24

Where in the world is pdot?

In the past I have always counted Great Britain as one of the countries I have visited. The truth is I had never actually left Heathrow thus without passing through customs I can hardly count it. That all changed when I attempted to travel through that famed luggage losing, headache causing no mans land in the London 'burbs.
Friday was going to be a long day regardless with first a train to Brussels Midi, then another to Roosendaal, another stint on the rails to Schiphol, then a flight to London and finally the intercontinental to Calgary. The first section on land went smoothly despite carrying over 60kg of baggage. When I finally checked my bags in Amsterdam I prepared myself for the unreal bliss that is air travel. Then the delays began, which in the end put me 2 hours late out of Schiphol. My connection in London would be taking off as we landed at this rate, but the seemingly knowledgeable staff at BMI assured me and the 12 others in the same situation that it would not be a problem. To make a long and rather bland story short I can sum up the events of the next 24 hours as follows:
- BMI employees are 80% transplants from Air Italia, with the accompanying English skills.
- BMI joined the Star Alliance out of desperation and the inability to operate an airline independantly.
- Heathrow is an absolute mess.
- London is huge.
- English evening meal = curry
- English breakfast = obesity
- Always look right first when crossing the street
- 2 hour walks out of Heathrow hotel district can take you as close to India as you may ever get.
- Dutch tourists can make things happen despite aforementioned BMI.
- The "Canadian Residents Card" is for landed immigrants, I was born in Canada I travel on a Norwegian passport. Born in Canada = Canadian citizen, Per Strom = Dual Citizen. Check in agents, Air Canada gate staff and Canada customs never agree at first, but after some explaining of Canadian immigration policy they can be convinced. Don't tell Bush, Harper might lose his job.
In the end I made it back into the country after 24 hours of unplanned adventure. I miss zones of sport, concrete block roads and monk brewed draft already.