[volkman10]

2012 - Nov

I am back with another travelogue, this time its the land of LEGO(Denmark) and IKEA (Sweden)
Since this was my official trip and last one of the year, so very less of site seeing, whatever I could see during my week's stay I am putting it up here.

Am quite familiar with this segment of travel and would go either Air France or Lufthansa, based on the transit time and ofcourse the cost as we are into some uncertainty called recession, hence budget cuts.
CDG airport in Paris always had surprises in the form of the Gates which at times was challenging meeting the transit time of an hour. Anyhow as the last visit, during early 2012 was no hassle free decided to take the AF route.

Following is the finalized itineary.

Bangalore ---> Paris (A330 -duration 10h45min) , Paris ---> CPH (A318 -Copenhagen- 1h50min), CPH ---train--> SWD (Sweden - ~3h),

SWD ---train--> CPH, CPH ---> Paris (A318 -2h), Paris ---> BLR (A330 - 9h15min)

Air Fare~ 58K INR
Train Fare ~5K INR

Preparing for the trip was no brainer in terms of wear etc as can't expect temperatures in double digits at this time of the year.
Currency part becomes complex since here it involves Euro's, Danish Krone (DKK) and Swedish Krona (SEK), that is where the world card becomes very handy.
Opted for the Citibank world money card (Euro) and is the most convenient mode of transactioin.


Travel Day
Taken the trusted Meru Cab (Etios) and an hour + drive looked like a torture with the pathetic road condidtion ( road + construction work+ rain) to the airport. Always trusted the Meru service as am impressed with their serrvice.
Airport seem a less crowded than normal maybe due to being a weekday or could be since AF schedule is earlier than the other flights.

After the normal formalities of checking in, security check the wait begins for the boarding call.There is nothing much to do in the BLR airport, so it is just an hour of time at the coffee shop!

@ BLR Airport


Next was the agony of staying awake till atleast when dinner is served. As always demanded got the aisle seat and a vacant seat so spared me of the agony of having small talk with the co-passenger, which generally ended up one sided as I am not good at it.
Some okay food and drinks, with nice collection of music, landed at CDG -Paris @ 8:30, cool 5 minutes before schedule.
Normally as seen most are in a hurry ( not sure if this is a habit or to catch connecting flights) collecting their baggage before the docking of the a/craft.
Outside temperature od 4deg C was mild as was expecting to be more harsh and soon we were in Terminal 2E.

Showed no such urgency as I had a cool 3 hours of transit. Arrived at Termial 2E and proceeded to the passport control for immigration. Not being crowded was out in a few minutes and proceeded to Terminal 2F for the next lap of the journey.
To be noted it would take just a few minutes waltzing from 2E to 2F and the corresponding gate to the connecting flight -AF2350.


Breakfast counter- Unlike other European French breakfast is more lighter and are never served with meat. Bread, baguette, croissants, cakes, pastries, fruits, yoghurt and coffee/tea.



Renovated 2F Terminal


Gate to the Scandinavian flight - a bit crowded with passengers for Turin and Copenhagen sharing the place (Gates 41 & 42)


A five minute delay after which the boarding starts and a coach takes us to the aircraft (~ 5 minuutes drive).

For short flights, prefer the window seat.

Readying for take off

Configured for take off


Roll out and off the ground

[volkman10]

View of CPH from the sky!




..and from the ground @ 4 deg C





CPH airport ..Little mermaid replica (minature)


Proceeded to Sweden by train, station is co-located at the exit of the airport hallway.

[volkman10]

Due to a hectic schedule, could manage only a few pictures.
At 100 Euro a day the accomodation at Scandic was great. A bit far from the city hence need to commute by car from the railway station.



Aircraft crew checking in at hotel Scandic


Waste management strats @home and is eveident on streets.


Was there when the results of the US elections were trickling in. The TV screens were flahing updates and all discussions were around this and seemed happy with the outcome.


Here is how the street looks at 8 pm @ 2 deg C and week day!

Gas prices ( ~115 INR/l )


Unfortunately due to a glitch in the format of the memory card further pictures were lost, all of the CPH pics.

Copenhagen due to its tax (duty) structure on cars, hinders owing private cars to some extent. Taxis are rampant. Stayed at Hilton CPH Airport hotel ( 201 Euro/day) very convenient as it is connected tothe airport through a covered walkway.
Visited the Little Mermaid (statue of a ravishing mermaid), Round Tower (oldest functioning observatory in Europe) and Stroget (city center)

CPH A/port


Proceed to CDG Paris thinking that the 2 hours gap is sufficient for transit
but it was a close as the gate for the Bangalore flight seem remotely located. Added to this the chaos at the passport controlis worse than seen here too. Through this have vouched to give transit at Paris as a last alternative to any of my future travels.

[volkman10]

2013 - Jan

Well it is not a good thing to look forward to when you have a trip to Sweden in the early (Jan-Mar) part of the year. Not much could be done anyways and made arrangements for the trip.
AF was ruled out due to the experience from the previous trip hence had to decide between Lufthansa and Qatar Airways(QR). Have not flown by QR but QR is cheaper by 10k is a factor to consider.
However when finalizing the actual dates QR was ruled out as they were not only on certain dates from Stockholm.

Finalised bookings with LH.

BLR-->FRA-->SWD-->FRA-->BLR (PLANNED)

..and this is what happened!

<-----Lufthansa-------------> <----QATAR AIRWAYS------>
BLR -->FRA-->SWD-->FRA --> DAMMAN(SAUDI)-->DOHA-->BLR (Destiny has more in store)

Preparing for the trip, unlike last time was more in terms of thermal and winter wear etc as winter in SWD could be from mild to extreme!
Nothing to comment on the flight– hostesses with automated greetings, insipid food with only consolation of having the aisle seat. Flight is as usual full.

Landed at Frankfurt, mild rain and temp @ 4 deg c seemed a mild winter. Completed the passport control and since had 2 hours of transit time just lazed though the airport. Since was a week day the airport never seemed crowded.

Never seen this before,new addition at the airport


De-icing of an aircraft - could be indications of severe winter elsewhere in Eu!


A two hour trip from Fankfurt to Arlanda airport (Stockholm). Temperature of 2 deg C, though cold, was relatively okay as was mentally prepared for more freezing!
Welcome to the land of Borg, ABBA, Alfred Nobel was what the sign board read.


ABBA- A tribute ( with songs playing in the background)


The conveyor belt - baggage collection


The yellow line drawn for passengers not to cross until identifying the bag.


A two hour drive (Cab) through the highway to a southern city. Temperatures at -2 deg C and light snow. Great scenic view from the cab.

Just outside the airport


Highway drive - view




Highway patrol intercepting and physically checking all cars due to robbery in a highway shop!


The hotel (Comfort) @ 100 Euro/day was a good deal with breakfast included.


Breakfast spread



And this is what you see and experience outside @ -5 deg c and snowing, the effort on walking on this is similar to a stroll in a beach.





Visited the Munktell museum - 170 years of Swedish industrial history. Many firsts of equipments -the first Swedish tractor, etc.

Clockwork -1842



Transportable seam locomobile-source of power in agriculture and industry-yr 1853, 6500 numbers produced between 1853 - 1921.



Agricultural tractor - yr 1913.



A way of relaxing, afrer a hectic day -Bowling!



Typical Swedish supermarket. Swedish chocolates(recommend- Daim) are worth a try!

Diam - Truly Swedish

[volkman10]

Another day, temperatures now reach -25deg c, more snow, but very scenic, at times, as it is very bright.



Snow being cleared from driveway.

Winter gear at its best

Heater on specific locations - for having the cabin warm and saving time from scraping ice on the windshield.etc


Very scenic





Lunch @ in an Italian restaurant.



Note the snowcapped table, seen outside!


Highway scene on return to Stockholm


Radisson Blu- Skycity, located in the airport is a very convenient place especially for taking the early flights. At 200+ Euro/day it is worth it.

Way to the rooms!

Spacious room

View from the room - into the runway!

Shopping centre and the gates


With the flight scheduled at 9 am from Stockholm (and a two hour transit at Frankfurt) seemed ample time for do some window shopping at both locations!

Some pics of the Swedish airport duty free shops!




Just had a look at the runway to be sure the snow would not cause any delay in take off, saw lots of activity and presumed there woud be no delay.


And then the inevitable announcement comes, delay in takeoff as Frankfurt airport is having freezing rain (ice sleet).

Some passengers do what is best at these times- nap! I go for another stroll and take a few more pics.


The much awaited announcement comes, boarding commences and flight takes off at 11:00am. On approaching Frankfurt announcements made for the respective gates of transit flights, of which Bangalore is one.

Reach the gate at 1:05pm and as expected the gate was closed. Frankfurt airport seem in chaos as the airport is partly shut due to ice. Directed to the LH transfer centre and seemed a flight to Damman ( Never knew a place existed like this, googled and came to know it is part of Saudi Arabia) and connecting to Bangalore frome there. Flight time was scheduled to be at 7:00 pm and transit at Damman seem more than sufficient as there was 5 hours!
But nature has another plan - Frankfurt airport is declared closed. More ice and many flights cancelled. Announcement on delay of flight due to ice and the wait now continues in Frankfurt!
Boarding takes place at 9:00 pm, de-icing completed at 10:30 and take off is at 11:30. Reach Damman 5 minutes after the departure of the Bangalore( Saudi Airlines) and now stranded in Damman. Only consolation have two more unlucky souls, one Indian and another Danish- headed the same route!

Damman seemed strange after visiting the Eu airports. A systematic railway station?
Seemed a place for skilled workers, standing in queue for visa. Airport is bare and no hoardings!

Damman A/port



Never stood in the queue, but soon some airport personnel authority enquired and understood our plight. Another guy from Saudi Airlines arrive, forntuanely an Indian( from God's Own country), and inform the rule of paasengers cannot be in Transit here for more than 8 hours.
Another Indian joins( again from the same state) with our next itinerary from Doha to Bangalore through Qatar Airways! Thanks to the two Indians - were again put through the security check( seemed a fast lane) and was taken to the Business Lounge for a waiting period of 2 hours.

Damman Airport

[volkman10]

Finally come to the last lap of the long trip, enter Qatar Airways (QR) flight, and a refreshing change from the normal LH/AF ones. New gen aircraft, seats seemed larger and ample space, courteous crew, great refreshments.


DOHA airport


Special attention to detail for the Privielge club passengers (Doha -Bangalore)

Special van for transfer to Privelege lounge



Special check in and security check, after which is the Privelege club lounge - pampered and luxury to a different level!
After security check -escalator leading to the lounge





Enter the Premium lounge - an 8 hour transit is no problem - all amenities are provided , ultimate luxury!







Exclusive Duty free shops




View to the outside - Doha city



Finally its about time for heading back, convenient again as gate is located below the lounge, special bus takes us to the aircraft.



Its an A320 for the final lap of a 4 hour flight in QR (a new aircraft), courteous crew and great ambience!



Final shot of the customs control at Bangalore, never seen like this before. When flights from Paris, Dubai, Thailand and Doha land this at Bangalore this is what you have to go through!
Queue for immigration clearance at Bangalore (~ 30min)


A trip with a mix of feelings but what is refreshing of the whole deal is the Winter in Sweden and Qatar Airways (QR ) to me is is really a discovery which would be on top of my list, especially for winter travel to Eu.

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Travelogues Section. Thanks for sharing!

[volkman10]

2013 - June

Update on another Sweden - CPH trip

The Swedish regional train (SWD- CPH)


Sign of the beautiful mid summer ( Temp@ 20 deg C)

Barbeque evening - tie at 9 pm, sun yet to set!


Indian food seem popular - Two restaurants on the same street!



Beautiful Copenhagen (bright at 9 pm)- summer and June 21st -longest day



The sun set at 11:00 pm- awesome sight!


Final shot of some CPH beauties!

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Heater on specific locations - for having the cabin warm and saving time from scraping ice on the windshield.etc
Attachment 1045468

That is the Engine Block Heater. Not car heater. Heats only the engine block to enable cranking of the engine. thats it.
one still has to scrape the ICE off the windshield.

There is another gadget called car heater which is a device that is mounted inside that warms the inside of the car. This is optional. I don't have it in Finland where I live. However, that does not run off the Sockets in the parking lot.

Originally Posted by volkman10

Radisson Blu- Skycity, located in the airport is a very convenient place especially for taking the early flights. At 200+ Euro/day it is worth it.
Attachment 1045463

@200 EUR, Radisson Blu in the airport is very very expensive. If I need a quick shut eye in Stockholm and I have to take an early morning flight, I use the Rest n Fly. much much cheaper.

[volkman10]

March 2014 Visit

Unexpected high temperatures at this season in Sweden, at temperatures ranging from 0 to 5 deg C. Guess the snowstorms have now settled in US.



Swedish Highway



City Roads







Population figures in Eskilstuna city









Was once a Bofors factory




German cars in demand and VW, Audi and BMW top the list. Suzuki's Swift, Grand Vitara and Ritz are seen.


The majority are Volvo cars


The 900+SEK hotel is convenient since located at the airport, especially for early morning flights.

[samikc]

Pictures of Sweden bought back the memories of my trip there in 2013. I stayed near Glama Stan, Scandic Sjöfartshotellet. I was there in a business trip did not get a chance to explore the city a lot, but saw the place where the Nobel prize ceremony take place.

[volkman10]

Denmark -Copenhagen visit June 2014

Denmark ranked as the happiest nation in the world, trusting nature of its people, choose the kind of life they want to live and Danes attitude to money is refreshingly different than other countries in the way they don't spend it on big houses or cars rather they spend them on socializing.
Copenhagen is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world – with priority bicycle green waves and bicycle-friendly traffic regulation supports Copenhagen’s Ambitious Push
To Be Carbon Neutral by 2025.By 2025, the city wants 75 percent of trips to be made by foot, bike, or public transit..

Rest in Pictures.
Copenhagen - by train



Typical Danish road, houses done in a blend of traditional with Modern architectural style.






The humble Swift is very popular - seems one of Suzuki's European market. Note the Swift was spotted in the same street, many more were seen in other areas.




And an Alto!


Gelling with the Summer weather , the beautiful roses in Denmark