Very happy we had a long lay-over at the DeGaulle Airport in Paris. Storm hit in Atlanta as we were waiting to taxi for take-off. Winds were impressive. We sat on the tarmac for about an hour as we watched "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once" (quite enjoyable movie). Finally cleared for take-off. Pretty bumpy ride for quite awhile. Watched part of Dr. Strange Multiverses. Decided to stop and attempt sleep. Middling success at that effort.
| Arrived in Paris. Walk through Disneyland-type waiting maze even though there is no one in line. Have to dump good water out of our bottles. Exit the area to go to public toilet to dump water. Have to walk through the labyrinth to get back to security. Go through security - have to take out ALL electronics, the exiting conveyor belt smashes the boxes full of other passengers' items into your many boxes that had to be pulled out and separated, making repacking rather annoying and somewhat panicky. DeGaulle Airport is a mess. Separate, disconnected terminals that must be accessed via shuttle buses. |
Our connecting flight is at Terminal B gate D66. Told to take bus to Terminal B-D. On bus we are told we have to get off at Terminal F to get bus to Terminal B-D. Walk through labyrinth Disneyland line waiting for two wrong buses to pass before the right one. Our stop is the last one, before arriving back at where we were waiting for the bus. Packed in. Bus drives on roads with luggage prams driving very slowly that need to be passed. Terminal 1 is reached by crossing landing strips and then, despite the oval map of our route, we have to retrace our path to snake back to, finally, our stop.
| The signage in Terminal B is unclear. After several wrong paths and asking more than a few employees (who are few and far between as they are all seeming to be stationed at the bus waiting stations). Finally we realize that we are to go to Terminal D. Following the few and incomplete signs and asking someone wandering past the unmanned customs office, we discover we have to exit, re-enter, pass through passport check and then another really infuriating security to get into D. Then trying to find Gate 66 takes some sleuthing. Paul is losing his shit at this point while Jo is reminding him that swearing in a foreign country is probably not the best idea. Finally arrive at gate. Enjoy coffee and a pastry at a nearby place before boarding. |
Taxi explains he has to drop us off next to the tiny street where the Valletta Design Cluster is located. We turn down his offer to take our bags to our location and we promptly discover that we can't find where we need to go. Ask plumber in van where to go and he says that he's not from around here.....fortunately Jo had a Sim card installed in her phone so she is able to find directions, a minute walk. Stefan, the jovial, small security guard signs us in and Andrea the director shows us our room for the week.
A centuries old, native stone building has been remodeled tastefully to create an ancient modern feel. We take a brief walk to a Discount Market which, when we find that it is cash only, the owner tells us he trusts us to bring the money later. Go to the corner store for more supplies. Dinner, shower, bed.