Photos-O
Picture at right is of the cruise terminal at Muscat, Oman. The ship to the right is a yacht.
Ken talked us into using Azamara's ChoiceAir flight arrangements for this trip and we're glad he did. Our original return was on a United ticket but Air Canada flights, from Dubai to Toronto nonstop over-night and then to Miami during the day.
Our quick-change new flights were on Swiss air iron (same UA ticket) from Muscat to Zurich via Dubai, then non-stop Miami. But MIA became unusable because they ddin't have sufficient screening ability.
So, the above flights were cancelled during the night and now we have an arrangement on Oman Air to Frankfurt, then Delta to JFK and MIA.
We loafed then had lunch in the Patio with Ed & Cathy. Took naps in the afternoon, then played General Trivia - we WON. But British music was next so we didn't even try. D got 3.
Then waiting in the cabin (luggage was taken away earlier) for transport to the airport. Don't know why we have to leave at 1915 for our 0255 flight. Hope the lounge is comfortable.
As we left the ship, we were given this letter regarding health on-board.
The airport was new in 2018 and is fabulous. Marble & glass everywhere. A huge number of people staffing it, even at midnight in the First/Business Lounge. We ate a light dinner in the Lounge, then read and played solitaire.
The photo at right is of the B7 boarding area. The gate is at the top on level 4, the boarding tunnel is on level 3.
At 0140 on 14 March we boarded the A330-300 and took seats 14J&K in business. After takeoff, I took a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, then flattened the seat, pulled a blanket over me and slept almost all the way to Frankfurt. The flight took just under eight hours, so I did very well. I ate nothing and let the Arabic announcements go over my head. D doesn't sleep well on airplanes but dozed a little. Nice enough flight, quite comfortable.
3/14 Continued. Currently, we're about 0620 EST, a hundred miles west of Shannon. But back to our Frankfurt episode.
At Muscat we had not been able to check in or get boarding passes for our leg from FRA to JFK. And the turn-around time in Frankfurt was a little short.
But we found the train from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 and got there rapidly. Then, our flight was using gate D1, close at hand.
D had an encounter with the security inspector about the battery-powered headset in her purse triggering the X-ray machine. She had to wait while the security guy searched the bags of several young Mormon missionaries, which made O a little nervous since it was close to boarding time.
Boarding took place a half-hour later. That's when we found that D & I were the only two passengers in Business. We were attended by the Chef and the Chief Steward, Tim, who took the photo.
Tim told us they flew yesterday with 140 passengers in a plane that can hold double that. Today, they expected 100 passengers but only had 60. Tim says they're still going to fly the route Monday as well, taking American citizens back to the States and Europeans back to Europe.
We had Mimosa and Bloody Mary, then breakfast of nibbles and then apple-raisin filled french toast that was absolutely wonderful.
D took a trip to the toilet and remarked sarcastically that it was clean and had no line waiting for access.
The flight was smooth but clouds covered the sea and land until we were over Rhode Island.
After we put our info into the kiosk we were shuffled into a special line, where our photo including biometric data was taken for the TSA data base. Not sure I like this.
Then we had to pick up our luggage and take it through customs. We had nothing to declare so we were directed around the corner to re-check it. Then we had to pass through security again.
We were also issued a warning about the Novel Virus that's spreading and causing all sorts of tribulation (right).
We then walked a long way to the SkyClub near B31, where we were told our flight would depart from C62 in the next terminal. We caught a golf cart to the bus for T2, and went to the SkyClub there to wait for our plane.
After a quick drink, we boarded the plane and flew a VERY bumpy ride to Miami due to the 100-knot tail wind on the leading edge of a front.
There, we picked up our luggage and hauled it to the MIA Hotel (photo) in the terminal. We checked in, put our stuff in the room and went down to a light dinner. Back to the room, and turned out the lights at 2130 after many hours of travel.
3/15
We got up around 0630 after ten hours or so of sleep. We had breakfast, then called the long-term parking people. After a series of episodes we were driven to the lot and claimed our mini-van. We drove home via Florida's Turnpike and I-95. We got off I-95 before St Augustine due to reports of an accident ahead. Into StA on US-1, then A1A to the condo. And we're home.
This is the end of this saga. The virus is its own story.