The travel day finally arrived. Mr Huffkins is literally in a huff and would’t come out to say goodbye even though I put lots of fresh salad and chocolate drops in!
I drove Colin and the cases to the SL7 bus stop in Broad Street and then drove back to our parking space handily (and illegally) preserved during my absence by our recycling boxes.
I walked back and the bus arrived literally a few minutes after I got there. A good journey as far as Terminal 3 when it all went rather downhill with a long queue to get to security and then a long queue to go through security and it was packed in the terminal. Eventually we were airside and managed to find a table in a hot Prêt a Manger for a sandwich. Boarding had already started by the time we got to the gate even through we are on time. A crowded bus took us to a totally full plane full of Americans on a trip together. It was indeed a full flight and there was literally just one free seat - not by us. Apart from being packed it was fairly uneventful.
It was so quick through the airport and we were allowed through the European side avoiding the Americans) although we still had to get a stamp. Luggage arrived quickly and our booked driver - Viktor - arrived on time and was really nice with suggestions for places for dinner.
The complicated entry arrangements worked even though I couldn’t find the lift and we were in our apartment very soon. It’s on the first floor of an old apartment block - maybe turn of the 20th century and the door opens onto an inner tree filled courtyard and the windows face a little road at the back which is very quiet.
We decided to head straight out to a local Spar supermarket to stock up on breakfast supplies - it was a very good Spar and we were soon back in our apartment. Only slight negative is that despite setting the air-con for 16 degrees - the lowest it’ll go, it doesn’t seem to cool lower than about 24 - other than that the apartment is very nice - two bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a massive sofa.
Before we settled in, we decided to try one of the restaurants that our driver had recommended in the Jewish quarter. It was less than a ten minute walk from our apartment past some ruin bars and clubs… we were lucky to get a table and started our trip with traditional food including the worlds hottest slice of chilli that I mistook for a green pepper. The excellent beer calmed my mouth a bit. A good start to our trip even though it is still roastingly hot!
