Twice around the world in 40 days

[VPS]

Good cabin crew, of course. My area got looked after by the CSM, who was obviously very experienced. Had my name when she came up to me to introduce herself (none of that embarrassing pause where they stand by you and peer at the manifest) and took all orders by memory.

I know it's a first world problem but I always cringe when they stand by you and then look at the manifest and then go oh Ms VPS - bah humbug

PS loving the TR

 

[JohnM]

I know it's a first world problem but I always cringe when they stand by you and then look at the manifest and then go oh Ms VPS - bah humbug

As @RooFlyer knows, I have a very unusual spelling of my surname and, on top of that, it is very long (11 letters). Not only do they often struggle to know how to pronounce it, on at least some of the manifests (eg. AA), the field length is only 10 characters. The absence of the consonant at the end after the two vowels causes much befuddlement .

 

[RooFlyer]

And just for @JohnM, some nice mountains west of Isfahan, courtesy of QR free inflight wi-fi

 

[VPS]

As @RooFlyer knows, I have a very unusual spelling of my surname and, on top of that, it is very long (11 letters). Not only do they often struggle to know how to pronounce it, on at least some of the manifests (eg. AA), the field length is only 10 characters. The absence of the consonant at the end after the two vowels causes much befuddlement .

Mine is 10 letters long and depending on which side of the family you're on we pronounce it differently.

 

[love_the_life]

Mine is 10 letters long and depending on which side of the family you're on we pronounce it differently.

Mine is one of the most common surnames around but I still have had it spelled incorrectly numerous times.

 

[Pushka]

Mine is one of the most common surnames around but I still have had it spelled incorrectly numerous times.

Same here. People make it far more complicated than it needs to be.

 

[RooFlyer]

Answered elsewhere, I see.

Yes; as noted elsewhere they revved up amazingly again when we landed, and when they shut the engines down, it sounded like an entire hen house was right below us, in full voice.

Stupid signage at DOH. I had a free transit overnight stay courtesy of QR, and I had instructions on how to pick up my hotel and meal voucher on arrival at DOH. Simply "Go to transit desk". So, coming off the plane I followed the clear signs to "Transit", for a hundred metres or so, and found a desk. Not here he says. The OTHER transit desk, completely the other way. A light rail ride, walk etc and found the OTHER transit desk and got the paperwork.

Cleared immigration 'fast track' (sort of), no bags to pick up, and found the Oryx Rotana hotel person, which was difficult, as they weren't holding up their sign. Waited till 5 other pax arrived, then in the mini bus to the hotel.

The Oryx Rotana used to be very convenient to the old airport, but now its a 15 min drive away. I didn't want to stay here - asked for the in-airport hotel, but Oryx it was. I had a bad experience here last time - long story, but they tried TWO rip-offs and I swore never to go near the place again. But, it was a freebie, with A$60 of food and drink thrown in, so I'll wear it.

Decent buffet meal, then 5:30am shuttle back to the airport, for a 8am departure. Even though I had my boarding pass, they insisted I arrive 2 hrs before departure, and the shuttles only ran every 30 mins.

To the business lounge, well reviewed previously, for a light breakfast to satisfy the worms before breakfast on the flight.

I'm on QR131, a B787-8 service to FCO; seat 5A.

1-2-1 config, and the seat is great. Row 5 lacks a window directly next to the seat, but can easily see outside through the next window. Its a lie-flat job, so oodles of legroom.



Very well designed seat. to the left, controls (and a smart controller just off to the left), with a storage bin that held my lap-top and bits and pieces. To the right, water and more storage, on the aisle.




Usual J hard-sided amenities kit. Cold towel (was offered hot or cold) and PDB of Lansom black label brut.



Behind me was the whY entry L2 and in the middle of this pic behind the screen thing is another pair of J seats. Strange position - between the 2 toilets. I think it was designed to be a bar-type area but they have seats there. The table space is huge.




Toward the end of boarding, a couple of VWIPs arrived. The chap in the white was some sort of airline guy, I think. Gave them the tour of the cabin, and then the coughpit etc - right when the pilots would be doing their pre departure check-list; you can see the guy with the manifest waiting to deliver it to the cough-pit. I deducted points from QR at this point, as they didn't appear TKWIA. Minor delay in departure for Wanker-Important-Persons.

 

[RooFlyer]

Menu - breakfast and 'afters'. Well designed, as we land just on lunchtime in Rome.



Surprisingly, the wine list was a bit different from yesterday's, so I'll post it in full again.










It was morning, so I stuck with the Champagne

 

[RooFlyer]

I must have eaten more than I intended in the QR lounge, as I wa sonly moderately hungry on board. I chose a light-ish brekky of Greek yoghurt with berries, and a chacuterie board.



This time we tracked up through western Iran rather than eastern Iraq, and it provided great views of the mountains. Soon I was taking pics like a first time flyer!








They set the middle part up with the Champers - pour your own (or they would, of course). Just a comment on airplane weights. Those black benches are solid 1" thick granite! Would weigh, not a tonne, but quite a bit.



Late morning we flew over Greece and the Aegean, but clouds came in, so I plumped for afternoon tea - finger-sandwiches, scones, cream and jam, some cake-like things. That was effectively lunch in Rome, so I settled back for the last hour.



Another superb QR flight in J. I'll be interested to compare it with my long haul JL flight in a few weeks.

 

[RooFlyer]

In case you think I've been too high falut'n, I offer just this for now.

 

[Denali]

^^ you got lost?

 

[RooFlyer]

Forgot to check in online, didn't I? ( Separate Alitalia ticket from my RTW).

Currently here, at Cagliari airport train station, having done a half marathon to get here. It's the airport train station in the same sense as those Paddington hotels are 'Heathrow airport hotels'.

Edit. I should say that it's E1.3 to downtown, vs abt E25 in a taxi, so pretty easy decision, although adding abt 45 mins to the journey.

 

[RooFlyer]

Landed Rome FCO T3 a bit early. Immigration not too bad - 15 mins, the line looked longer. The WIPs from off my plane got waved through.

Bags, then walk to T1 for my Alitalia flight to Cagliari, Sardinia. Checked in, and realised that I forgot to check-in on line yesterday, so snagged seat 34D. Couple of hours wait in various coffee shops. Made sure I was forward in the queue at the gate, as I had a big carry-on and needed that overhead bin. Bit of a comic experience, then. priorities went though gate via their line, then the scum. But then we all ended up in a little holding area, waiting for a bus. Onto bus, and a remote stand. It may not have been the most remote remote stand I've had, but close.

Boarding was via front and rear stairs, so I got in pretty quick to my second-last row seat.

AZ1595 FCO-CAG on A321, seat 34D. Second row from back; legroom was pretty standard whY, and quite OK for the 50 mins trip.



Arrived at CAG, de-planed into terminal, then onto bags. I took the RH pic to commemorate the 'one bag at a time' method of offloading bags here. I'm not kidding; for some run sof 10 bags or so, there would be ONE come onto the belt; then a minute later, another one, and so on. Then a frisson of excitement as 10 bags come out together; then back to one at a time. I was trying to think of the mechanics of offloading the plane and bringing them to the carousel that might result in the one at a time thing. Can only think that it was some deliberate industrial action.



Anyway, mine was about the 5th last out . Then I had the choice of taxi at abt E25 to town, or the train at E1.30. By this time it was early evening, pleasant enough, so I decided on the train. A long, convoluted walk to the station - up elevators, walk through multi story car park; down escalators, through passages, up stairs etc. Anyway got there and train came along. it looked pretty smart but exterior looks were deceiving.





Anyway, not long to into town, then 400m walk to my B&B - highly recommended on Trip Advisor. Il Cagliarese, just off the waterfront. Very friendly and helpful welcome (things to see and places to eat); room a bit Spartan, but I don't intend to spend much time here.

 

[RooFlyer]

Oh, as I'm exercising more to lose weight, I bought a Fitbit in Dallas; first full day with it on today. From Oryx Rotana, then 2 flights and to then my B&B, I clocked up the 'recommended' 10,000 paces - 8km. Just in to/around/from airports!

Either that hurdle is very low, or airports are better for your cardio than I thought.

 

[TomVexille]

Very easy to clock up steps in airports. It seems easier than normal for some reason.

 

[love_the_life]

Very easy to clock up steps in airports. It seems easier than normal for some reason.

So that is the solution for keeping fit; live in an airport.

 

[TomVexille]

So that is the solution for keeping fit; live in an airport.

Unfortunately the food and wine offsets the exercise

 

[RooFlyer]

Speaking of which ....

Asked the B&B about a nice Sardinian dinner. He recommended a place around the corner, almost a hole-in-the-wall.

Small but friendly and bustling. I was the only Anglo, as far as could tell.

Some local wine (terresinis) and entrée of octopus salad. I know, the presentation is ordinary, but it was delicious! Not a tourist hang-out, just good tucker.



Same for the secondi - tuna in tomato sauce and grilled zucchini. Selection of cheeses after, and an espresso.



E45 in all.

 

[RooFlyer]

I mentioned that I bought a Fitbit, and achieved its 'goal' of 10,000 steps just around airports and getting to the rail and then B&B yesterday.

Just about blew it away today. At 10:30 am it was buzzing away, telling me I had met my (its) daily goal (ie 10K).

Total today 29,500 steps, abt 22km, which sounds about right for an average day out and about for me, touring!

 

[Pushka]

Being the only tourist in a busy restaurant is a great thing.
MrP wears a Fitbit and during his workshops he conducts, he clicks up 10,000 steps just standing and moving around the room. Then he goes to the gym for exercise. He’s fit!