Egg tarts and Flowers. Portugal plus Chelsea.

[drron]

We left through the front upper deck door but it was very slow. So when we got to Immigration there were quite a few in front of us. We still got to the baggage carousel before any bags appeared.

We also noticed how far German efficiency has fallen. My air tag was saying it was 100 metres away and as the carousel started moving it changed to 0km. But although large numbers of bags came out I did not see one priority tag.
The carousel stopped and a few seconds later the one next to it started. All the bags on the second carousel had priority tags. Fortunately ours was one of the earliest.

So then made our way to the sky link to Terminal One and the HGI. A total of 4 escalators and 1 moving doorway sections were out of service. It was a bit of a hike to the HGI and when we got there about 20 in line for check in. And some in front were not organised and some wanted to ask several questions so took some time to finally check in.
The one amusing moment was when I was thanked for my loyalty. So this is the 4th year in a row that I have spent 1 night in a Hilton hotel and still kept my silver membership.

Stock standard HGI but as silver you don’t get much. But a Starbucks close so that became our breakfast spot. Most importantly we had a good sleep.

 

[Pushka]

Sort of on Topic. Have you received your tickets to Chelsea yet? We are going on the Saturday.

 

[drron]

We opted for picking them up at the gate.

 

[drron]

After our Starbucks breakfast we made our way slowly to the LH check in. Virtually all kiosks. Saw an assistance counter and went to enter the line but told no by an LH agent. He took us to a kiosk and told to put in our destination and surname. It then wanted a telephone number. Put in my mobile number with the 61 code only to be told an invalid number with not enough numbers. So fired to another assistance line around the corner. Another Y line.

I was looking around for a premium line and saw it at another section. Before we started the first agent came running. He said sorry I didn’t know that you were business class and handed us our BPs and escorted us to a bag drop without a line but guarded by an older woman. Should have seen the look on her face as we were escorted by one of the managers.

Dropped our bag but another piece of evidence in the fall of efficiency of Germany. The bag had not been opened since we left home and there it weighed 23.3kg. At BNE and SIN it weighed 23.1kg. Here it weighed 24.4kg.
Next the lounge.

 

[drron]

I basically bought *gold with the transfer of Amex points to KF in November 21. With this we could get into the Senator A lounge. Big and bright. I liked it. Poor windows for taking photos with the lines. Looking out though they didn’t have much effect.










Food next.

 

[drron]

The lounge food which was perfectly adequate.

 

[drron]

We left the lounge a little early to stroll to gate 36 where the flight was to go from and up on the departure board. We got to the gate and no plane and no other people. Even worse the flight was no longer on the board. We thought it may have been cancelled.
An LH employee walked past so we asked him and it had been moved to Gate 38 the next gate. Even more evidence of German inefficiency as I got an email about the gate change from LH after we had landed in OPO.

Boarding started soon after and they called for J pax and elites to board first. But the plane was at a remote stand so it was onto a bus which waited until it was absolutely full before heading off.
The plane was actually at the remotest stand so a long ride passing many planes. We had to wait for a Eurowings plane to leave it’s stand.


A jumbo passed us.


We thought we were there.


But we kept going past the cargo terminal.


Finally our plane.

 

[drron]

LH 1178. FRA - OPO.
Departing 1340. Arriving 1325.
Push back - 1353. Take off. - 1359.
Landed - 1320. At gate - 1325.

European J.


Some items to buy from those down the back.




But also an ad for how Green LH is.


Offshore wind. I don’t think so and what about the whales?
Our taxi was literally one minute but had to wait for 3 other planes to take off. But we beat this fellow.



The safety demonstration was different. The FA would do it for the 4 J rows then take her stuff to the front of the Y cabin and repeat it. Then back to the front for the next segment.
A little later lunch. Quite enjoyable.


Obviously quite a few Aussies down the back as they would push through the curtain to go to the J loo.

 

[drron]

And the view from my window.





Snow on the mountains.







Clouds sometimes have an interesting formation

 

[drron]

More of the views closer to OPO. Terrible wind turbines.










And on the ground several Ryanair and Easyjet planes.


I forgot the lunch menu earlier. It was Düsseldorf cuisine.

 

[drron]

Unfortunately both a Ryanair and an Easyjet flight were letting all their passengers off as we got to the gate. So a bit of a wait until they got to our plane but our bag was one of the first to appear.
Soon in a taxi driven by an aspiring F1 driver so reached the Intercontinental pretty quickly. Building a new metro station in front of it so a temporary entrance with room for 2 cars to load or unload.

Staff are fantastic. Upgraded from a basic king room to a new suite. Took breakfast as amenity but also 2 drink vouchers, the 15 euro F&B credit plus a small bottle of port and some custard tarts in the room.

The room was on the top floor the fourth floor. A recent development and it was previously the attic. There is a balustrade so no views. It was very comfortable and if you had a view it would only be of a worksite. So to the room.

 

[drron]

That night we were tired and not very hungry so went to the bar for our drinks- Sav Blanc for Mrsdrron and their signature coughtail based on port for me. Shared a plate of Iberico ham and a club sandwich.

 

[drron]

Breakfast the next morning. Quite a good selection. You could also get eggs done a few different ways.

 

[drron]

The hot dishes.







The tomatoes and mushrooms were delicious.

 

[drron]

Now for our day in Porto. Thought the simplest thing was to get the Hop on Hop off bus. Fortunately the first stop was a short walk from the IC. We started on the 1030 service. First the buildings close to the IC.





And now from the bus.

 

[drron]

So a few posts of Porto from the bus.

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

Work on the new Metro is widespread and will continue for at least another 2 years.

 

[Pushka]

That night we were tired and not very hungry so went to the bar for our drinks- Sav Blanc for Mrsdrron and their signature coughtail based on port for me. Shared a plate of Iberico ham and a club sandwich.
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No chip shortage there like in Oz.