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Originally Posted by Fabo.sk
(Post 36659296)
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?
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. Getting from the airport back home was even bigger pain than getting out there yesterday morning, but I got here eventually, so it's fine. Next weekend is off, and then the lounge hopping record attempt beckons. Although I'm told that at least one more of them is closed for renovation right now... |
Originally Posted by JapesUK
(Post 36659417)
The flight passed quickly and surprisingly soon I felt the pressure change and we weee on our descent to Riga.
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Originally Posted by DeathSlam
(Post 36663264)
You can put too much detail into a trip report you know :)
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Good morning from another gray and overcast morning here in Riga.
Very simple plan of the day, go home! It is currently heading towards 9am local time but my first flight isn’t until nearly 2pm so a slow and relaxed morning on the cards, but first, time for breakfast. |
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Originally Posted by BMarkus
(Post 36663338)
You gave me another inspiration. Maybe I should do also this more often. Flying Friday/Saturday somewhere and returning Monday.
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11am and time for a Bolt to the airport. 10 euros for the 15 minute trip. As I sit here I have a few minute to reflect on Riga
It is a very pretty city, at least all the bits I visited were. It is scrupulously clean. There are combo bins/ashtrays everywhere and everyone uses them Almost nobody jaywalks. I was told there is a 40 euro fine for jay walking which the police are more than happy to levy because… Supposedly it is a very safe city and so they have nothing better to do :D English is very widely spoken, there were no language issues anywhere I’ll definitely return. Next stop: riga airport in maybe ten minutes time |
Originally Posted by JapesUK
(Post 36663450)
11am and time for a Bolt to the airport. 10 euros for the 15 minute trip. As I sit here I have a few minute to reflect on Riga
It is a very pretty city, at least all the bits I visited were. It is scrupulously clean. There are combo bins/ashtrays everywhere and everyone uses them Almost nobody jaywalks. I was told there is a 40 euro fine for jay walking which the police are more than happy to levy because… Supposedly it is a very safe city and so they have nothing better to do :D English is very widely spoken, there were no language issues anywhere I’ll definitely return. Next stop: riga airport in maybe ten minutes time A shame that we will just about miss each other in the CCR early next month. |
Originally Posted by JapesUK
(Post 36663342)
It certainly helps maximise those all too rare vacation days :)
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And so to riga airport. It’s utilitarian at best, a concrete and glass box.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...09241d9dd.jpeg With two and a half hours to departure the BA check in desks are manned but not processing passengers, I assume they are just setting up. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...42b278b77.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1dfb83497.jpeg Cute sign before security https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7eca15a8d.jpeg Fast path to the left, quick and easy https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5529d88a3.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9230cd095.jpeg A quick trip into duty free, horrible prices https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5dc1f160c.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ba9fa8db8.jpeg And then down to the C gates and passport control https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0899a679a.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a61e2b3c2.jpeg WARNING! Schoolboy error ahead! The non Schengen gates were as unappealing as the rest of the airport https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e4124f0e5.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...dc94c8b97.jpeg And made especially unappealing as there is no lounge! It is back before passport control at the B gates! Duh! There is this nicely overpriced cafe complete with miserable server. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...427c95439.jpeg And so, here I wait for the next 90 minutes :( On the slight upside, looks like the seat block has held, and it’s a very small CE cabin on the way back to london https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...05b4ee17d.jpeg |
Originally Posted by BMarkus
(Post 36663522)
That isn't a real issue. This year I have spent 10 weeks on vacation days. 🙂 Six weeks are granted by default and when you work enough overtime you can reach some more weeks. The more issue is money wise. Flying in and out of Switzerland isn't really cheap. Even a positioning flight costs sometimes too much. The only chance is take a train to nearby airports outside Switzerland for example MRS, LYS, MXP, STR, FRA, MUC or even CDG.
Where in Switzerland are you? I assume GVA is also expensive despite its cross-border setup? |
Originally Posted by JapesUK
(Post 36663534)
Where in Switzerland are you? I assume GVA is also expensive despite its cross-border setup?
ZRH is the most expensive airport. GVA is much cheaper to fly out. When I fly with BA I mostly fly from GVA and there is a dedicated BA lounge. In ZRH there are the Aspire lounges. The non-Shengen lounge at the E gates is nicer than the one in Shengen area. BSL is in fact an airport in France with a swiss "extension". GVA is just the opposit. It is a swiss airport with a France extension. |
Ouch! Shame you didn't realize about the lounge, it's a quite a decent one too.
Overall not too bad of an airport, considering how they are able to just keep expanding out of the original 70s (?) building. |
Our carriage for today has just arrived, 70 minutes to departure so we should be nicely on time. G-EUUV today and I’ve been onboard twice before, last time was a year ago on the way back from OTP to LHR
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ba274787e.jpeg A nice cold local beer is keeping me company whilst I catch up on all things flyertalk https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e395c18e0.jpeg And, quite randomly, here is a carrier I don’t remember seeing before and would love to try out https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5602b09a7.jpeg |
Originally Posted by BMarkus
(Post 36663543)
I'm able to reach the airports GVA, BSL and ZRH by train in around 1 1/2 to 2 h. And there are direct train to GVA and ZRH every 30 min. In BSL I have to take a bus from the main station. I'm living close to Berne and there would be the airport BRN but it has almost no traffic.
ZRH is the most expensive airport. GVA is much cheaper to fly out. When I fly with BA I mostly fly from GVA and there is a dedicated BA lounge. In ZRH there are the Aspire lounges. The non-Shengen lounge at the E gates is nicer than the one in Shengen area. BSL is in fact an airport in France with a swiss "extension". GVA is just the opposit. It is a swiss airport with a France extension. |
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