Trip with F's on a BP. Firsts, family, Food and Fun.

[drron]

Obviously AFF was having a break when i was on the last post so sorry for all the attachments.

Now this next photo was from the map the Black Sea coast of Romania. So now over the European continent.












On descent.

 

[RooFlyer]

A much better crew and my first champagne quickly brought to the seat..

I posted in another three yesterday that I consistently found the Europe to Doha crews not to be as good as the Doha to Australia or Asia crews (but you have seem to have bucked that Trend). and the Qsuites birds have the best crews of all.

 

[drron]

Once again I had to turn down a wheelchair on arrival. I need a walking stick but have been walking 12-16000 steps a day. Now the terminal 2 is a long terminal with half closed. The HI Manchester Airport naturally was at the far end of Terminal 2 so a fair way but I had no problems getting there. No one else at our smart gates. Mrsdrron straight through but after my photo was taken the light went green the gate opened but I was met by an officer and taken for a manual check which lasted less than a minute.

Then to the HI. This had been the longest travel day we have been formany years. So as breakfast is free anyway we took the drink coupons and imbibed. Then straight to room and soon asleep. first a picture from the room.


The view the next morning.


and the room.








A leisurely breakfast the next morning and check out at 1100 and got the rental shuttle to the rental car garage.

 

[drron]

I posted in another three yesterday that I consistently found the Europe to Doha crews not to be as good as the Doha to Australia or Asia crews (but you have seem to have bucked that Trend). and the Qsuites birds have the best crews of all.

I like being different. Of course the A380 doesn't have Q suites but the 787 has slightly modified Q suites so doesn't entirely buck the trend..

One thing I had forgotten was that 2 families with children were on both our flights and in J. In BKK in western gear. In DOH both women with head scarves. At MAN both women in full burqa with Hijab veil.

 

[drron]

Saturday was basically a washout - rained al afternoon. I picked up our car from Avis. had ordered a Mercedes but got a Volvo hybrid. At least got good fuel efficiency. Overall 42 mpg. However was told it had a full tank but it was virtually empty. Again Avis Manchester Airport did not respond to emails so got in touch with Avis UK who said they had notified the MAN depot who would be in touch. they haven;t.

After picking he car up it was back to the HI and picked up Mrsdrron then drove to Liverpool where we stayed at the Hilton City centre. Got there before 1400 but were able to check in. We had booked an executive room and got th oe they have on the 5th floor. Great views but a tired room. So the views from our room.














And the room.







the bathroom contained a shub with he worst shower we have ever had. Hand held but more water came ou where the pipe came out from the wall than from the head.
That first evening we ate in the lounge which was a room off the lobby. Fried chicken, spring rolls and some salads. A Marlborough sav blanc and I had G&Ts.

 

[drron]

Breakfast was in the restaurant. very busy.




















One thing I have liked is real sausages for breakfast

 

[drron]

it raned most of the morning but cleared by about 1300 so we went for a walk on the waterfront.

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

The Liverpool waterfront really is a nice place to go for a stroll. One of the better English cities.








The Three Graces.


















Not sure whether this was a protest or celebration.

 

[drron]

A memorial to the ordinary seamen.






I noticed an old church across the street. St. Nicholas.






I walked around the back.


Then went inside.






not surprisingly it is a church for those that go to sea.

 

[drron]

A fascinating history. They even used part of the cellar to store bodies recovered from the Mersey.



















Back outside. I presume church offices.

 

[drron]

I then commenced walking into the City but the weather intervened with heavier and more frequent showers. I spent quite some time sheltering in doorways. One interesting time was outside a restaurant where the street had a pull out for official vehicles only. I shared the doorway with a parking inspector who had a continual business. He was enjoying himself. Another time in the doorway of a tattoo parlour and a woman wanted to know where my tattoo was..
But lots of interesting buildings.














I gave up. Naturally when I got back to the Hilton the sun came out. A little demonstration outside.

 

[drron]

When I arrived back at the hilton there was a constant stream of people in red jerseys going to a row of busses. Liverpool was playing coughnal that night.
At 6pm we went down to thye lounge and there was only one other woman there. In the next hour only one other woman came. The spread. A bit lazy with the salads with each ingredient just piled on top of the others.






And the rest.












At 7pm the door opened and a constant stream of football fans who were a little bit inebriated. Liverpool had won 1-0 in the last few minutes of the match. The place was overflowing.. A fellow from Wales and a man and his 12 year old son sat down with us. The young lad was a great lad and we struck it off well as we were both the eldest child in our family and had 3 younger sisters. Was wonderful to see a great interaction between a father and his son.

The Welsh fellow was one of those strange moments. In the morning we were headed off to spend 2 nights in the Maenan Abbey hotel. He said he just lived around the corner from there. He then asked us why we were staying in North wales. When we said we were going to look up where Mrsdrron's ancestors lived in Blaenau-ffestinagog he said he was born there. He said he was an Owens. Mrsdrron's ancestors from there were Owens.

The night was a bit noisy. Most of it seemed to come from this place we could see from our window. We still had a reasonable sleep.