Egg tarts and Flowers. Portugal plus Chelsea.

[drron]

Looking at the prices of 175 ml bottles of vintage ports in the hotel I think not. 150 to 250 euros per bottle.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Looking at the prices of 175 ml bottles of vintage ports in the hotel I think not. 150 to 250 euros per bottle.

Bah! Remember "If you do not fly first class, your children will!"

Do some port vineyard winery tours and get "free" tastings. The vast quantity of different grapes (called field blends) that sometimes go to make port is very interesting. Historically they planted multiple varieties (up to 100 varieties are acceptable) so despite weather / pests / disease, there would always be enough grapes left for the production and Quinta/Colheita etc.

Try a white port and soda!

btw: The Vintage hotel is one of the most expensive places to buy port. Much cheaper in Porto or Lisbon.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

So to egg tarts !! They are everywhere here - at the hotel for breakfast, every second shop you see, so we bought a selection to munch tonight. OMG they are DAMN good. I hope my pants still fit by the time I get on the ship.

 

[drron]

So back to the TR and the flight to Dubai. The seat wasn’t that comfortable so there was going to be no sleep. Looking at the movies there wasn’t that much I wanted to watch. Looked at the TV and found they had the whole first season of the Big Brunch. That meant that I watched the final 5 episodes in one sitting.

It was interesting and in true recent American style it was one of the most inclusive and diverse shows I’ve ever watched. A woman from Haiti, a fellow from Ethiopia who was also an Exxon. A Canadian,Asian lesbian, a gay transgender man, a couple of white guys but one from a broken home and the other brought up by hippies.

Then an American woman of Italian heritage, a Latino vegan and the eventual winner and the youngest was a Korean fellow who had spent time in Japan. He also was the nicest.

After that it was listening to Queen plus a bit worried as we had a 90 minute transit in Dubai and after takeoff the prediction was that it would be a 50 minute transit. Fortunately some time was made up and we had about an 80 minute transit. It was thought straight to the gate via security as the departure gate was a long way from the arrival gate. We got there about 7 minutes before boarding began.

Just hoping that our bag had made it.

 

[RooFlyer]

Try a white port and soda!

I loved that in Porto, brought a bottle of Taylor's white port home and hated the mixture ever since. Still have most of the white port.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I loved that in Porto, brought a bottle of Taylor's white port home and hated the mixture ever since. Still have most of the white port.

White port and Fevertree - Fever-Tree Drinks & Mixers

 

[karen blancfield]

Well today is the day. Up at 0600. start the day with weight of 82KG. Hoping to limit gain to 2.5Kg.
Our one case wighs 23.3 KG but we needed to have formal wear and cold apparel this time.

Naturally with Mrsdrron we are leaving early at 0930. Probably will have an hours wait before check in opens.

I’ve got 19 kg for 2 weeks in South Australia! Mind you that includes togs and puffer jacket! I don’t know how you’ve done such impressive packing.

 

[Quickstatus]

Just hoping that our bag had made it.

Airtags again this time?

 

[drron]

Yes AirTags again. Comforting when at the carousel and your phone tells you that the bag is not far away.

At check in at BNE and SIN the bag weighed 23.1 kg. Despite never being opened at FRA with LH it weighed 24.4 kg. So much for German technology.

And tonight for my welcome coughtail it was white port and tonic. Liked it.

Plus tonight with my cheese platter I had a glass of vintage port.

 

[Quickstatus]

24.4 kg

Sounds like the bag is having a great time.

 

[OATEK]

Yes AirTags again. Comforting when at the carousel and your phone tells you that the bag is not far away.

At check in at BNE and SIN the bag weighed 23.1 kg. Despite never being opened at FRA with LH it weighed 24.4 kg. So much for German technology.

And tonight for my welcome coughtail it was white port and tonic. Liked it.

Plus tonight with my cheese platter I had a glass of vintage port.

Hope you don't put on weight in the same ratio as your bag!!

 

[AIRwin]

Hope you don't put on weight in the same ratio as your bag!!

But no excess baggage charges...

 

[bPeteb]

Next an Irish film. The Banshees of Inisherin. All you can say about it was that it made you realise why there are so many Irish jokes.

My movie choice on Monday night due to me turning another zero year. It finished and we just looked at each other and went "gee".

 

[RooFlyer]

Plus tonight with my cheese platter I had a glass of vintage port.

When I stayed at the Britannia Hotel in Lisbon, there was a help-yourself decanter of port in every room - even the bathroom , plus around the breakfast buffet tables. Doubt it was vintage, but I did try a bit to make sure. Ever tried port on rice bubbles?

 

[karen blancfield]

My movie choice on Monday night due to me turning another zero year. It finished and we just looked at each other and went "gee".

Yes we had to stop for a drink on the way home after watching it, to process it. Good film though! And many happy returns.

 

[VPS]

My movie choice on Monday night due to me turning another zero year. It finished and we just looked at each other and went "gee".

OT but Happy Birthday

 

[drron]

Ended up having no problems with the transit at DXB. Though absolutely no time for a lounge. Had to go through the transit security but no lines so pretty quickly through. A fair hike from the A gates to the B gates. Arrived at the gate just as they announced pre boarding. Unfortunately not the same system at the gate as they had in SIN where the seats nearest the gate were roped off and you only got in by showing your BP as being in F or J or had status.

So here it was a bun rush. Loaded via front lower door on the 380 and many in front of us were turning right rather than going up the stairs. Then a wait as many took their time to readjust their bags before putting them up. Finally got to our seats and a glass of champagne. But offered the choice of nuts or olives. I chose the olives.


EK 047. DXB- FRA.
Depart. 1525. Arrive. 1930.
Push back. 1540. Take off. 1620.
Landed. 1920. At gate. 1931.

 

[drron]

And our second and last EK flight and our only one on their A380.


The menu and wine list.







During the flight Mrsdrron drank the burgundy and was happy with it whilst I drank the Chateau Ripeau which was very good.

 

[drron]

Now to the food. We both had the salmon to start which was nice but too big a serving so both of us left some on the plate.


Mrsdrron then had the chicken which this time wasn’t overcooked.


I had the lamb loin which was overcooked and dry. So I had half a piece of lamb and 2 potatoes.


We both then had the fresh fruit which was very good.
.

 

[drron]

Several young children in J and most down the back near us. But one was undoubtedly the worst. Probably about 2. She just screamed. Mother did nothing. But funny when we were behind them at FRA and the screaming began so mother put a pacifier in her mouth and the screaming stopped.

The other problem was being in row 25. Only one other row behind us then the lounge. So people coming and going plus a lot of noise. Sometimes enough to drown out the toddler’s screams.

Sleep wasn’t going to be an option so I first watched Elvia the movie. OK but I am glad I didn’t pay to watch it.
After that a doco on whale stranding an around the UK. 10% due to entrapment but 15% due to noise pollution particularly offshore wind turbines.

Then watched the 3 episodes on Elon Musk. Very interesting. Finished that as we were on final approach to FRA.