As you can imagine nothing much
happened in Dubai. Somehow we managed to see off four hours and then
boarded to plane to Düsseldorf. After about six hours flying time we
arrived at our destination. Thankfully the flight path we took
skirted Syria (but only just). Somewhat to our surprise, the Customs
check was actually in Düsseldorf.
We got through there very quickly
and then tried to figure out what to do next. No advice from the
Customs official was forthcoming. There were rows upon rows of
baggage carousels but we didn’t need to got there so as our bags
were booked through all the way to Berlin. After a lot of tooing and
froing we finally found a helpful airport work who explained that we
needed to follow the thin green line on the ground to get to our
connecting flight. There was not a single sign hanging from the
ceiling where most people will look for advice. Anyway we made it to
our gate with lots of time to spare. The flight to Berlin was only
about 45 minutes. Kerry got some more sleep and I had another listen
to the new Midweek Blues record.
Berlin airport has signs hanging
from the ceiling directing passengers with connecting flights – not
much good to us as we’d reached our final destination. The baggage
carousel spung into life and after a long wait two of our three
pieces of checked luggage appeared. We waited and waited for the
third piece but it didn’t materialise. Kerry’s suitcase was
lost!! She was not the only one, but that provided little comfort.
Eventually an official told us there were no more bags coming and
advise that we go to the Lost & Found section to report it
missing. BTW, no advice was forthcoming about what to do or where to
go. Just work it out for yourself!
It was bedlam in the L&F hall.
Completely shambolic. There is a self-service registration app that
runs on an iPad. There were just two working iPads in the place. One
chap who spoke English and one who didn’t were on hand to “help”
the weary travelers. Because we’re non-EU we had to also complete a
Customs declaration form in paper. On the form I need to quote my
registration number. “Where do I find that?”, I asked the English
speaking assistant. “It’s in the email the app sent you”. I
didn’t even bother to ask how they expected me to get to my email
from there. Luckily I had my computer with me, so I could. Colette
from South Africa didn’t so I lent her my computer when I’d
finished. What a debacle. So far the fabled German efficiency and
organisation is a myth. We wait inn hope that Kerry’s bag turns up.
A twenty-five minute taxi ride
later we arrived at our accommodation for the next five nights –
Karlito Apartmenthaus in Mitte, on the old East Berlin side. We found
an Italian place down at the nearby Rosentaler Platz, had a drink and
something to eat and then collapsed into bed.
Well! That's an adventure and a half already! But Kerry, has your bag actually turned up yet?
ReplyDeleteOnce again a very interesting read, Greg! Great photos again, too! Xx
It is so frustrating when your bag goes missing. Lucky you have scheduled a fee days in Berlin so you will be in town to collect Kerry's bag when it arrives. I hope you had all your important things in your carry-on and that it's only clothes you need. X
ReplyDeleteIt is so frustrating when your bag goes missing. Lucky you have scheduled a fee days in Berlin so you will be in town to collect Kerry's bag when it arrives. I hope you had all your important things in your carry-on and that it's only clothes you need. X
ReplyDelete