Vancouver-Frankfurt-Istanbul

Leaving Vancouver….?

I almost did not make it out of Vancouver. At 1445hrs they told me that I was not allowed on the plane. My plane was leaving at 1515Hrs. The Lufthansa people went on to tell me that they were trying page me since I had arrived. I am thinking ok they now are trying to blame me for this problem. They said I must go to AirCanada as there is an issue with my ticket. I will not get on this plane. I say what do you mean I am not getting on this plane… loud enough for the world to hear—I am flabbergasted and I am thinking there is no way you people are going to destroy my trip! The long and short of it - no one could tell me a rational reason why I was not going to be allowed on the plane. They said we do not know the whole story. Anyway, off I race to an air Canada counter to tell them how displeased I am with this decision. What happened then was an absolute miracle. (And I didn’t even have to cry—too much). After expressing the story very quickly, the lady looked up my details concurrently and was on the phone to the Lufthansa kiosk and basically chewed them out and sent me back with what ever paper they wanted. She basically told them it was highly unreasonable after giving me boarding passes to tell me 10 min before my flight I am not going when the issue was an administrative one between Lufthansa and Air Canada / Areoplan. She said it was also not very customer oriented to have made me chase all the way down there when it could have been resolved on the phone. (Which is what I said to the Lufthansa people to begin with!!)

So here I am, the last one to get on the plane and get settle. On the way down to the plane -I am getting oh so sorry. Whatever-I am feeling rather un friendly right now and I say nothing and turn my head. Once I settled into my eat- I see I have this model for a room mate for the next 12 hrs to Frankfurt. I am assuming she was a staff person as she was high taken care of by the other staff.

From this time forward, my 1st class experience was not what I had anticipated. I had a bad attitude and there was nothing that could please me. It was after 2 hrs of sitting on the tarmat waiting for the plane to get de-iced (yes that is right - snow again) and a short nap, I realized that I could have attitude and make my self and everyone else miserable or I could change my stinky attitude and think the happy thoughts that I should have thinking.
So I changed my attitude- the wine helped a lot- they did not have the champagne I dreamed about having… oh well… had bailey in my coffee. After a 5 course meal—we were all snuggled to our beds—yes yes the seats folded down to a bed—however, I still could not sleep. Then on awakening- we were served breakfast and then several hors later we arrived in Frankfurt.
I have pictures- but I will have to load them later as I have already taken so much time on this computer.


Arriving Frankfurt…

Sometimes I have this princess attitude and I just do not know why. We arrive in Frankfurt and it is cold and snowy. We arrive at the gate where I should go to meet my next flight to Istanbul. However, we are told because this plane is going to the USA we must take a bus and go to main terminal first. ????? Huh? Anyway, I am again miffed… relax princess go with the flow. God definitely has a sense of humor at this point because I get off the bus and rush into the main terminal (actually I didn’t know that is what it was at first-had no idea where I was or what was expected). Anyway, I rush over the board to see my flight status. All is well. Then, I rush over to the Lufthansa counter which is crowded with people. So, I ask this lady who looked somewhat friendly, where are we suppose to go and what am I suppose to do… she gives me a weird look and I say- I am sorry this is my first time over seas and I feel a bit lost. She started to smile and proceeded to help me out. Turns out this lady named Anita is from Victoria, BC (YES CANADA). I felt so much better to have another kindred spirit. We went through passport control which is the real reason we needed to come here… and then had some tea as we both had some time before our flight. We exchanged business cards so we could stay in touch. We connected quite well and I will be keeping in touch with her if not during definitely after the trip. She was a nice little God send. Anyway, I am totally exhausted and there were many other things that happened after this point but the long and short of it…. I got on the plane for another interesting experience…


Arrival Istanbul….
We have finally landed! I am here! OK this is good…things will get better and I will enjoy the rest of my princess dream…. NOT LOL
I go through to get my Visa which took all of 2 minutes or less…go figure! And then I proceeded to find the exit to meet my party who would be picking me up and taking me to the hotel. OMG—there was no one available. I am sinking now (once again). I wander around the airport for the next hour checking everyone’s sign and asking people at the kiosk for help. Of course no one can help you and no one has heard of my hotel and the big one—no one would look for the telephone number (which I was sure I had). Finally, I find a computer to check online for the number, I get the number and then no one will help me with a phone. Sooooooo- finally I am told- go to the post office. I am say-- I do not want the post office I need a phone… duh —anyway I start my way to the post office to use whatever phone… I am now extremely exhausted… 20 hrs of traveling and little sleep. Suddenly there was a new sign. Two young ladies with my name spelled wrong but my name none the less… I go---where have you been I have been looking for you. Long and short of it… I got my ride to hotel.

Arrival at the Hotel… ok I am looking and feeling like crapola… and I sign into this tiny boutique hotel—I wont mention the ride to this hotel or the ummm scenic route either.
I get here and the owner greets me and takes me to my awaited room. Again another sinker… it was not the suite. So he takes me to yet another room and it’s a bit bigger with a big bed versus the twin which was in the other room. (Don’t think I ever slept in a twin bed and I was not about to start.) Anyway, I take that Jacuzzi bath and hit the hay….. I slept till 3 am awoke and stayed up for a bit and took in the stillness. The air is raw here… and my eyes are burning from a combination of harsh air and lack of sleep. I go back to bed and then am awakened by singing from the Blue Mosque… my hotel sits right behind the Blue Mosque…. Ok this is 6 am and goes on for about 30 min. Then I am fine and get up and get ready for the day. I now need to check things out on line… only to find out the travel blog is down.  LOL
Life goes on… more later….

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