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Gate 7 this morning which is at the far end of departures. A gentle wander saw me arrive exactly as group 0 was called and straight onto the plane, flawless :D
G-EUUW is our transportation for the morning and I’ve been on this once before from Newcastle to London back in June https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9b12b52df.jpeg My favourite seat 1C today and the seat block has held so 1A is empty and I’ve shuffled across for take off. Boarding complete 15 minutes before our scheduled departure, the plane is buttoned up, the jet bridge has withdrawn, and we are all ready to go. Now just waiting for the last of the baggage to be loaded and pilot’s announcement that we should be off on time and have a flight time of 2:20 Next Stop: Riga! |
Originally Posted by Fabo.sk
(Post 36659224)
Also sorry for taking over your TR.
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Originally Posted by Fabo.sk
(Post 36659249)
And, just like that, I got on the wrong train at Leiden……
Hopefully this is the last excitement of this trip, otherwise I might have to ask eightblack to split my posts off and start my own live TR. (speaking of, the train has now allowed to a crawl, and we are very clearly not yet at the station we were meant to be on at this time.) |
Originally Posted by JapesUK
(Post 36659266)
Got to love a bit of self-induced excitement :)
Well, I certainly didn't have the wet streets of Amsterdam in my bingo card for today, but all's well that ends well, right? https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2bb907f1b6.jpg I have in the end arrived 13 minutes later than planned, and fully 26 minutes later than I could have if I checked which train I got on, but still with time for breakfast, at least. My plane has just crossed onto Dutch mainland on the inbound, so it looks to be an on time departure. |
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...80c64e37b9.jpg
Enjoying your report from the shores of Shela, Lamu in Kenya. |
In the end we pushed back almost exactly on time and then we had the grand tour of Heathrow for twenty minutes before finally reaching the runway. Almost no queue today and quickly up and on our way.
I had moved across to 1A in the hope of a picture or two but alas, very low cloud meant that we were only in view of the ground for a minute. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d97cb4561.jpeg One the seatbelt signs were off service commenced quickly. My standard morning trio was ordered and delivered and I wasn’t really paying much attention when the lady in 1F pointed out she had been given tea, not coffee, and so had I! The horror! Quickly rectified and all was well with the world once more. I’d ordered the Kosher breakfast as usual and today it turned up with this massive slice of spinach omelette. Not particularly taken but that but then the whole point of the kosher breakfast is the bread plate and that decadently sweet bun which was as delicious as always. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c70695afc.jpeg Once the debris was cleared away the rest of the flight saw me reading on my iPad and helping to reduce the number of champers bottles on board. The flight passed quickly and surprisingly soon I felt the pressure change and we were on our descent to Riga. Another pleasant flight and a good chirpy crew. Wheels have just hit the ground at 12:26 local, welcome to Riga! |
There was no queue at passport control so straight though and to customs where there was a horde of agents and dogs in waiting! I was stopped briefly and asked where I was coming from and how much cash I had on me and then sent on my way.
I ordered a bolt which was already waiting at the airport and had a brilliant driver who played tour guide for the 15 minute ride. I’d booked the smaller Radisson Blu at the bargain rate of 65 euros a night. Early check in was no issue and a little room upgrade https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4b2890255.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a436a2ed2.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...deb2468f4.jpeg A rather interesting setup with a half open plan bathroom! https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...59764859c.jpeg The only plans for today are a tour of the opera house at 15:30 and dinner at 18:00. It will be a very early night tonight, I don’t see myself going out to play after dinner. For now, it’s time to unpack and then either head out for a stroll or settle down for a quick snooze as last nights four hours sleep on top of my existing fatigue are making themselves felt! |
Enjoy Riga, it’s an interesting city.
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Meanwhile, I got to Oslo without further incident. I know what you mean about the sleep, I dozed off before we even departed and slept better, and perhaps more, on the flight than I had the night before in my own bed. All the better that I will be called by the hotel bed tonight more than I will be able to run up the bill in the cocktail bar.
I was wondering which hotel you will end up in, in the end it is the same one I stayed in in summer, though my rate was nowhere near as good. Not that I cared much as it wasn’t me paying, on the other hand it was me earning. More points in my wallet. |
Another great report shaping up. Riga’s an interesting city - we did a good Art Nouveau architecture tour, there are some beautiful buildings dotted around. Also recommend the Museum of the Occupation. And if you like sticky sweet rolls, there used to be a (Finnish) Fazer cafe in the Stockmann department store. Their cinnamon rolls (korvapuusti) are top notch.
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Originally Posted by Br5968
(Post 36659604)
Another great report shaping up. Riga’s an interesting city - we did a good Art Nouveau architecture tour, there are some beautiful buildings dotted around. Also recommend the Museum of the Occupation. And if you like sticky sweet rolls, there used to be a (Finnish) Fazer cafe in the Stockmann department store. Their cinnamon rolls (korvapuusti) are top notch.
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I think I'll stay clear.
If the coffee is rocket fuel, then Rigas Balzams is something you'd use in a dystopian steampunk future to get a locomotive running. |
It was a ten minute walk from the hotel to the opera and I arrived for the tour roughly ten minutes early
And it was closed! As in, completely locked up. I did a circumnavigation of the entire building and then gave up. In reality this did me a favour as I headed back to the hotel and had a 90 minute catnap instead which has taken the edge off my tiredness. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...75decec87.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...42031b35a.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5a0bf04f6.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...92d6238ad.jpeg it is now a little after 5pm and completely dark, night comes early here. Time for a coffee before I head back in the same direction for my restaurant for the evening. |
A chilly 15 minute stroll brought me to my restaurant for the evening 3 pavāru restorāns "Tam labam būs augt". 3 chefs “The good must grow”
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e254fc6e9.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2181b896f.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0bbc35488.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...094e08ec1.jpeg I will be going for the tasting menu and the basic wine flight tonight https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a0bce29a6.jpeg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...65f17c2fd.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...66f258cd6.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...502532a60.jpeg |
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