Not surprisingly I'm often asked why I travel so much to which I usually reply "because I can. But the reality is that I find it incredibly liberating to step on a plane, it's as though a weight is lifted off my shoulders as I put my bag in the overhead locker on the plane.
This trip came about in a strange way. I had been to Petersburg for just one day on a cruise and it made my must return list. In 2009 I tried to go back there but the visa obstacles were to trying that I just couldn't be bothered.
About three months ago my great friends Nye Griffiths and Ally Morris said they were going to a wedding in Helsinki with their sons Auryn (5) and Jules (15 months) and as part of that trip they had arranged to meet Alex Smirnov in St Petersburg. Alex Smirnov is a thirty year old German world class bridge player who has stayed at my place five or six times but whose great strength in these arrangements was that he was born in St Petersburg and speaks Russian.
Well I didn't have to be asked twice and I booked soon after getting an email from Alex asking me to come so he could return my hospitality.
No Visa problems this time as my travel agent James Deering of Flight Centre of whom I cannot express enough superlatives arranged it all.
So here I am sitting on a Singapore Airlines A380 with perhaps the only empty seat in economy right here next to me which is good as I was moved to a centre seat to the window seat I now occupy. My ticket is actually a Lufthansa Round to World hence the Singapore Airlines.
I usually plan my departures and arrivals around Board Meetings so I am leaving five days before the appointed meeting time in St Petersburg. OK I am OCD or Justin says CDO because the letters have to be in the right order and I arrive in Frankfurt wi four clear days and nothing to do. Me stepping on a plane that arrives at 05:40 no hotel no car it's simply unheard of.
I had looked around at flights to places which interested me such as Budapest or Norway to visit friends but I have noticed in the past 12 months that the era of super cheap flights has gone and my only real options we're Paris where I will spend three days in my next trip in July or Amsterdam.
I just got lazy but as I was driving around just five hours before my flight and chatting to my son-in-law Dave Lechem and asking for distances between various cities we stabled on Strasbourg just 2+ our drive from Frankfurt. A quick online search and a car and accommodation os secure so I now have a home to go to. I have been to Strasbourg for one day with Danielle but I believe there is a rich Jewish history there and if I can find a synagogue on Friday night and I am not totally wrecked I may go along.
So my basic itinerary is three days Strasbourg: seven days St Petersburg: here days in LA or Palm Springs: a week in Phoenix visiting my friends who have now reconciled which is kinda great and three days somewhere before heading home.
Some may know that May is usually Las Vegas month but the tournament attendances have been down during the last few years so it is now planned to hold it in Las Vegas and Monte Carlo alternately. So hopefully my regular junket will return next year.
Sometimes you can very lucky in life. I normally have a house sitter who looks after the house and the dogs but two young bridge players, one of whom I have known for almost ten years were looking for a place to stay so I offered for them to stay in the house and look after the dogs. They asked if a NZ girl could join them and, having met her, I reluctantly agreed. Well as some will know my 13 year old dog had had a cataract operation and I think he has also had a stroke so is on seven meds a day and is not in great shape. The good luck I had was that the girl who is moving in is a veterinary assistant so I am much more comfortable about leaving my faithful companion in her hands.
About two hours out of Frankfurt and managed to doze for most of the 16 hours so far - only watched three episodes of The Wire. That show really tests my powers of concentration.
Off the plane and I discover getting old and forgetful ain’t no good! I wait at the baggage claim after a very quick passage through immigration. I wait and wait and wait and no bag. I go to the baggage services counter and am told that the bag has definitely been scanned as received in Frankfurt. Phew. The most helpful lady starts filling out the form and I say I will just have one more look. Well there is black bag and it is mine as I have forgotten that at the last minute I changed suitcases. Bugger I feel like an idiot.
Collect my car a brand new VW Golf Wagon and drive the 220kms to Strasbourg without any problems. I feel remarkably awake and alert.
Arrive at a hotel right in the middle of Strasbourg and am pleased with ever aspect of it including the kitchenette so may cook dinner some time.
Well certainly enough from me for now but that's the background and start to my trip.
Talk soon
Kisses to all
No comments:
Post a Comment