2013 0730 – The Flights and Stockholm: Got to STL airport really early. Andy and Jake took us. Went to the gate which was packed with a NYC flight that should have taken off a while back but was then cancelled and people for a Minneapolis flight from the same gate. After all these folks cleared out, people filtered in for our flight. One woman sate right behind us, but talked on her phone turned in her seat so she was talking right at us – and it was a series of rants at loud volume.
Flight to Detroit left on time and got in a little early. Long walk (and moving sidewalks) from where we came in to the underground tunnel going to Concourse A and its long set of moving sidewalks … but a light show all around us, so okay. Emerging back into the light, we went into the Delta Sky Lounge where we did a FaceTime with Jeff. Really weren’t in there very long before it was time to board our Airbus 330-300 for Amsterdam. Business Class was nice. However, the seats and their backs needed mending since some looked worn while others didn’t have the back fully attached to the seat in front of it. Excellent service and food. Flight was fine. I slept only a couple of hours. Nice seats that go all the way down into a flat bed. Warm quilt and nice pillow. Flight was a bit over 7 hours. Got into Amsterdam 30 minutes early.
We had to go through passport control as we had expected so don't have to go through it in Sweden, I think. But had to go through security again. Marian went through the metal detector first. She then got a full body pat down including under the wires of her bra. I was fiddling around with my stuff and didn't see it. They wanted me to open my camera backpack and the agent opened each lens and the camera and looked at the filters, etc. I then went through the detector, but it buzzed. So I got a full pat down. And I mean full. Waist band, socks, armpits, you name it. We assembled ourselves and walked into the main part of the terminal and up to the KLM lounge.
So, onward to Stockholm! And that was delayed given some passengers didn’t show up and they had to sort through all the luggage to find theirs and take it off. But we got into Stockholm on time. Business Class on the KLM Boeing 737 was the first three rows, which were three across like coach, but a sign in the middle seat saying it was not to be occupied and was for more room. Well, more food.
Got into Stockholm and had a very long wait for the luggage to come up. They even apologized over the loudspeaker. Exiting, we found our Grand Hotel driver who took us the 40 km to the hotel in a lovely Mercedes. Hotel upgraded us to an even nicer room than we had reserved. Lovely view over the water, Room 536. Lovely place. Our third stay here, but the bellman who took our luggage up was actually born in the year we were last here – 1986. We asked.
Rainy afternoon. We went around the corner to an ATM to get some local currency. Then started to walk over to the old part of the city, Gamla Stan, but it started drizzling and then raining. Even with the umbrella we borrowed from the hotel, it was too messy to continue. So we returned to the hotel, I got my waterproof camera, and we got directions to a place TK had recommended, Svenskt Tenn, a place filled with gorgeous artisan furniture, fabrics, goodies. This is on the water at Nybroplan. So we continued walking along the water looking into shops and then retraced our steps back to the hotel. For some downtime before dinner at 7:00. We are weary given we’ve been up over 24 hours already with just a couple of hours sleep on the Detroit to Amsterdam flight segment.
About 6:30, we walked back over by Nybroplan and up the street to Riche for dinner. Was raining a bit and worse when we went home, but nice walk and not too far. Very busy place. They kept turning people away at the door the entire time we were there. And we were seated next to a couple from Saskatoon named Bill and Maureen Preston (found out names and place at dinner) who we had seen when waiting for our luggage here since they went with a person holding an Oceania Cruises sign. So we knew they had to be on our ship. Very nice people. He’s an attorney and they are about our age or a touch older (who can tell these days?). Came home and actually stayed up until about 10:30 before lights out, literally.
Flight to Detroit left on time and got in a little early. Long walk (and moving sidewalks) from where we came in to the underground tunnel going to Concourse A and its long set of moving sidewalks … but a light show all around us, so okay. Emerging back into the light, we went into the Delta Sky Lounge where we did a FaceTime with Jeff. Really weren’t in there very long before it was time to board our Airbus 330-300 for Amsterdam. Business Class was nice. However, the seats and their backs needed mending since some looked worn while others didn’t have the back fully attached to the seat in front of it. Excellent service and food. Flight was fine. I slept only a couple of hours. Nice seats that go all the way down into a flat bed. Warm quilt and nice pillow. Flight was a bit over 7 hours. Got into Amsterdam 30 minutes early.
We had to go through passport control as we had expected so don't have to go through it in Sweden, I think. But had to go through security again. Marian went through the metal detector first. She then got a full body pat down including under the wires of her bra. I was fiddling around with my stuff and didn't see it. They wanted me to open my camera backpack and the agent opened each lens and the camera and looked at the filters, etc. I then went through the detector, but it buzzed. So I got a full pat down. And I mean full. Waist band, socks, armpits, you name it. We assembled ourselves and walked into the main part of the terminal and up to the KLM lounge.
So, onward to Stockholm! And that was delayed given some passengers didn’t show up and they had to sort through all the luggage to find theirs and take it off. But we got into Stockholm on time. Business Class on the KLM Boeing 737 was the first three rows, which were three across like coach, but a sign in the middle seat saying it was not to be occupied and was for more room. Well, more food.
Got into Stockholm and had a very long wait for the luggage to come up. They even apologized over the loudspeaker. Exiting, we found our Grand Hotel driver who took us the 40 km to the hotel in a lovely Mercedes. Hotel upgraded us to an even nicer room than we had reserved. Lovely view over the water, Room 536. Lovely place. Our third stay here, but the bellman who took our luggage up was actually born in the year we were last here – 1986. We asked.
Rainy afternoon. We went around the corner to an ATM to get some local currency. Then started to walk over to the old part of the city, Gamla Stan, but it started drizzling and then raining. Even with the umbrella we borrowed from the hotel, it was too messy to continue. So we returned to the hotel, I got my waterproof camera, and we got directions to a place TK had recommended, Svenskt Tenn, a place filled with gorgeous artisan furniture, fabrics, goodies. This is on the water at Nybroplan. So we continued walking along the water looking into shops and then retraced our steps back to the hotel. For some downtime before dinner at 7:00. We are weary given we’ve been up over 24 hours already with just a couple of hours sleep on the Detroit to Amsterdam flight segment.
About 6:30, we walked back over by Nybroplan and up the street to Riche for dinner. Was raining a bit and worse when we went home, but nice walk and not too far. Very busy place. They kept turning people away at the door the entire time we were there. And we were seated next to a couple from Saskatoon named Bill and Maureen Preston (found out names and place at dinner) who we had seen when waiting for our luggage here since they went with a person holding an Oceania Cruises sign. So we knew they had to be on our ship. Very nice people. He’s an attorney and they are about our age or a touch older (who can tell these days?). Came home and actually stayed up until about 10:30 before lights out, literally.
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