I have tried blogging once before. I did not keep up with it but will try to do better this time.. I have now worked for a company that requires me to travel away from home for about half the year. I once thought that this type of a job would be fun and full of adventure. Well sometimes that is true and sometimes it is a nightmare. I will not go into the past, but instead will start with the upcoming trip.
I am scheduled to go overseas to a school for a course relating to my job. I have been scheduled set to go and rescheduled. The latest reschedule is taken place even as I write this post. I will spend 21 hours travel time going to the course and 21 hours coming back home and this does not include travel time to and from the airports. It has taken three days to reschedule the flights getting me to and from and I still need to double check everything once the company tells me it is final.
Day after I was told everything is ready to go I started checking. It has taken ten (10) hours to find and confirm all the flights and hotels. I still had to send email to the company asking for clarifications on two points, now waiting for a replay.
This section will not be posted until day of the flight Sept. 03, 2007.... Just to track the planing stage.Okay so I did not post on the 3rd it is now the 5th and once I finish the trip I will post.
The fun started when I first check in for my flight. First the normal way did not work so I had to wave done someone for help, the lady was very nice and it only took 30 min. to get me on my way with one of the four tickets I will require to complete the trip. I was told to check in at the next Airport ( Atlanta Ga. ) to get the next two tickets, and the last one when I get to Amsterdam?
Made it to Atlanta no problems only a ten min. delay. Once I arrived I checked in at the counter for my next flight ( did not even have to leave the secure area ) and was given my tickets for Amsterdam and Oslo. "YES" now only had to worry about the last leg of the trip.
With this out of the way I thought gee I have two hours to kill, so I tried to set up my computer to do some Spanish. ( going to Mexico next so thought I would try and learn some ) Only problem is I forgot my power cord at home.
Made it to Amsterdam no problems, even on time. Going through Customs as always was boring, took 90 min of waiting in line to get to the fount, 10 sec to get asked one question and gone. I was glad we had made it on time or I might have missed my next flight, only had 15 min to get to the gate after Customs.
Once again the flight departed and arrived on time in Oslo. This time I had to collect my bags, go to the Airline counter ( this one was next to the baggage area ) check in for the tickets for the last leg. Then had to carry my bags through Customs, this took only as long as it takes to walk past and wave ( if you have nothing to declare and were not pick for search. ) For me seconds for a change. Now to find the baggage drop for the Airline so I can get my bags processed. This was way to easy a BIG sign as soon as I came to the Major check in / ticket section of the Airport. Thirty seconds later I am done and on my way to find my gate.
Well the gate is not displayed because I still have like five hours before the flight. OUCH I have been up for 24 hours at this point and having trouble staying awake. Need to know the gate so I can at least relax. Three hours later the gate is displayed. The gate lounge is on the bottom level and all I see are prop planes, oh boy.
Yes indeed prop plane it was, and due to head winds we arrived at the last location about 15 min behind schedule. Now for the last leg finding the Hotel. After getting my bags, I walk out expecting to see some taxis, ( that is what I was told to expect ) HA!!! not a single one in sight. I then took a gamble and asked a local bus driver if he could speak English, he could not but a gentleman next to him could, so I asked if he knew were the Hotel was ( showed a print out with the address ) as luck would have it the bus passed right next to it, not at the door but close enough.
So I am at the end of the trip getting to my location to attend a three day class. Checked into the Hotel
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