So yesterday was a “hotel” day for both of us as it turned out. Alice went for a “swim” (she can’t but she went in and tried, kept her mouth shut but her nose open and promptly sucked up half the pool and other peoples’ urine through her nostrils). She decided that wasn’t much fun and went running on a treadmill instead.
In the evening I decided we should eat in the hotel. First though we had to present evidence to the smirking trainee who had denied I ever had complimentary breakfast before. I doubt he will act in such a manner with a customer again. It is nice to bring people, callow youths especially, to account occasionally - when they smirk. Biscuits for dinner in the executive lounge weren’t going to cut the mustard so I splashed out 128y apiece on the buffet dinner. Most impressive I have to say, acres of shellfish and other goodies and the beer was included! Vivian turned up early and decided to eat as well. This being China, she was never confronted regarding payment!
Just in case though, and in order to maximise my consumption of included spirits, I decamped to the executive lounge so it appeared only two were dining. A short while later Vivian joined me while Alice waited for an old school friend who had just flown in from Dalian. Vivian was quite affronted that I hadn’t informed her I was now in Lanzhou. I apologised and said that the jungle tomtoms had been busy previously and I thought everyone knew anyway.
Then she told me she was married! Well I am sorry but moving jobs vs. getting married? I know which trumps which! I said nothing about her neglect in letting me know that small nugget! I am sure I will see her again in a couple of weeks when I return although Molly has family stuff so yet again I shall not see her.
After a reasonably early night it was up at 0500 this morning. The idea was to grab breakfast at six and the Didicar was booked for 0640. I turned on my phone and to my horror received a text advising a flight change. With the computer in the suitcase, reception not understanding my need to use their PC and my inability to recall my username and password for the travel site, it ended up with Alice looking up the flight number. It was delayed an hour. Great. We could have slept longer, had a more relaxed breakfast or anything but with the car having been booked the night before, we were leaving as planned.
The flight eventually left 70 minutes late but not before I tried to upgrade us to first class. I know at the eleventh hour sometimes airlines will offer bargain seats that remain unsold. Given that two economy seats had cost just short of 1800 yuan I was prepared to go up to maybe 800y for two. The price? For two? Another 4,000y!!!!!
Well I learnt something today. We flew with China West. Never again. For starters there WERE no business, first or any other class of seat other than battery hen. Jesus, I have never in 52 years of flying been given so little room! When I put the table down it poked into my stomach by three inches - had we been served a meal the moment I coughed mine would have been thrown everywhere. Utterly abysmal and I wouldn’t have minded had the tickets been cheaper than their rivals but they weren’t, I only booked it because of the timings. They made Ryanair look like luxury travel.
Normality was resumed on arrival at Doubletree in Shenyang. Steve was there to greet us briefly with keys to his apartment , we went on our own for lunch and then I took Alice to see the gym and pool, ostensibly so I could go out on the balcony for a smoke. There was no balcony. The hotel had changed. We ended up with my having a puff in the entrance to the Chinese before going to the apartment.
Except I couldn’t find that either! I had to ask a maid. Basically I have remembered everything from the Hefei Hilton and little of the Shenyang one.
Tonight Jens and Shona joined us for a new innovation at the hotel - an outside barbecue restaurant. Very pleasant if you are like me, impervious to mosquitoes!
Great evening of banter, Alice dares to want to go biking with the gang but with rain forecast all weekend whether they will actually venture out is in abeyance for a weather check on the morrow. As for me, whatever the weather…………
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