The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
I left yesterday on a plane out of Orlando at 1:30 pm. I arrived today in Moscow at about 2:00. I AM WIPED!
Traveling injured is a mixed blessing. Sometimes, they show wonderful compassion, and sometimes you just get forgotten about. When I arrived at MCO (Orlando International Airport), I was ushered PAST the LONG line waiting to get through security. Somehow, I got separated from my phone, but I finally found it. Off to the appropriate gate.
The hop from Orlando to DC was OK, with only one hitch. They didn't know what to do with my knee scooter. So they put it into checked baggage, and promised it for me right after the flight. After a small search, they found it and luckily, the next gate was only a 100 meters from this one. I talked to a couple of people during the 2 hour wait and reported to my gate. The man at the counter was very helpful and reassigned me to a better seat... one with more room for my leg. They boarded me first, and I zoomed to the plane and... whoops! Incredibly narrow aisles. I couldn't ride my scooter to my seat: I had to hobble WITH my scooter. Then I had to man handle it into one of the overhead bins, because they aren't allowed to store that in their closet anymore. This was the LONGEST hop: to Frankfurt. YOW, my back hurt! Then we landed... There apparently was not enough room for the plane to used the normal gate. I had to WALK DOWN steps (in my cast) and board a bus to take us to the terminal. Once in the terminal, I could not find gate B61.
"Es ist gleich da druben" which was accompanied by a vague finger pointing. I went a hundred meters down the hall, only to hit a BIG stairway. "Wo ist der lift?" I asked a young woman. So we walked BACK the 100 meters to the elevator! You know, they even commented on the fact that I am currently disabled.
So up a lift, 150 meter travel, and down another lift. I had to pass through security, and they didn't like my knee scooter OR my cast. They took samples of the scooter, and made me take off my cast. Once on, I went another 25 meters to the gate and informed them I would need help. Well, there was no room for THIS plane either, and I had to go UP this time to get on. Then I went to my assigned seat and it wasn't there. No kidding. 24D just did not exist. Fortunately, the young man who was our steward was excellent, and re-arranged seating, so I would not be TOO uncomfortable. The food on the Lufhanza flight was EXCELLENT... far better than the American schlock. I sat next to a Russian man and was able to practice my Russian: I suck! The girl in the seat in front of us joined in the conversation, and I didn't think it was possible to speak that fast! Whew!
In Moscow, we had a normal gate... NO STAIRS! I zipped up to a rather longish line for Passport kontroll. I was resigned to a lengthy wait, when I was told to follow this man in a soldier's uniform. We went to the front of the line, where I was processed and then he escorted me and offered to carry my satchel. I got my bag (They were QUICK!) and he rolled my bag into customs, waved at the guy searching bags, and we breezed right through. Mikhail was waiting for me just outside and before I could even as much thank this nice man, he was gone.
So, into Mikhail's van and a wonderful ride through Moscow to my hotel. I will put up some pictures tonight or tomorrow!
Traveling injured is a mixed blessing. Sometimes, they show wonderful compassion, and sometimes you just get forgotten about. When I arrived at MCO (Orlando International Airport), I was ushered PAST the LONG line waiting to get through security. Somehow, I got separated from my phone, but I finally found it. Off to the appropriate gate.
The hop from Orlando to DC was OK, with only one hitch. They didn't know what to do with my knee scooter. So they put it into checked baggage, and promised it for me right after the flight. After a small search, they found it and luckily, the next gate was only a 100 meters from this one. I talked to a couple of people during the 2 hour wait and reported to my gate. The man at the counter was very helpful and reassigned me to a better seat... one with more room for my leg. They boarded me first, and I zoomed to the plane and... whoops! Incredibly narrow aisles. I couldn't ride my scooter to my seat: I had to hobble WITH my scooter. Then I had to man handle it into one of the overhead bins, because they aren't allowed to store that in their closet anymore. This was the LONGEST hop: to Frankfurt. YOW, my back hurt! Then we landed... There apparently was not enough room for the plane to used the normal gate. I had to WALK DOWN steps (in my cast) and board a bus to take us to the terminal. Once in the terminal, I could not find gate B61.
"Es ist gleich da druben" which was accompanied by a vague finger pointing. I went a hundred meters down the hall, only to hit a BIG stairway. "Wo ist der lift?" I asked a young woman. So we walked BACK the 100 meters to the elevator! You know, they even commented on the fact that I am currently disabled.
So up a lift, 150 meter travel, and down another lift. I had to pass through security, and they didn't like my knee scooter OR my cast. They took samples of the scooter, and made me take off my cast. Once on, I went another 25 meters to the gate and informed them I would need help. Well, there was no room for THIS plane either, and I had to go UP this time to get on. Then I went to my assigned seat and it wasn't there. No kidding. 24D just did not exist. Fortunately, the young man who was our steward was excellent, and re-arranged seating, so I would not be TOO uncomfortable. The food on the Lufhanza flight was EXCELLENT... far better than the American schlock. I sat next to a Russian man and was able to practice my Russian: I suck! The girl in the seat in front of us joined in the conversation, and I didn't think it was possible to speak that fast! Whew!
In Moscow, we had a normal gate... NO STAIRS! I zipped up to a rather longish line for Passport kontroll. I was resigned to a lengthy wait, when I was told to follow this man in a soldier's uniform. We went to the front of the line, where I was processed and then he escorted me and offered to carry my satchel. I got my bag (They were QUICK!) and he rolled my bag into customs, waved at the guy searching bags, and we breezed right through. Mikhail was waiting for me just outside and before I could even as much thank this nice man, he was gone.
So, into Mikhail's van and a wonderful ride through Moscow to my hotel. I will put up some pictures tonight or tomorrow!