A Complicated Journey

 Buon giorno,

I made great plans, and none of them worked out. Sigh. Currently I'm waiting for gate information and boarding at Florence Airport, so I did make it this far.

My packing went well. I managed to wrestle my bags down those steep, narrow stairs. There are light switches, but the light stays on only for a minute, so not much help. I went outside in good time to await my taxi. It didn't come. And it didn't come.

I called my hostess. She answered even though it was way early in the morning, and got me a taxi. I had a thrilling ride down very narrow steep streets and under archways. Fortunately it was so early there was no traffic. We got to the train station in good time.

Then I hit another snag. The train I picked was special because it was direct and fast, and I needed to enter my personal information to obtain a ticket. If my taxi had arrived in time, I would have been able to do this. As it was, no. So I had to settle for the next train, which included a transfer, and I had to navigate more stairs to get to the platform. Fortunately I found help. And then I spoke to a young woman who was taking that train. She spoke good English and agreed to help me with my bags. This was lovely, and made my life easier. She also knew the platform for Florence.

Both of my train trips featured a group of heavily armed police. I have no idea what the deal was, but they asked to see my passport. No one was interested in my train ticket.

At length we arrived in Florence and I bought a ticket and headed for the tram. It began to rain, and I had to dig out my umbrella. The tram is slow, but the airport isn't far, but I got here much later than I expected. I checked in and there was a loooooong line to go through security. So no lounge or showers for me. I didn't even have time to get my tax refund.

Part II Paris to LAX

We got on the plan and sat on the tarmac for close to an hour due to various issues. I already had a tight transfer window in Paris, and this didn't help. But a t length we took off, and they fed me--shrimp. I don't like shrimp, but I was hungry so I ate most of them, and the accompaniments were good. I drank champagne because I could.

The thing about Airport CDG it that it sprawls, and I had twenty minutes to change terminals. I had to scamoper! Down escalators, up escalators, long halls, even had to take a bus. I knew the flight had started boarding, and my only hope was that it was a big plane and boarding would take a while, so I had a chance.

And I made it--just barely and my luggage did, too, by some miracle. This flight was not Air France, but Delta One, and very nice it was, with my own little cubicle and a privacy door. The Purser came around to introduce himself, warn of of turbulence over the North Atlantic (Really? I'd be shocked if we didn't have it) and to take our dinner order. They were out of the chicken, so I had the beef.

And the champagne flowed. And there was a very nice amenity kit, plus matress pad and cosy blanket and pillow.

As an apero we were served warm nuts. Here is my starter. More shrimp. Not being as hungry I left them alone. The corn soup, salad, and roll with French butter were first rate.

You can see my reflection in the screen. I looked just awful not having washed my hair and all. I did put on the earrings I got in Florence, so I would look more like a business class flyer. I turned down desert and had port instead, which was not as good as the cheapo stuff I swilled in Porto. Then I slept.

And I slept for about five hours! Not that it did me much good. I did not feel rested. The flight was comfortable. The cabin crew were lovely and the food was good. 

Now to plan my next adventure.

Ciao for now.