5/10 – Krakow to Belfast

British Airways strikes again! About a week ago, BA canceled our flight from Krakow to LHR and gave us, as usual no options to rebook. We called (oh the time we have wasted online and on the phone with that airline, I swear! Thank heavens for Wi-Fi calling) and ended up canceling our tickets because they only had a flight the day before or the day after – meaning we’d either miss our farewell dinner last night, or miss our already booked and paid for tour to Giant’s Causeway and spend only 1 day in Belfast. That wasn’t happening!

We ended up booking on KLM at almost 3x the price. Sigh. But it got us in at approximately the same time, only flying through Amsterdam, not London. Which, from recent events in AMS could have its own set of issues, but, it was the only option. So, off we went to the airport and Amsterdam.

First flight was fine, went off without a hitch. Second flight from AMS was on time, and, as most all flights in AMS, we had to take a bus to the plane. Ick. Jam packed, but no other option. We just wear our masks and sanitize. But, oh, this bus ride? Never in our lives have we had a bus ride on the airport tarmac like this one! The bus driver took a shine to these 2 fat American women and decided he wanted to impress them. We are slam packed in the back, and he takes these 2 to sit up front with him, then puts on I want to have sex on the beach at top volume. After that he plays Living on a Prayer at full volume, while paying no attention to the road and almost rear ending a work truck and trailer. He slammed on the brakes so hard we all get thrown around in the back. I hit the rail so hard I was wounded!!!!

Then, once we get to the plane? He won’t open the doors until the song is over! OMG! We were ready to go jump him up there! Honestly, if we could have made it through the throng of people jam packed on the bus, I would have slapped him silly. Totally a first, though. What a dolt!

After that, there’s not much to tell. Fortunately! Once we were on the plane, all was fine and dandy, nice smooth flight….

….and we made it safely to Belfast right on time. The taxi queue was crazy long, so it took us a while to get on our way to the condo, but once in the car, we were there in no time. A very cute little place on the top floor of a building overlooking the Belfast Cathedral with the Spire of Hope. (The Cathedral is sinking and on such soft soil that it cannot withstand the added weight of a bell tower or spire. The city held a contest to design a lightweight spire – the spike you see coming out of the top of the Cathedral – and placed in there in 2007. It was a time of redevelopment in Belfast, so the council decided to name the spire, The Spire of Hope. History lesson complete!)

We’re centrally located in the Cathedral quarter, which is full of bars and restaurants and cool murals, with an easy walk up to Lidl for supplies – including dinner for tonight. It’s late, and we just want snacks. So that’s what we do – grocery shop, get organized and sit on the balcony watching the sunset over the Cathedral.