A DAY in HELL ......sinki
We were not using the same plane from Japan, we had to wait because of passengers transferring to other flights; several other planes were also delayed.
While I was waiting in my comfy room there was an announcement that passengers who were on the Toronto flight could pick up food vouchers at gate 27B. Off I went in search of 27B.
I found gate 27 but no B! I then asked around and was pointed to passport control... through there they said. OK, I went through passport control and off I went... no 27B so I went to 37B (our loading area) where a jet to London was boarding. Back I went.
The girl at money exchange said it was down the corridor to the left... no entrance so I went to the next passport control. He said it was passed him; number 2 stamp in my book.
Now I followed his suggestions and I was in Baggage Pick-up and exit to street. Now I was really getting nervous so I asked a police agent, he said go back and up the stairs. There were no stairs but a stopped escalator. When I stepped on it it began to move and I found myself in Security Control. I had to empty my pockets show my passport my bottles of booze etc. I explained to the girl and she was very kind and suggested I go to gate 25 !
At gate 25 there was a desk for transfers. I explained my situation and she said I had to go to gate 37B... told her 'been there done that'. She gave me an 8 euro food voucher which could be used at any food place. BTW gate 25 is the farthest point from gate 37B ! She also gave me a new boarding pass.
After looking at the pre-packaged sandwiches for almost 8 euros, I decided to go to the area nearest gate 37B. I was now getting hungry. Still over 2 hours till boarding.
Guess what...passport control again. now I am stamped for the 4th time; he looked for a free page in the passport ! I think the guy recognized me so no questions.
I have now been almost everywhere in this airport and some places twice. Why they have gates 30-40 on the other side of passport control I have no idea.
I saw another food place serving the same pre-packaged food. Skipped it.
I could smell food being cooked ! So I went to this food place. They had a special for 14.90 euros...bacon cheese burger with a beer. I am for this!
Two women, one taking orders and then trying to tell the other how to cook them; what a slow process. The guy in front of me wanted his hotdog sliced for his child. When she passed it to him finally, one piece fell on the floor !
I waited for my order as new very complicated orders were being asked for by a group of Italians. I think they were not going to like the results and I was right. Finally my burger... wow it was huge with cheese, pickles, mayo, ketchup, mustard and bacon and some tomato slices and maybe a slice of onion and of course a Carlsburg beer. I enjoyed the food even more knowing that it was cheaper by 8 euros.
I went to an area close-by and used the power and Wi-Fi. I checked my emails nothing new, so I used Skype to call Guy. He told me that he had sent a message to me and Nancy regarding picking me up at the airport. Don't know why I had not got it.
It was still just afternoon when I called. He was going to watch www.flightradar24.com for my flight time of arrival. This is a super website for plane watching.
It was now about an hour before boarding and the airport was getting very quiet so I went down to 37B. This is furthest from almost anywhere in the airport. Shows you how high up Canada is in flight status, eh ?
It was a zoo at the gate;everyone wanted to get on the airplane at once. We were being bussed to the aircraft to make matters even worse. From the bus, it looked like a riot everyone trying to get up the narrow boarding stairs all at once. Almost everyone had a pre-book seat so there was really no rush... it was just that people wanted the plane to take off a.s.a.p.
The pilot came on the PA and told us that we had a tail wind and would be in Toronto in 7h and 10 min. I thought it unusual since normally we are travelling against the jet stream. But he proved right.
My seat buddy was a Finnish professor at Helsinki university specializing in computers. He was going to the U of T to give lectures on Artificial Intelligence. He also was a Linux man !!! We also talked about the fact that the Finnish and Hungarian languages have the same roots. However, they don't have many words in common; 'alcohol' was one exception.
Supper as usual was served as soon as we got to altitude. Chicken again. But this time it was very good since it was prepared in Finland.
As luck would have it there was a hard-to-control child behind us... actually behind my buddy. She cried and kicked the seat several times during the flight.
Couldn't sleep much if any and the movie Capt. America was hard to watch on a small screen. I turned on Michael Buble but this wasn't great. I decided to watch 'All the King's Men' (about the watergate and Pres. Nixon) since it put me to sleep watching it on TV. No such luck.
About 2 hours out of Toronto, another meal was served. This time it was Indian; spicy but tasty; didn't eat the bean thing.
Finally we landed about 10:10 pm EST. We were supposed to be here at 6:45 EST.
We were told to have passports ready as we got off the plane. What a joke. It took us 20 minutes to get to passport control.
They do it differently now. Canadians submit their declaration and passport in a little machine. However, because of French or English this caused a problem. I must have put it in upside down. The officer had to complete the form and I had to go through a second passport control ! You knew it. Now to baggage.
Everyone was around the carousel grabbing at bags. Maybe 15 minutes to get my bag. Then through the custom officers again giving them the copied declaration. I told the officer (a girl), they should have Canadian flags at the Canadian declaration area the same as for non-Canadians... she agreed and said to pass it on.
The big area at the end of a short hall and many faces... but I saw Guy and Nancy and there was a warm greeting back. By my watch it was almost 11 pm. I had been almost 24 hours in transit.... Good to be home !
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