First steps
I’m on the road again. My first train of the day was a “Regional Express” going to Nuernberg. At first the display only showed a 5-minute delay. That value kept on growing larger and, in the end, the train was 20 minutes late. As it pulled into Nuernberg we passed my connecting ICE train departing from the opposing track. I had a backup plan; the next train would put me at the airport an hour later but still gives me sufficient time. But it went via Frankfurt main train station, and I needed to switch to a S-Bahn from there to the airport. The backup train was also delayed, and the S-Bahn doors closed in my face when I got there. The next train to the airport was 15 minutes later. Not much in the grand scheme of things, but sufficient to make me almost too late.
Frankfurt Airport
I’d already checked in online, which ended up saving me. The last luggage would be accepted 60 minutes prior to departure, and I raced to the area 62 minutes prior to the flight. The Condor airlines crew was already packing up and preparing to leave but allowed me to check my bag after all.
Security was surprisingly fast; I’d expected longer lines due to the heightened tensions in the Mideast. The lines at passport control were commensurately longer.
Nonetheless I made it just as they were announcing pre-boarding. I’d signed up for an auction of premier seats, and I bid half of the going rate, 85 Euros. At the gate I saw that I’d “won” and went to get my new seat assigned. I’d already paid for a window seat in the back of the plane, but thought that more leg space and better food (plus free alcoholic drinks) for the 9 hour flight would be worth it.
It turned out that what I really got was a “downgrade”, as my new seat was a center one! The desk crew was apologetic, but the auction wasn’t run by Condor, but a 3rd party and they couldn’t change the seat assignments. Even worse, I told them that I’d swallow the costs and keep my original seat. That was gone already, and they couldn’t change it.
So, I had a gent reeking of stale tobacco on my left, and a family to my right. And a baby behind me, who occasionally gave loud commentary in shrill tones expanding on his dissatisfaction with the situation.
Antigua
In Antigua I picked up my rental car and, despite Antigua being a small island with just a few major roads, I managed to get absolutely lost. To my credit, there are very few directional signs and the cloud cover precluded using the moon for navigation.
Despite the stressful trip, I finally made to the rental unit and am happy to be here.