Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Estonia Spring Break 2016: Day One, and the joys of steerage class.


(As is my custom when posting trip summaries, I'm backdating them to the actual day of occurrence)

TUESDAY

Given that we haven't traveled as often in recent years, perhaps I failed to appreciate the duration of the commute from Louisville to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. For more on the contemporary thrill of flying: Just been there and done that: "The Consequences of Airplane Classism."

Tuesday, April 26

Delta 2490
Depart Louisville, Kentucky 2:12 pm
Arrive Atlanta, Georgia 3:45 pm

Delta 72
Deaprt Atlanta, Georgia 5:40 pm
Arrive Amsterdam Netherlands 8:30 am on April 27

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 2843 (Operated by Air Baltic Corporation AS)
Depart Amsterdam 10:00 am
Arrive Tallinn 1:20 pm

It's the extra leg that drains. The time difference between Louisville and Tallinn is seven hours, so the three flights (with brief layovers) took about 16.5 hours, allowing for the last flight being a bit late.

Short version: Estonia is quite far away from here.

Estonia (Estonian: Eesti [ˈeːsti]), officially the Republic of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti Vabariik), is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia (343 km), and to the east by Lake Peipus and Russia (338.6 km). Across the Baltic Sea lies Sweden in the west and Finland in the north. The territory of Estonia consists of a mainland and 2,222 islands and islets in the Baltic Sea, covering 45,339 km2 (17,505 sq mi) of land, and is influenced by a humid continental climate.

Steerage class occupants have few tricks at their disposal, but here's one: To avoid being fed last on flights where meals as yet are included, make a special dietary request in advance. Our lactose-free vegetarian curry was good, and those making special requests usually get food before the carts make their rounds.

Tomorrow (Day Two), I'll pick up the thread in Tallinn, with an orientation walk through the Old Town.

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