemed to be able to be used by anyone in business. Queued and through in less than 10 minutes. Bags came out quickly too.

I used a private car service recommended by @drron and it worked very well. Comms by WhatsApp, very responsive and clear instructions where to meet the car. I tipped the drivers both ways.

Booked Banyan Tree, as reports of the Sofitel weren't great. My first time at a BT. I knew there were renos going on - several restaurants not available and check-in moved to 15th floor. No worries there.

Check-in - took about 15 mins. Not made shorter when 2 young ladies came and started talking to the check in agent, showing pics on their phone etc. This grumpy old codger went over and asked what was holding up the check-in. Backchat from young ladies as they walked off.

Room was good - on the 55th floor.











View - no noise from the road while the traffic was crawling during the day





I had trouble that night with noise - first some reno noise, then really bad trafic noise - recounted in my post on the Accor thread.

They could have put me on the quiet side of the hotel - per my e-mailed request prior to arrrival, and re-checking on check-in - but no. Totally PedMO.





So much for my relaxing trip home. So washed out the next day couldn't be bothered even using the pool. Besides, only weak hazy sunshine.

 

[RooFlyer]

After making my feelings about his hotel known to the duty manager that morning (and getting 50% knocked off the stay), I had another excellent drive back to BKK - only 40 mins.



Quick check-in and security and Qantas directed me to the Air France lounge. Well, Ok, for a little while.





It wasn't toooo bad, but I had better fish to fry. As soon as it opened, I was in here:



For dinner



Staff would have outnumbered guests maybe 1.5:1 Extremely welcoming, smiling; I felt like an honoured guest. I needed it after the last couple of days! Couldn't take many pics as too many staff about (and they do say on the menu, no pics allowed). Nice internal outlook, if it wasn't raining. A la carte or buffet.





The lamb was thick and juicy. Just wonderful but that's all I had as I knew I'd have something on board later (~5 hrs)

 

[RooFlyer]

QF24 BKK 18:10 - SYD scheduled 6:35; A330, 2A

Departure was progressively delayed until 18:55. Crew arrived at 18:00.

PDB of Champagne for me, then menu



No introduction or welcome from the CSM - he was the one handling my side of the J cabin. He stopped by to say 'Hi, I'm xx_x'.

Meal service was surprisingly prompt after seat belt off, for Qantas. Soup was good



but the beef was as tough as old boots!! Inedible.



The peas were lovely and crisp



Coconut rice pudding.



Approach to Sydney - beautiful, as ever







Except that fod delayed us further. I didn't mind, as I had a long wait till my domestic connection down to Hobart.

 

[Quickstatus]

and getting 50% knocked off the stay

Squeaky wheel gets the most grease. In this case a rebate. I must learn to complain more.....

 

[RooFlyer]

Squeaky wheel gets the most grease. In this case a rebate. I must learn to complain more.....

This was a genuine complaint, going straight to my non-enjoyment of a pricy hotel. It was a reasonable discussion with the DM - for the building noise especially, he knew they were at fault - said it should have been just moving stuff, but acknowledged what I said at the time - someone was hammering, sounded like demolishing a wall. Blamed contractors.

He asked me what compo I'd like - I declined to say - I don't like those discussions. So he then offered 50% off.

If I wasn't leaving the Movenpick in Muscat so early, I would have asked to see the hard-to-reach manager there too. I'm fed up with expensive hotels who either don't care or have staff who don't know the layout of their hotel and its being subject to outside things such as noise (especially when I make noise a thing to be avoided in my communications with them).