Page 94 – The Points Of Life

Traveling While Iraqi, Reading Signs, Misleading Hotels: Lessons from My #NoCollusion Trip

thepointsoflife

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September 28, 2020

Traveling While Iraqi, Reading Signs, Misleading Hotels: Lessons from My #NoCollusion Trip

I created the page, TPOL’s Travel Lessons, to document all the dumb things I did in the hopes I’d learn from my mistakes. Here’s what I learned from my #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL trip.

Don’t travel to Israel while Iraqi and expect a smooth entrance or exit (see Detained in Israel? Check The Back of Your Passport & “You Leave Only with Passport!” Detained in Tel Aviv Again).
Print your boarding pass ahead of time (see Wizz Air Terminal 1 Tel Aviv: Scammed at The Bus Station).
Don’t let your Priority Pass access lapse (see Churning Cards?).
Stay close to the nightlife in obscure countries that don’t have Uber (see Folie Marine Albania: Party Like A Rockstar, BYOD & Bollanos Hotel Albanian Riviera: Wait, Where Am I? ).
Stick to the plan (see Make Corfu Greek Again! How Tourism Ruined an Island)!
“Brand Hotel + Name of City” Doesn’t Equal Near City Centre (see Four Points Ljubljana: Not Near the Centre & Radisson Lisbon: No Thank You).
Don’t underestimate the time needed in transit (see Connecting in Madrid? Pack Extra Time, Connecting in Madrid: Pack Extra Time Part II, & Lost in Airports: Can’t You Read the Signs?).

Invalid request error occurred. — Only detained twice, never robbed, and didn’t miss a flight. Not bad for such a long trip.

Iberia MAD-SJU Business: Great to Fly Direct

thepointsoflife

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September 25, 2020

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Iberia MAD SJU Business Class Flight Review is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

I’m getting used to flying Iberia business. It’s a fantastic points deal (see Iberia Business Booked for 25k Avios! Best Deal Ever?) and unlike most flights in and out of Puerto Rico, which require a stop, the MAD-SJU route is direct. After weeks on the road, it was time to come home. Here’s how I did it:

a person's feet in sandals on a seat in an airplane — The red screen is familiar.

a close up of a device — So is the amenities kit.

a glass of orange juice on a napkin on a table — And freshly squeezed OJ.

a group of people on an airplane — Some happy TPOL readers who also are flying for free in business.

a group of people sitting on a plane — Those that don’t read my blog.

Food

The food on Iberia is good enough. It’s more about the wines and cheeses than the entree.

Relax

I’m not driving. Bring on the vino and dessert.

One Last Snack

Weeks of eating and binging were coming to an end.

Back in Puerto Rico

While the fun of this trip was ending, the fun of being home was just beginning.

Overall

My first option out of Puerto Rico is Iberia, in business of course.

Connecting in Madrid: Pack Extra Time Part II

thepointsoflife

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September 24, 2020

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Connecting in Madrid Part II is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

I’m back at Madrid Airport and just like before, I’m recounting the madness of making a connection. I may have been too cautious arriving from Lisbon via TAP at 9AM when my flight wasn’t until 8:25PM, but if I was cutting it close I would’ve found myself with major anxiety in trying to navigate the airport to make my connection.

Usted Está en T2

I landed in Terminal 2 and, to my chagrin, had to take a bus to Terminal 4. Already, I’m feeling overwhelmed wondering when the bus will come and making sure that I get on the right bus.

Bus

The bus came and was clearly marked, and it dropped me off at Terminal 4.

A Note on Airport Signs

Upon entering Terminal 4, I tried to follow the signs to my gate and got lost (see Lost in Airports: Can’t You Read the Signs?).

T4S?

Terminal 4 versus 4s? Come on man! The Russian, Arabic, Spanish, and Chinese make more sense to me than this sign Rosetta Stone (see TPOL The Polyglot: How To Learn Multiple Languages).

Arrival

I finally found my way to the Iberia Lounge. A drink was needed.

Lost in Airports: Can’t You Read the Signs?

thepointsoflife

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September 23, 2020

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I like writing posts detailing my stupidity as a traveler. I especially enjoy the critiques that come after revealing my shortcomings. Here’s another one for your amusement.

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?

I have issues with reading signs at airports. For example, in Minneapolis, I can’t find the other Delta Sky Club. I see the sign that says proceed straight and then somewhere between that sign and the club, I lose the scent. Where is the sign that says, “Arrived! Sky Club on the right”? I had a similar issue at SJU trying to find the other Priority Pass Lounge, but that was primarily due to bad directions in the app. Poorly posted placards are only partially to blame. The other issue is the meaning of the arrows. Here’s an easy one:

I’m on the ground floor and I understand that an exit means go outside. The arrow pointing down doesn’t mean go downstairs. But what do these arrows mean?
Does the Mcdonald’s sign say turn around and it’s behind me? Or does that sign say go downstairs? Or does the sign say make a u-turn and then go downstairs. Mind you, right next to me was an escalator.

Depending on the airport, sometimes my first instinct is correct. Sometimes I have to see what’s before door #3 before I get to where I need to be. This doesn’t improve my sign reading aptitude for the long-term as I still don’t know, looking at the sign now, where McDonald’s is.

Am I the lone idiot?

TAP Portugal LIS-MAD: 2 Gripes About a Short Flight

thepointsoflife

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September 22, 2020

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TAP Portugal is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

I’m sure someone will bitch about this bad Flight Review because that individual won’t get that I document each part of my trip as a way to tell a full story for future generations. I also do it to add to my ever growing list of airlines I have experienced. This review focuses on two things:

1. How much I hate taking the bus from the terminal. I would much rather walk down the jetway except for the fact that taking the bus gives me an opportunity to skip the line to the plane. That, of course, depends on picking the correct side of the bus.

2. My paranoia of missing my international flight which leads me to arrive way too early and spend way too much time at the Iberia Madrid Lounge. The flight to Madrid is one hour. It left at 6:55AM and arrived at 9:10AM. Even with a delay, I’m sure I could’ve taken a later flight given the 8:25PM departure time.

Priority Pass Lisbon: Another PP for the Books

thepointsoflife

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September 21, 2020

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Priority Pass Lisbon is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

Can we have a Priority Pass contest? How many have you visited? I’ve been to enough to know the ones that are yuck and the ones that are psychedelic (Fore! The PGA MSP Airport, Simply Awesome). The one in Lisbon was just a pit stop for a Coke Zero and a sandwich before my flight to Madrid en route to Puerto Rico on Iberia. Here are the pictures to prove my attendance:

Have you been to more Priority Passes Lounges than I?

Radisson Lisbon: No Thank You

thepointsoflife

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September 17, 2020

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Radisson Lisbon Hotel Review is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

I was looking for a cheap points option for my final days. I chose the Radisson Lisbon and regret doing so. It was far from the city center and the delicious cod and far from the pop in pub crawl. The real problem with the hotel was the air conditioner that was not working despite the scorching summer heat. I would trade a suite accommodation for a working a/c anytime. I would also trade a hotel that is more centrally located for the free points stay. Perhaps I should’ve done more research regarding location, but this was the last stop on a tour that included more cities than I can remember. For that, I give myself a break. For you, I present the photos:

Radisson Lisbon Hotel Review is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

Liberate B1G: Michigan Football Is Back

thepointsoflife

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September 16, 2020

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I previously wrote Sorry Harbaugh, College Football Should Be Cancelled. Today the Big Ten decided to bring it back starting October 24th for 8 weeks. My COVID concerns have not changed, but I am hoping that the experts know what they are doing and that the season will kickoff and be completed without interruption or disaster. The NBA and NHL have shown that this experiment works in a bubble. The NFL has shown that it can make life look normal even when it isn’t. Now, let’s see what happens with the NCAA.

Go Blue! I guess.

Pop In Pub Crawl: Lisbon, Portugal

thepointsoflife

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September 15, 2020

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Pub Crawl is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

A lazy way to see a city and make friends is a pub crawl. I’m not a big fan because it’s either an excuse to promote sex tourism or a sure-fire way to end up with a terrible hangover because the open bar is usually full of terrible toxins instead of quality cocktails. On the other hand, it’s far easier to meet people by joining a pub crawl instead of walking around solo. In Lisbon, I went to Barrio Alto and came across a group of crawlers. Instead of formally joining them, I hopped along from bar to bar until I met a different group of people and did the same.

A few drinks later, my new best friends and I went to Cais-do-Sodré, the Pink Street to visit for more bars. I left those friends and continued the cycle until this pop in pub crawl was over.

a group of people sitting at tables in a street — A view from above Pink Street

Do you sign up for pub crawls or do you prefer the pop in?

Bottom to Top: Doing Tourist Things in Lisbon

thepointsoflife

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September 14, 2020

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Doing Tourist Things in Lisbon is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

I wrote about seeing Luxembourg from Top to Bottom. Now it is time to see Lisbon from bottom to top.

Ginjinha do Rossio

After lunch in Rossio, it was time to explore. Liquid courage is needed for an impromptu adventure.

Like many other tourists, I waited in line for a shot.

Bonjardim Restaurant

After delicious cod, did I really need to eat more? Probably not, but when I read, “The best greasy spit-roasted chicken this side of Louisiana at the Bonjardim restaurant (Santo Antão, 11), appropriately nicknamed Rei dos Frangos,” (King of Chickens), on Lisbon’s Wikitravel page, I had to check it out. Could it beat Nairobi’s Jus Chicken?

The chicken was pretty good but doesn’t compare to New Orleans or Jus Chicken.

Glória Funicular

This train was constructed in 1885 and is a national landmark. It connects the Pombaline downtown (at the Restauradores Square) with the Bairro Alto (Garden/ Overlook of São Pedro de Alcântara).

a large building with a crane in the background — Restauradores Square

It’s nice to see and good for pictures but not a must-do.

Bairro Alto

a city with red roofs and trees — Walk or tram, just make sure you get to the top.

The Descent

The next step adventure is to walk to the bottom. I stopped at a brewery along the way.

One More Dinner

I wanted to relive the glory of the first cod restaurant and stopped at a random place for some wine and fish. It was good but doesn’t compare to the first experience.

Having reached the water, it was time to go return to the Radisson.