Stranded at Halifax Airport (Update)

winstoninternational — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:56:12 +0000

*** 11:30 ***

Arrived at Halifax Airport - all seems kinda well

*** 12:47 ***

Learned that no plane has yet left the airport. Worries begin.

*** 15:52 ***

120 people waiting in front of information desk of Air Canada (one attendant is present)

I was standing in line for 1 1/2 hours in total.

*** 16:38 ***

Flight to Montreal cancelled

*** 16:52 ***

Rerouting via London Heathrow at 23:15 on a B767 (herself delayed for 24 hours)

*** 18:00 ***

Heated argument with ground personel because of unwillingness to rebook our flights on that London airplane. First sweet talk, than slight harassment, then again honey mouth … finally she does not do something by the book, but out of sheer understanding and Christmas Spirit

*** 18:22 ***

Got our new boarding passes for AC 2860 for London Heathrow !!!

*** 18:33 ***

Double Whopper and Whopper Menu !

*** 19:00 ***

Figuring out how to get out of LHR .. to CPH and ZHR

*** 19:22 ***

… waiting and hoping …!

*** 20:11 ***

First plain takes off

*** 20:30 ***

Plain to Toronot gets pushed back from the gangway! Hope rises!

*** 23:30 ***

We are boarding … to LHR …. ! Oleee

*** 00:18 ***

Real departure from the ground at Halifax with direction to London

*** 09:55 ***

Arrival in London Heathrow Terminal 3

*** 10:40 ***

All bags have safely arrived and no problems with customs.
It’s nice to be in the EU again.

*** 11:03 ***

Saying Goodbye to my beloved girlfriend. Our ways part here. For her it’s catching a bus to Stansted and from there further to Copenhagen.
For me it’s Terminal 5 again. Beloved British Airways.

*** 11:30 ***

All bags (including excessive ones) checked and gone through security and all.

*** 11:42 ***

The old Wireless (in August free off charge) next to Gate 18 is no closed :- (
So no connection to the internet. (@christian: no … NO BA-Lounge for me :- ((( )

*** 11:49 ***

Falling asleep on a cuddling pad. One of these fancy installations in Terminal 5

*** 12:39 ***

Fortunately waking up in time to catch my flight.

*** 13:22 ***

Leaving LHR for Geneva

*** 16:02 ***

Arrival in GVA.

*** 16:14 ***

Cleared customs.

*** 16:27 ***

In the train to the beautiful Wallis

*** 18:54 ***

Visp !
*** 19:12 ***

In bus up the mountains.

*** 20:02 ***

Mama’s hug !

Location, location, location.

winstoninternational — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:05:04 +0000

I don’t want to say that I am not at all unhappy to spend Christmas at home, … but sometimes …

it’s better not to be in Hamburg :- ) (e.g. next week)

Globalized Homecoming

winstoninternational — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:46:42 +0000

As we can see some of us are already on their way home!

Naturally the earth wide network is working and live coverage from the surroundings could be provided instantly.

Unfortunately not dressed in his Australian surfer attire, but rather formal in order to lure the ground personnel in confusion and adoration completely overlooking his 20k’s of exceeding baggage …

Save trip home, dude !

First Snow in Halifax …

winstoninternational — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:53:33 +0000

I could not believe my eyes … but within minutes it was all white ….

Very very nice, but my guess is, it won’t last for long :- (((

It’s Christmas Time ..

winstoninternational — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:06:19 +0000

.. at least in Canada. Yesterday we were not only watching Quantum of Solace (simply awesome and very very worth watching it!!!), but also enjoyed the

13th Annual Chronicle Herald Holiday Parade of Lights, presented by EastLink and the Downtown Halifax Business Commission.

It was a little bit odd watching trucks go by with christmas lights and carol music playing in mid-November … but whatever …! Despite pouring rain (it was almost a monsoon!) a lot of people were watching and had a great time.

Another proof of an upcoming Christmas Time is presented by Starbucks. Besides mistletoe decoration they already dug out their Christmas cups. From my point of view it’s a little early for all the Holiday hype .. but what can I say … It’s America North-America …!

Library Times …

winstoninternational — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:10:04 +0000

I think fun-times are almost over and the library is calling me to spend more time in her walls. Books to be studied, papers to be written and cases to be read. Can’t wait for glorious Christmas time!!!

Sadly today the weather is so damn fine, that I will stretch my promise not too far, .. and will do something outside, to enjoy the last of autumns sun-rays.

Guitar Hero …

winstoninternational — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:24:05 +0000

I know Marty plays a lot of Rock Band, and sometimes it might even look like this (see below), but still …

I think he never wears white socks …

ps. Tom Cruise can’t do it better himself !

Original:

Take a good look and enjoy the passion they spent to match the details !!!

Quantum of skepticism …

winstoninternational — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:21:27 +0000

As everybody knows the new oo7 is coming out soon, and all the sneak peeks have been very promising.

But what about the new Bond Song ..?

Yes, it’s lovely Alicia Keys and one member of White Stripes, but I think it is a step in the wrong direction. I clearly can remember myself sitting in the cinema and getting blown away by Chris Cornells song last time. The latest is just weird. Hope the movie is not like this :- ((( (it is said to be the shortest of all Bond movies .. still worth the money ??)

We’ll see and time will tell. Where are you gonna watch it? and who with ?

Leaving Chicago ..

winstoninternational — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:19:45 +0000

Four days of jet set, windy city life, urban canyons and beautiful architecture are over and I took the last flight home. I just can tell the Chicago is an amazing city, so impressive that you won’t get tired walking through the streets and looking at the amazing details of every building.

So what do I take with me from this journey?

I definitely say that I’ll be back - hopefully soon - and I am looking forward to see N.Y.C. Same awesomeness? I don’t know yet, but get prepared Big Apple to enter in to a direct competition with the city near Lake Michigan.

Secondly the Firm doesn’t seem that bad to me at all anymore. The luring was successful then?! I don’t know .., even if Mitch McDeeres path is tempting and the lifestyle draws you into even deeper temptations, I think I am still more a merchant than a lawyer. But we’ll see .. :- ) If another Firm wants to change my mind, I can give a hint … never been to Sydney or Hong Kong either …! :- )

Thirdly it is good to have friends around the world, where you can crash and spend a couple of days! Thank you Ben ! Your hospitality was very much appreciated. Keep up the fight for Obama!

And finally a couple of additional facts and impressions (you will read the whole wisdom my new book coming out not anytime soon!):

Fact: There are people living in a Starbucks! Four days in Chicago, going by the same coffee shop every time, seeing always the same girl (studying with her MacBook and headphones in her ears) sitting at the same damn table, .. the whole time …! Girl, get a life. If anybody wants to check: Starbucks at Divison&Dearborn.

Fact: Poor Canadians have to go through the same hassle at customs as the common European !!!?! When you stand in line for 20 minutes at 01.ooam waiting for an immigration officer to show you realize how great Schengen is. Canadians welcome - from my point of view at least!

Impression: United logistic managers attended the same Business School as the people who invented the Heathrow Terminal V baggage system. But the difference is, they failed their course! I have never seen a worse system or routine … (was there 2hs34mins early, made it to the gate just on time ..!) People were actually laughing and giggling, because they could not believe what they saw:

25 self-check in terminals (for passengers with real luggage - not only hand-luggage). You type in your details and stuff, getting your boarding pass, and everything seems to be fine, BUT then you have to wait for one of two (!!!) baggage assistance to provide you with your baggage tags (which they collect on a centralised printer (imagine two guys running around with a dozen tags with 25 different destinations! Mix up …? No… never! ). They will ask you all these questions separately (Have you left your bags unattended, do carry anything which doesn’t belong to you .. bla bla) and then hand you your baggage tags and a receipt.

Please notice: 25 terminals, two people, one printer for ALL international United flights from O’Hare Terminal I. Insane …..!

Facts and Impressions

winstoninternational — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:08:45 +0000

Puuh, that was a journey … but all went well and Winston International will briefly report on life in the corporate world from Chicago, Illinois. Due to the appreciated gesture of a prominent Law Firm (we shall call her henceforth The Firm), I was invited to have breakfast with them in the Windy City, and since it’s not worth it staying only for one night, I will prolong my stay for a couple of days.

Today I just strolled through the streets, no special interests, just wandering around, and indulged in the architecture and in the lively streets. It must have been instinct or something else, but I accidentally found myself in front of the Apple Store on Michigan Street … The interior is very similar to the London one, but I think the Regent St is just incomparable ! ! And since Anita (Danish exchange student) led me see her new MacBook baby last week, there was nothing amazing to see … (will shop some iTunes Store Gift Cards !!!)

Fact: Obama cups were sold out in two Seven Eleven stores.

Fact: Chicago is at least 5°C colder than Halifax. (Tomorrow it shall snow ..)

Impression: Everybody has an iPhone or at least an iPod Touch.

Impression: Nine of ten people walking alone through the city are blocking their audio-senses with something (talking on the phones, iPod, reading Blackberry, etc ..)

Fact: A 3-day-travel-pass in Chicago and two single tube trips in London have one thing in common. The price.

Impression: Every women in Chicago is styled through and through (might be the neighbourhood; Jimmy Choo, Prada and LV are around the block)!

Fact: Lonely Planet has no idea of anything and gives wrong advice ! (at least the map is ok)

Fact: Travelling into the U.S. via Canada rulez, because all the formalities, green visa waivers, fingerprints and so on are dealt with in Canada before hand. No trouble at all.

Fact: The sales staff of the La Perla store treats a young fella (unshaven, Lonely Planet in his hand, Crumpler Bag over his shoulder) just as well as the fashion addicted mother with a double baby buggy (including twins dressed maybe in Guess-Babywear): always getting the door (very helpful in case of the buggy), being kind and helpful and even seeing the individual needs and questions of every customer .. (“What’s the difference again between knee-highs and stay-ups?”)

Impression: Best spare rips in the world ?! PJ’s at North & Division!!!

Fact: Most contagious person: Martin!

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Chicago Pictures on