Well, like most of my trips these days, this one started with an invitation by the World Bridge Federation to "work" at one of their two annual tournaments. This one is the World Youth Championships in Istanbul from 13-23 August. It comprises under 25, under 20 and girl divisions and a kids under 15 edition for the first time. There should be about 60 plus teams or 350+ sometimes noisy and unruly young people there.
Well I should qualify Istanbul. The tournament is being played at Koç University one hour out of the centre of Istanbul so I don't see myself spending a lot of time in Istanbul proper although I have allocated one day before the tournament to having some time in downtown. The world bridge championships were held in Istanbul in 2003 and Linda and I spent two weeks there during the tournament plus three days touring Istanbul as well as ten days touring outside of Istanbul so have seen a lot of what I need to see in Istanbul proper. Itinerary for the trip is:
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Love to all
Chat soon
XD
Well I should qualify Istanbul. The tournament is being played at Koç University one hour out of the centre of Istanbul so I don't see myself spending a lot of time in Istanbul proper although I have allocated one day before the tournament to having some time in downtown. The world bridge championships were held in Istanbul in 2003 and Linda and I spent two weeks there during the tournament plus three days touring Istanbul as well as ten days touring outside of Istanbul so have seen a lot of what I need to see in Istanbul proper. Itinerary for the trip is:
- 1 night London
- 3 nights Fredrikstad Norway
- 6 nights London
- 13 nights Istanbul
- 4 nights Budapest - somewhere I have never been and always wanted to go to
Thursday night smooth check-in at the airport, a Laksa soup to allow me to sleep during the flight and all aboard. Business class was full but that isn't much of a problem as I slept for eight of the 11:30 flight and watch Hitchcock the movie the rest of the time (really good movie if you haven't seen it).
While on the advice front I have come across an excellent Prepaid Visa Debit Card - it's called Ozforex and the exchange rates are about 3% better than the others I looked at and the fees are minimal. I believe it's backed by Mac Bank. Like all cards just BPay the money in and do everything online. Are travellers cheques no now officially dead?
Arriving is a slight ordeal, passport check, another passport check, through security where you have to remove all cables, electronics, jewellery, liquids - took me 10 minutes to repack after that one.
The only downside to the VERY cheap business class fare is that this particular one has an eight over stopover in a very foggy, smoggy and humid Beijing. I hover around the lounge enjoying the western and Chinese style foods on offer but unfortunately only discovering the flat reclining lounge chairs all too late.
Interestingly the two Chinese papers in English take a very factual almost clinical look at the events in Israel.
A quick look around the shops to confirm that every single item available there was cheaper in Sydney except the alcohol - even the Godiva chocolates were double their cost in the USA! A quick free spritz of cologne and off to the gate.
Business class wasn't full but no window seats available. Luckily one of the stewards heard me asking at the gate and moved me to a window seat with an empty seat next to me. Same plane but looking very new as well as a different fit out - flats beds but feet into a very enclosed space - but very comfortable all the same.
As I write this I recall that the last time I flew Air China to Europe it travelled over Ukraine. Gee I'm hoping somebody has done some homework on the flight path.
I had some options like heading from Heathrow straight to Stansted for my morning flight to Norway but that would mean dealing with RyanAir over the two kilos of extra luggage that I have - 20kgs of luggage £120 ticket £99 - or spending the night in London and heading out very early (05:30) to Stansted £58 in minicab as trains don't start early enough to get there in time - thinking RyanAir "sorry gate closed". Oh well, as no accommodation costs in London just grin and bear it. That said I think that the ticket from Liverpool Street Station is £24 alone. Enough high finances.
So I will arrive in London and head towards Stamford Brook station to collect the key to my friend's apartment in Putney which he had kindly lent me for my visit. I normally don't like "borrowing" accommodation but as he and his family have stayed in my home a few times I'm not proud - they live in Kent and keep London 'digs' as well. Only there for one night and off at 08:25 to Fredrikstad Norway where the Norwegian Bridge Festival is being played. No bridge for me just some kibitzing and nice meals with friends of whom I suspect there will be many playing there. Guessing Norway will be expensive as the cheapest hire car (was thinking of spending a day in Oslo) $A130 a day and hotel, well let's not go there.
All went well quickly through immigration being the only flight, luggage up quickly and onto the Piccadilly Line to Acton Town change for Stamford Brook and key collected and just then it starts spitting rain. Luckily I followed my plan to walk the 1.5kms to the apartment as it soon stopped and turned bright and sunny - welcome to London.
A quick and very tasty Pad Thai at the local pub shower and bed around 21:30. Sleeping pill helps me sleep to 03:30 slowly shower and get ready.
At 5:30 no mini cab but ten minutes later a phone call from the driver can't find where you are can you guide me there. WTF I'm paying a good amount for you to find me and get me to the airport. Anyway another ten minutes later the driver comes running up the street saying he is just past the blocked off end of the road and we should walk to his car. Anyway all was well. He turns out to be a 54 year old Somali who has lived in the UK for 14 years and he starts complaining about all the immigrants, Pakistanis and Indians etc. that live in England - kinda amusing really,
Arrive at airport 90 minutes before flight to find the longest check-in queue I have ever seen at any airport anywhere in the world - welcome to RyanAir. I pull the "I have very poor feet and can't stand for long periods routine and am ushered to the front of the queue. A breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon which rated very well for airport food and on to Rygge Airport 135kms from Oslo.
I arrive at the airport and need to get to Fredrikstad 27kms away. Options bus $A20 or taxi $A100 yes bus it is but that leaves in 90 minutes time - oh well some time to catch up with my blog is how I look at it.
Arrive in Fredrikstad around 13:15 and walk the 1.3kms to the hotel which is an old building but comfortable rooms without air-conditioning which would not normally be a problem here but the unseasonably hot 30+ weather prompts and fulfilled request for a fan.
I walk across to the bridge. Well walk to the river get the free 30 second ferry ride across the river walk through the old town where there are the "usual" trash and treasure markets - late 1700s - and up to the KongressHalle where the bridge is being played. KongressHalle sounds like something special no? Well think cross between aircraft hangar and temporary shelter and you have the picture - again no air conditioning.
There were 106 tables playing the second session of the Mixed Pairs and a few side events including Boye/Tonje's 9 year old son.
Hello's to the 10+ people I knew playing here and I spent the next five hour kibitzing before The Brogelands, The Erichsens and moi head for a Thai dinner. One hour and twenty minutes after ordering the food finally arrives. Extremely good food but I would have regarded it more Chinese than Thai (duck pancakes pic below). Free desserts to compensate for the slow service (tempura bananas) - kids eating at 09:50 and a walk back to the hotel.
I took the time to seek the owner of the hotel to tell of some ways they could improve the experience of their hotel like: safe in the room, some shelving in the bathroom, a washing line, a pen and paper etc.. I was met well we have only owned the hotel for two years and now we don't owe any money to the bank - yawn!
Fredrikstad is a beautiful town, 75,000 or 130,000 including nearby Slapsborg and sits astride a river. The architecture is typically Scandinavian two storey buildings with steep rooves and square windows mostly white or grey. It engenders a vert relaxing feeling and I'm glad I chose to come here.
While on the advice front I have come across an excellent Prepaid Visa Debit Card - it's called Ozforex and the exchange rates are about 3% better than the others I looked at and the fees are minimal. I believe it's backed by Mac Bank. Like all cards just BPay the money in and do everything online. Are travellers cheques no now officially dead?
Arriving is a slight ordeal, passport check, another passport check, through security where you have to remove all cables, electronics, jewellery, liquids - took me 10 minutes to repack after that one.
The only downside to the VERY cheap business class fare is that this particular one has an eight over stopover in a very foggy, smoggy and humid Beijing. I hover around the lounge enjoying the western and Chinese style foods on offer but unfortunately only discovering the flat reclining lounge chairs all too late.
Interestingly the two Chinese papers in English take a very factual almost clinical look at the events in Israel.
A quick look around the shops to confirm that every single item available there was cheaper in Sydney except the alcohol - even the Godiva chocolates were double their cost in the USA! A quick free spritz of cologne and off to the gate.
Business class wasn't full but no window seats available. Luckily one of the stewards heard me asking at the gate and moved me to a window seat with an empty seat next to me. Same plane but looking very new as well as a different fit out - flats beds but feet into a very enclosed space - but very comfortable all the same.
As I write this I recall that the last time I flew Air China to Europe it travelled over Ukraine. Gee I'm hoping somebody has done some homework on the flight path.
I had some options like heading from Heathrow straight to Stansted for my morning flight to Norway but that would mean dealing with RyanAir over the two kilos of extra luggage that I have - 20kgs of luggage £120 ticket £99 - or spending the night in London and heading out very early (05:30) to Stansted £58 in minicab as trains don't start early enough to get there in time - thinking RyanAir "sorry gate closed". Oh well, as no accommodation costs in London just grin and bear it. That said I think that the ticket from Liverpool Street Station is £24 alone. Enough high finances.
So I will arrive in London and head towards Stamford Brook station to collect the key to my friend's apartment in Putney which he had kindly lent me for my visit. I normally don't like "borrowing" accommodation but as he and his family have stayed in my home a few times I'm not proud - they live in Kent and keep London 'digs' as well. Only there for one night and off at 08:25 to Fredrikstad Norway where the Norwegian Bridge Festival is being played. No bridge for me just some kibitzing and nice meals with friends of whom I suspect there will be many playing there. Guessing Norway will be expensive as the cheapest hire car (was thinking of spending a day in Oslo) $A130 a day and hotel, well let's not go there.
All went well quickly through immigration being the only flight, luggage up quickly and onto the Piccadilly Line to Acton Town change for Stamford Brook and key collected and just then it starts spitting rain. Luckily I followed my plan to walk the 1.5kms to the apartment as it soon stopped and turned bright and sunny - welcome to London.
A quick and very tasty Pad Thai at the local pub shower and bed around 21:30. Sleeping pill helps me sleep to 03:30 slowly shower and get ready.
At 5:30 no mini cab but ten minutes later a phone call from the driver can't find where you are can you guide me there. WTF I'm paying a good amount for you to find me and get me to the airport. Anyway another ten minutes later the driver comes running up the street saying he is just past the blocked off end of the road and we should walk to his car. Anyway all was well. He turns out to be a 54 year old Somali who has lived in the UK for 14 years and he starts complaining about all the immigrants, Pakistanis and Indians etc. that live in England - kinda amusing really,
Arrive at airport 90 minutes before flight to find the longest check-in queue I have ever seen at any airport anywhere in the world - welcome to RyanAir. I pull the "I have very poor feet and can't stand for long periods routine and am ushered to the front of the queue. A breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon which rated very well for airport food and on to Rygge Airport 135kms from Oslo.
I arrive at the airport and need to get to Fredrikstad 27kms away. Options bus $A20 or taxi $A100 yes bus it is but that leaves in 90 minutes time - oh well some time to catch up with my blog is how I look at it.
Arrive in Fredrikstad around 13:15 and walk the 1.3kms to the hotel which is an old building but comfortable rooms without air-conditioning which would not normally be a problem here but the unseasonably hot 30+ weather prompts and fulfilled request for a fan.
I walk across to the bridge. Well walk to the river get the free 30 second ferry ride across the river walk through the old town where there are the "usual" trash and treasure markets - late 1700s - and up to the KongressHalle where the bridge is being played. KongressHalle sounds like something special no? Well think cross between aircraft hangar and temporary shelter and you have the picture - again no air conditioning.
There were 106 tables playing the second session of the Mixed Pairs and a few side events including Boye/Tonje's 9 year old son.
Hello's to the 10+ people I knew playing here and I spent the next five hour kibitzing before The Brogelands, The Erichsens and moi head for a Thai dinner. One hour and twenty minutes after ordering the food finally arrives. Extremely good food but I would have regarded it more Chinese than Thai (duck pancakes pic below). Free desserts to compensate for the slow service (tempura bananas) - kids eating at 09:50 and a walk back to the hotel.
I took the time to seek the owner of the hotel to tell of some ways they could improve the experience of their hotel like: safe in the room, some shelving in the bathroom, a washing line, a pen and paper etc.. I was met well we have only owned the hotel for two years and now we don't owe any money to the bank - yawn!
Fredrikstad is a beautiful town, 75,000 or 130,000 including nearby Slapsborg and sits astride a river. The architecture is typically Scandinavian two storey buildings with steep rooves and square windows mostly white or grey. It engenders a vert relaxing feeling and I'm glad I chose to come here.
Chat soon
XD
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