Travels with Kathryn

PANIC STATIONS EVERYONE!

Not really, I am just very excited to finally be on my way!

So, I am starting this from Manchester airport and you know what, I apologise to Dave and all of Manchester airport for my extensive complaining about this airport as the new terminal 2 is delightful. My only criticism was that it seems that people who use this airport do not travel/have no understanding of how airport security works, e.g., travelling with more FULL SIZE toiletries than I have packed for my entire trip and HUGE bottles of water. Sigh.

Also, a good omen that the man who checked me in was from Kyrgyzstan and was pleased someone was visiting his country.

We did have a mild PANIC when I took out my headphones to hear that a flight was being delayed to this afternoon due to the plane having technically problems and needing to be replaced, spoke to the desk, wandered off and then double checked and realised it wasn’t even my flight! That would have been rather embarrassing, to say the least. It was a massive muppet moment.

Anyway, today’s plan:

• Get to Manchester aiport
• Manchester to Istanbul (4 hours)
• Stopover in Istanbul (5 hours)
• Istanbul to Bishkek (5 hours)
• Pick up at Bishkek to my hotel.

Now from Istanbul: Istanbul SAW airport is less delightful I’m afraid to say. It is very hot, very busy and nowhere to sit. I therefore TMaP’d (for the uninitiated this means to Throw Money at Problem – it may happen occasionally even on my travelling budget ;-)) and used a Kepler sleep pod. A most excellent decision on my part and very much recommended at €12 an hour.

Evidently, my Kyrgyzstan check in man was indeed a good omen as I landed in Bishkek just 15 minutes late, my bag was second off, and my taxi man was there with my name on a sign. Hurrah!

I’m now waiting to check into my hotel room as (due to a distinct lack of sleep on the plane) I need some sleep before giving you my initial impressions on Bishkek (which will include me seeing something of Bishkek other than the drive from the airport to the hotel).

… And I’m in. Sleep time for Kathryn.