It’s time to pack up my Paris apartment, which I’ve happily settled into, even with it’s quirky decor and bid au revoir to Paris. The bedside lamps are truly bizarre – Greco Roman statues of women holding grapes, torsos on plinths, with a square lampshade on the top. I’ve learnt not to look at them.
Today it’s off to Oslo, where I’ll be for 5 days or so before the start of the Arctic expedition on the 17th. Despite the fact that it’s only a 2 hour flight to Oslo, it’s really an eight hour marathon. I’ve booked the shuttle bus rather than use a taxi or battle the suitcase to the airport bus. If I didn’t need to pack hiking boots, thick socks, a waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, hat, gloves, thermals, hiking pants and a technical layer, I’d be carrying hand luggage. My biggest problem then would be dead-lifting the 11kg of cameras into the overhead locker on the plane.
Anyway, the shuttle is late. Not a problem as I’ve booked it for 3.5 hours before the plane departs. The usual story – two US women already on board who can’t understand the concept of “it costs less than a taxi because it’s SHARED and has to pick other people up’. Therefore you don’t get taken straight to the airport.
I love SAS as an airline. I arrive at the check in counter expecting to pay extra for the 2.8kg my bag weighs over the 23kg allowance. Not so much as a murmur. “Have a nice flight, madam”. Well, I will now! Â Security screening seems to follow a pattern for me in CDG. The sight of a bag carrying a few cameras tends to send the security staff into a tizz, and an explosives check seems to be mandatory. No matter, everyone is happy in the end – me in particular as French manners means that security guard leaves everything as she finds it and even does up all of the zips and clips with a smile.
I love SAS. Even though the plane is a 737, it is geared for long-limbed Scandinavians, which means – legroom! My knees are nowhere near the seat in front of me, and through careful on-line seat selection, there is no-one in the seat next to me. The closest to the perfect economy flight you can get. Did I mention I bought the ticket months ago for $AUD89, of which $50 was taxes. The best $30 flight going 🙂
Much to my surprise, and contrary to instructions, there IS someone waiting to meet me at Oslo airport. Just as well they are dead centre against the arrivals barrier with a big sign, or I’d have not been looking out for them on the way to the airport train. A car transfer has meant not lugging the suitcase to the train station for Oslo’s very civilised airport train service.
Welcome to Oslo and au revoir Paris until I see you again on my homeward journey in August!
