One last leg...

Trying to fight through major incompetence at JFK airport... Three flights at the same gate, some missing, some late... No air conditioning either, it is almost 90 in the terminal!

Train to Milan

4:15am comes early when you finish up your evening at Harry's Bar. I did drag myself out of bed by 4:30, squeezed into the teeny shower, and presented myself at the front desk to check out. I had been told that the night girl would have a "to go" breakfast bag for me to eat on the train. When I arrived at the front the the "night girl" turned out to be a curmudgeonly old man who obviously did not check people out much. Given I only had a half hour before my train left, the speed at which checkout proceeded was alarming! When finally that was over and I started to leave, he informed me that he needed to go down and open the door for me. Oh no. Reception was on the second floor, a long narrow steep stairway ran down to the hotel front door. The man had a bad leg and used a crutch to walk, leaving the crutch at the top of the steep stairs and lowering himself slowly to the ground floor. Smiling, I thanked him and walked swiftly off in the direction of the train station.

I had minutes to spare and even had time to be scolded for putting my shoes up on the opposite seat. Being yelled at in words you do not understand is somewhat frustrating, especially when you are half asleep. Conductors seem particularly grumpy at 5am.

It is a three and a half hour train ride when you take the "slow" train from Venice to Milan. Perfect for napping as the Italian countryside rolls by in the dark... Unless you are awakened every so often by a new conductor demanding to see your ticket... Especially when they seem annoyed you are sleeping and that you are taking too long answering whatever question they asked using words you would not understand even if you were not just awakened from a deep sleep. The train eventually pulled into the Milano Centrale station precisely on time at 8:45 am. I had heard that the railway companies have to pay back fares if they are late, each train I have ridden has been very much on time.

Venice: Harry's Bar

So, it seems I am on a life long pilgrimage to Ernest Hemingway haunts... I ran across Harry's Bar while wandering the Grand Canal tonight in Venice and how could I refuse a drink at the very bar stool Ernest sat. While I am forbidden by tradition to reveal a picture of the bar stool, I did take a photo from that bar stool.

I did not have the classic champagne drink... Well, not yet. I think it is a Bellini (sp?) but everyone drinking them is totally drunk.

Let's see how it goes. ;)




Bellini in progress...

Margaritas in the street!

Spent my first personal money of the trip... A street margarita vendor for something to drink while I wander!

Side trip: Venice!

It has been an intense few days of work in Legnago. Lots of work, lots of eating and espresso. People take an espresso break every hour or two... Having five or more shots during the day is easy to do. Good when you are working 12-18 hour day...

One of the people I was going to see was going east to Venice and convinced me to come meet his family and spend an evening in Venice. So, with no plan but to wander, here I am!





The street outside my hotel... Going to wander and hit the touristy things, find a few cafes to relax in, and perhaps eat some more. :)

Morning in Legnago

So after an eventful trip, here we are in Legnago. Amazingly, it only took a short time to get to sleep and I woke up before the alarm. With no luggage, it was short work getting showered and dressed. I did hazard the emergency razor provided with not so good results. Ouch. Messy. Won't do that tomorrow! :)

Breakfast was a mix of American breakfast and classic sweets and coffee and meats and cheeses. Being the tourist, it only seemed right to sample each type of offering. The pastries and cheeses and meats were definitely the favorites.

Then wash it all down with some espresso and it is time to go to work!

I've fallen and I can't get up?

While getting ready for bed I ran across this little gizmo in the shower. Do we think there is an intruder problem in the area and you need this in case they sneak up on you in the shower? Or are there just a lot of old people who stay here?

Inquiring minds and all that...

(more) Issues

So I set foot in Italy today. It was only about 12 hours later than planned, 12 very painful hours. As you might have expected, there was one more delightful situation to be addressed...

In amongst switching planes and itineraries over the last day and a half, somehow my luggage got separated from me. I know, shocking, but I had a small sliver of hope that somehow my bag had ended up here via some route. No dice, it did not come off the conveyor from my last flight and no one can find it without an investigation. I suspect it is in some locked room in the Milan airport, but the lost bag people were not at liberty to tell me that. So, I filled out the form and now I wait to hear when they will deliver it.

While I was dealing with all this, my Italian friend Marco was waiting outside hoping to see me emerge. Finally I did, from a different door of course, so a bit of triangulation with less than 100% efficiency in communication resulted in us meeting up in really not that long given the way the rest of the trip went.

Then the drive to Legnago, I checked into the hotel and whew I can wash and relax and not wear the same clothes for a bit.

Have to deal with THAT problem in the morning... a new shirt would be nice, at a minimum.

For now I am thinking that a bit of sleep would be the right thing to do!

Finally... An enjoyable flight

Each leg of the almost 36 hour journey from Detroit to Milan has been painful in some way. Frustration, discomfort, waiting, waiting, waiting... But the Air France connection from Paris to Milan has been completely enjoyable. The seating is the best of any of the flights so far (got a half hour nap in even)... The snack was yummy... A little orzo salad, a fruit tart, a chocolate filled chocolate thing, some strong coffee and a hunk of dark chocolate. I'd include a picture of the snack, but I ate all of it!

I feel awake even. At least until the caffeine and sugar buzz wears off!

Next challenge... Land and see if my luggage ended up in the same place I am. I'm guessing the probability of that is about zero.

Descending into northern Italy....

Lunch with Paul

To make it a complete Paris experience while staying completely inside the airport, I ate at Paul. Paul has tasty sandwiches, amazing chocolate croissants and all the espresso you can guzzle. They are all over Paris and there are quite a few inside the airport. Including one just a few steps from my gate... So I had what felt like lunch but was really an early evening snack. I'm sure there will be another meal yet to come in Italy.



My actual lunch... (double espresso, jambon sandwich)

Paris in the the spring

Ah, Paris is lovely this time of year. Sunny, spring-like. I would enjoy being here if this was where I was aiming for. De Gaulle airport has such an interesting layout, even though I am in the right terminal, I cannot go in unless I know my gate due to the different sections. Luckily, there is food and wine out here while I wait the FOUR hours until I get to fly again.

I am guessing next stop is Moscow, that is pretty out of the way from where I am going.




(FYI 2010 was not a good year for French red wine...)

And we are outta here!

Finally on a flight to Europe... Will be in Paris around 2pm. Looks like no sleep on this flight. Teeny little seats.

Business class is just over there too!

Just in time?

Being told that seating would open up at 9:30pm, I arrived promptly at 9:30. I guess that information was a bit incorrect. Sigh. Oh, and by the way, Mr. Medd, you are on standby, didn't they tell you?

Stuck in Atlanta

So the odyssey to Milan has turned into an airport tour. Sitting in Atlanta after the busted plane caused me to miss my connection (and the last flight of the day to Milan)... Now I'm on deck to fly to Paris overnight and lounge there for the afternoon before finally ending up in Milan Monday evening.

This is a fast food paradise though, so many options to consider for dinner!

Atlanta!?!

The new plane's brakes appear to work. Landed safely in Atlanta, now to figure out how to get to Milan.






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Still in Detroit

Two and a half hours later, here we sit in a new plane on the runway again. Instead of a rear middle seat, I'm in first class, due to a very generous gift from a nice family. Will I get to Milan? I have no idea. Perhaps it will be a really nice visit to Atlanta. More details to come...



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The beginning

Off we go to Milan. Well, I am off to Milan at least, sitting in Detroit Metro Airport, waiting to board the first hop of the trip to Atlanta. Given the nasty stomach issues I've had the last few weeks, lunch was miso soup, green tea and a little sushi. The sushi place here in Concourse A, Sora, was not bad at all!