Travel's a funny thing part 2
07th August 2010
I’m flying to Stockholm from T3. It’s my second passage through T3 in 4 days.
Terminal 3 is horrible.
It may have a new plaza area at the front, but that doesn’t reduce the chaos inside and also means non-smokers now have to pass though the smog that lurks just outside all of the entrances.
Once inside it’s bumper-to-bumper trolleys with owners looking backwards while pushing forwards. Interestingly, you notice the plural of trolleys is trolleys and not trollies. Why is that? It’s very difficult trying to find a way through the congested trolleys laden with too heavy luggage. When faced with such a sight I think of Crocodile Dundee walking across the top of the crowds in the New York subway. One day.
I’m carrying my simple, but lovely, red leather carry-on bag for my Diamond League sojourn in Sweden. My sole aim: to pass through the airport at both ends as quickly and efficiently as possible. You can imagine my joy then, when I got stuck behind an old lady who was pushing her wheelchair very slowly. Now, if she can’t walk faster than minus 1mph, why isn’t she in the wheelchair?
Another senior lady further scuppered my plans for a smooth passage to the aircraft when she stepped out in front of me, dragging her too heavy hand luggage. The fact that she was wearing an orange velour leisure suit just added insult to injury. Did I mention that she had a limp?
T3 trauma aside, I did make it to Stockholm and, in stark contrast to Heathrow it was uber efficient at Arlanda airport. I disembarked, swept through passport control and the baggage hall, bought a ticket for the Arlanda Express and then travelled down two escalators, on my own, to the train. There wasn’t another soul in sight.
And guess what? There was even enough time for me to get my bag off the train at Stockholm Central!
Terminal 3 is horrible.
It may have a new plaza area at the front, but that doesn’t reduce the chaos inside and also means non-smokers now have to pass though the smog that lurks just outside all of the entrances.
Once inside it’s bumper-to-bumper trolleys with owners looking backwards while pushing forwards. Interestingly, you notice the plural of trolleys is trolleys and not trollies. Why is that? It’s very difficult trying to find a way through the congested trolleys laden with too heavy luggage. When faced with such a sight I think of Crocodile Dundee walking across the top of the crowds in the New York subway. One day.
I’m carrying my simple, but lovely, red leather carry-on bag for my Diamond League sojourn in Sweden. My sole aim: to pass through the airport at both ends as quickly and efficiently as possible. You can imagine my joy then, when I got stuck behind an old lady who was pushing her wheelchair very slowly. Now, if she can’t walk faster than minus 1mph, why isn’t she in the wheelchair?
Another senior lady further scuppered my plans for a smooth passage to the aircraft when she stepped out in front of me, dragging her too heavy hand luggage. The fact that she was wearing an orange velour leisure suit just added insult to injury. Did I mention that she had a limp?
T3 trauma aside, I did make it to Stockholm and, in stark contrast to Heathrow it was uber efficient at Arlanda airport. I disembarked, swept through passport control and the baggage hall, bought a ticket for the Arlanda Express and then travelled down two escalators, on my own, to the train. There wasn’t another soul in sight.
And guess what? There was even enough time for me to get my bag off the train at Stockholm Central!