Gatwick Airport, Sussex, England
Am atend of what is now a two-leg air trip to Las Vegas (thank you BMI for cancelling the direct flights from Manchester!). My various electronic gizmos (including the Netbook and mobile phone gizmo being used to send this)caused the security staff at Manchester a few minutes of intense discussion and probing. They were excellent, though: thorough, efficient and courteous; friendly and cheerful, indeed. You can't ask for more.
So, I am seeing two airports and indeed three terminals, as tomorrow I have to cross from north to south at Gatwick – on its own train. Such excitement!
Still, I like airports - there is a fascinating world-within-a-world aspect - and am just a bit disappointed that the view from my room is one of the car park, rather than runways, control towers, etc.
A bizarre question from the (foreign, naturally, with English as probably fourth or fifth language) receptionist. Did I want a non-smoking room?
Me (taken aback). "Oh, um, I thought they were all non-smoking now".
Receptionist (fixed smile never faltering): "So, you want non-smoking?"
Without waiting for confirmation, she continues setting up the key-card, etc. Of course, two seconds later I wanted to say: "Oh, sorry! I forgot! I am a heavy smoker – a SMOKING room if you please!" What would have happened then?
Have I missed something- does not the smoking ban extend to airport hotels? And, sure enough, the room proudly displays a 'no smoking' reminder. Well, that's far enough; visitors from, say, the USA, might need a reminder. Bizarre, anyway.
The atrium is quite plush with lots of tempting bars and restaurants – and even a library. I haven't even got an early start tomorrow so can chill tonight and, with luck, have a good sleep, without constantly waking and fretting I might have over-slept (despite at least three alarms! Gawd, I am a worrier…).
Next dispatch should be from Nevada.
(Blimey, you're thinking: a 'Rudinblog' in barely 300 words!!)
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