I remember all this from before. Good shopping areas and made my way out to the intercontinental gate area(far left concourse). Hit it all the way to the end, then back, no rewards, nothing to pick up. There is a good view from the end of the concourse. Some weird ex-airplane parked by the trees, couldn't figure out what that was, I think ex-military.

An EgyptAir A321 came in, fun to watch them unload. The Dutch border police didn't like 2 of the pax on there, so I got to watch them take them at the end of the jetway and escorted them to the police area. Was I curious, oh yeah!!! I, concidentally, , walked back to the main terminal with the interesting party. Was just so curious why they wanted these 2 even before they had hit passport control.... hmmmmmmm

Then back in the main terminal, plain clothes police/immigation politie were questioning some people from the Middle East, sorry, can't tell where from. Yes, I lurked, I watched.... bad of me, jawohl!!! . He was trying to speak to them in different languages to establish communication and check their documents. I was surrprised that this would happen to people who are leaving or in transit. HMMMMM
I was impressed, as many Dutch can do, with his language abilities. Speaking German, English, and something else... Good German, by the way...

Ok, hit the shops, maybe one other concourse, just so generic. Watched all the pretty KLM planes. Yes, I love the blue... the 2 standard lounges, to my disgust, were closed. Not happy, I like to hit every lounge that I can, if even for 2 minutes. Plus, they usually have goodies. Dang! So off to the BA lounge I went, medium sized, but packed to the gills. Had to fight for a seat. With all due respect, a bunch of stuffy Britts, , all dressed in suits and ties yacking away. Ok, they were speaking English, that is a good thing. But there is always such a stuffiness to the BA lounges, don't care for it. I feel it more so in the BA lounges than anywhere else.
Interesting. I had a few SPA's, Belgian/Dutch mineral water, and then couldn't take the crowding anymore. Some group of London businessmen and women congregated next to me and it was all I could take. So, parked my bag there, taking all essentials, and back into the terminal.

I went to the KLM lounge and to my amazement walked right in and no one said anything. I could have stayed, but didn't, didn't feel right. Although I have had access to it before as a former NW Gold. I miss that.

I began to realize that I had given myself too much time airside. All the lounges are upstairs, checked out all, was done. Then an annoucnement came on hearing Manchester in Dutch, uh oh... yes, the MAN flight was delayed by an hour. UGH. I am tired.

The jetlag was settling in, as it usually does in the evening, and so contrary to the packed lounges, found some chairs by the window, all to myself, the best lounge ever, and parked it, looking at my pickings in the last few hours, i.e the KLM inflight, which is good and getting some rest......If I ever had to sleep in an airport, this would be the place. Perfect nook and cranny.

Did a cursory look at the BA lounge, swiped some waters, oops, waved goodbye to the unfriendly attendant, and down to the gate... Since I was there, checked out the concourse. Too generic. I made the horrible mistake of picking out Aero, the German magazine, and Airliner World, setting them down on the desk, and walking away as she was busy, never to see Aero again on this trip, UGH... Aero is all in German but good pics, good info, und ich kann lesen einige Deutsch. ( I can read some German).
I picked up Airliner World in Britain, their home turf, but so regretted Aero...

I did buy some more Droste chocolates, the big package, just loved those.. To my surprise, saw them all over Europe, but figure they are fresher in Holland.

The excitement was that the Embraer was a new plane for me. The drag was the delay, I was tired, and the gate holding area was full, no seats, and a bunch of Britts who looked as exhausted and out of it as I was... poor souls.

Boarding was down the stairs, outside into the rain, yuck!!! bad if you wear glasses.
The girl waving us on was cute, so something. No more Dutch women for a while,
. . I climbed the stairs after memorizing the aircraft registration #, will give later at the end, and entered the very narrow tube... wow! the crew were friendly, but I was amazed with the size. The positive, I had a seat all to myself, first class, as far as I am concerned, and their was room in the overhead for luggage....

I coudn't believe that they actually had a Club(Business class) with the curtain drawn, on this small thing? It is neat to be back in the English speaking world. They didn't speak a word of Dutch, which is rude, although I think most, if not all, were Britts and me, the one token yank. We pulled out, did the safety demo, and took off into the clouds. I realized that I was enjoying the plane, very much so the one seat to myself, what a pleasure!

The Embraer is operated by British Regional( a new airline and a new plane for me, yeah!) on behalf of BA, in BA colo(u)rs, one of those funky multi-colored schemes. I so loved the older scheme with the blue crest, so British. They never should have done away with it. FYI, the Britts were pissed when their flag carrier went and put that crap on their planes... I would be livid if our airlnes removed the flag... Now BA has given in to public disust and put the flag back on, but what they had before was perfect... Same with ELAL, so perfect before, now all that white crap. These airlines never learn!!! :+))) My friend Matthew, who I mention in a bit, stopped flying BA unless he had to, after they made the stupid move. Go Branson!!!

They did the standard BA sandwhich thing in the white bag, whatever... It was cloudy most of the way and then on approach, we flew over a sizeable city to the East... anyone have any clues? Leeds perhaps??? I miss the flight map when they don't have it, fun to see where you are ...

We started descending, flew over the outskirts of Manchester, nice, and made a soft landing... much to the opposite of tomorrow's flights.
I collect the safety briefing cards, heck, I collect everything. Was sad that I could really only get one off the plane, sorry guys. It was up and out... Thanked the crew for the pleasant flight and down the stairs. Cold, but felt good to be out for a moment. I think some sports team was congregating, I waited for a sec and they waved the yank on. This was my first time arriving at Manchester internationally, so a new set of halls and doorways and all...... Yes, I love airports.!! was my second time to MAN, as of last summer, so I knew where I was going......

I had to be the only non-European from the flight, so while the others flashed something to the plain clothes Her Royal Majesties passport inspectors, I got to go to the side and fill out that stupid card( I hate that thing so much!!!) while everyone else went around. I really thought he might let me get away with it, ah, no.
It takes 2 seconds to fill out, though easier when they are given on the plane, often not done on EU flights, as they don't need them. The frustration, again, with all due respect, as the Germans, for example, don't have to fill them out and walk right in.
UGH! Everyone who came to help England fight the Germans, and really, not that many years ago, such as Yanks, Canadians, Aussies, Kiwis, and Springboks, get to stand in very long queues/lines and fill out paperwork, while the Germans who were dropping bombs on Manchester walk right through, as do the other Europeans, many of whom, to put it politely, don't like the Britts, and that is an understatement. Think football hooliganism(embarrassing!)
Don't worry, I get pissed in France as well when they make me fill the cards out, though French immigration does seem easier. The irony is that when I go to Germany, it is easy to get in. I have to ask for a stamp, no landing cards, and very quick. Go figure........ I think the Britts really need to think about who their friends are and treat them accordingly, and quickly. Atleast they were smart enough to stay out of Schengen, a total soveriengty breaker, so I give my ancestral people much credit there, the same with the Euro.

I hope that our British cousins can see that no humour is lost on this irony, I can assure them. They are our best friends, along with Canada, and so I would prefer to see an entry that shows that friendship... bearing in mind that we bounce in and of the UK several times, as I did, but when one comes to America, it is usally one landing. I know our procedures are a pain, they are a pain for us as well, in fact I loathe coming home and going through US customs. Then again, you usually don't bounce in and out of the US like you do in Europe, and Australia is very similar, even requiring visas of us, UGH!!!
Anyway, sorry for the digression, but wanted to share, see if others feel the same.
Atleast, I did get my first Manchester passport stamp.

Down the stairs to the narrow baggage claim, was surprised, and out the customs exit without a single officer. Ahhhhhhhh nice, but do they realize that people can fly to Amsterdam from Timbuktu and connect at AMS onto a UK flight?? (DUH!)... gee, that could never happen. I know that bags are X-rayed at the first point of entry into the EU, but still, too casual. Why I no longer take Euro customs seriously, too many holes and
loopholes.

Anyway, the fun begins. I was looking forward to staying at the SAS Radisson, in airport, but knew of the conseuences. With the new bridges/tunnels between terminals, no shuttle. So you get to push your trolley and bags quite a fair distance to the hotel. The only part I really minded were the 2 lifts/elevators, making it more of a pain. I have always wanted to stay here, having high expectations. The lobby is very nice, the rooms were something else. One of my fellow yanks was taking forever at check-out, hence, the delay. If I sense a delay, I pull out something to read, to keep productive. Check-in was friendly, requests answered, although I wish they could have given me a higher floor. I stay at airport hotels for the view, so I can watch the planes. Terminal 2 was pretty much in my way, UGHHHHHHHHHH, and with the rain, all night fyi, the view was obscured, but I guess was doable....

I was dissapointed with the rooms. It is a reasonably new hotel, but the rooms don't show it at all....Old and average furniture, with my bed slumping down... I guess I missed my AMS Sheraton..... I have been cooresponding with my mate Matthew for a while and now I got to meet him. Nice young man who lived outside Manchester, came over and I appreciate his making the journey...

I think he was pleasantly surprised by the package I had for him, safety cards from home and the trip, as well as other goodies picked up along the way. Was happy
to have one less thing in my bag. He, in turn, gave me a nice set of Emirates safety cards, and they are a welcome addition to the collection, to say the least.
He had sent me a very generous package of cards a while back, so he got on my good list very quickly . Plus, he is friendly and fun to be around. He is the kind of Englishman, if you will, that I adore. Some Britts are stuffy and annoying, something that I don't care to think about when half my heritage is British, which I am very proud of, fyi. The common people like Matthew and a pilot that I had sat next to flying from Paris to Montreal( he was so cool!), they are the Britts that you just have to love. Need more of them. The South African English and the Aussies are similar, laid back and so fun to be around. Did I mention that I love Australia?

Anyway, we talked airlines, planes, travel, swaped experiences, and toured an empty airport, watching the Pakistan 747 leave for Islamabad 5 hours late, I do like that colo(u)r scheme.

I enjoyed hearing his experiencs, he outta share them on here. Flying a Pulkovo TU-154 with the seats flopping up and down, Emirates, etc..... This kid has traveled the world at a young 20 something....amazing!!! I had to be 30 or so before I took my first solo to Europe......though I had been many times with my family.

Anyway, it was great to set down after a long day and kick back and watch TV in English with the rain outside........

------------------
Michael
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
Hilton Gold
Sheraton Gold
Marriot Silver