Random J trip to Poland via South Africa

[Cessna 180]

 

[Cessna 180]

 

[Cessna 180]

A look back the next morning from where we had come

 

[craven morehead]

Thanks for all the likes people. I hope I am not boring anybody, haha.

Keep it up mate !!

 

[craven morehead]

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Looks familiar

 

[VPS]

Thanks for all the likes people. I hope I am not boring anybody, haha.

not boring anyone and if they are bored they can go and do something else

 

[JohnM]

Travelling as a couple, I'm surprised QR didn't default your QSuites seating to a pair in the middle.

Did you try to select a middle pair?

 

[Cessna 180]

Probably because they were booked separately and therefore two PNR's Qantas said they had linked the booking though. In any case I prefer the window anyway.

The option to book the middle pair was not available on line but the girl at check in did give us the option.

 

[OZDUCK]

Travelling as a couple, I'm surprised QR didn't default your QSuites seating to a pair in the middle.

Did you try to select a middle pair?

We are all enjoying your TR Cessna 180. Please keep going.

We were 'defaulted' about 3 times on our last QR trip as they kept trying to put us together and I kept moving our seats back to singles. They even asked us on the plane if we wanted to sit together - the horror!

 

[craven morehead]

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Well what's going on here?

 

[rginoz]

Very enjoyable TR, Cessna 180. Looking forward to the rest of the journey.

 

[Cessna 180]

Ok thanks everyone.

I havnt had great inter net for photo uploading or spare time to keep typing., haha
Currently we are enjoying a slight lounge crawl and the Cabanas at HK! I will keep adding some over the coming days now that I have started I am committed!

QF 30 then in to old “SS” to complete the trip back to base

 

[Cessna 180]

Quite high....

Security guards outside the Garden Court

 

[Cessna 180]

Departure and cruise JNB. I kind of forgot to take many photos on board. Must have been to keen on hospitality soaking.

 

[Cessna 180]

I never did learn what this was was.

Needed some caffeine at this point due the Nescafé rationing (explained further down)

 

[OZDUCK]

I never did learn what this was was.

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All you need to know - I was wondering how I missed it a couple of years ago so I am pleased to see that it is a new installation.

Thumb monument installed in Souq Waqif

The new public art piece is in celebration of the biggest sporting success in Qatar's history. Click here to read more!

www.iloveqatar.net

Pouce (Thumb) - Qatar Museums

Visiting Souq Waqif? Look out for César Baldaccini sculpture, Pouce. Based on a cast of his own thumb, it’s become an iconic marker in the heart of Doha.

www.qm.org.qa

 

[Cessna 180]

Oh, well there you you go. Thankyou. The girls on the plane did suggest that if we were not sure where we were to just ask to be directed to the giant thumb as that is where the action is.
Continuing below:....



A quick sleep and up early to explore Doha in the few hours we had before turning up back at the airport. This was a fun place to explore. One thing I have noticed on this trip is the lack of those little Nescafe/Moccona etc coffee sachets that we are used to in Aus at all the accommodation houses. In Africa, Doha and Poland so far we have been lucky to get two on arrival. If we stayed a second night zero! Now I like about three or four of these at six am every morning to get the day off right!!

We walked all around the Souq and looked at the buildings and markets, as well as having some yummy food at a couple of the many cafes. As we went to the waterfront, we discovered a boat/taxi type of set up that would take us across to the city proper. Sadly, we did not have enough time for this. Looks like another trip to Doha will have to be planned.

Back to the Kingsgate to collect our bags and use the wifi to compare the Uber price. Uber was about 28 rial to the airport. He was soon at the hotel after booking.

Back at the airport for our 1600 departure to WAW on QR 261, we were dropped off right outside the Business/First check in sign. I am not sure if this is the only taxi drop or another coincidence.

Walking in there were signs to First to the right and Business to the left. Again, another near empty hall. As we were given our tickets yesterday at JNB for this leg, (I presume because it was under 24 hour connection?) we just sauntered past about four check in agents all of whom looked like they were really hoping for someone to come over and avail of their services.

Quickly through security and immigration again and following the signs up to the AL Mourjan lounge. Now this place was massive. I went toward the quiet end and grabbed a beer and enquired about the showers. There is just something about a beer in the shower at the airport lounge after a busy day, haha.

I was pretty puffed out this afternoon for whatever reason. Probably didn’t sleep very well the last two nights. GF went up the top to sample the dining options and I went in search of the rest areas where I found several stretcher type things and just had a siesta on one of these. (I presume this is snoring alley I read have read about). For anyone’s reference, I think I could spend several hours here overnight if necessary and get some sleep. I guess the challenge would be as has been discussed elsewhere, is just how busy this area would get in the middle of the night due to the flight schedules. The place seemed almost deserted mid-afternoon so most likely I am not getting an accurate indication.

I went up to the dining area shortly before we made our way to the gate for a light snack.

Al Mourjan certainly an amazing space and plenty of food and drink options. I was not particularly hungry or thirsty so cannot comment really on the quality of this. I think I had been force fed too much the last day and a half.!

Time to go to the gate, in fact perhaps a little bit passed time, we walked and followed the signs and then realised there was a train. So on the train then not sure where to get off then a bit more walking then a bit more running then an empty gate with our flight on it. Turns out the flight was not particularly full, But I did not wish to be those silly people from some English speaking only country that held the plane up! By this stage GF is quite accustomed to all the priority signs for boarding etc and is off down the shute and seated in her plush throne of 2F whilst I am still fumbling around for my ticket.

 

[Cessna 180]

Boat/taxi.

Check in area at Doha, bit of a last minute picture.

 

[Cessna 180]

Most likely fuelled by the fact that the J section was only about a third full, this was hands down the best flight of our trip so far and probably one of, if not the best flight I have ever been on. 2K is a good seat and GF and myself were able to chat to each other across the aisle no worries. I originally had her seated behind me in the window, but she says she prefers being a cross from me and is not so concerned about the window as me. So we changed her seat at the lounge. There was no one in row 1 or 3 on our side. Again, a very quick, warm welcome from the hostess and the pre departure beverage of Champagne or water or something else was offered. I never have any interest or recall of the “something else” because despite this having a fancy name I believe it is generally some surgery muck that is no good.

We were fortunate to have a lovely Polish girl as our attendant. She said this was just a coincidence not that she specifically gets rostered for the flights to WAW. I think I had some Vodka and soda water after lift off. Seemed fitting given that we were off to Poland. Slightly different menu to yesterday but still including mezze. Plenty of beverages. I had to tell them to stop filling my cup!! I really liked this open plan design and found the seats to be super comfy and I liked the angle to the window. This looks to be the same chair as what Virgin have on their 330s. I prefer the burgundy of these Qatar suites and they just appeared a bit more spacious. Perhaps the cabin is a bit wider on the 350.

Near the second door and toilet area, there is a bar area with fruit and snacks laid out. I had been down with the intention of walking through the economy cabin as I often do if I am in J just to remind myself how lucky I am. On looking through the curtain, it looked a bit hectic. The food carts were still in the aisle which would have precluded me from walking through. I was really glad I was not seated there. It looked pretty chockas!

We were soon pulling up to the gate at WAW on a miserable looking evening after some magnificent view of the lights over eastern Europe. GF really did enjoy the hospitality of this trip (it would have been rude not too) so I was slightly concerned if we had to answer any questions at immigration, haha. I was possibly a tad tipsy myself, but a quick blast of Polish winter air through a gap on the aerobridge sorted this out. The people on this flight really were the most relaxed and informal, but yet still did the most amazing job I have ever seen. They seemed to love a good chat too.

Even I felt slightly out of my comfort zone at this place, probably just never having been to Europe before and not exactly sure what to expect. Being first off has its advantages. Straight up to the two counters and a friendly smile greeted me in Polish. I handed my passport over and mumbled. Dzien dobry. She looked at passport, looked back at me and says “is this your first time in Europe?” I nodded in the affirmative. She stamped my passport and handing it back to me says “well, I hope you have a great time”! No questions, about how long or what we were doing or anything. A great welcome to Poland.
Outside, plenty of taxis. Our driver said he spoke no English but he seemed to know where Bednarska 16 was so no issues. As we got into the trip we all started to have a a bit of a chat and he could speak a bit of English. He was very helpful and gave us a map of the Old Town and pointed to a few places to look at. Bednarska 16 was a pretty decent small apartment booked through Air B&B at $94. About 2100 by this time and too cold to go back outside. After the five plus hours of indulgence courtesy of Qatar airways and their very excellent staff there was no room left for anything anyway.

 

[Cessna 180]

I was awake early and excited to get outside and be in Poland. A quick walk around the block and via the ‘Express’ conveniently situated across from our unit. This seemed to be a chain of small convenience store as we saw a few in both Warsaw and Gdansk. I was missing the tin of Nescafe that we thought would be best to leave in Africa so we went out in search of some caffeine and a good look at Old Town. It was cold. We walked all around Old town and in to the city. We were intending to buy a phone card but that seemed a bit challenging so just a good walk around and explored the streets. Wifi was available at the accommodation and stations and some other places so we did not end up buying a sim card.

I had only booked one night here but in the morning I messaged the host to enquire about staying the additional night. No problems just leave 150zl on the window sill. About $60 Aus. Price goes down a lot when booking direct.

That evening we walked across the river to Praga in search of a pub or restaurant We found a good little bar/pub set up that seemed to be filled with Polish people doing Polish things. After some Goulash, some stroganoff, some bread and lard and a beer and a Vodka we asked about wifi so we could attempt to get an Uber home. Not much English was spoken here and I kind of liked that. My take of my brief visit of Poland was that they are very proud and possibly protective of their culture. I think this is good. Funny thing was, that when we went up to pay the barman says “ oh you are English, we do have English menu here in Warsaw. It is the capital of Poland you know”.

The uber home was about $4. I came to find that our money goes a long way in Poland. I was soon going to be taken back to reality when arriving in Germany.

Before going out that night we organised two nights in Gdansk and a train there. Another $4 uber over to the East Warsaw station, We found it a bit challenging for some reason to work out which platform and track we were on. For some reason after allowing heaps of time we decided we were on the wrong platform about five minutes before departure! This was a good train and about a nearly three hour ride to Gdansk. A gloomy grey afternoon and it was great to see the country side out of the large window. The train cost about $60/head and included water bottles and tea or coffee.

A downloaded google map assisted in getting us to the apartment booked on Air B&B. Around an 800m walk from the station on a particularly brisk afternoon.

The apartment in Gdansk was the best we have stayed in yet on this trip and was $70/night. Quite spacious and included full kitchen and washing machine. That night we met up with an old friend and former work colleague. He was travelling through Poland a few years ago and catching up with some of his old friends and got chatting to this girl. He is now married with a kid and living in Gdansk, working for a survey company from Norway…. Just as well I was travelling with GF…. Haha.

We went and had some dumplings and a beer and then on to an “authentic” Polish bar (as described by my friend) for some vodka and more bread and lard.

A shot of Vodka, a beer or a wine seemed to be average around $4-5 of our $$ We even had a ‘hot beer” somewhere this evening. I was not a huge fan of this…

Our accommodation was fortuitously situated across from ‘The long Market’ On initial appearance I thought his seemed to be just fresh fruit and veg and flowers. A closer inspection revealed the next morning that inside it was like a department store with a food section underneath. A bit like a smaller version of the South Melbourne market. I somehow ended up with nearly a KG of pristine eye fillet for around $35 in my hand. There was a lot of pointing and hand gesturing and laughing on both sides and I just felt rude if I told them that I only wanted half that much. Anyway a perfect steak dinner with local veg and a quiet night in tonight was had. That afternoon we went to the communist museum, where we learnt how the fall of the Berlin Wall began by events right here in Gdansk. Tomorrow we also learnt the first shots of WWII were fired here near Gdansk at Westerplatte.