Thursday, January 23, 2014

Around the world in 8 days

My recent business trip goes like this:
Dublin > Bucharest (via London) > Prague > Krakow (via Warsaw) > Dublin > Barcelona > Dublin.
8 flights in 7 days

The business trip really goes like this:
Dublin > Bucharest (via London) > Prague > Krakow (via Warsaw) > 3 hrs delayed flight and finally cancelled at 1am = 6hrs at a crowded gate > frentic booking of new flights and hotels > infinite sleepless hours > Barcelona (via Munich) > Dublin.
8 flights in 7 days that really feel like 100!!

The joys of travelling!

Anyway, my intention is not to complain, but to share with you what I have taken from each one of these amazing cities ("it's not about the destination, but about what you learn on the way" - or something like this).

BUCHAREST: ITS PEOPLE
Attributes:
· Polite
· Talkative - the ratio of time question:answer is normally 1:100
· Insist in speaking to me in Romanian - do I look Romanian?

Live experience: 
witnessed a group of around 8 men working as a team to change a bulb. Yes, it apparently takes those many to perform a mundane task.


PRAGUE: ITS FAƇADES
Attributes: 
· Diverse.
· Colourful.
· Beautiful

Live experience: 
Regretting not having my camera with me (the camera did not fit in my hand baggage) I had my phone permanently in my hands to be able to capture the magnificent houses. So immersed in them, that my fingers went numb because of the cold and was unable to feel or grab a thing for an hour or two.


KRAKOW : ITS TAXI DRIVERS
Attributes: 
· No English. 
· No notion of speed limits. 
· Wonder if even a driver's license...

Live experience: 
or 'close to death' experience rather...as the taxi driver stops (hand brake!) in the middle of a motorway (yes!) and tries to cross over 3 lanes, in an attempt to take an intersection which us, mentally healthy humans, would consider missed. All of this at rush traffic hour and with a massive lorry approaching on the right. I'm writing this now, so don't worry, we made it through.


BARCELONA : ITS WEATHER
Attributes: 
· Cloudless sky 
· No need for further description

Live experience: 
The flight disruption mentioned earlier meant that I had slept approximately 1 hour in 2 days. I wasn't only knackered, but was also in a questionable (yet justified) mood. And then, I landed in Barcelona, where the sun was shining. Walked around the city and had a lovely lunch on a terrace by the sea. I found happiness. Spain is different!