Of Wings and Whispers

[GarrettM]

I feel like this little piece will appeal you you drron. And mrs.dr.ron of course!

The Definitive Oral History of the Lobster Roll | Down East Magazine

 

[drron]

I feel like this little piece will appeal you you drron. And mrs.dr.ron of course!

The Definitive Oral History of the Lobster Roll | Down East Magazine

Some of those people don't know what they are talking about.We were in Maine in March 1981 which is out of season.About the only lobster place open was the Taste of Maine.We went a couple of times.A special still is the 3 1.25lb lobsters-on that first occasion it cost $12.50.The second time I had another special-"the world's largest lobster roll-then it contained the meat of 4 1.25lb lobsters.No way I could eat that now.

Menu 2016

 

[drron]

About 90 minutes before our flight we made our way through Immigration control to the Schengen terminal.Once again the passport readers failed us and we had to go to an officer.Fortunately no one else going through then.This is 2/2 the readers have failed us even though the notice does say Australian passports can be used.
Through to the shops-no sales so through to the Finnair Schengen lounge.Big,airy and bright and not crowded today but very little on offer.Noted that Flybe has gone.The replacement is bland-

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On our next flight TKWIA-

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Well the fact there was only 1 row of J with the same seats as Y with no one in the middle means I had a 1 in 4 chance of 1A.

AY641 HEL-ARN. ETD-1415. Push back-1411. Takeoff-1416. Seats-1A,C. A321.
ETA-1410. Landed-1401. At gate-1411.
Offered a snack-a roll with cheese,sundried tomato and a small lettuce leaf.most went back-

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I then went to sleep and woke just before touchdown.First out.Baggage hall was a shambles with a flight from Madrid on IB and a Turkish flight from IST landing just before us.We got to the carousel before a lot of the pax from the IST flight but that made no difference as they went inside the yellow line in front of everyone else.The bags from that flight and ours came out at the same time so it was just forcefully making a gap and getting your bags.
Hard to get to the exit but once out straight to the taxis heading straight for a new black Merc station wagon.When there are 2 of you there is little difference between the train and a taxi in price.On a Sunday also very little difference in time and the convenience of a taxi was worth it.

Arrived at the Sheraton fortunately knowing that the SNa's had been granted.These were outside-

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A lot of similar cars seen in the next 24 hours.
Apologies for the last 2 larger pictures but Flickr is taking a bit of getting used to.It wouldn't let me post smaller sizes saying "this image is unavailable".But no problems with the larger size.Go figure.

 

[drron]

A bit of a line even at the SPG agent.Two young Americans in front of us asking for a suite upgrade as golds.They did give them a club floor room with loung access though.Here is our suite-

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And the view-

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A really good position and as you can see very close to Central Station and a short walk to Gamla Stan.

Just had a snack in the lounge that night as very tired.But although a fair crowd there were several staff and a good selection of food which was kept replenished.The next night there was a larger crowd but only 1 staff member,less selection of food and took time for that and the wines to be replenished.Not helped by the fact that there were about a dozen young children who just hoovered the food down-didn't see them touch the wimes though!

 

[drron]

So the first night at the lounge-

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The prosciutto and melon was really nice.The Spanish cabernet sauvignon was reasonable.
Monday and a simple breakfast in the lounge.Then a walk through Gamla Stan-the old city.Early in the morning there was sunshine but the clouds and wind soon arrived.According to the BBC the top was 15C with a real feel of 10C.And this is their warmest month.Lots of lovely buildings so a pictorial-

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[drron]

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[drron]

We found one of mrsdrron's favourite shops-

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[drron]

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Now a little light relief-

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[drron]

We arrived at the Palace for the second half of the changing of the guard performance.A couple of very tall guys-

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A military band with a difference.Can still keep a tune whilst mounted on a moving horse-

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And a movie of the end of the performance-
[video=youtube_share;f2yJQoGC3_4]https://youtu.be/f2yJQoGC3_4[/video]

 

[Simo]

Sounds like you are having a awesome trip

 

[drron]

A little interruption to the TR.Now each night in the Lounge and each morning at breakfast there have been at least 50% of guests either of Middle eastern appearance or dress.And everyday out side the hotel there have been cars like this-

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But today it all came together-

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And it was this-
Supercars Club Arabia | Home of the elite

The most elite super car club in the world situated in Bahrain.And at ground level you could see different number plates such as Kuwait.
Funnily tonight in the lounge absolutely no one fitting that former description.
But then what was this car doing outside the Sheraton?

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The Good Ole General Lee.

 

[drron]

Some pics inside the Palace-

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[drron]

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Back outside-

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[drron]

We now walked back to the Sheraton the long way via the Kings Garden-

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The tall ship is a youth hostel-great position!

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The last pic is of the Grand Hotel.In the gardens the dahlias were beautiful-

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I don't think the little fellow was well.

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[drron]

More flowers-

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Corn in the flower garden.

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[drron]

From the garden we walked back up a shopping street and went into what is described as Stockholm's premier department store-NK.Hmmm.
On the top floor is a fine dining restaurant,a hot food cafeteria which has as mains Swedish meatballs and a day's special or a salad bar with 6 different salads.We went for the salads.Mrsdrron had the Thai beef salad,totally non spicy,and I had the shrimp and crayfish salad with a 69C egg.Tiny little shellfish but a really good salad and the egg was perfection-

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Then through a shopping mall,down some small streets where we got ice creams and some local nougat and back to the Sheraton.Not a bad sunset that night-

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[love_the_life]

It's not a proper drron TR without the sunsets

We stayed in Gamla Stan when we were there last. The little streets were fun to wander and get lost in. It's easy to walk in that central area.

 

[drron]

Wednesday and a late start.Breakfast in the restaurant.I receive an unwanted bit of positive discrimination.There are 4 women waiting for fried eggs-3 in head scarfs.I am called over and served first.The fellow is Algerian-I asked him.Two days later 2 western women waiting and again I am served first-the problem he has is obviously women.
We decide on the Green/red hop on hop off bus and boat combo for 3 days-24 hour is 350 SEK,72 hour 450 SEK.The Red bus is 850 SEK for 72 hours.But if you only have a day the red bus is definitely a better option for reasons that will become apparent.We set off and get off at Skansen-basically a Swedish history theme park with a bit of a zoo.Would be great if you have young children though-180 SEK admission-$30.
So some of the buildings and animals-

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[drron]

With one enclosure there was a sign saying they are part of the plan to save an endangered Swedish woodpecker.But only one with several poles that had obviously been pecked to death so the poor thing was continually flying from pole to pole-

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Mummy bear and 3 cubs.And for the cat lovers a lynx-

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The aptly named Eagle Owl-

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[drron]

There was a fellow selling exotic dried sausage.He was a former Hedge fund Manager from New York.And here he is in Stockholm selling sausage!Well I bought some then promptly left it on the hop on/off boat.

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We bought some icecreams and sat and watched this girl band.No Abba.

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