Club World on British Airways

One of the best things that could happen to anyone is getting an upgrade on a long haul flight, such was the case when I flew from London to Tokyo on British Airways when I was upgraded to Club World.

With a better seat that fully reclines and delivers a fully rested arrival, big screen for watching and catching up with movies, more storage and better meals, Club World offers a traveler a complete flight experience with all the perks.

If your arriving into Heathrow Terminal 5 with British Airways and flying Club World or in First, you also get an arrivals Fast Track Pass to quickly get through a dedicated border control. As well, British Airways has a Galleries Arrivals Lounge with showers, prepared breakfasts, a spa, and even will press your suit or shirts. Nice touch.

I must admit I rather liked flying in Club World, who wouldn't?

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Globus Hotel Review - Florence Italy

Located near the Florence train station and only 10 minute walk into the center, Globus Hotel is basic and clean, ideally located for exploring this small pedestrian friendly city.

Clean room, free wifi, free continental breakfast, in-room mini/bar/fridge, air conditioned rooms, and friendly staff. It serves its purpose and is excellent value for a short stay in Florence.

There are a few things that did lower my score, but I can't complain about my overall stay. My room (208) was at the back of the building and when the central air system turned on was like a rocket taking off, though after a few loud burst soon adjusted to the sound. The in room TV was small and the sound poor and tinny - however your visiting this fabulous city so staying in your room is just for relaxing - this is not a city to be watching TV in your room.

Overall it met my needs for a short break, and for the price was a great deal for a stay in Florence. It is no frills but clean, a good budget option for a short city break in a fabulous city.

Links:
Globus Hotel - Venere.com
Globus Hotel - Reviews on Tripadvisor

A Wedding in Florence - Francesca and Rudy

I am so honoured to have been invited to attend the wedding of Francesca and Rudy in Florence Italy on September 8, 2012. For those that couldn't make it, below are short videos that record that day.

Watch this video, a short trailer of A Wedding in Florence Trailer.

An this is a complete video documenting this very special day;

Watch this video, A Wedding in Florence - Francesca and Rudy.

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Best and Worst Cities to Live in the World

Economist Intelligence Unit

Which locations around the world provide the best or the worst living conditions?

A report has been published by the Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU Report 2012 (by the Economist). The rating is calculated by a liveability score of 140 cities, reached through category weights. The categories are stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

Most Liveable Cities in the World - Top 10

1. Melbourne - Australia
2. Vienna - Austria
3. Vancouver  - Canada
4. Toronto - Canada
5. Calgary - Canada
6. Adelaide - Australia
7. Sydney - Australia
8. Helsinki - Finland
9. Perth - Australia
10. Auckland - New Zealand

The general conditions required for a location to be awarded a high liveability score continue to be well reflected in Australian and Canadian cities.

Global business centres such as New York, London, Paris and Tokyo have overstretched infrastructure and all suffer from higher levels of crime, congestion and public transport problems than would be deemed "comfortable".

Civil unrest such as the Arab Spring, civil war in Libya, unrest in Greece and London had impacts on the score, with downward revisions to Athens, London, Amman (Muscat), Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), Douala (Cameroon) and Tripoli (Libya).

Worst Cities to Live in the World 

131. Abidjan - Côte d’Ivoire Abidjan
132 Tehran - Iran
133. Douala - Cameroon
134. Tripoli - Libya
135. Karachi - Pakistan
136. Algiers - Algeria
137. Harare - Zimbabwe
138. Lagos - Nigeria
139. Port Moresby - PNG
140. Dhaka - Bangladesh

Conflict is responsible for many of the lowest scores. Africa (North and Sub-Saharan) and Asia account for all the cities with lowest scores, with violence, whether through crime, civil insurgency, terrorism or war, playing a strong role. Dhaka in Bangladesh is the least liveable city, unchanged from last year, 2011. However the survey does not include locations such as Kabul in Afghanistan and Baghdad in Iraq.

Source:
Economist Intelligence Unit

Short flights are never short

You've booked a short break and the flight is only two hours to your destination, but calculating the travel time always results in more time than you originally expected from end to end.

Calculating travel time for a short flight always involves more than just the flight time, you have to factor travel time as well. What you think is a short 2 hour flight, actually takes up to 6 hours to get from a to b. Consider getting to the airport, security and waiting for the departure flight and suddenly a short trip doesn't seem so short at all.

When you add the return journey this easily equals up to 12 hours total travel time for a short haul flight, not including preparation time such as packing.

What you actually get in a 72 hour short break equals just (72-18-12=42 hours) 14 hours per day in your destination.

First Class on British Airways

Spoilt. First Class on British Airways, after years of collecting I finally indulged by using my frequent flyer points to upgrade and experience what its like to travel in upper class. Here I am with champagne in hand, warm nuts, pillow placed behinds my head, 30000 feet on a 747 jet to London from Moscow.

It's just a 3 hour 30 minute flight but at least a chance I can indulge in this captive  time in the air. Its not everyday one gets these sort if pleasures. My seat is reclined, a double aspect window, semi-private seat to stretch in. Big screen with video on demand. Powering my mobile while I write this. Take off your shoes and and stretch.

The dinner service starts with caviar with blinis and Russian Standard Imperial vodka, followed by my choice of seared Scottish king scallop with broad bean puree and crispy porchetta from the menu. The main dish a roasted Herefordshire fillet of beef and braised beef pie with artichoke barigoule (slow roasted and topped with bacon and vegetables) and crispy Iberico ham, a delicous glass of wine, and finally ending with a sweet desert. At this altitude, I'm as near to heaven as can be while alive.

The tiny first class bathroom is clean and sparkling, with full length mirror to make sure you look perfect when you arrive. In first you get dedicated magazines not seen behind the curtain. Even the inflight duty free has more options, and of course, higher price tags too.

A short flight it was, but very comfortable and excellent taste of first class onboard British Airways. Definitely a mile-high experience.

Riding the Moscow Metro

Possibly the grandest interiors of any public transport system in the world! With over 9 million passengers per day it is busier than New York City  and London combined.

Lit with chandeliers from end to end, lined with marble and decorate reliefs, one can't help but be impressed by its grand and opulent interior, a posh transport underground for the masses.

There are no English signs inside so have your itinerary ready beforehand or learn to read Cyrillic, use a Russian-English plan while you moving inside a Metro train (an English only plan are of no help). It's important to know that colours in the underground's signs don't necessarily correspond to the ones on the maps, it's less confusing to refer to the numbers, e.g. line 3 is line 3 whatever color is on the sign.

The Moscow Metro is relatively cheap, a single trip  costs just 26 RUB (as of 2012). Tickets are sold at manned booths within the stations or ticket vending machines. Buy a multi-trip card for 5, 10, 20 or 60 trips (10 at 200 RUB) which is valid for 45 days.

The most interesting stations in terms of decor are Komsomolskaya and Novoslobodskaya on the ring line, Kropotkinskaya on the red line, and Mayakovskaya on the green line. The last one is also one of the deepest; this allowed it to be used as a makeshift assembly hall for a Party meeting marking the anniversary of the Revolution during the Nazi bombardments in the winter of 1941.

I must admit I was intimidated to enter, the number of people moving along quickly, the lack of signs recognizable due to different characters on signs (not English, or Latin alphabet), but somehow I managed, slowly. Inside there is a high presence of security, but in crowded places like this its best to keep an eye on things, but it is the interiors which will most likely distract you from looking where your going.

Russian-English Metro Map

Links:
Moscow Metro
Moscow Metro Russian/English Map