Arrived at the airport with bike bag slung over the shoulder and suitcases in tow to book in for the “not looking forward to” 20 plus hour trip in a cramped metal cocoon. While waiting inline I happen to mention to an attendant that it was my wife’s birthday. I noticed he had a conversation with the booking-in clerk and then ushered us over. The clerk told us that our initial pre-booked seating allocation had been changed and I thought Sue was going to explode - that is until she told us that we had been upgraded to Business class. I’ll let her tell the rest of the story.
"Business class is much, much better (as it should be), but in 3-4 hours you realise that the cage may be gilded, but they still won't let you out for 14 hours, and for someone who can't sit through a movie, that's a very long time. As soon as you sit, they offer you either Moet or freshly squeezed orange juice. Nice. They all knew my name, where we were going, and wished me a happy birthday. Great food. We're talking lobster medallions as a starter. All served on Noritake china with good glassware. Served on a white linen tablecloth, one course at a time. Nice. Cattle class to Dubai was MOST DISAPPOINTING! Excuse me.....where's the wine list? What do you mean I have to pay if I want cointreau on ice?
Dubai...Leon bought a heart rate monitor, and I scared the hell out of a fully burqua’d (sp?) woman, when I said bless you when she sneezed. She jumped about a foot! Still, you're meant to say bless you to get rid of the devil aren't you??? And her husband did look pretty nasty. Didn’t disappear though. "
Me back again...............We arrived at CDG airport pretty much knackered and went straight to the airport hotel to sleep off the jetlag. Picked up the Citroen C3 lease car and chucked the bags in the boot and squeezed the big bag in the back seat - all fitted quite well actually. Our first real night was here in Senlis, Town of Royalty and Art.
Great city with very well preserved ancient part of town with Roman Gallic, Gothic and Medieval examples of its 2000 year history.
Senlis was also the location of Gary Moody’s first book “Two
Wheels” reviewed earlier in my Blog.
Had to see the Velodrome he wrote about and the team building. Its actually very authentic in the description and the track really is dilapidated. I’d hate to have a fall on the surface - you would really lose some bark.
Off to Chantilly, Chartres today and then to Thenay in the Loire where I can unpack the bike and get some kms in on the French country lanes, so more later.
"Business class is much, much better (as it should be), but in 3-4 hours you realise that the cage may be gilded, but they still won't let you out for 14 hours, and for someone who can't sit through a movie, that's a very long time. As soon as you sit, they offer you either Moet or freshly squeezed orange juice. Nice. They all knew my name, where we were going, and wished me a happy birthday. Great food. We're talking lobster medallions as a starter. All served on Noritake china with good glassware. Served on a white linen tablecloth, one course at a time. Nice. Cattle class to Dubai was MOST DISAPPOINTING! Excuse me.....where's the wine list? What do you mean I have to pay if I want cointreau on ice?
Dubai...Leon bought a heart rate monitor, and I scared the hell out of a fully burqua’d (sp?) woman, when I said bless you when she sneezed. She jumped about a foot! Still, you're meant to say bless you to get rid of the devil aren't you??? And her husband did look pretty nasty. Didn’t disappear though. "
Me back again...............We arrived at CDG airport pretty much knackered and went straight to the airport hotel to sleep off the jetlag. Picked up the Citroen C3 lease car and chucked the bags in the boot and squeezed the big bag in the back seat - all fitted quite well actually. Our first real night was here in Senlis, Town of Royalty and Art.Great city with very well preserved ancient part of town with Roman Gallic, Gothic and Medieval examples of its 2000 year history.
Senlis was also the location of Gary Moody’s first book “Two
Wheels” reviewed earlier in my Blog.Had to see the Velodrome he wrote about and the team building. Its actually very authentic in the description and the track really is dilapidated. I’d hate to have a fall on the surface - you would really lose some bark.
Off to Chantilly, Chartres today and then to Thenay in the Loire where I can unpack the bike and get some kms in on the French country lanes, so more later.
Hello Leon enjoy yourselves. That track reminds me of the old Richmond track on the Burnley Boulevard but I think Richmond was a bit better.
ReplyDeleteYou do well to drive without getting lost.
Mike G
Thank Mike,
ReplyDeleteMore to come as our next villa in Dijon has internet.
Heaps of bikies on the road, mainly tram trackers but some real bikies as well out training.
Check posts over the next few days.
Seeya mate.