Waiting…
Waiting is a large part of travel. On our last day in Budapest we packed our bags and put them outside the room at the appropriate time. Then we had breakfast and set ourselves up in the ship’s lounge with old friends and new for a last goodbye. Then we sat waiting for our own transfer to the airport.
Then we stood waiting for the check-in to open for our Easyjet flight.
Yes, dear reader, Easyjet. We usually travel business class. It’s much more comfortable for older folks like us. But sometimes needs must. We’d flown on Easyjet some years ago, from Milan to Bordeaux, and decided back then that once was enough. But we were faced with a similar situation. Easyjet covers flights between destinations the big airlines disdain. To get on our Scenic cruise starting in Lyon we had to get to Lyon on the same day we left the Ostara in Budapest. There was only one flight.
So we stood waiting for the check-in to open for Easyjet, chatting to a couple who were also heading to Lyon to join a river cruise – but they were going on Viking. Safely checked, we joined a conga line of about a million people going through security. Europe is full of people taking short trips – something that doesn’t happen in Australia.
Waiting from there consisted of sitting in a coffee shop until it seemed reasonable to get out the cut lunch and compass for the trek to the boarding gate – at the furthest extreme of the airport. Fortunately, the plane was on time. We clambered up the stairs, trying to ignore the freezing drizzle.
Pete got the window seat and was treated to spectacular views of the snow-covered Alps.
Our trip had all been organised in Australia and we were expecting to meet a Scenic rep to transfer us to the ship, so we said a hearty g’day to the lady with the Scenic sign. Except she wasn’t waiting for us. Another couple arrived just behind us, also from an Easyjet flight – but from Munich. She was expecting them. Serendipity shone on us. If that couple had been ahead of us, she would have left without us. A phone call verified we were entitled to a transfer so we arrived just in time for dinner.
Scenic’s restaurant was such a contrast to APT’s – with proper dining tables and chairs and plenty of room for the staff. And the food was delicious. So here we are in France, ready for a second go of a trip we did some years ago. We caught covid that time, so we couldn’t go on any of the excursions. But I blogged anyway.
We’re looking forward to enjoying the excursions that we couldn’t take before.
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If you’ve missed any of the posts for this trip, go here. Europe 2026
