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Back in ATH. The flight from LCA was great but it was the same aircraft as on the way over so wifi wasn’t an option. A nice breakfast of “salted cake” and an early landing. Not many pics, as I was dozing. I was allowed to use the EU passports lane in ATH thanks to my residence permit which saved about an hour I reckon. Loads of people from the Norse, Gulf Air and Etihad flights clogging things up. One final security check and now in the A3 Schengen lounge which is as full as ever so not many pics of that but it’s very similar to the others. ;)
Going to try to get some work done for the hour or so until boarding for the last flight to VIE starts. Looks like a bus gate as is common here. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...88e188430.jpeg PDB of water is much more generous than the bubbly. ;) https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3a521f570.jpeg Breakfast menu https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e18411b87.jpeg A lovely sunrise https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...82cc00f94.jpeg Table set https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4ce0097e1.jpeg The breakfast. Very nice and again, a great amount for such a short flight https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...aa04464ed.jpeg GF A321neo parked next to us https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e26ba3673.jpeg A3 Schengen lounge ATH https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2a089dfde.jpeg A3 Schengen lounge ATH |
Boarded the aircraft. For once, they didn’t fill the bus so full you couldn’t breathe. Now on a classic A321 with way better legroom than the neos. I suppose 20 fewer seats is noticeable. ;) No wifi on this one though so this will be the last update for a while, as I’ll be rushing to catch a bus in VIE. Will hopefully update from the bus if I make it. If not, I’ll update while waiting for the next bus. 🤣
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...71eee7b18.jpeg Bus gate https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...565a473e2.jpeg Sneaky shot of the aircraft before I got told off. ;) https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...74aa85741.jpeg Row 5 https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ada80f079.jpeg Massive legroom compared to the neo https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0f57b4d6b.jpeg Classic Aegean cabin |
Told off?
|
Originally Posted by JapesUK
(Post 37114058)
Told off?
We landed in VIE early but then had a really long taxi to the gate. Then the police wanted to check everyone’s passport at the top of the airbridge. Then I had to walk back almost as far as we’d taxiied from the C gates to the exit. Fortunately, I made the 10:55 bus and am now sitting in comfort being whisked to Bratislava central station. The only annoying thing was that the app would no longer sell me a ticket so I had to pay the full price of €17. I’ve booked my train from Bratislava for 12:27 now so have plenty of time to get there. Ironically, the 2 hour journey in first class cost less than the bus to Bratislava. The next fun question is whether the train will be on time. More than likely not. ;) Not many pics to add at the moment. I mainly snoozed on the flight but did wake up for breakfast part 2. The menu was the same as LCA-ATH so I decided to try the other option: the muffin. It was also nice to be fair. Breakfast is definitely the weakest meal on A3 but I think that applies to most airlines. Maybe with the exception of the BA fry-up. ;) https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8f7f01ded.jpeg Same menu as before https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...76c92058e.jpeg An ET MAX-8 https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f394a9402.jpeg Breakfast round 2 https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...45d58803f.jpeg Slovaklines bus from VIE to Bratislava https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b7d4e4d83.jpeg Better legroom in the back row of the bus than row 17 on Aegean. 🤣 Next stop, Bratislava in about half an hour. |
Clever itinerary. I don't know much about Aegean FF programme, so what does this route get you? It's MUC-ATH-LCA-ATH-VIE right? And back?
|
Originally Posted by WiSK
(Post 37114268)
Clever itinerary. I don't know much about Aegean FF programme, so what does this route get you? It's MUC-ATH-LCA-ATH-VIE right? And back?
|
I’m now on the train from Bratislava to Zilina following the same route that Fabo.sk took last week. We left Bratislava on time so let’s see if it stays that way. ;) The normal carriages that Fabo.sk showed the other day have been replaced by older carriages that are not quite as comfortable but at least it’s still first class.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c4465fe3b.jpeg Bratislava Central station https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6b3ad05d0.jpeg And a close-up of the outside https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...accb3dd32.jpeg Not the most modern station. Kosice is much nicer. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...86d9544a7.jpeg Departure board https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a50c992e0.jpeg Nice mural https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a8003906a.jpeg Tunnel to the platforms https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e7dcb1e9f.jpeg Platform 3 today https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b29561a5f.jpeg The old second class coaches https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...decf5d739.jpeg And my old first class coach https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2d5cd8d8e.jpeg A bit retro. ;) Next stop: Zilina in just under 2 hours |
Amazingly, the train was on time into Zilina but I had to hot-foot it to the hotel to get showered after all that travelling before meeting my client at 15:30. Following a very productive meeting, I’m back in my room and will probably crash out for a couple of hours before meeting some colleagues that I’ve only ever communicated with by email for dinner at 8.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d9d424965.jpeg Loads of work going on to finally upgrade Zilina station. It desperately needed it! https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0ab5e1c0d.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5fe652761.jpeg New platform being built https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0e3c56956.jpeg The remains of the old statiom front. I’m excited to see what they end up doing here. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9b50c0c06.jpeg The main street from the station to one of the many squares https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...89f122330.jpeg And looking the other way https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4f9755728.jpeg One of the big squares with the Mirage shopping centre. One of the Christmas markets always takes place here in December https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b54b9e3b3.jpeg Looking to the church from the square https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2293c1a65.jpeg In case you didn’t know where you were. ;) https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4cc32e613.jpeg My absolute favourite street name in the whole city. How often can you say you’re staying just off Horny Val? 🤣 https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2d73d580b.jpeg The hotel my client always books us into https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...2743b7339.jpeg Reception https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...eb0ee4d5c.jpeg And looking to the other door https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c0be6a421.jpeg My room. Been given a deluxe this time. I’ve had everything from the most basic single to the biggest suite in this hotel. 🤣 https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4fd686c2c.jpeg Looking the other way https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...c18281c02.jpeg Bathroom. Wish there was a proper shower though So I’m going to leave it here for the moment. Tomorrow is the company sports day and summer party so I will probably not be in much of a fit state to post. ;) My journey home starts late Saturday afternoon so I’ll resume posting from then. It’s nothing like the outbound is all I’ll tell you for the moment. ;) Thanks for reading and commenting so far. This has been fun and not too arduous like a full-on post-trip report. You never know, I may get around to posting my crazy routing to get here and back last December one of these days though. :D Have a good couple of days and see you Saturday. :) |
Originally Posted by JapesUK
(Post 37114058)
Told off?
Enjoyable read so far. |
Originally Posted by Nimrod1965
(Post 37116999)
Greece used to be very intolerant of any form of aviation interest such as logging aircraft registrations or taking photos of aircraft. Sounds like it might still be the case.
Enjoyable read so far. So after a fun sports day, where my team came 3rd of 8, and way too late a night, I’ve been working from my client’s office today. I’m now on the train bound for Kosice. However, I’m not flying from there but getting the night train to Prague and then on to Berlin before there. And before Fabo.sk says anything, yes I am aware that the night train to Prague stops in Zilina. 🤣 My colleagues were all highly confused as to why I’m going all the way to Kosice just to come back. ;) The reason is that the night train costs the same from Kosice as from Zilina but only leaves Zilina at 01:42 and arrives in Prague at 07:53 so I’d have had much less sleep time. This way, I can hopefully be long asleep by the time I even get to Zilina and I won’t have had to hang around until nearly 2am. I also don’t fancy being in Zilina station at that time in the morning on a Sunday. ;) Enough preamble, on with the latest pics before I get back to my project: https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d6de8a098.jpeg My room at the mountain hotel where the sports day took place. The bed was way more comfortable than Hotel Boss! https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a82050055.jpeg Bathroom https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...da1908121.jpeg Shower https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...78d423b3d.jpeg Sheep on the farm that the hotel is part of https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...71a03d07b.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...980ab06a9.jpeg And horses https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...362e193bc.jpeg ZSSK also like to announce the platforms very late, the same as many airports. This results in a huge bottleneck and a rush to the platform. 😒 https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...de0468402.jpeg Here comes my train. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f0556dd4c.jpeg Coach 1 again. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...dcc29725f.jpeg Newer first class product on this train. Still not the newest one but much better than the one on Thursday https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9de3909be.jpeg My seat Next stop: Kosice in 2 3/4 hours time. |
So after a really pleasant journey to Kosice on a really quiet, on-time train, it was time to grab some dinner before the main event. Unfortunately, the kebab shop I’d researched earlier decided to close early and so I ended up being stuck with a Greek-style panini from the station bistro, which was the only place around/open. It was quite nice but not what I was expecting. I may have to try the room service on the night train. ;)
The platform was announced nice and early so I went up to find my carriage hadn’t even arrived yet. Soon after, it was coupled up and I could board. I’d seen online that one of the sleeper carriages had been replaced by a couchette carriage but that was the next carriage along fortunately. I’d have been very annoyed if that had been mine, as the last time I did a night train, my carriage was out of service and I ended up having to share a couchette with a family of 3 which was a nightmare. Not because they were noisy but because you just have no space and privacy. The “beds” are also like ironing boards so I’m glad I was spared that this time. I’m on the night train now in a single compartment with private toilet and shower. A bargain for €166 including the first class section from Prague to Berlin. We depart in 10 minutes and arrive in Prague at 07:51. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a8d33c12f.jpeg Kosice station platform 1 https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...51ba37737.jpeg My train from Zilina https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...25d4cd22d.jpeg Into the station https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...feb595088.jpeg Kosice is such a nice station. Much nicer than Bratislava. I hope Zilina will look like this when it’s finished. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...74cb76cce.jpeg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d8f050225.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...78bd44d4e.jpeg Departures board https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...51464bf39.jpeg Outside the station https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7875826b6.jpeg The no-longer open kebab shop. Epic fail. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...44c20a50e.jpeg My dinner https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...64aa6bb9e.jpeg The only time England will be shown first in anything to do with football. ;) https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7e8d21d26.jpeg Platform 2, here we go! https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...adc1d0337.jpeg Not my carriages. These had arrived from Hummené and were waiting for the ones starting in Kosice to be coupled. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...15e7afd3c.jpeg Here they come https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...692b11c2b.jpeg Nearly there https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...91942b03e.jpeg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...625e092fb.jpeg Done! https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...599d151ef.jpeg My carriage https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9ee240463.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...679a4c474.jpeg Corridor https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...197d63961.jpeg Compartment 8 https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...67fdefa3d.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d879bb0c1.jpeg Single deluxe https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...cb126ef12.jpeg Bathroom https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8a8e4248c.jpeg Toilet in the compartment https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fe91da81b.jpeg Shower https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...03f7ccc32.jpeg Looking from the window to the door https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f54dbfb0d.jpeg Amenities https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8e20aca07.jpeg Breakfast menu https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b0673fcad.jpeg Room service menu https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0bafc6784.jpeg Goodie bag https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...432cafac6.jpeg Contents https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...83dec687a.jpeg For your information https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...393ba7a54.jpeg Another compartment set up as a triple https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b4cb45d86.jpeg And a double https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d9df7703b.jpeg The back end of my carriage We left Kosice 1 minute early. Next stop Prague in about 10 hours time. |
Good morning from Prague! The night train was surprisingly early and I arrived just before 07:30. I also had the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had on a sleeper train. I think it’s because there weren’t a load of stops where carriages are uncoupled and coupled. I also had a quick shower after waking up because, why not? ;) I’ve had a look at the station and am now sitting in the CD lounge waiting for my next train at 08:28. It’s rather basic but does at least have coffee. :)
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...97b4586bc.jpeg Breakfast box https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...69b6090e3.jpeg Contents: 2 bread rolls, jam, butter, apple juice and a wafer. Coffee was also provided and was decent. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1edd05299.jpeg My carriage in Prague https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d7863e3b4.jpeg The couchette carriage that thinks it’s a sleeper carriage. ;) https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8e88b7820.jpeg Slovak sleeper carriage https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6b4a36955.jpeg Welcome to Prague https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...309797b75.jpeg Modern station https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8ee6530c6.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...40d9cc8b2.jpeg Outside https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...184836cde.jpeg Historic station building https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d6b3f3f69.jpeg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f05d8a39c.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...7a53f6d47.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...616aade94.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d9a0bfa64.jpeg CD lounge https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...85d4e6f5f.jpeg Very small but with coffee. :D |
Now on board the final train to Berlin. It’s really busy even in first class. We departed on time so let’s hope there are no delays on the way.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3f88433ea.jpeg My carriage at platform 5 https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...603c87663.jpeg CD first class carriage Next stop Berlin Hbf in just over 4 hours time. |
Nice report . Good A3 flights and lovely lounges.
The trains look interesting also. Hotels a bit dated but did the job. Good way to rack up some miles / TPs . :tu: |
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