Today Christian and I came into work for 7am as usual. I worked a bit, mainly last minute plans for the trip whilst reading through a VERY amusing website 419eater.com, when my car arrived at 10:30. I quickly threw my pocket pc in my briefbag, grabbed that along with my little green rolling suitcase, and went to meet Christian at his desk. He gave me my charged mobile phone,and quickly went through everything I should have, like a good husband should, and escorted me down to the car. My driver, Jean-Marie kindly put my case in the trunk and laughed with us as we forced him to take photos before I left. I got in the Mercedes and Christian waved me off.
Jean-Marie and I had a delightful trip to Heathrow. A very sweet man originally from the Congo, we had a long chat about living away from home. He dropped me off at Terminal 2 & watched to ensure I got there safely. I waved and ran through the doors.
This terminal is pretty alien to me, since I always fly international (inter-European trips aren’t exactly regarded as international). I found the LUXAIR desk, but since my ticket was booked only yesterday I wasn’t in the system yet, so they sent me to the Alitalia desk to get myself registered or something. Whilst there, I overheard a heated discussion between an American family and the Alitalia manager. From what I could gleen, they had flown Alitalia from Italy to London to catch a connecting flight to NY on Virgin. Virgin had been called by Alitalia on their behalf when the flight was delayed, but they missed the Virgin flight anyway, and were annoyed that Alitalia wouldn’t get them on another flight to the same location, on first class. Riveting stuff, but by then my ticket was ready.
Much to my annoyance, they made me check in my little green rolling suitcase, so my briefbag & I had 1.5 hours to explore the terminal. I found absolutely nothing in the bookstore that took my fancy, although I desperately tried,and I couldn’t find one place that sold anything I even remotely wanted to eat. So I just wandered about till my flight was called.
We boarded LUXAIR from the outside, which is always nice. It's a wee 49 seater, with 1 seat on the right and 2 on the left. I check myticket, 11F, F is one of the two on the left. Damn.
Oh well, perhaps it won’t be a full flight. I sit down and get myself situated, and a greasy businessman sits beside me. Damn Damn. He smells faintly like BO. Triple Damn. I snoozed a bit before we took off, late. However, nothing could have prepared me for the speed of the flight. We were past the Channel before I finished my chicken sandwich, and before I knew it we were landing.
We disembarked the plane and breezed through customs. Of course, the cabs don’t take credit card, so I had to withdraw some euros before catching the cab to my hotel. My hotel, le 'Hotel Royal, is lovely. My room couldn’t be better. It comes with a robe and slippers, a magnificent view of the park, and a bidet! No idea how you use it, but it's sitting there in my bathroom.
I immediately set out to explore the town. It was only about half past 4. This is a beautiful city. Quite modern, clean, and small. The buildings are no higher than 3 stories. I went through the market square, past countless boutiques, till I saw an opening in the buildings. The heat is oppressive here. I moved towards the light and came upon a vividly green valley below me. Apparently, they have an enormous park under the level of the city. I immediately set out to explore it further.
It was wonderful, a vast expanse of gardens; an oasis from the city. I walked along the paths for over an hour, listening to the church bells each quarter hour. I thought it doesn’t get better then this, unless of course you’re with someone, and I am very much alone today. Leaving that park, I came upon another, this one according to my map, is the one I can see from my room window. I sat beside a pristine lake and went through my photographs. I convinced myself I would get dinner and eat it there, but that wasn’t to be.
I walked through the park, past the children playing, past the teenagers smoking pot (got a photo of that) and started heading back into the direction of the hotel. Having convinced myself I would eat asian for dinner, my mind quickly changed when I saw a vast array of different seafood in a restaurant window. The restaurant itself didn’t interest me, but it planted that seed. It was in the market square I found the one. La Lorraine had lobster on the outside, and I suddenly really fanced lobster. I asked them if they accept Amex, they do! She scores! I take my leave and hurry back to the hotel to change, since I didn’t want to eat fancy schmancy in my yoga pants. The sweet Canadian receptionist also suggested La Lorraine, so that clinched it. I went upstairs, changing into a tank & skirt (still wearing my tevas, its a bit of a walk you know), brushed my teeth, and headed back out. I thankfully sat outside, overlooking the square. It was absolutely lovely. The lob ster is 12 euros per 100 grams. Not too bad. A lobster averages 600 grams. That’s 72 euros. Even on the company dollar I can’t justify that, so I ordered a dish of salmon, seabrean and sole with veggies in a butter/basil sauce. While I waited, I took out my pocket pc and keyboard so that I could A) write this blog and B) Look like less of a loser by making it look like I’m working. The upshot was, I think they thought I was a restaurant critic, because they bought me this great fish appertif I didn’t ask for and no one else around me got. Bonus! I can think of worse things then sitting in a European market while listening to band music and eating amazing seafood on your own, for free!
Upon my return to the hotel I came upon a message asking me to call my husband. So I touched base with my beautiful husband, then took a bath. There was precious little on tv in English. I thought I never saw anything weirder than seeing Don Knotts dubbed in German, till I came across Joe Piscapo overdubbed in French. Now I lie in bed finishing this off, while watching CNN. Early rise tomorrow.
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