Turns out the August is an original engineer from Google, like me from Yahoo 5 years before. Neat. He was also very sick. Long story short, i dosed him on ibuprofen and panadol, he checked in, but decided to skip his flight. I sat with him for thirty minutes while we ruminated his options, and he made a smart choice to have the airline store his bags still coming off the flight and take a taxi to the Karen (posh suburb named for Karen Blixen) hospital. I hope he is ok.
It is true that the Nairobi airport has very little in facilities and no Star Alliance lounge, so the bar was crazy. I just had a water, as I had told my case manager I would, and it was smart to handle my departure from Africa sober, especially after having to help my mate.
The Swiss A330-200 was different from the crappy one from Mumbai last year. I had planned my seating meticulously, way in advance. But a North American guy had boarded earlier and was in my 11K. When I informed him, he told me dismissively that he must have gotten the wrong row, his was 10. And he didn't move or take off his headphones. My preplanned seat 11k was much better since they side table is between the seat and the aisle, not the seat and the window, so I would be protected from carts if I was out into the aisle at all. Hmmm. I am getting so much better at reading people, and totally had his number. The guy was a liar, and thought he could just take the better seat. And for what? What a awful sort of person. I figured I would leave it, as he is punished enough being such a boldfaced liar, though I evilly considered for a sec leaving my bright overhead on all night in his eyes. He was watching movies the whole time anyway, in my seat.. So i turned the overhead light off.
I had studied German last year, and now I get a chance to use it again. I forgot about that. My brain is so mixed up, learning Swahili the last few weeks, trying to learn some Greek today- I am giving reading and writing a miss- and then prepping for the big one, Ruski, in a few days.
The food was limited but nice, i got a small vino after one hour in the air, one more within the second hour, but then when dinner was done, they flowed. I had switched into my Cathay Pacific pajamas after take off, and was very cozy in my lie fat bed, abutting the aisle with a narrow armrest. I wanted to sleep but got stuck into the Dallas Buyers Club movie which was pretty phenomenal. No matter, afterwards, I slept five hours soundly, and woke in the dark over Algeria in time to change clothes and wash my hair without any other passengers waiting.
I'd give the Swiss service an 8/10, up from a consistent 4/10 last year, and the food a 7/10, up from 3/10 last year. The plane was a 8/10 up from 7/10. Well done, Swiss. The arrival lounge, from which I am writing now, is a 9/10. Excellent way to arrive in Zurich.
I showered in hot water for the first time in a week, so nice. I washed my shoes. Ready to hit Athens running.
Hot water!
I figured Zurich is the best place to exchange currency but the Travelex lady told me she would not take Tanzanian money!! So i am headed to the bank now before going back into the terminal for some duty free Apple stuff. Yea!
I love Zurich airport. They can do anything, and everyone speaks English. Some immigrants don't understand too much, but it feels like home.
Tax Free Shopping had my iPhone screen savers and the phone looks great. The African black spot is nearly gone.
I got to my gate in plenty of time and as I was enquiring about my complicated bag situation, the other cute gate agent announced she was looking for one person to bump to the next flight. And interrupted her quickly with "me". A half hour later, 400 euros richer, I am booked on a 1pm flight, which gave me time to finish my airport tasks, though no one will exchange Tanzanian shillings. I should have done it in dar to usd. Dumb.
The agent lady was very sweet Germanic and checked my bags ok. I also talked to a cool employee on a jump seat from joburg and Athens who lived in Denver for a while. She loves where I an staying in Athens, where my tbi doc stayed, too.
I celebrated with a nice Euro 30 lunch and am now feeling the jet lag. I better be careful. I had written my Athens hotel to delay my taxi but didn't hear from them so had to brave a Swiss pay phone. Nightmare! I finally used the roll free credit card operator and I am all set.
Better go to gate. Bye, Zurich!
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