Heading towards the light

[NZflygirl]

This flight has been in the air long enough so I guess I had better head us to our destination ...

SQ336 SIN-CDG A380 R cont.

I started with some fruit:
View attachment 84970

and finished off with eggs florentine:
View attachment 84971

This is hands down the best breakfast I have had in the sky - and rivals quite a few I have had on the ground. The eggs were runny, the potato cakes were almost crisp and the hollandaise was just right.

And for the astute amongst you, you will notice that in the interests of science I felt it necessary to compare the Dom and Krug once more. The final verdict falls in favour of the Dom.

For landing I was offered the window seat to my right, with a glass of the winning champagne of course.

So why fly one suite when you can fly three of them?!

My final verdict of SQ's F and R product from check in to arrival (with express pass) ...

... as they say in the classics - "I'll be back"!

I can't smell it

I can't taste it

But I can see it! And it looks absolutely magnificent!!! Call me judgemental
Really hate that most hollandaise sauces aren't done well. This food just looks so clean.... it's just the right colours, even the tomato shimmers in the light.... the edges of the potato cake aren't falling away and the most distant one looks a nice shade of gold....no lumpy hollandaise and the parsley has maintained it's perfect position. Asparagus? not a major fan but I'll eat it....that looks 'ok' too

I LOVE it when you get surprises like this when food is well presented and even better it TASTES fantastic!

Colour me green with envy:mrgreen:.

 

[JohnK]

I went for a walk to do a lap of the plane during the flight, and after F, even J looked cramped. That does not bode well.

Very nice trip report but reading this report one thing is very clear in my mind.

I love travel. I love cramped cabins. I love meeting and talking with people in cramped cabins. I love complaining about cramped cabins.

Absolutely no rush to try any of this "Suites" stuff. I don't need/crave the seclusion. Not sure I ever will. Sorry to go off track from your lovely trip report.

 

[JessicaTam]

Oops, I have missed a couple of pictures from the breakfast post - so here they are.

Firstly, the breakfast menu:


And an actually half decent latte made in the air:


My breakfast was a BTK order. Apparently I had booked eggs benedict with lobster, but the staff noticed I avoided all the seafood so queried my choice. They were able to plate it up without the lobster, hence what I had. I would also have been happy to try the eggs in puff pastry - in fact I will add it to my list.

 

[Pushka]

Very nice trip report but reading this report one thing is very clear in my mind.

I love travel. I love cramped cabins. I love meeting and talking with people in cramped cabins. I love complaining about cramped cabins.

Absolutely no rush to try any of this "Suites" stuff. I don't need/crave the seclusion. Not sure I ever will. Sorry to go off track from your lovely trip report.

So, what you are saying is that we should completely ignore you when you complain of people nicking your allocated seat, recliners, noisy kids yada yada because really it's because you just like to complain? Ok. I understand you now JohnK.

Back to the report.

 

[JessicaTam]

Köln

We arrived in Köln with a bit of daylight to spare so dropped our bags at the Hilton which was about 300m away and went for a walk.

Here is my take on the Hilton: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....o-hilton-treat-you-18502-163.html#post1546010

And the view from our room:


Being in Köln the Dom was the obvious first stop. It was rather close, after all.

A shot of the inside - I don't think any camera can do it justice:


The other advantage of the Hilton's proximity to the railway station is that we didn't have to worry about delays catching our train to Berlin the next day.

The aforementioned train to Berlin:

 

[JessicaTam]

Berlin

Ah, Berlin. Kinda the point of the trip - well mostly. This will be my first stay of two this trip, broken up by a trip to KEF.

So here are a few pictures of my time:




This was tempting:

 

[ellen10]

Enjoying your trip.
My last trip to Berlin the wall was still up.
Would love to go back.
Those German trains are great to travel on.

 

[JessicaTam]

One afternoon we headed out to the Märchenbrunnen, a fairytale fountain. Unfortunately many of the 106 were boxed up so we couldn't see them. But here are a few that weren't:

 

[JessicaTam]

We spent one evening at the Berlin Symphonie. I had to wait until intermission to take the photo, but you get the idea.


Another night out was to the Gendarmenmarkt, one of the Weinachtsmarkts or Christmas Markets dotted around Berlin (and the wider Germany) in the lead up to Christmas. Lots of food and drink, with the obligatory craft stalls.

Thanks to the AFFer who recommended this one:

 

[JessicaTam]

Enjoying your trip.
My last trip to Berlin the wall was still up.
Would love to go back.
Those German trains are great to travel on.

I have been quite happy to tell Sharon: "What do you do if the train is late in Germany?" "Change your watch, because that is more likely than a late train." Except of course the Köln-Berlin train ran about 20 minutes late. :shock: Unheard of, and the announcements on the PA were incredibly apologetic.

 

[Pushka]

I have been quite happy to tell Sharon: "What do you do if the train is late in Germany?" "Change your watch, because that is more likely than a late train." Except of course the Köln-Berlin train ran about 20 minutes late. :shock: Unheard of, and the announcements on the PA were incredibly apologetic.

Karma is a biatch.

 

[amaroo]

Best of luck with the lights! They're simply awesome to see...

 

[JessicaTam]

Karma is a biatch.

But late trains in Germany are unheard of. Certainly the first one that I have been on.

 

[JessicaTam]

One last Berlin post before we start our journey towards Iceland.

Germany has confronted its past head-on. This is particularly true with the "Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe". No euphemisms in that title.

The memorial is a large area of 2711 'sarcophagi-like stelae rinsing in sombre silence from undulating ground'. The ground drops away in the middle of the memorial as the stelae grow in height, so as you walk in you are soon dwarfed. The monuments are the same width and depth but along with the varied height, they also tilt at slight angles to each other. We spent a while just walking aimlessly through.

 

[OATEK]

One last Berlin post before we start our journey towards Iceland.

Photo not loading - but know the memorial well as it is right behind my favourte hotel, The Adlon.

 

[JessicaTam]

Up early, dropped the key in the lock-box and then on the train to TXL. Well, train then bus to TXL, a very strait-forward process. We checked in and headed to the lounge. A nice place to sit for a while, but nothing much compared to what we are used to in AU. The BA lounge at TXL is also landside, so we left there a little early to ensure we got to our flight on time. Each gate has its own security and passport control, and we were through quickly.

We departed on time and made it to LHR a little ahead of schedule. By the time we taxied seemingly for ever, we were disembarking right on time. We headed outside and jumped on the H57 Hotel Hoppa to to take us to the T5 Hilton. Why it is called the T5 Hilton I have no idea, as it was a ten minute drive away from the airport to get there. And a £9 return drive at that.

The Hilton 'T5': http://www.australianfrequentflyer....o-hilton-treat-you-18502-164.html#post1551365

We were meeting a few AFFers for dinner which left plenty of time to wander the streets of London. Our journey startted at Buckingham Palace and headed towards the river and then east.

Buckingham Palace. The Queen wasn't in, as the Union Jack was flying.


Big Ben.


St Pauls. For £18 you can tour the inside of the cathedral. We declined.


The monument.

 

[JessicaTam]

Photo not loading - but know the memorial well as it is right behind my favourte hotel, The Adlon.

Hopefully that has fixed it. I am not sure why some photos load as 'attachment' and other load properly.

 

[JessicaTam]

We approached Tower bridge as the light was starting to fade, crossed over then walked down the other side of the Thames towards dinner.




We had dinner at Doggetts Coat and Badge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I now need to expand my knowledge of not only gin, but the tonic to go with it!

The dinner thread: LHR dinner/drinks Mon 28 November 2016

 

[henleybeach]

Looking forward to Iceland report jessicatam. We are going in February, so any tips during the trip report will be great !

 

[jastel]

Just got back from 10 days in Iceland (and other places)...saw the lights twice...
Tips - take plenty of money, A$14 for a pint!!
Still sorting my pix out.