Long and winding road
Saturday, July 8, 2006 at 1:32PM DATELINE: JFK, New York, 8 July 2006
An itinerary from hell, befitting Croatia's emerging but still somewhat slim connectivity.
1pm from Indy to JFK on Delta, but then a late night flight to Vienna, another 6 hour layover, and then two flights to get me to Dubrovnik. I will arrive at 9pm Sunday night after leaving home at 1115 Saturday morning. Even with the hours shift, that's a long haul.
So rather than sit so long in JFK (nice lounge for biz class), I hop an earlier flight to Vienna, basically giving me the day there (short train ride into town). This way I have more normal night.
Already decided to bag column effort on flights over. Rather, I'll write about East Central Europe and the conference. Might as well dance with them that brought me!
Plus, the Lufthansa lounge has two very nice German beers on tap (self-serve), and that proves too much for this Scot-Irish-German.
Now, the puzzle is, What to do in Vienna in such a short time? I plan on quizzing the stewards on the flight over.
Worst case? I wimp out on fatigue and watch the FIFA final in the Vienna biz lounge. Saw the end of the Germany romp over Portugal for 3rd place just now, so figure the final must be tomorrow.
Feeling a bit anxious. Hate all this flying, despite the cool locales. Will miss the reception Sunday night at some fortress in Dubrovnik (would have had to fly yesterday, apparently, to make it), but will get a full day with all the leaders on hand at the conference on Monday, ending with some cultural event that night at some other local landmark. My time will be completely booked in Croatia (land 2100 Sunday night, then 0800 to midnight on Monday, then 0600 flight Tuesday morn), so Vienna may be it for souvenirs...
I clutch my Beatles book like it's my bible for the weekend, the vast majority of which I will spend at 40,000 feet.
Reader Comments (1)
Oh you poor soul! The Adriatic in July....I am especially well-qualified for Balkan photography...too bad i am busy sitting at a laptop in Richmond, Virginia!