I initially wrote a post about how I’m still going to Sharm. Today U.S. Intel. suggested that an ISIS bomb was placed on the Russian plane. Based on information from the initial reports, I didn’t consider that there was a possibility of a bomb on board. Now, with more details emerging it seems like a plausible explanation.
The world has entered a new depth of darkness if this proves to be true. It can only mean more war, more bloodshed, and more terror is on the horizon. ISIS like al-Qeada has severely miscalculated the resolve of the civilized world. Russia will no doubt go about after ISIS much like the US retaliation after September 11th. Hopefully, some good can come of this as Russia and the United States work together to eradicate the plague of radicalism.
For the short-term, I am wondering if I should bother going to Sharm next week. I don’t fear for safety because I am assuming the Egyptians will step up their efforts to protect itself and tourists following this incident. The reason I am considering not going is because Sharm is a place where people go to enjoy the beach and unwind. It’s tragic that I will be going to the same place that many had enjoyed just a few days ago unaware of the evil that was being plotted against them.
At the same time, what will the atmosphere there be like? Will security be so strict that there is a chance that my return flight could be cancelled interrupting my travel plans? Is there a chance that ISIS could be emboldened to try again? Indeed, some Western air carriers are suspending flight to Sharm. This makes me further question what to do.
The whole situation is sickening. I’m still leaning towards going because the civilized world doesn’t change plans based on the actions of cowards. The question is whether this philosophy is responsible.
October 2015 was TPOL’s greatest month, equaling the readership in one month from when the blog began in March 2014 through December 2014. Thank you all for reading, commenting, and telling me what you like and dislike.
Hi Doug, Many thanks for the email. Unlike the email from United’s CEO Munoz to whom I wish a speedy recovery, this one will remain positive though I do have a few recommendations as to how you can make American the best airline in the world.
“There’s more to Hong Kong than LKF,” every local will advise. While this is true, there’s no better place to spend a few hours before your next flight than LKF.
This is the debrief for the Trip Report: That Champagne Lifestyle which evolved from a mileage run to London, to frustration at not getting in on the British sale quick enough, to despair from dealing with British customer service, to…champagne.
Cape Town is my second favorite city in the world next to Shanghai, China. There is too much to do and see in this city making TPOL’s Travel Philosophy of staying for 3-4 days inapplicable.
If you take a look at the New Year’s Roll Call Trip Report you’ll notice that the tradition of being out of the country for New Year’s Eve began in 2000 in Cancun, Mexico. From there it increasingly improved until last year’s destination which undoubtedly was the lamest place to ring in the New Year.
The time has come to go to Athens via London. I will continue to blog via my Blackberry over the coming weeks in the a-live section so the TPOL community knows that I’m a-live. Upon my return I’ll have too many lounges, hotels, and flights to review in the Trip Reports section but the random posts won’t be put on hold.
Before I go I’ll publish the Simply the Best: October 2015 which was the greatest month in TPOL’s history. The blog began in March 2014 with 70,000 views for the year. I matched this number for the month of October thanks to the readers and my permanent move to BoardingArea.
And now for the dramatic conclusion of my Virgin vs. Delta episode and more importantly the travel advice from the lessons I learned.
Virgin unfortunately has no European codeshare partners that go to Athens. I tried to see if I could pull anything off with Singapore Airlines but no such luck. In the end I booked Easyjet and hope that I don’t miss the connection going from Heathrow to Gatwick. Seriously London, why do you have so many airports? I’m hoping Virgin reimburses me for my missed time in Poland and this flight. It remains to be seen if Wizz Air and Aegean will issue a refund based on weather. When I called neither centers had a supervisor on duty so they said nothing could be done.
Delta, Delta, Delta surprised the hell out of me. I explained the situation to them and somehow they agreed to add-on London to Paris and Paris to Athens. Initially they wanted $200 in taxes + 25,000 Skypesos. Instead, the flight that originates in Montana, connects in Minneapolis, goes through Detroit, heads to London, flies through Paris, and terminates in Athens all in business/first will cost the original $5.60.
I commend you Delta for being so accommodating in the wake of this foggy incident.
That’s 6571 miles of business/first for $5.60. TPOL does it again.
The lessons I learned are as follows:
Booking directly with Virgin Atlantic should be avoided unless you are only going to London. In the event of a weather delay there won’t be any alternatives that you can add-on to your miles ticket.
Delta really could be a great airline if they showed consistency in customer service.
Booking points tickets results in greater flexibility than paying for the fare. As a result, I would hold off on the add-on tickets (LHR-WAW-ATH) until the very last-minute because plans always change and that’s probably money lost.
I’m glad I didn’t book the bus from LHR to London’s Luton Airport as now I’m going to Gatwick. Again, as obvious as it sounds, anything that is paid for is always harder to change than when it’s free.
Airlines do have the power to reconcile tickets. They’ll say no to just about everything but when it comes to weather the conditions of carriage allow for greater flexibility.
This morning I read that there was severe fog in London and thought I was lucky that I was flying to London not from London so my travel plans wouldn’t get interrupted. It didn’t occur to me that my plane to London would have to come from London.
En route from Toronto back to the D, I receive an unexpected email from Virgin Atlantic: “You’re flight from the D to London has been cancelled. You are now rebooked on DL…”
DL! DL! No, no no, I’m not flying DL anything to anywhere. Why? 1) It’s Delta. 2) It would’ve been on board a 767. 3) It’s Virgin Atlantic Upper Class business which includes pajamas and a bar. 4) I would miss my connection to Poland even if I flied DL.
I called Virgin and they quickly changed my flight with no fuss. In fact, they said if this fog interferes with my travel plans that I could submit an inquiry with customer service and they’d look into it. I’m not one to believe airlines but somehow I think they will make it right.
Besides no longer having a flight to Athens for a marathon I’m no longer going to run nor a way to get to a city in Egypt that I’m a bit wary of going to, I have a bigger problem. Its name is Delta.
Ms. TPOL is flying the same Virgin flight on Delta but guess who placed me on hold for an hour, didn’t want to change that flight to Virgin (regardless of reasons 1-4), and didn’t even bother to notify us that the flight was cancelled in the first place? The answer of course is Delta.
Had it not been for Virgin emailing, we would’ve arrived in Detroit to find that the bar in the sky was no longer available and would’ve been stranded in London trying to figure out how to get to Poland or Athens. Now, I’m still sort of stranded but have the luxuries of home without the element of surprise to try to solve this foggy problem.
I’ll be back with updates.
Photo of fog in London courtesy of Telegraph.co.uk
Sixteen weeks of training is done for the Athens marathon and in order to keep myself honest and motivated, here’s my weekly diary of all things marathon.
Here’s what happened this week:
Tendonitis has forced me to face the fact that I can’t run.
All the crap treatment did nothing.
I’m not going to run the race, very depressing.
Lions are awful, Michigan won!
Though I’m quitting, I don’t consider myself a quitter.
The investigation of the Russian jet liner that crashed after departing Sharm el-Sheikh is still in its early stages. Preliminary reports are attributing the crash to technical error though others are wondering if ISIS was involved. Indeed, ISIS is claiming responsibility for the crash which killed all 224 passengers on board.
One could make the argument that ISIS would shoot down a Russian plane in retaliation for Putin’s military action in Syria but it seems unlikely. First, how would ISIS have the capability to shoot a plane down at an altitude of 31,000 feet? This would suggest that the action was backed by a country which also would make little sense. Who would dare challenge Russia by doing something so bold?
I’m of the opinion that ISIS is claiming responsibility because they know they didn’t do it. This may sound counter intuitive but here is my reasoning:
The general public will read the headline that ISIS may have been involved. They will assume there is some connection thereby making the public more fearful of ISIS. The investigation will take months and the by the time it is completed the general public will have lost interest.
Although ISIS is a radical group of terrorists who seek to destroy everything in their path, they are not so irrational to take on Russia. The only reason they can claim responsibility is because they didn’t in fact do it.
Regardless of the cause, it is important to remember that 224 innocent people lost their lives. This is something the media forgets when they spend hours analyzing what could have gone wrong, especially when there weren’t Americans on board.
I booked my tickets to Sharm for after the Athens marathon and despite this tragic event, I’m not going to cancel them.
The Knysna South Africa Travel Guide is part of the Trip Report: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World which covers 5 Continents, 13 Countries, and 17 Cities.
Find the nerdy planning here. Find the picture preview here.
Given the weather and the duration of my time in Knysna, this will not be a comprehensive travel guide. Still, I can tell you what to do when it’s raining and pouring. To begin, Knsyna is a golfer’s paradise. I wasn’t a golfer at the time and am glad I wasn’t because it would’ve been quite the tragedy to travel all the way there and miss out on a few rounds in golf heaven. At the same time, I couldn’t go to one of the most secluded beaches, Noetzie Beach, to see the sand castle hotels.
From the Conrad Pezula, there is a free shuttle to town which is loaded with restaurants and shops. With nothing to do as a result of the weather, I practiced the art of drinking and eating till I could no more.
Time to drinkFresh oystersExcellent sushiRich peopleGolfSite seeing100 Rand=$7Spier was the winery I visited in Cape Town. Their best bottle was $14Sampling the local PinotageWith some delectable cheesesWhy not get another bottle? It’s raining after all.
The Conrad Pezula Hotel Review is part of the Trip Report: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World which covers 5 Continents, 13 Countries, and 17 Cities.
Find the nerdy planning here. Find the picture preview here.
Getting There: Good luck reaching the hotel if you didn’t rent a car. There are taxi drivers at the airport who will take you to the resort but prices must be negotiated.
I have used my Hilton Stay Certificates poorly. The first was at the Conrad Tokyo where I was out all hours and didn’t make use of the hotel. The second was at the Conrad Pezula located near Knysna, South Africa. In an effort to see more than beautiful Cape Town, I thought I would explore other parts of the country. At the same time, I was looking for a great award redemption. A room at the Conrad Pezula goes for $700 a night so I made the booking.
I soon learned there is a problem booking based on points not on practicality. First, I had to fly into Knysna. Then I had to take a taxi to the hotel. Then I had to tolerate the rain. Then I had to take a bus the next day to Port Elizabeth to catch my flight to Durban. I had no time to relax, to explore the city, or to appreciate the hotel. On paper, it was a great hotel redemption. In reality, it was a waste of time.
Here’s the brief hotel review:
Now that I’m a golfer, I would recommend a trip to the Conrad Pezula as its the home of the Pezula Championship Golf Course. Apart from that, given my short duration and sheer exhaustion upon arrival, I do not have much to say about this resort besides the fact that the one bedroom suite was spectacular and the grounds were well kept. Quite the shame but hopefully the travel advice written above made it worth the read.
The Cape Town South Africa Travel Guide is part of the Trip Report: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World which covers 5 Continents, 13 Countries, and 17 Cities.
Find the nerdy planning here. Find the picture preview here.
Here is the Cape Town Travel Guide using the Guns & Butter methodology:
A trip is composed of two factors: Labor And Lazy
Anything on the line (Production Possibilities Frontier for my fellow economists) is an efficient use of your time depending on your tastes and preferences.
Anything inside the line is inefficient as should be avoided.
Anything outside is aspirational but may be impossible to do given the constraints of time and resources.
The opportunity cost (what is given up) for relaxing and being Lazy is gained by being adventurous in the form of Labor and vice versa.
Welcome To Cape Town
Cape Town is my second favorite city in the world next to Shanghai, China. There is too much to do and see in this city making TPOL’s Travel Philosophy of staying for 3-4 days inapplicable. Add in the fact that it was New Years’ Eve and I most certainly did not experience everything that Cape Town has to offer. Having said that, I did quite a bit, so let’s begin.
Safety
The ignorant say, “I’d never travel to South Africa. It’s not safe.” The idiots say, “South Africa is perfectly safe.” The truth is South Africa, especially Johannesburg can be dangerous. Homes are equipped with complex alarm systems, electric fences, and attack dogs. Precautions including armed guards on standby are the norm. Future travelers must be aware of the situation before believing either extreme.
For example, when I arrived in Joburg I didn’t feel like paying the exorbitant taxi fee to get to Sandton, an upscale suburb outside the city center. An unauthorized taxi driver told me that he could get me there for half the fare. As a master bargainer, I thought I had struck a great deal. Right as I was going to get into his car, an armed policeman dressed in army fatigues pulled me aside and directed me to take the train. Upon arriving in Sandton, the front desk echoed the officer’s message: do not take unauthorized taxis as you open yourself to muggings and possible physical harm. It’s one thing to avoid the Prison of Posh and it’s another to be a cocky idiot oblivious to the fact that danger is lurking around the corner. Would I take a ride from a stranger in Detroit? Certainly not. Would I take a motorbike ride from a stranger in Saigon? Probably. Knowing where you are and not forsaking your common sense simply because you have traveled to plenty of countries goes without saying but it nevertheless must be said.
That was just one anecdote about my time in South Africa. It does not encapsulate the intricate struggles the country faces. The social, economic, and political strife that exists in South Africa is a fascinating subject. I will not attempt to summarize the history of apartheid, of Nelson Mandela, and the movement towards equality. It is something that everyone should study.
The Waterfront
The Minibus
Taxis in Cape Town are expensive. Uber was not around when I went. The cheap alternative was to take the minibus, an unregulated public transport system. Though I hate paying for taxis, I advise against taking the minibus because they are dangerous. Again these are my own anecdotes, but in one day I saw a flipped over minibus and another hit a pedestrian. The drivers, in a hurry to deliver the over packed vehicle, act recklessly.
Do not take the minibus
Walking
Just like any other big city, don’t go off exploring areas on foot if you don’t know where you are going. While it’s safe to walk to the Waterfront from the Radisson Blu, I wouldn’t recommend going for a stroll around the Doubletree. TPOL doesn’t support fear mongering but he also doesn’t go looking for trouble.
The Walk to the Water FrontMinutes away from the Radisson Blu
Table Mountain
Now that you’ve read the safety instructions in the seat back pocket in front of you, let’s have some fun by going up Table Mountain. On January 2nd, I took a taxi to Table Mountain in order to ride the cable car to the top and admire the view. When I arrived, the line was four hours long just to buy a ticket. (I believe you can get them online in advance.)
I overheard someone say that you could hike to the top in the scorching summer heat. Those in great shape could do it in a couple of hours which would be faster than waiting for the cable car. With no supplies, one bottle of water, and sandals, I decided to give it a go. I quickly realized that this wasn’t the best idea bet pressed forward anyway. My sandals weren’t ideal footwear for the terrain so I decided to go barefoot instead. That also wasn’t a great idea as the ground was burning hot. Though I do not recall my exact time, I believe I made it to the peak a lot faster than 2 hours judging from the photo time stamps.
The view to the topThe line for ticketsThe cable carUnobstructed view to the topThe routesHalfwayReady to quitDon’t go barefootThe topView from the top of the soccer stadium next to Radisson BluPast the soccer stadium is the WaterfrontRobben IslandCustomary Usain Bolt PicAnd some Colin KaepernickLion’s HeadDown via cable carCape Town from Table Mountain
The Beaches: Camps Bay, Clifton Beach, & False Beach
How can going to the beach be the third most laborious thing you do in Cape Town? The answer lies in the day you choose to go to the beach. I went to Camps Bay on January 1st which along with Boxing Day were historically the days when segregation laws were not enforced. The traffic was unbelievable, the crowds were overwhelming, and the sights and sounds were interesting, to say the least.
While careful not to make any generalizations about what I experienced that day, I will say that a lot of the policies that I encountered were peculiar. All the restaurants along the beach had ‘reservation only’ signs. I tried to get seated at a few places and was denied access. Too hungover to wander any further, I took matters into my own hands and sat myself at a table with a gentleman who let me pull up a chair. He was a white guy from Cape Town who without provocation started saying some of the most racist statements I have ever heard about black people in South Africa. He made no effort to speak quietly and nobody in the adjoining tables made an effort to silence him. In the midst of this, a black woman tried to be seated and was given the ‘reservation line’. She yelled at the waiter and said I’m an American and was finally given a table. The entire situation was surreal. Soon thereafter, the man left and I just sat there in shock at what I had witnessed. After that, I made my way to the beach but found it far too crowded. I took a few pictures and left.
Outside 85, Freezing Water at Camps BayCondos on the beachLion’s Head Camps BayGreat View from Camps BayThe BeachThe 12 Apostles Camps BayCouldnt find a taxi, had to walk up the hillView of Camps Bay
Next to Camps Bay is Clifton beach which is more tranquil. Another beach for surfing and dodging White Sharks is False Beach where the water is warm.
False BeachThe lookout crewNo sharks today
Nightlife
Cape Town is a party town. For New Year’s Eve I went to Shimmy Beach Club. While it has a nice setup, it never got too crowded. I left early and found myself at a house party up in the hills as if I were in Hollywood. The other nights I went to the following:
Club 31: High atop Cape Town is a great club with plenty of hip-hop.
Coco’s: This is the best club in Cape Town because of the music and $100 bottles of champagne.
Long Street: This is the Bourbon Street of Cape Town.
Bungalow: I didn’t go but heard it was upscale.
Prepare to party and drink till the morning.
Shimmy Beach ClubAll drinks $3
Wine & Penguins
Perhaps better than the slogan Guns & Butter is Wine & Penguins.
The Penguins at Boulders Beach
Go see the penguins. There is nothing cuter, yes cuter, than these adorable little guys swimming and walking around their own penguin sanctuary. It’s crazy to see penguins in the hot sun meandering around the beach. I couldn’t stop taking pictures and neither will you.
Welcome to BouldersSpheniscus demersusI know right!Just hangin outGoogle special effectsIt’s too hot for a penguinMe and the penguinsGoodbye penguins
The Wine
Next time I go to Cape Town, I will spend a couple of days in Stellenbosch properly exploring the wineries. South Africa has some excellent wine including Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and Pinotage. Pinotage is the ugly stepchild of reds and looked down upon by many winemakers.
The winery entranceLooks like Napa Chimney RockThe tastingThe grapesSecond wineryThe best pairingSpier WineryFancy redHard to believe busy Cape Town is nearbyThe barrelsMy retirement vineyard
The vineyards were picturesque further elevating the wonder that is Cape Town. In one day you can go to the beach, see penguins, drink wine, have a great meal, and attend a big party, all for pennies on the dollar.
The V&A Waterfront
The Waterfront is a great place to spend an afternoon relaxing. It’s walking distance from the Radisson Blu and has great views of Table Mountain. It’s also home to the best sushi I have ever had. My apologies to my Japanese friends in Tokyo.
Table Mountain from the WaterfrontMore of Table MountainAnd then I climbed that mountain behind meIn winter the clouds go right over table mountain like a blanket as seen here in summer
Eat
This brings me to the best and laziest thing to do in Cape Town: eat. Never mind the drama, for a moment let’s enjoy life by eating and drinking in Cape Town’s many great restaurants. The seafood is some of the best in the world, the venison goes great with the Shiraz, and I’ve already mentioned the sushi. All of it costs next to nothing so go ahead and order your own bottle of vino and then order another.
Bring you Sapphire: no foreign transaction feesA great pairing: Venison and ShirazView of Table Mountain from the restaurantYour own bottle$15 for all of thisSauvignon BlancThen i went to another restaurantAte some more $10Best sushi in the world, I mean in the world
Great White Shark Diving
This tourist trap adventure is something I didn’t get to experience because the tour guide hosed me. They said they couldn’t provide transport to the dive site which was over an hour away from Cape Town. Obviously without that I had no way of getting there and had to cancel last-minute. I would’ve enjoyed being stuck in a cage surrounded by great whites but perhaps I’ll go next time. Be careful which company you choose.
Robben Island
I couldn’t go to Robben Island because Nelson Mandela had just passed away and the tours were sold out. I heard there was a way to buy scalped tickets but that felt unsavory. Before going to South Africa, I encourage you to read about Nelson Mandela and what he went through for his country as this synopsis is not sufficient for a complete understanding of Mandela’s struggle. He spent 27 years in prison and upon his release became the first black president of South Africa. Under his leadership, the country began the transition from apartheid to integration. His powerful message of reconciliation when nobody could’ve blamed him for seeking revenge is unprecedented.
Nelson Mandela
Conclusion
South Africa faces many challenges and there are no clear solutions. It’s important not to overlook the injustice from apartheid simply because you are a tourist distracted by all the fun. At the same time, do not boycott South Africa and specifically Cape Town because you have heard that it is too dangerous. It is a country in transition that must be seen first-hand.
