Russian around the Baltic with some spice to finish off!

[amaroo]

Did you try the (whole) raw Herring?

 

[Pushka]

Phew. After getting upstairs to the required station with luggage etc, just 5 minutes to departure and they announce a station change. Everyone floods the stairway to get down avec luggage then up again to get to new station in time. Pretty poor management. Some oldies really struggling.

Anyways. Free wifi. MrP happy. Going to listen to the Crows footy shortly and no planes today. Two hour trip travelling @300 kmh.

At the station MrP spotted the swings we'd been told about. They swing high up over the city.

 

[Pushka]

Did you try the (whole) raw Herring?

No. Not a fish lover at the best of times.

First train sector completed. Amsterdam to Brussels. Currently in Brussels train station.

Yowsers - security is tight. Works for me. Given its location.

Confusing signs for Eurostar but finally asked someone for help.

Took a video of how fast we were travelling between AMS and Rotterdam. Will post to YouTube later. Can I now say I've been to Rotterdam and Antwerp even though I didn't get off the train?

 

[Pushka]

On now on train waiting. Bags (luggage size) in security check during which the two (fake) Faberge eggs caused me to have to unpack the bags. . Profuse apologies from security which were not needed.

cough window seat though

 

[Pushka]

Current speed


They have this cute kids show streaming through their wifi. It's interactive and educational. Can be used with iPad through their or hologram glasses. Just a couple of screenshots from it

 

[RooFlyer]

I see from the link that FDR in Oslo got his nose on 20th April ... missed it by one day

I too got a tiny room in an small hotel in Amsterdam ... but it was a much more basic room than in your pics; also no aircon/window open job. I had to swap my suitcase in and out of the tiny bathroom just to be able to turn around next to the bed.

I wrote a review on trip Advisor along the lines of "there is a point where a hotel room is so small it ceases to be functional. this room passed that point by a margin."

 

[Bindibuys]

Can I now say I've been to Rotterdam and Antwerp even though I didn't get off the train?

Not by our rules. You must have left the airport (i.e mode of transport) to qualify. (get a pin in our world map)

 

[Pushka]

Arrived into St Pancras station and with 2 Eurostar arrivals quite a crush. Plus it was 5pm on a Friday.

Short walk to the Pullman and checked in. MrP trusts me to make sensible decisions on accomodation but he was slightly sweating it when he saw their rack rate for a basic room - £404. But I usually use booking.com and had a deal for £160 but he didn't know that. I knew exactly what was going through his mind. As soon as we had our keys I had to tell him.

A quick refresh and our plan was to jump onto a tube and head to Westminster Bridge. Arrived into Euston Station and it was chaos. Apparently there was an 'incident' and while tubes were arriving into Euston none were allowed to leave. So people had to pile in but there was nowhere for them to go. Police were stopping people from existing. We couldn't get in - not that there was any point in doing so.

We tried trending twitter to see what was happening but no luck. So we left and while thinking of a taxi we decided that would cost all of the money we'd just withdrawn. So we strolled around and while local pubs were packed we decided on an Indian curry.

Now. What the cough has Britain done to a good tasty curry? Reminded me of my grandmothers version of curry and I expected to see chopped apricots and sultanas. As the description was mild we asked for spicy. All that meant was that they added pepper. At least the naan was slightly singed to give some flavour.

Was this India's retribution for the Brits occupation of India?

A quick glass of wine at the hotel and £25 later we decided on sleep.

Woke up this morning and overnight rain had gone. Planning on a day in London touring then a 5pm trip to LHR3 then a nice sojourn and dinner in CX F lounge then a 9.30pm flight on UL to Colombo.

 

[turtlemichael]

It is raining heavily in Leeds this morning. We head down to London by train in a few hours so we are hoping for better weather over the next 10 days. Have a good flight and keep up the excellent posts and pics if you have time.

 

[Pushka]

Ha.


But on and off.

 

[Pushka]

 

[Pushka]

 

[Pushka]

This is the building that melts cars.


Breakfast this morning - super berry fruits on offer. Raspberries, strawberries and blueberries.


Just waiting for an hour now until car arrives to take us to the airport. My feet and shoes are wet so a change needed when we collect luggage at the hotel.

 

[Pushka]

Made it to T3 after a route through suburban London due to large accident somewhere. We used Airport Bee at a cost of £33 door to door. Given the awful weather this was a great idea.

Checked in luggage quickly and were given invites to BA lounge. Forget it I tell MrP. It's Cathay F lounge we are after.

Security. Some people are just stupid and should not fly. An American. Gets to the security belt. The security guy asks about liquids. Oh. 'I need to take out all the liquids?' He's American FFS. He has to do that for internal flights in the US. Pfaffs around. Has about five bottles of just - well - cough. Shampoo kinda stuff. Queue growing. Laptops? Oh. Ok. Had to laugh about the tool. He was still at security long after we'd cleared.

Made our way to Cathay F and were welcomed in. Blissfully quiet overlooking the runway. Moët.

Wait? Grumpy has to share?


There's a story. My mum bought me a Paddington Bear from London. Years ago. When I left home she cleaned out everything I didn't immediately take. Like my Vintage barbie (the first edition - she didn't understand such stuff) and Paddington. Amongst other stuff. I saw Paddington today at the Tower Bridge and had to buy a proper one.
Yup. Still raining.


I've taken photos of the F lounge on my proper camera and will post later. Soon - dinner here.

 

[Justcruizing]

This is my first contribution since my son suggested I join in to read your threads Pushka. I have really enjoyed this one, in particular the sections on Tallinn and Amsterdam, as we are about to travel there in a few weeks. My son (who has also contributed to your thread) is getting married in Tallinn. We did a cruise on the Equinox last year so looking at your cruise photos has also brought back memories. This year it is X Connie for us after the wedding. But I was relieved to see that we are staying at a different hotel in Amsterdam to you! That room is unacceptable in my opinion. Or perhaps I am getting too old for crawling down beds in the middle of then night! Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

 

[Justcruizing]

Don't you just love the platform shuffle? The Italians specialise in it!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Great report and photos, Puska. Most enjoyable.

Now, the big decision - where to next?

 

[bobe]

Didn't you get the UL " J " courtesy free pick within 50 miles radius?

 

[Pushka]

Didn't you get the UL " J " courtesy free pick within 50 miles radius?

No? Maybe I didn't think of looking for it properly. This was an award fare booked through Qantas so maybe not available. Our next is a paid fare booked through UL so might mosey on into that booking then.

Great report and photos, Puska. Most enjoyable.

Now, the big decision - where to next?

Well, we have a luxury escapes deal booked to Nusa Dua Bali in November for a birthday.

Don't you just love the platform shuffle? The Italians specialise in it!

I thought one guy was going to have a heart attack. Still might I guess. I'd say 70 years of age and he was puffing away.

This is my first contribution since my son suggested I join in to read your threads Pushka. I have really enjoyed this one, in particular the sections on Tallinn and Amsterdam, as we are about to travel there in a few weeks. My son (who has also contributed to your thread) is getting married in Tallinn. We did a cruise on the Equinox last year so looking at your cruise photos has also brought back memories. This year it is X Connie for us after the wedding. But I was relieved to see that we are staying at a different hotel in Amsterdam to you! That room is unacceptable in my opinion. Or perhaps I am getting too old for crawling down beds in the middle of then night! Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

That sounds fabulous. We liked the suburb where we stayed in Amsterdam - loved it in fact and the hotel was nice but we got the dud room. I've mentioned all the pros and cons in a booking.com review.

 

[drron]

I thought one guy was going to have a heart attack. Still might I guess. I'd say 70 years of age and he was puffing away.

So he was only a young guy?