The Weatherman

I returned home yesterday morning.  Unfortunately, I had no energy to work on photos until this morning.  Nothing posted yet.  But here goes a quick trip summary.

I spent last Sunday through Thursday morning in Dublin.  Overall a good week of work- I met with everyone I set out to meet plus I was able to spend some good time with my team.  Tuesday night was the drink Guinness while watching soccer night and on Wednesday I took the team to dinner at Chez Max (good call on the restaurant Oleg).  The weather was similar to Seattle – some rain, gray, cool, and a bit breezy.  I was able to get two runs  on Monday and Thursday – 5 laps around St Stephens Green.

Thursday afternoon I headed to Dublin airport for my 4:15pm flight to Munich on Aer Lingus.  Flying Aer Lingus to Europe from Dublin is easy – they have a revamped check-in area that is easy to get around.  Not much notable about the airport except for the fact that all the trash cans by gate are covered in Guinness glasses as everyone finishes their beers before boarding.   My flight had an Irish football club on it – they sang loudly for the whole flight (it was actually pretty cool).

I arrived a bit early in Munich.  First impressions of the Munich airport – very clean and organized.  I picked up my shuttle to the Marriott Munich Airport hotel.  Upon check-in, they had my name correct but all of the associated info (like address) was completely wrong.  No biggie, I just changed it.  My plan was to meet my coworkers in downtown Munich for some dinner.  They told me to catch the U6 blue line and it would cost 5 euro for a day pass.  At the hotel front desk they gave me a map to the subway and said the day pass would cost 10 euro.  Plus I would need to take the S1 blue line.  Hmmm – this was a bit odd, but oh well.  I got lost walking to the train station (took a right turn too early), but eventually found my way.  I hopped on the train and proceeded to blackberry my coworkers.  They said I had to go 5 stops.  That’s strange, I show 13 stops.  After going back and forth we realized that I was at a different hotel.  They were at the downtown Marriott where I was about 35 km out at the airport Marriott.  Oy ve.

I finally arrived at city center which has this huge plaza, church, and clock tower.  Very beautiful.  I arrived at the restaurant with my meal waiting for me and a full glass of wine – that was pretty cool.  Next up, we went to the Hofbrauhaus for some very large beers.  Upon their closing we returned to the downtown Marriott and closed down that bar.  Then I took a taxi back to my hotel getting in at around 3am.  That wasn’t so bad, except I had to get up at 6:30am and return via taxi to the downtown Marriott.

We drove up to Salzburg on Friday.  That took about 90 minutes.  We got checked in and headed out on the town.  It was absolutely beautiful in Salzburg – low 70s, no clouds, and now wind.  On Friday we toured Mirabell Gartens, Mozart’s home, the old town, and finally made our way up to the fortress overlooking Salzburg.  What an awesome fort with grand vistas of Salzburg valley and the Alps.  There we ate out on a patio enjoying the vistas.

We returned to the old town and sat out in one of the plazas enjoying an iced coffee.  That evening was mellow – hung out in the hotel bar drinking martinis and eating hamburgers.

Saturday started off with an 11 mile (110 min) run along the Salzach River.  Followed that up with an outdoor breakfast as the Salzach grill along the river – again, a very sunny 70 degree day.  That breakfast was probably the best meal as we enjoyed the weather and scenery.  We completed Saturday in Salzburg with shopping then returned to our Sheraton Hotel in Munich (out by the airport).  This hotel was at the end of a runway in Munich – so I really liked it.  It was also in the middle of farmland – so there were many tractors cruising along the streets.  We ate dinner at a cute Italian place down the road from our hotel.  Again, we ate outside on what was another beautiful evening.

I had a final beer in the hotel bar at the hotel on my last night.  I returned to my room only to find my room key didn’t work.  Down to the front desk to get it re-swiped.  Back to the room – it didn’t work again.  Back to the front desk.  This time the reception person came up with me.  Guess what, I was going to the wrong room.  That’s what 4 hotels in 4 nights in 3 different countries will do to you – not to mention the 2 bottles of wine, grappa, and beer.

Sunday was an uneventful flight back – Munich to Amsterdam to Seattle.

I flew out to Dublin overnight to hang with my team in our offices here.  This is my 3rd trip out – probably found the best/easiest flight combinations.  Northwest/Delta from Seattle to Amsterdam, then Aer Lingus from Amsterdam to Dublin.  Transfers are very easy in Amsterdam – way less hassle then at Heathrow.  The plane was nice as well – an A330 with on demand video entertainment in the headrest (I watched Quantum of Solace, Front/Nixon, and most of Body of Lies).  The only problem on the plane was where I sat – the last row.  You know what that means, right?  Anytime someone takes a real stinky shit – the odor attacks you in your seat.

Also, for the first time in my life I saw the Northern Lights.  We over Greenland and I noticed a glow out the window.  These were faint green lights slowly dancing across the sky.  It lasted about 15 minutes, but sure made the flight enjoyable.

Schiphol was a very easy airport to get around in.  I was a little concerned as I didn’t have my boarding pass for my connecting flight…but just outside my arrival gate were these ‘Transfer Desk’ kiosks.  I scanned my passport and Voila!  A boarding pass.  My next gate was about a 3 minute walk away.

I was able to get a room at the hotel (I arrived 3 hours before checkin).  So showered, took a 1 hour nap, then went for a walk.  I need to stay awake until 8 or 9pm so I can onto ‘normal’ schedule.

One final note, this was by far the hardest trip on me emotionally when leaving Steph and the kids.  It’s getting painful to leave them so long and go so far.  They’ll have to start going on these trips…Zach and Nate would love the pubs.