1 - Happy 80th Birthday, Pop !! - Departure

It wasn't long after my return from my California visit this past February/March  (see all 31 California Dreamin'  blogs by clicking here)  when I got a call from my sister Jeanette (whom from this point on I will now call Jay) and she asked, "Hey Bro (that's me), Dad's birthday is coming up and I am thinking of doing a party.  Do you think there is a chance you could come back so soon?"   To which I replied, "I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

....and so the trouble begins.  Jay has 100's of brilliant ideas.  One is to make a birthday greeting video.  All guests who come and who can't come are asked to send in a 45 second selfie camera phone video clip and send it to Jay who will have it put together into one long b-day greeting.   I wanted to make a special greeting from the top tourist destinations of Copenhagen but decided to do something easy and have Jens join in.  A major Danish birthday tradition is the Danish birthday song. So, I decided to send a little Danish culture to my Pop. Here are the 45 seconds I sent in. 

I dag er det Mike's fødselsdag,

Hurra, Hurra, Hurra!

Han sikkeret sig en gave får 

som han har ønsket sig i år

og dejlig chokolad med kager til.

Today is Mike's birthday,

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!

He will surely get a present

that he has wished for this year

and yummy chocolate with cookies.

I pretty much chopped it up.  No wonder Jens couldn't keep up.

But that's not the troubling part.  It's my standard travel trauma that I have told about so many times before.  However, this time, there was a new spin on it.  Normally my struggle is to get back home from my destinations.  Here before I even got off of the ground, actually already at the start of check-in, my anxiety had already stepped up a few notches.  No seat confirmation = Business Class is full.  No bag tag = ?  No idea.  I've never experienced NOT getting a bag tag.  Self check-in panel said:  See an SAS agent.  No worries, the young man assured me.  We'll get you a tag.  I asked if I didn't get a tag because the flight was full.  He said the flight was not full - but Business Class was.  I walked to gate E 20-something.  I handed over my boarding pass to the woman behind the counter.  She said: Don't expect to get on board.  The flight is over booked.  We are actually going to have to bump off full paying passengers.   She was looking at the computer as she was saying this.  At the same time, another colleague was walking up behind the counter to start her shift.  She overheard our conversation.  She turned to the woman I was talking to and said: The flight's not full.  There's space.  WTF? 2 different women working at the same gate on the same flight, and they are saying something totally opposite of each other.  I had to assume the women looking at the computer and actually seeing that the flight was overbooked was the one to listen to.  Which of course, really bummed me out.  But one thing I have learned is: don't leave and give up hope before the gates are closed.

Being employed at the airport, I would see "stand-by" baggage almost daily.  An employee flying on company discount tickets get a red tag that says "stand-by" on it.  The bag is placed nearby the flight but separately from all the other "normal" baggage.  The baggage handlers don't put the stand-by bag on board until they get the message from the ticket controllers that there is space for the stand-by passenger (me).   So, I walked over to the window and spotted my bag with the red tag.  That's it there in the photo.  I kept an eye on it.  Would they put it on the baggage belt, or would they put it on the baggage wagon and drive it back to the arrival terminal?

As I look out of the window, my eyes are totally glued to my bag.  I am totally oblivious to what it going on behind me.  However, I am aware that people are starting to disappear because the boarding process has begun.  I almost passed out with shock when I see the baggage handler walk to my bag, he grabs it, and walks away from the baggage belt.

In the circle you can see the baggage handler walking away from the baggage belt with my bag.  You can also see the baggage belt in the foreground has been pulled away from the aircraft because all the bags have been loaded onto the flight.  Notice all the baggage wagons are empty.  My heart sinks as I see the baggage handler walking away from the flight with my bag and walking towards the last baggage wagon to put it on and bring my bag back to the passenger terminal.

But take a look and see what happens next.

And then over the speakers I could hear that I was being paged to come to the desk.  I ran up to the woman at the gate and she handed me a boarding card with a seat number. Praise Jesus !!   Next thing I know, I am on my way to Boston.

Oo La La - Oh L' Amour

I have a new Paris blog but before we go on, you should know that this blog contains adult themed pictures.  Nothing pornographic but if you have a sensitive soul, you would be better off to click here instead of going any further.  Don't say I didn't warn you.   And one more warning.  I have 101 photos connected to this story.  But for those of you with a short attention span, I will show only a handful here.  You can see all 101 photos on my Shutterfly site.  click here to see them.  It's a good idea to visit the site if you have a hard time sleeping.

If you are brave enough to have decided to follow this story, then turn up the volume and  start with this link first and play it in the background - it's one of my favs. The whole story starts with a facebook posting from Clarke (she is mentioned in the last blog in case you forgot who she is).  She posted that she landed a major roll in a play that was going to be put on stage in Paris - Please come out and see it - she posted to those who were interested.  For some reason I thought the play was going to be in August.   I wrote to her and told her that I would consider coming to Paris to see her in the play.  "When is it", I asked.

AND.... 

I have also been thinking of visiting our good friends Patrick and Fabien.  Patrick and Fabien live in the middle of Paris and you have seen and read about them here several times in other blog stories.  

I didn't really want to go to Paris again.  I have been there so many times already.  I would rather now see some other part of France. As my sister sang years ago:  Nice could be nice.  But to go to Nice, I would want to be there for 5 to 7 days.  We were not even sure if Jens could walk from the check-in counter to the flight gate, let alone hang out in Nice for so many days.  

So instead of booking a whole week in a far-a-way place, we booked a flight to see a play and to see good friends over a quick weekend in Paris.  Jens said no way to employee discount flight tickets.  So we paid 3 times the price for a trip that would last less than 48 hours.  I can't blame him - there are always problem$$ with employee flight tickets.  It may have cost extra money for real tickets but this totally eliminated all the stress and anxiety that goes along with stand-by tickets.  We also had just carry-ons which meant easy check-in from home.

Clarke was supposed to go home back to California several days ago but once she found out that she was going to be in this play, she paid an extra charge to rebook her flight home.  It also meant that she was going to have to find sofas here and there to sleep on since her French home was for a specific time.   After Clarke had spent days studying lines, paying extra to change flight tickets, searching for other places to live, she got the message at the last minute that the play was canceled. Ugh!

Our afternoon flight to and from Paris was going to work out perfect for Jens' medication times.  This is always something we have to consider.  Many flights take off or land too late for Jens.  His medication is very time sensitive.

OK - we arrived at CDG airport and hopped in a taxi to Paris.  I wanted to take the train to town to save $ and time and traffic hassel. But again - it's a long long walk in the very crazy Paris airport just to get you to the train.  Just to find the one and only toilet was a huge walk.  But the good thing about doing a cab from CDG airport to the center of Paris is that there is a new law which states a taxi ride shall have a set fee of 50€ from airport to city center. It can easily cost more if there is traffic - and there is always traffic.  Plus this was Friday afternoon when everybody is ready to go home after work to get the weekend started.  The bad news is:  even though traffic was horrible, it was only bad enough that the taximeter showed it would have cost only 38€ had we gone by the old law.  We paid the 50€ and tipped an extra 5€ because we are such nice guys and rolling in the dough.

The taxicab ride saved a lot of walking for Jens so that he would not be totally drained before even checking into the room.  Had we taken the train, there would also have been the walk from Les Halles train station to the hotel and the train station is bigger than the airport.

The taxi driver wouldn't open the doors until we handed over the cash.  Do we look like the kind of guys that would run away?   Don't answer that!  Jens has a smoke and then we walk into the hotel to check-in.   Very very friendly people almost begging us to call the front desk for service.  The  hotel is just 7 steps away from Patrick and Fabien's apartment.  So convenient. Patrick and Fabien had plans for the day we arrived so we started our visit with Clarke at the corner café.

The following day we did a boat ride on the Seine.  On-line, I found out that there is a waterbus that is similar to the waterbus here in DK.  One big difference is the price - ouch!  However the ticket was good for the whole day. One complete trip takes 2 hours.   This was a great way for Jens to see the city without having to walk.  Luckily the nearest bus stop was only 585m (650yds.) away.  That's about what he can do here at home. 

The waterbus ride was 2 hours long.  We thought it was only going to be 1 hour.  Clarke was supposed to come with us but she locked herself out of her new apartment and she had her laundry with her.  So we did the boat ride on our own.  I think Clarke would have really like it - who wouldn't.

Here is the website for the waterbus.  Check out the 9 stations under the roll-down menu: The Stations.  We started at Hôtel De Ville (which is not a hotel at all).  From this point on and for the next 2 hours, I went crazy with my camera. 

The boat ride is un-guided and so are these pictures from each stop - but I will give you a little hint and you can follow the route on the map on the webpage.

our start station - Hôtel De Ville

stop 2 - Louvre Museum

stop 3 - Champs-Élysées

stop 4 - Beaugrenelle

stop 5 - Eiffel Tower

stop 6 - Musée d'Orsay

stop 7 - Saint-Germain-des-Prés

stop 8 - Notre Dame

Stop 9 is the only stop I don't have a picture of.  I didn't realize until now that the feature of this stop is the huge garden and the paths along the river.  I should have known from the name of the stop - Jardin des Plantes. It looked to be really nice.  Here though, is a photo I stole from the website.

stop 9 - Jardin des Plantes

The next stop is where we got on - Hôtel De Ville (city hall).  From there we walked back to our hotel to drop off and pick up some things and then we walked next door to meet with Patrick and Fabien for lunch.  We rang on the bell and from the speaker box we hear Patrick say:  "We're coming down."   It was hugs and kisses in the hallway of their apartment building and then we were on our way to get something to eat at an Italian restaurant just up the street.  The place was filled.  Most places are.  There are hundreds of places to eat and yet they are all full and it can be hard to find a table to sit at.  We walked a few doors down and there was another Italian restaurant.  We sat down and ordered.  The food was amazing and I am so sorry now that I didn't snap pix of the food or of our lunch-in.  Here is, however, a trip advisor link to the Italian bistro called Assegai.

Not quite sure what happened after lunch but suddenly Patrick and Fabien had to go.  So Jens and I went back to our hotel for a little nap.  When we got up at 16:30 there was a message on my phone that Patrick and Fabien were ready for us at 18 - 18:30.   So we took a walk around the block.  To kill some time we went to have a coffee at a café on the next street over.

At a little to 18:00, we continued our walk around the block.  On the walk we passed a very colorful and happening burger joint. By the time we got completely around the block, back to where we started from, it was just past 18:00.  We passed our hotel and 7 steps further on, we rang on the bell to Patrick's and Fabian's door.  They buzzed us in.   At Patrick's and Fabien's apt we sat for a chat, visit and cocktail.  Then we were out the door again for dinner.  "Where would you like to go", asked Patrick.  It was as if we knew where all the cafés, restaurants, bars and bistros were at. Patrick then started to name different suggestions; Indian, Pizza, Burgers and so on.  It was then that the burger joint popped into my head.  I started to tell them about the funny burger joint.  From the sidewalk you could see into the restaurant all the way to the back wall.  It looked more like a disco than a restaurant with all the laser lighting and loud music coming from the place. Hanging on the back wall was a video screen.  On the screen was a bunch of guys modeling undies and speedos.  It was so crazy.  What do speedos have to do with burgers!  Well, when Patrick asked, "Where would you like to go for dinner" and started listing different kinds of food, I remembered that funny hamburger shop just 2 blocks away and suggested we go there.

Tata Burger

It was a five minute wait to get in.  We sat down and looked over the menu.  Patrick started to translate.  "Just give me the main ingredient", I told him - "all burgers have pickles, tomatoes and lettuce."  Then the waiter came over to the table and started to explain what was on the menu too.  It was loud and hard to hear.  Music blasting.  Laser beams blinding. Everybody speaking happily and loudly.  The waiter said something about a surprise drink or a surprise something-or-another.  We really didn't understand what he was talking about.  We called the waiter over again to tell us about the surprise.  I was sure he said surprise drink but it was a surprise burger.  "What's in it", we asked.  "I'm not going to tell you", he said, "it's a surprise."  I laughed but curiosity caught Jens so he ordered it.  We couldn't stop laughing when the surprise burger came to the table.

Not only was it very funny but it also tasted fantastic. Everything was speedos and we realized there was some kind of advertising for a specific brand of undies and swimwear.  The tables out front were interesting too.  They were like pictures boxes.  They could take off the glass top and you could put in any kind of decoration you wanted into the "box".  Here they put the advertising product into your table.  It was actually a pretty clever idea.

It was good company, good food, very fun and very unusual atmosphere.  The portions were big so we just were not able to do desert - maybe next time.  It was late and past Jens' beddy-bye time so we called it a day and headed back to the hotel.  I invited the guys to breakfast the next day but they are late risers.  We asked Clarke also to come and join us too since she missed the boat ride the day before. 

We would have a long breakfast and stretch it out until a little after 11.  We actually showed up to the café before the cook showed up.  There were, however, fresh baked croissants readily available. And you can't go wrong sitting at a sidewalk café in the middle of Le Marais. 

Alas - it was time to wind things up.  Back to the hotel to pack our carry-on toothbrush and check out.  The deal was to meet the guys at the driveway at noon.  They would have a car ready for us to take us back to the Airport.  It was Sunday afternoon.  Probably the least busy time of the week to go to the airport.  Still it took 45 minutes.  That's just 15 minutes less than what it took to get into town on a busy Friday afternoon.  I am just amazed at the huge numbers of people on the streets.  I love little tiny Copenhagen.

Don't forget to check out the other photos on shutterfly.  click here or here.  If you click onto "slide show, it will show the pictures in full screen version.  -  and watch out for that lime-green dildo hanging from the ceiling.

It's Terminal

It’s been an interesting week at work.  I have been in a class for cargo security.  Specifically,  to make sure that cargo pallets coming out of the cargo hall and into the Critical Restricted Security Area – are safe.   It was a 4-day class with a test today.  It is not a permanent position.  I will simply be one of the guys on call for those who suddenly can’t come in or suddenly have to leave or go on a break.

Yesterday we had a tour of the entire airport.  I’ve seen most of it a few times already.  After 18 years of employment, it was my first time to see the baggage area.  That was wild.  I said to my workmate, “I can’t believe that after 18 years of working here, this is my first time to see the baggage area.”  He replied to me, “I’ve been here 30 years and this is my second time.”

We also got to see the airport security center where they have control of the 2000 cctv cameras.  All the cameras are controlled by 5 men, each at their station which is a nearly fully round table loaded up, side by side with computer/TV screens.  And on the far wall from end to end is a wall filled with screens.  In the very middle of the wall – there was an ordinary television.  All of it was pretty amazing.  And those cameras – they can actually zoom in on your passport and read it while you are checking in.

But something really exciting that I would like to share with you is the old terminal.  We were a class of 4 guys – 2 from baggage and 2 from cargo.  The class teacher, while driving the car, asked, “Does anybody wanna go see the old terminal?”  Not even a ½ second went by and I excitedly shouted, “Yeah, I do!”

We pulled into the parking lot and walked in.  I was so glad that I had my phone camera with me.  Here are a few pix I snapped yesterday – it was my first visit to the terminal.  The guys in the green are my class mates.

A few facts:  In 1939 Copenhagen’s new terminal building opened.  It was designed by Danish architect, Vilhelm Lauritzen.  The design was French inspired – art deco, I believe.  As the airport grew, so did the terminal with several ugly extensions. The terminal was in use all the way until 1960 when the next terminal was opened – also designed by Lauritzen.

When I got my job 18 years ago, the old cargo department was right next to that “very old super cool looking building”.  I was hoping that one day I could get a closer look at it and see the inside of it before they tore it down.  But as it turned out, it was decided to preserve and restore this original wonderful cultural pearl as another jewel in the Danish crown.  The add-on annex buildings were torn down and removed.  Then 744 wheels were placed under the original building and moved 4 kilometers away to the other side of the airport.  According to the video report, the building crossed the runways. I seem to remember that the trailer drove at 1½ km per hour.  That's roughly 3 to 4 hours just to get the where it is today.   I remember watching them dig for days under the building, adding wheels and adding wheels and then overnight, the building was gone.

Check out this youtube video to see how they did it.  click here

Now the building is used for special occasions - like official state visits.  And I was very lucky that our class went the day that we did because the next day, today, the building was occupied for the welcoming of the King and Queen of Belgium today. 

Queen of Denmark - King of Belgium

Click here to see the welcome Sadly the terminal is not in the video :-(

Oh and just in case you were wondering, I passed the test.