The Ballot - Greeks, Turks, Last Post and those Marbles

[amaroo]

Mmm...Mexican - time for lunch.

 

[amaroo]

Back on the streets - walking off the Mexican in preparation for our Indian Feast later tonight



For the Military Flyers amongst us.

 

[BNEFlyer]

You would've had a wonderful view of the service! I looked at you guys when we arrived with envy...later when I noticed the sleeping bags - I learnt what real envy felt like

The Fanatics had a dream run. Fair enough, it's an annual event for those guys so special treatment is expected. I noticed the "yellow tide" disappeared at Lone Pine - it was only when we bumped into someone at the airport did we learn how you guys made your early escape!

Did you head back to Istanbul? What time did you get back? The people we spoke to at the airport said they arrived back at Istanbul around 6pm ... a good 7hrs before us

I did have a good view, somewhat obstructed by dignitaries though! But still good. The downside to being right at the front was trying to get to the loo during the night. By the third time I just walked through/on/over people haha (and subsequently stopped drinking water until I got to Lone Pine). I can't imagine having to sleep in the seats, it was quite nice to be able to lay out straight (I'm 6'2) and go to sleep looking at the stars and hearing the stories on the big screens. Those few hours I kept to myself and just had one big moment of surrealness.

We did have a pretty good run but received no special treatment. It was just good planning and organising by all the tour leaders (who have been there, done that before). My group left our hotel in Ayvalik at 3:30am, we were on the ferry at Cannakkale by 7 and got to checkpoint 1 before 9 which means we were bus 14. We had two tables at the holding area, were in position before sunset, the second group to leave the Cove and missed all the crowds leaving Lone Pine. I was lucky enough to be sitting with two other people from my group then we found three more on the way out and we walked bag down Artillery Way and onto a shuttle bus back to the park. We didn't have any NZ'ers on our tour so got to miss Chunuk Bair and our driver slept in the bus overnight so that he could get it into second position to leave on the 25th!

We went back to Istanbul the morning of the 26th and got back around 4pm. A friend of mine left Istanbul around 1pm on the 24th, got to Anzac Cove by 2am then didn't get back to Istanbul until after midnight on the 26th! He had to change his flight by a day because he was told they'd be back by late evening initially.

 

[amaroo]

Stop in at our local for a few quiet ales .... before freshening up for our last night meal. Can't leave London without having a curry

 

[amaroo]

The Red Fort http://www.redfort.co.uk

Tuesday, 9.30pm and the place is packed ... 20min wait for table. Good sign?











Enjoyable meal - contemporary Indian, typical Soho prices, nice setting.

Worth a look if you're in the area.

 

[amaroo]

Last day! With two kids and two dogs waiting for us at home - it's time to go.

We're on QF2 so that's going to be after a full day in London. First rainy day of the trip...so it's the tube today.



The National Gallery - perfect for a rainy day.



This is what happens when you provide free wifi in your gallery!



LOL saw many of this type of acquisition.

 

[amaroo]

Museum sorted - stroll before lunch









Time for lunch

 

[Flying mermaid]

I remember Carnaby Street in the early 70s - and Laura Ashley dresses

 

[love_the_life]

Mr LtL was in Carnaby Street in its heyday of the swinging 60s (before I knew him) when he was a teenager. He has advised me that he purchased a very trendy shirt with braid and double breasted buttons. Oh to have seen that!

 

[amaroo]

..........

 

[amaroo]

Various locations waiting to see if the Qantas Chauffeur Drive service will eventually call/turn up:evil:









No call ... but it did show up.



Next: LHR T3 BA FCL & QF2 F LHR-SYD

 

[drron]

Fantastic TR even though we are one of the few couples who don't want to return to Istanbul.
Was good to see the service at Gallipoli through your eyes.
Also having been on a Fanatics tour they really are good value and organised.

 

[amaroo]

Nice drive to LHR. Driver was talkative and gave us some interesting stats on their company.

Over 200 cars on the books - their own cars - not contractors

They service 5 x EK/QF flights a day at an average of 50 cars per flight - 5 incoming flights per day = 250 trips per day x 2 (5 outgoing flights) = 500 airline induced trips per day at LHR for this contract.

First order of business is VAT refund - easy process with a range of options (card/cash, multiply currency) for getting your money.

Checkin/security was your standard affair and in no time we're approaching the T3 BA FCL.

Typical BA agent took the BP's without lifting her head or opening her mouth. Her first word were:

You're in the wrong lounge

Why, we're travelling QF

You're only sapphire

So what?

You need to be Emerald to enter here

Take another look at the BP

Oh, First .... Welcome

Why can't BA get human-beings to work their ground operations?







View from the First class dining room ... about the only thing that comes close to being first class in this lounge!

 

[amaroo]

Chilled gazpacho - tasty ... the bird dropping behind it is the caviar LOL





View from 3A

 

[amaroo]

..........

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Mmm...Mexican - time for lunch.

View attachment 48477

Yum! What Mexican restaurant was that? Looks like you'd already hooked into the guacamole when you took the pic. :sly:

 

[amaroo]

Pumpkin soup, yummy. Have never had a bad soup with QF



Smoked haddock pot pie - excellent



Slow roasted spring lamb - excellent



Beautiful meal - one of the better QF meals we've had.

After a few glasses of "Art Series" it's time for bed



Excellent flight - an all round perfect performance!

Next, QF2 F DXB-SYD ... no photos of DXB FCL as I covered it pretty well on the way over.

 

[amaroo]

Fantastic TR even though we are one of the few couples who don't want to return to Istanbul.
Was good to see the service at Gallipoli through your eyes.
Also having been on a Fanatics tour they really are good value and organised.

Cheers. I see you're about to start another adventure ... looking forward to the TR.

Yum! What Mexican restaurant was that? Looks like you'd already hooked into the guacamole when you took the pic. :sly:

Sprung! Wahaca Mexican Market Eating | Wahaca | Mexican Market Eating

Yes, well and truly tucked in prior to the shot

 

[amaroo]

After a short and sweet visit to the lounge, it was time to board.

QF2 F DXB-SYD



The tart and kibbeh - the Kibbeh was the winner



Geez talk about pushing in!

 

[amaroo]

Wine list was the same as LHR-DXB