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Hi All
Well this is the last entry...all ways the toughest to write. Hope I haven't bored you too much as of yet.
So it all started with a waking at the bequest of me phone alarm....OMG...way too early, I went to bed way too late and sipped way too much. My head was stuffed inside my bikes tank bag when my eyes cracked open.....way too much brandy...oops. I think I was still a lil tipsy...not sure. I do know that when I went downstairs all packed up n showered....Mike's first gesture was....have some gum....I apparently was oozing brandy....oops.
Well we got Mario Andretti of the taxi drivers and I think we were at the airport in about 15 minutes if that. We sailed through town that's the only good thing about early morning flights...no traffic.
All good so far....got to the airport checked in....I asked nicely for a seat near the front....and the gal abruptly said YAA YAAA YAAA iz a fulllll flight but I villll! Got row 9. That's ok. Lufthansa is weird about seating...you can't pic your seats in advance on continental flights. So we kissed the bags goomby and through security we went...so much easier in Europe...don't quite feel like a criminal unlike in North America.
We found a place to get a couple of cappuccinos....and we is good. Well Mike was...my head was spinning...kept having to peel my tongue off the roof of me mouth. I tried to stay away from any open flames or things that may spark. We had a little wait but not bad....got to our gate...and eventually we loaded on the bus and onto the plane for Frankfurt. It is only a 50 minute flight so had time for a tea on the ride and thankfully no one sat beside me.....I just watched Europe go by from the window. Before I knew it we were landing....and off we trotted to the right gate. Very uneventful but a long hike.
Mike had a different flight from me from this point forward....he was going to Calgary then home, me Toronto then home. We were suppose to arrive within half hour of each other. I've been through Frankfurt a few times now and this is the first time I actually had some time to do a club lounge, so the Senator lounge is right near the gate so we went in and got some food and more cappuccino...this time free. Tastes better that way it seems.
Mikes flight departed about 1/2 hr after mine. I went to the counter in the lounge to ask about my upgrades...was soooooo hoping to be upgraded for the long haul. The gal was real nice and told me to go to the gate and ask and come back I had time. So I left me bag went down as it was fairly close.....and I saw what looked like a line for boarding...ack....ran back up get bags and say adios to Mike. With that we parted.
I ran back....got there and crap.....the line was only for passport checks....but I had one at least :))!! Boarding was going to commence in a few mins anyways so I just checked in and asked about me upgrade. The looked at me....then said not yet....the list is released 35 mins prior....we board 45 mins before...huh..
Oh well I'll just go sit down now.....whatever happens happens. Sat down for maybe 2 mins and they called boarding. Got up and was pretty much first in line...no announcement on the upgrades sigh. So I presented me boarding pass to the nice lady...and asked about me upgrade...she looked said they have not been released as of yet....I could wait....and if I go on the plane I'm off the list. By this time the line behind me was getting restless so I just said to heck with it...accepted me fate and said I'll go on to the plane. About here the gal next to her leaned over whispered something...and my gal basically said...yaaaa it looks unlikely you would get it anyways. So I thanked her and wandered onto the plane. The senior stewardess met me....asked how I was...I went grrrrr....mumbled no upgrades cried a bit and she gave a very sympathetic look and said it was tough to get on this flight. I trotted off.....to my seat. Well it was a 777 I was in my fave row...12..bulkhead row...it was a good seat tons of leg room so I was feeling pretty good after all.
I got all settled in....and the plane started to fill up....and me travel buddy (thats what I call whoever sits beside me on a plane) arrived. A very disorganized English guy who seemed nice but had bags all over the place and was trying to figure out where to put things.
Right about here an angel....descended down the opposite aisle across from me....and in an angelic voice called "Mr Yamkovy".....I looked....she had a glow about her. I raised my hand.....she looked at me and as if all other noise in the cabin ceased to exist...in the same angelic voice she said "If there is room would you still like to upgrade to executive?" I am unsure what I said....but I think it was "Is the pope still Catholic?" or something like that with that she was gone. I had a look of disbelief....I could feel daggers from the others on the plane...if looks could kill....me dead.
I told me Brit guy..hmmmm you might get an empty seat beside you. He thought that was great. Then another stewardess came to me all glowing and stuff....I think she floated down the aisle..."Mr. Yamkovy....please come with me to seat 3G" I popped up like a ground hog and did the happy dance complete with butt swirl! Again I felt the stares ... lots of them.....as I packed up me stuff and danced up the aisle....to me very own pod.
I promptly offered to kiss me angel on the lips....she mumbled something about policy stuff and something about brandy I think. Ahhh well I definitely said thanks about a thousand times though. Plus had a big ass grin on. Wahoooooooo.
My day just got way better. About here I got a txt from Mike....he was on the plane next to me. I offered to send a drink over....but It might be a problem I always say its the thought that counts. Seems he was in the back but sounded in good spirits.
I got all cozy....and then the Senior Stewardess I talked to earlier....walked by and stopped...was in disbelief...I know you she said...how did you??........I shrugged gave a stoopid grin. She said it was really amazing I got upgraded as a ton of folks had been requesting upgrades and were complaining in the back. I cinched my seat belt tighter..they would have to cut it to get me out.......then she grinned and said no worries...too bad for them and laughed. I grinned yet again and offered a big kiss on the lips....she laughed and mentioned policy etc etc....something about brandy too....ah well....I offered.
With that we started to roll away from the gate. It was a great flight. I stayed up everyone else seemed to sleep. In the pods they turn into beds and you get a nice quilt and big pillow but I can not figure out people....why would you sleep if you are arriving later in the day? How are you going to sleep at your destination that night....ah well. I know I was tired though...which was a good thing. So coffee and baileys...wine and port and I was feeling no pain for most of it.
Food was great too. That flight seemed to only take a couple of hours. We chased the sun the whole way. Great crew too we chatted off and on and when we landed in Toronto and I was feeling in great shape. Again the longggggg walk to the gate friggggggg I had a little bit of a lay over so went to the lounge to chill a bit.....and try to finish more blogs, very hard to keep up. I wrote a bunch on the plane. As a side note somewhere recently I got in the habit of pilfering cans of tomato juice from the lounge to take home when flying....didn't this time...not sure why. Why I do it at all and why not this time I've no idea.....strange.
So it was time...went to the gate...figured I would ask for me upgrade status again. The gal was great...she said hang on we got the list take a seat and I'll call it out. Lo and freaking behold....I got called first. Got choice of seats....and was in the front again...perfect return trip thus far. Only needed me bags to arrive with me to make me day. I offered to kiss her on the lips....she mentioned policy and something about port....ahhh well I offered.
We boarded....I had a severely non sociable travel buddy dude next to me...so I just minded me own...and commenced to sip me way home. Again the flight took no time....and the fresh baked cookies were great. Andy was picking me up so I could sip guilt free. Was a bit bumpy flight at times and coming in we were surrounded by weather. Flew by a spring shower looks neat from the air and we flew right over edmonton. I took some vid as all the times I've flown into edmonton it is not too often that you take that route.
Good news is that we landed.....got off right away....wandered to the bag carousel....it started to roll....and me bags were number 1 and number 3...holy crap...I almost fell over. Popped a txt to Andy and he had the getaway truck waiting. Was only in the terminal maybe 10 minutes and was riding to get Zoe. We picked her up and headed home...lot of tail wagging.
I learned later Mike's flight was delayed a bit he landed almost the same time as me. But made it safe and sound too.
Well to sum it up...WOW!!!!! What a trip. Put Italy on you list, amazing place. Awesome people and so many things to see....and its freaking beautiful...least where we were. A bike is the way I say. I actually think I may go to Milan again but do different areas next time...we shall see. Mike is a great travel bud and I think he had just as good a ride as I.
I managed to check of a few bucket list items on this trip...but the Stelvio pass is still elusive.......So signing off till next time. I tried to convey best I can some of the experiences I only hope I got a bit of it out there. Thanks for sticking it out.
Arrivadirchi!!
- comments
Mike Russnak Hey Todd, You are great travel companion and I totally enjoyed the riding adventure of a life time. May have to add "Northern Italy and Other Countries by Bike" to the bucket list!Cheers!Mike