FUN-travel: St. Petersburg to Berlin
July 19, 2014 by Susan Clarke
Day 15 – Tuesday, July 15 – St. Petersburg to Berlin, Germany – blue skies w/some light clouds – high 70’s
Catherine’s Palace
Madonna & Child – Leonardo Da Vinci – Hermitage
What I LIKE
- 1:30 – depart for airport
- Ready to leave Russia
- 1:50 – arrive
- 2:45 – ticket counter check in
- – no baggage Nazi’s
- – don’t get hit for being over 23 kilos
- 3:00 – lady can’t figure out price to charge for extra bag
- – don’t get hit for $15 Euro
- 3:10 – passport control
- 3:20 – security screening – liquids no problem
- 3:35 – arrive gate A21
- – very long walk
- 4:15 – board – plane not full
- – move to exit row for legroom
- 4:35 – take off (fairly on time)
- 4:40 – on time landing
- Get 2 hrs back
- 2nd in line for customs & breeze thru
- 5:25 – all bags make it
- Airport info desk calls for free shuttle pick up
- – Mercure hotel next to airport
- Staying here to get car in morning & drive to Poland
- Fast & free internet
- Save 15% on food & drink if sign up for loyalty program
- 7:10 – chef has special pasta menu
- – highly recommend ordering from that
- – all fresh made & very tasty
- Triangle pasta w/cheese/pesto/sundried tomatoes & salmon salad w/pasta & tomatoes = $30 Euro Bordeaux $37.50 Euro
- 10:00 pm – tired!
What I DON’T LIKE
- Have to go thru security just to enter airport
- Check in doesn’t start until 2:20
- Had to prepay extra bag fee 48 hrs prior
- Costs $70 Euro + $15
- 2:45 – can’t pay @ check in counter
- – have to go to another counter – then come back with receipt
- No jet way again & hot bus jammed full – on both ends!
- Bags take forever
- Need a Euro to get trolley for bags
- Have to walk to Terminal A to get shuttle
- Inadvertently made reservation for 1 person
- – they charged $20 Euro more for 2nd person
- Room has one pillow, one duvet & 1 towel
- – REALLY! have never seen such a thing
- 2 bottles of wine not available – finally order the Bordeaux
The Kremlin
Not so FUN-fact – The Mercure is a transit hotel and overpriced in our opinion. They claim 4 stars – no amenities to speak of. Free coffee is from 5 to 6 in the morning. Machine cappuccino is $3 Euro