Why I Drive Rather Than Fly Around the World

Flying from Cape Town to London I was reminded why I prefer to drive across the world.  Settling into a small centre seat, I tucked my arms close in besides me as elbows of others next to me hogged the arm rests. Ready for take off I thought the air vent above must only work once we are in the air as there was no air flow. No air cooled me for the entire flight, I was hot and I am never hot. Even the airline staff complained about the heat in the plane.

I thought I would distract myself by watching a movie except my sound I do believe was connected to the engine of the plane. No problem I thought, I would read.

WTF my lights would not work. Now I kid you not! my remote and light switch turned on the reading light of the passenger behind me and my reading light above me was turned on by the remote of the person sitting in front of me. This is a plane flying a million miles above ground with me in it and the wiring is f…..

I should have driven it would have been safer.

Once landed and a quick google and I find the complainants department alias “Customer Relations.” I send a nice little complainant letter making sure I say the staff were lovely but the maintenance of the airplane needs some attention. I get a nice little letter acknowledging my “concern” and a reference number telling me they are currently experiencing a high level of concerns, go figure, but they appreciate blah blah blah and will get back to me soon.

Back at Heathrow I waited several hours for my next flight to Milan. I boarded the plane and was the last passenger near the very back. You know what that means, I don’t get a choice of meal.

“I am sorry we only have sandwiches left,” said the airhostess.

No problem I thought, I eat anything, I was hungry and a sandwich was good.

“We are out of salads,” said the airhostess.

I could not decide if the green stuff on my sandwich was soggy old lettuce or seaweed. Never did find out.

Later I needed to go to the very back of the plane and guess what I saw the airhostesses eating the salads they denied me. I should not have said the staff were “lovely.’ This concern letter is getting too complicated, next time I will drive for sure!

No boarding cards Need if Driving

Another flight ahead. It was time to leave Milan and fly to Casablanca, Morocco.

Good Bye Milano Italy

At Malpensa airport I noticed the sign, “One piece of hand luggage only allowed, Maximum weight 5 kg.”

This present a problem to me as I had 2 pieces of hand luggage. My camera equipment in a small backpack and a computer and jacket in a roll on. I immediately proceeded to fill my jacket pockets with lens, camera batteries, charges and filters. I then placed my cameras and large lens into the roll on bag. All I had to do now was hide my small backpack under my jackets.

Obviously every other passenger had the same dilemma and idea. Suddenly I felt I was in a camel market. Agitated passengers with humps and bumps under their clothing. It appeared many Africans passengers were returning home to Africa with Christmas presents for the entire village. Once on the plane chaos continued I thought there was going to be riots on the actual plane as folk tired to get all the hand luggage stuffed into the overhead bins. I even got my camera out just in case something exciting thing should happen. The airhostess just retreated to the safety of the captain’s cabin. Never seen anything like it.

Camel Humps

The last time we were in Morocco we arrived from Europe in our Land Cruiser. Driving sure beats flying any day.

Casablanca Morocco