1: The Getting to India

The India Adventure 2015

January 3, 2015

The Journey to India - aka Travel Adventures!

Roger and Mackenzie drove me to the airport in Edmonton to board my first of three flights to Delhi.  Pathetically, I cried saying bye to Mackenzie…

It was the best of time and the worst of time to get out of Dodge - snow was forecast across the country making +20 temperatures in Jaipur a delightful promise while at the same time getting to that delight was likely to be fraught with delay.  Almost assured in any event just because I was going via Toronto…should have insisted on the polar route to Paris.

So, a 5 hour delay in Toronto was no surprise - what was annoying was the madhouse in terminal 3 and such a weak internet signal to be virtually useless most of the time.  

The real adventuresome part began on arrival in Paris - 12:15 pm local time.  Naturally, I, along with countless others had missed their connection so first stop was at Customer Service where it was confirmed that I had been rebooked on an Air India flight scheduled to depart at 7:15 pm on an 8 hour flight.  But wait - not only would that mean that I would extend the 24.5 hour journey to 40 hours but there was no equivalent Premium Economy AND I would now have to find my luggage, retrieve it and check-in with Air India.

I had absolutely no confidence that my bags would show up on the carousel and sadly, was not disappointed.  After another hour long line-up, I learn that it is impossible to find out where the bags are or where they will be and could I come back in an hour or so.

I immediately decide that there will be a Plan C and to the 3rd Air France customer service desk I go where I explain that I don’t want to be rebooked on Air India only to travel 40 hours consecutively only to get there totally exhausted with no expectation that my bags will mysteriously have been found and made their way with me.  Happily, I’m book back on Air France departing the next day, don’t have to pick up my bags, have a hotel room, dinner and breakfast on Air France.  A MUCH more civilized Plan!

While internet at the hotel was not working, the shower was amazing followed by a delightful buffet dinner.  Although I hadn’t eaten much bread for the last two years, a quick glance convinces me this would be a great time to enjoy some.  And enjoy I did, along with a lovely variety of french cheeses, red wine and, oh-lal-la, french pastry.  I had forgotten really, how much I enjoy France!

Dinner over, I had now been up for some 32 hours - words fail me to adequately describe how incredible it felt to be horizontal!!

Of some surprise this morning - heavy frost on the grass and cars - and dark here until 8:30 or so as well.  

I write this while I’m airborne to Delhi and before signing off, just a quick word about my decision to upgrade to Premium Economy.  Yesterday (Sunday), it was relatively quiet at the Charles de Gaulle airport - Monday morning, different story.  It was bedlam.  However, Premium Economy with Air France gets you to their priority boarding which begins at Passport Control!  So civilized - almost better even than NEXUS, once I found the access area, it was a breeze.

Shopping in the airport in Paris - are you kidding me??!!  Every amazing designer store ever.  The first pair of flats I looked at was only 325 euros - and the heels - 425 euros.   Can’t “rebeccize’ myself at these prices but glorious to look at!  And the chocolate!  The coffee shop had genuine french pastry - oh, the french in France.  

On board, its basically business class so all the extras that come with that.  Most interesting thing on this leg is that there are screens that give you basically the GoPro view of take-off.  So, you have the normal passenger window view but also exactly what the pilot is looking at as you taxi down and then take-off.  Very Cool.

Cheers for now.  I already miss you all, family and friends, but continue to be so happy that I got to see almost everyone in 2014.

Hugs

Sharyn

p.s.  Officially in India!!  Am at a hotel now its 1:44 am Tuesday the 6th.  Tomorrow I will be picked up, go to the airport to meet Alex, another volunteer coming in from Chicago, and then we’ll be driven to Jaipur, a 6.5 hour trip, I’m told!