RTW to no-where in particular

[RooFlyer]

We lived right next door to that place when I was growing up At that time it was an office/headquarters for the local RAAF and hadn't had the development of little villas on its previously very extensive grounds (the zoo), which this picture carefully doesn't show. A magnificent place, just 5 minutes from the CBD.



When Mary Roberts died, she willed her zoo to her daughter, I think. She didn't want it; eventually the Hobart City Council established a zoo on the Hobart Domain, also called Beaumaris Zoo. My great-granduncle, Arthur Reid was the curator. His daughter, Alison Reid became well known as (for the time) a very 'modern' woman. She helped her father run the zoo and used to take the leopard 'Mike' for walks around the Domain, on a leash. Thats Mike on the left - you can see his collar.

Curious Hobart: What happened to the Beaumaris zoo?

Hobart's old zoo is famous as the location where the last thylacine in captivity died, with the species being classified as extinct in the 1930s. But in its heyday, people could view elephants, zebras, monkeys and even see a young girl walking her pet leopard.

www.abc.net.au

 

[RooFlyer]

Right. The time to finally head home had arrived. As I mentioned above, I had re-routed the end of the DONE4 to eliminate Japan and Taiwan about 2 weeks prior. To try to keep some SC earn, I arranged to be routed GVA-xMAD-xLHR (overnight) then DOH-xADL-MEL-HBA.

Then, about 4 days ago, I had brought that forward. by over a week, when i abandoned my drive down eastern France and the visit to the rellies. Great work by madrooster, under pressure I'm sure, to get it all done, with DONE4 change fees being waived by AA and taxes and carrier charges still really low. Now CGD-xMAD ect

Well, that seemed a reasonable idea at the time! By the time I left, European countries were closing borders and while I wasn't in danger of being trapped right then, there was only a few days in it. I flew CDG-MAD on the 14th; the 16th was the last time that flew.

It has been 20-off years since I was a CDG and now I realise I must have been at either T1 or T2 previously. I was on Iberia Express this morning and I quickly realised that T3 was the LCC terminal (or as good as) - hmmm ... I guess LCCs didn't exist 20 years ago, except maybe for Laker. Check in - discovered 'no lounge' but given a 12 Euro voucher for Pret a Manger for breakfast. More than enough.

A bus board - and ... yes, that actually got approved as carry-on (both of them!) ... I was beside him at check-in.



Time to get serious!



Lovely Euro-business seat; three rows of 2-2 in J; 3 pax in all.



I know there guys are professionals, but I don't like seeing this: A paxing ?captain goes up to the coughpit for an extended chat, right to the time the guy brings the final manifest and the plane door closes.. presumably the cabin's not 'sterile' at this time, but I wish non-pilots would leave the coughpit alone.



BVFF, the last Concorde delivered to Air France, in 1980 - it seems so small!



Bulkhead legroom on the A320-200



Was offered breakfast, but Pret had satisfied me. Just a decaf and a bikkie.



The western Pyrenees poking through low cloud. Time to Madrid, 2 hours.

 

[RooFlyer]

Into sunny Spain and all that nice EU-paid for infrastructure. Freeways, aqueducts, tunnels, you name it.



I'd been to Madrid-Barajas before; again during my investment banking days, 20 or so years ago. And I remembered it clearly as a horrible place; i remember waiting for bags for over an hour, and the worst thing was the monitor actually counted down the wait time.

Sure enough, we dis-embarked at the far end of T4 and were departing from T4S. What an absurd, long, complicated route I had to take. Up floors, down floors, u-turns, areas seemingly randomly roped off. Finally got to the Iberia Lounge at T4S Pretty good:





I avoided the buffet:



... but found the plonk.





Then, to the gate.



Being in Business does help with 'social distancing' at least. At MAD you could see a much greater awareness of the virus issue, with a fair few masks, and even my first glimpse of the full body suit:

 

[RooFlyer]

Now, i'm not a fan of BA, but the crew on this flight were delightful - easy friendliness and warmth.

BA467 was a A319-200, a bit over 2 hours to LHR with J I think 6 rows of 2-2 in J. Cabin about half full. This flight has continued running most days since I took it.



Good riddance bye-bye Barajas



and hello, G&Ts. The FA gave me a couple as 'you look thirsty' . I love it how, on a flight originating in Spain, they only gave the safety demo in English. I mean, why not?



Lunch flight, so menus:





On a BA flight, it had to the the 'Welsh lamb shepherd's pie', right? I could just see @TonyHancock 's reaction if I tried any of that continental stuff. Slightly over-done on the top, but tasty enough.



Dropped the ball with the wine - as I mentioned re the TK flight to Malta, I was really surprised at the appearance of the little plastic bottles of plonk. Are they the norm in Eurobusiness?


Mmmmm ... cheese.



Over northern Spain, and the coast, just west of Bilbao

 

[LadyC]

We flew with BA in January from GVA-LGW-FCO. Considering how much they are maligned, I was actually pretty impressed. The crew were really good, especially on the LGW-FCO leg and the food was reasonable for intra-Euro J. The status credits didn't hurt either.

 

[RooFlyer]

Twickenham - must nearly be there.



We landed at T5, natch and for once, first time ever in memory, 'fast track' worked! First to belly up to the counter, and though with barely a murmer from the officer. Lovely to be back. Bags didn't take long, either. i guess the flight cancellations are starting to show.

I was disappointed to know that the QR flight tomorrow would be leaving from T4 - another hazy memory from many years ago. A free bus from T5 to T4 and then OMG. Mid afternoon, and it seemed every one was trying to leave at once. Check-in hall a complete zoo. I was booked into the Holiday Inn Express at T4 and had no idea how to navigate there, other than there was a bridge across to it. Enquiry at 'i' counter got nothing useful. Mask back on, and navigated the terminal, eventually finding the bridge at the far end.

Looking one way, and then the other!





HIE was pretty basic, but the way the A$ was going, and me in 'the holiday is over' mode, it was 'whatever'







Up early to get QR10 LHR-DOH, a A380-800. More full body suits at T4 check-in area (not my flight!)

 

[OATEK]

Did you feel like you were trying to get ahead of the wave as you traversed Western Europe?

 

[RooFlyer]

Did you feel like you were trying to get ahead of the wave as you traversed Western Europe?

I had the 'wave' analogy in my mind much for the whole trip. USA/Mexico/Qatar I was way ahead. Malta I noticed the wave gathering, especially when I realised many of the tourists around me were Italians! Belgium, definitely aware of the wave getting closer. France - the swell was beneath me and I could see the wave gathering behind me, and active measures to get out of the way needed!

 

[JohnM]

He wasn't ahead of it - he was riding it:

I'd like to see that.

 

[RooFlyer]

I've got about a week to go to see if I caught a dumper ...

 

[Drakecula]

Hopefully not!

 

[RooFlyer]

Check-in and security were easy (easy security! at LHR!!) and it was straight to the QR lounge. A haven in the crowded terminal.

Time for breakfast. The service and quality I'd put up with the QF First lounge in Sydney. Buffet or a la carte (but the a la carte selection wasn't nearly as extensive as QF F. mainly egg dishes)









On board the A380-800. Not QSuites, but their 1-2-1 layout, which is the next best thing. I wiped down the area with a sanitising wipe, as I had will all my flights since New York. 13A for me





Lets go! QR10 has continued to operate since I caught it, about a week ago.



The young lady behind me had a cold (I hope!!) sniffling with the occasional sneeze. But that wasn't the only reason I repaired to the bar. I've never found this area to be crowded, and the same this time. Just one other chap and we soon struck up a good conversation that whiled away some time. The FAs I should mention were wearing face masks while serving in the cabin, which didn't concern me one bit. I had taken mine off as soon as I hit the QR lounge for breakfast.

 

[JohnM]

I've got about a week to go to see if I caught a dumper ...

 

[RooFlyer]

It was only a bit more than 6 hours to Doha, and a very nice flight. A shower at DOH and it wasn't long to QR914 the service to Adelaide. This time the QSuites held, but no pics; just take my word for it - the best J seat in the sky. The LHR-DOH flight had nearly all of J full, but this flight was only about 50%. like me, mostly Aussie refugees returning home.

The food menus - I won't do the wine as its a long list and not really relevant to any future travel by someone else!







Hauling out of DOH. On more leg and I'm home (or at least back in Australia).



Amuse bouche



Prawn and scallops



Braised lamb shank. It was tender, and a good serve! I couldn't but think of the stuff that Qantas serves up these days. No, put negative thoughts away ... i'm going home and Qantas will be good to ride in the future.



Dessert



And then breakfast of yoghurt and french toast.

 

[RooFlyer]

Got some sleep, then awoke to a nice sight



Then a very familiar sight.



We were ready to walk off, when the doors opened and we were told to go back to our seats. After a short discussion between the Aus bio-security guy (pictured) we were told we could dis-embark, but take a virus flyer they were handing out. it was the instructions, pertinent then, to self isolate etc.



I couldn't get through to Hobart that day, so had a night at the Hilton. Declared myself an international arrival at check-in and asked to fill out a short form saying that. This was a depressing sight:



Next morning it was P95 mask on for ADL-MEL-HBA; not many masks evident at ADL or MEL, and neither very busy. Arrived at HBA to see that they have added roofs to their boarding ramps. Such improvements at Hobart airport! I feel giddy.



Friends who were garaging my car had stocked it with a bunch of groceries, so I collected it and drove back to home, wondering what the next 2 weeks would bring. I am a little concerned about possible exposure on the train from Brussels to Paris (guy from Germany facing me) and also in Paris, although i took every precaution short of just sitting in my hotel room. I'm almost 2 weeks since the train trip - just Paris to go.

One last look at Maria Island before I start isolation.

 

[RooFlyer]

So to sum up.

New York was great. I missed out on the Big Apple Greeter because the guy was ill (!) - hopefully next time, but walking around without an imperative to do anything was nice. TWA hotel at JFK worth a stay just for the novelty.

The Huntsville Rocket museum as a bit of a disappointment. Worth a visit if Saturn V is a thing to see, and of course if you are 'passing by' but otherwise I think there are better places in the US to see the space effort.

Mexico City was also great. Not sure if I'd go back, but definitely worth at least a couple of days. I felt quite safe.

DOH Oryx hotel airside - glad I did it .. in this case for the convenience, but its terribly expensive.

Malta. Fantastic - will go back and explore the island of Gozo.

Belgium/Bruges. Bruges is lovely, and the mussels were great!

Paris - well, it didn't go quite as planned, which was to ramble all over the place, due to my reticence to catch the metro (although I did, out of peak hours and selecting uncrowded carriages). But it was great to see what I did and to see the Louvre in some detail.

The rest - well, an unfinished experience. Means I'll have to go back - eastern France, Himeji castle (4th time lucky???) and Taiwan.

Hopefully, next stop New Zealand, in July.

 

[OATEK]

Thanks for taking those of us who left our run too late, on your adventures.

 

[VPS]

Thanks for another great TR - having more spare time I'm gradually sorting out my photos so my TR will be updated shortly. Shame about the places you missed but hopefully the world will right itself sooner rather than later.

 

[RB]

You have still packed a fair bit into one trip-thanks for another very enjoyable report.

 

[craven morehead]

Certainly a very interesting TR with something for everyone @RooFlyer. Hopefully things have settled by July for your NZ trip. Cheers CM.