A high and dry, wild and wet, majestic history medley – RTW 2018

[JohnM]

I won’t try to edit the muffed pics from up here.

 

[juddles]

I won’t try to edit the muffed pics from up here.

The pictures are visible - all good.

 

[JohnM]

I know they are visible but I forgot at initial upload to select full size, then when I did edit I duplicated one and left another at thumbnail. I like to be tidy .

 

[juddles]

The main glitch I notice is that there is not a Malbec in sight.....

 

[JohnM]

Phwoar, this browsing AFF on the bird, at a bargain price and what is a pretty good speed unless upoading pics, is the goods!

But remember to have a VPN app.

 

[JohnM]

The main glitch I notice is that there is not a Malbec in sight.....

Pffft... - try (L-R) a Pauillac Grand Cru, a Paarl Shiraz (pimped with a dash of Mourvedre, Cinsault, Grenache & Touriga Nacional) and a Primitivo (aka Ziinfandel) from near Salento in S Italy with the scraps at dinner last night... .

This has been a mighty good ride . (It would have been even better if I’d twigged to the VPN at the start ).

(Don’t forget QR is now flying to SCL ).

I’m now looking forward even more to my first A350 ride DOH-LHR at the end of next week - woo-hoo! .

 

[juddles]

Pffft... - try (L-R) a Pauillac Grand Cru, a Paarl Shiraz (pimped with a dash of Mourvedre, Cinsault, Grenache & Touriga Nacional) and a Primitivo (aka Ziinfandel) from near Salento in S Italy with the scraps at dinner last night... .

This has been a mighty good ride . (It would have been even better if I’d twigged to the VPN at the start ).

(Don’t forget QR is now flying to SCL ).

I’m now looking forward even more to my first A350 ride DOH-LHR at the end of next week - woo-hoo! .

View attachment 134671 View attachment 134672 View attachment 134671 View attachment 134672

Whoops, muffed the pics again - two for the price of one .

"respect"

 

[JohnM]

OK, on the ground in DOH. Flight to Moscow at sparrows tomorrow.

Tip for those travelling F or J and who, like me, didn’t know about the immigation entry through the QR lounge at the far left end of the hall, it will zip you straight through without queuing. I joined the zoo but I guy who I’d been talking to prior to boarding in LAX spotted me and gave me the tip.

Lining up and hauling out of LAX. I think @cove’s place is just down there - BTW, the lights were left on .





The pre-departure bottle was mildly corked. Once we got going the great FA opened another one - ahhh, that’s better .



Relevant to last week’s driving around.



Speaking of wine.

 

[JohnM]

Good goats’ cheese and pumpkin starter, with the white burgundy. Note proper salt and pepper grinders. And the wine notes.

 

[JohnM]

QR Al Mourjan lounge DOH. And, blow me down, it’s five o’clock right here.... No need to live vicariously at all .

 

[drron]

Well it was 5 o'clock there so I agree.nothing left to do but have a drink.

 

[JohnM]

DOH-DME yesterday, departing 0645. A321, flying time a little under 5h. Old-style searing, three rows in J. Excellent meals, wine and service. Espresso machine for a cappucino.

Taxiing out, I could see one of the LATAM-liveried A350’s on lease from LA to QR that has recently been discussed in the recent LA thread; there were at least two I saw after landing the previous evening.

 

[JohnM]

The wine list was a full selection off the card, with minimal overlapfrom the LAX-DOH list. Being breakfast, I stuck with the Pommery. I’ll look at trying some of the wines on the return lunch-time flight next week. I particularly like the diversity of the QR wine selection.

Arriving in DME with a slew of lurid green S7 birds in view. I’ll have my first S7 flight next week, but only an el-cheapo to get me back from St Petersburg (LED) to DME to connect to DOH. (Travelling towards St Petersburg by o/n train later in the week).



Oops, pics taken portrait come out sideways.

 

[JohnM]

Moscow is stunning. I had time for a quick look around near the Kremlin, about 2 km from my hotel, yesterday afternoon. Red Square unfortunately is inaccessible as they are preparing and rehearsing for a major 10-day Edinburgh-tattoo-type military festival starting on 24 Sept.

It limited the taking of broader-perspective pics and did also mean getting stuck with some bad light late in the day. I’m heading ou of the city today but will be back for a more detailed look later in the week.

I had an interesting experience ordering an Uber in Moscow. After catching the airport express train into the city, I then needed to get to my hotel. Rather than lug my case through the Metro, I requested an Uber. No problem with that, and a car apparenly shows up but I can’t see it, although it’s marked as being over the the other side of a wide, busy road about 150m away. I look in that direction and all I can see is a yellow cab, so I think that can’t be it . Anyway, long story short is that ordinary taxis also do Uber duty in Moscow - and it seems like the client/driver mapping can be a bit out.

Alexandrovsky Garden at the Kremlin.



Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.



A small part of GUM.



Another of the tomb, to give better perspective, placed out of order by the system.



Red Square will be fully utilised by the festival.



St. Basil’s

 

[JohnM]

Last night I got on the Metro and did a full circuit of the Circle Line, getting off and on to scope about seven of the famed stations. They are every bit as amazing as you read about - and then some. It’s hard to stop taking photos. Here a few snippets.

The frequency of trains is extraordinary - about every 90 seconds. There is no need to run for the train in the Moscow Metro.

 

[VPS]

I really loved Moscow. Aren't those Metro stations just amazing

 

[RooFlyer]

When you get onto the S7 bird, can you try for a few snaps of the J cabin? 1A? Will be parking myself there in a few weeks.

 

[RooFlyer]

I really loved Moscow. Aren't those Metro stations just amazing

Everything amazing! All Russia Exhibition Centre my favorite for wow-ness.

 

[JohnM]

When you get onto the S7 bird, can you try for a few snaps of the J cabin? 1A? Will be parking myself there in a few weeks.

I’m on a whY fare and in 2F on an A319, so I suspect it’s an all whY bird. It’s only a1:30h flight.

 

[JohnM]

This morning it was out to ancient historic town of Suzdal, part of the ‘Golden Ring’ (Golden Ring - Wikipedia).

A few pics from a stroll around this afternoon. Doing it it more detail in the morning after a traditional Russian family dinner tonight, and also tomorrow aiming to do a little in nearby Vladimir, the former capital of medieval Russia.