Travelling can be lots of fun

Not in a nice way, I'll admit. But I never said I was above pettiness.

I went to the airport around 12.15 yesterday, because it's hadj time now, and those pilgrims have a way of creating traffic jams. Traffic was ok though, even though the airport was swarming with men clad in enormous white towels ( I kid you not, they were towels, I looked as closely as unobtrusvely possible, and they were terrycloth, with fringes. The men must get a lot of health fresh air round their privates...). The queues in front of the 2 Austrian Airlines economy check-in counters were impressive, and that was 2 hours before departure. Embassy staff gets special treatment insofar as we can check in at the business class counter, even if we've booked economy. It's a kind of quid-pro-quo, because Austrian staff doesn't need appointments for submitting their visa applications but may come to the Embassy at any time.
The staff know me of course, and I had a brief, friendly conversation with the lady, who looked at the never-ending queues of people with lots of small children and then said she'd upgrade me. I have to admit that I accepted, although I wasn't sure whether it was a god thing: business is smaller than economy, and as I knew the Ambassador was on the same flight and was sure they'd upgrade her as well, the danger of her sitting next to me was significantly increased in business. But one look at the screaming toddlers convinced me and I said yes, thanks, how very kind.
With plenty of time left after checking in I went to have a coffee and read my book in dignified leisure. Gabriele texted me at 13.45, informing me that the Ambassador had only just left. (She adores our driver, who goes at a speed that makes me completely sick, apart from being illegal - like 180 km/h, no matter if the road is wet)
She evidently made it in time, because she was on the flight, but... in economy. In the row behind mine, on the other side, to be exact. Her face was absolutely fucking priceless.

And there was another 'surprise' for me, this one completely devoid of pettiness: Usually, the wind in Vienna comes from the north-west, so landing planes have to approach from the south-east. Yesterday was one of the rare exceptions with a south-easterly wind, so the plane went on almost till St. Pölten (detail for the Austrians), to veer right and go back south-eastwards. We were already flying very low when we reached the outskirts of  Vienna, and Schönbrunn was clearly visible with the Christmas tree in front of the castle, and it was shortly before sunset... So, so beautiful. I do love this city.

I'd completely forgotten that at this time of year, it's still pitch dark at 7 a.m. in Vienna - in Ankara, it's already bright daylight. I feel very virtuous being up and about in the dark. But well rested after 8 hours of sleep.

I'll be meeting my ex-sister-in-law at 10 for an extended breakfast - we haven't seen each other for about a year - and go shopping in the afternoon. Probably not a wise idea, because of all the Christmas shoppers, but I won't be able to do it on Monday (whining day at the Ministry), and Tuesday afternoon belongs to mum. So today it is, and I'll have to arm myself with patience. Maybe the economic crisis means fewer shoppers, who knows.