Episode 2 of the surprise significant birthday
This seems like along TR for such a short journey but there are a few bits of interest.
Those of you that read my previous TR from MAN will remember that I am on my way to La Coruna in North West Spain to intercept the independence of the Seas cruise ship which is to dock on the return to Southampton after an11 day cruise which I couldn't join.
My trip is to surprise L'l Sis in a restaurant for a birthday lunch. the best way to get to LCG was via Vuleing Airlines.This airline seems to be the equivalent of Easy Jet...so....
As I was travelling from T3, I just couldn't resist taking the long walk to security via the VS check in area...I needed a VS "fix" . I've even got the location of the magic elevator and the CH access for my UC flight to CPT at the end of the month now...(more planning done).Then up the "normal" escalator to the security dragons.....but..
Here we go again...another mess up with boarding passes. this time it was my pre printed BP that wouldn't scan and let me through.
I was promptly told to go to the Vueling check in desk as "we always have problems with that airline BP when that are printed at home (eh?)
Off I toddled back down to the "F" zone in the depths of T3 to get a proper BP. This worked and straight through into the strip 'em and search area where there must have been every 4th. passenger not knowing the liquids and laptop procedure..
Brilliant...a 45 minute delay...so thats another Peroni please.
Called to gate and boarded by row number sequence from the back. ,I was one of the last ones on.
So, into seat 4c .....surprisingly roomy given. That it's a low cost carrier, compares. Well with the BA seat that I had on the flight from up North.
So there we sat and waited, and waited and waited......eventually took off without drama.
Flight not all that eventful except that my seat back wouldn't remain upright and CC asked me to return it to upright 3times..once at take off and twice on coming into land.
In flight service was chargeable 2 Euros for a brew, 5 Euros for a Sarny and even an 8 Euro meal deal which included a beer...I declined as I'd had my fill in Strada at T3 but the CC seemed to be doing a brisk trade.
Landed at LCG and a quick taxi ride the the Hesperia Finisterre hotel in La Coruna, with a jacuzzi suite overlooking the cruise ship terminal.
The surprise restaurant eating was awesome, with only me and my Brother in Law knowing about it, all the family members were gobsmacked and tears were gushing from L'il Sis eye for an hour..there weren't too many dry eyes around the whole lunch table when I appeared from a corner in the restaurant behind a waiter who was briefed only 10 minutes before they arrived.
We spent the rest of the day together catching up on lost times (I haven't seen her for over 5 years (or is it 6?). I saw them back to the ship ...God it's massive, how do they float?...and did a typical quayside touristy bit of waving them off into the sunset...brill.
So, would I do Vueling again? well if it was the only way for me to get to a remote part of Europe and the price was good, yes, I'd do it ...the flights are only short haul anyway so it's just like a train journey.
Hope you enjoyed part 2 of the trippy not long haul but certainly one to remember....after the beer and wine haze has gone
Cheers
Paul
