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三赴爱尔兰

(2010-10-22 10:24:50) 下一个
这是我第三次来欧洲。
第一次来是2006年。从Heathrow转机飞Amsterdam的时候,跟的是British Airway,行李丢了!
在亚洲和美国飞了那么多年,从来没有丢过行李。第一次飞欧洲,出这种事情!
当时的震惊非同小可,从此就对Heathrow及BA印象极差。
第二次来是2008年。躲着BA及Heathrow,选了跟Qantas经Paris飞Dublin。哪知道当年Qantas的维修工程师正在闹罢工,机顶一个除霜器坏了,竟然花了6个小时才找到配件,飞机因此极度晚点,一系列connecting flights都miss掉了。
结果班机改来改去,变成飞Frankfurt,然后又是经过Heathrow飞Dublin。
到了Dublin,行李又不见了。
......
这一次,因为想乘Qantas的premium economy,毅然决然主动选择经Heathrow飞Dublin,心想反正已经习惯了,行李丢就丢了吧,豁出去了! 
......
预计格林威治时间早7点到达的飞机,因为在阿富汗上空,航路交通堵塞耽误了十几分钟,到Heathrow又被航空管制了十几分钟,降落时已经是7点40了。
London的天气却出乎预料地好。天高云淡,气温也不算太低,有9度。这在10月中来讲,算是非常幸运的事情。
......
飞Dublin的飞机8点半关闸,似乎时间应该还来得及。
从T3乘巴士到T1,七弯八转,快到80号登记口的时候,要看证件。
报了姓名和生日以后,边检员问:Have you ever used another passport, a Chinese passport, to apply for a visa for UK?
我说:No, I've never applied for a visa for the UK. I've always used my Australian passport coming here.
他问:Is your name popular? Since there's someone with the same name and the same date of birth here in the system who was refused for a visa before.
说完盯着我看每一个细微的表情变化,盯得偶不做贼都心虚,头脑里就闪现出Border Security里一些带毒的旅客信誓旦旦说自己没有带毒的镜头。
于是问:When was that?
他似乎有了希望,说,“2000,2005. Twice.”
我说,I've got my Australian passport since 2003. I wouldn't need a visa for UK in 2005. You see?"
这时我看看墙上的挂钟,离8点半只有十分钟了。
于是说:My flight is closing gate at 8:30. I'm going to miss it if I can't pass soon.
他摇摇头说,“I can't let you pass without checking this properly. If you have applied for a UK visa before, you can tell me now. Because if you don't, I'll find out myself. If you miss this flight, we'll get you on the next flight."
我说,“It's not me. I've never applied for a UK visa before."
他想了想说,"Why do you go to Ireland?"
我说,“Business trip."
他说,“Do you have an invitation letter?"
我说,“I don't. It's our own company. I don't need to be invited. I normally only arrange invitation letters if I need a visa. Since I don't need a visa I didn't organize a letter."
他说,“Do you have anything else that you can use to help me believe that you are here for business."
我说,“Maybe I can show you my business card." 说着递上了一张名片。
他拿了名片,说要到里面去查一下。
我无可奈可坐在边上等待,百无聊赖地摆弄着Blackberry。
十几分钟后他回来了,说,“The other person has the same name and the same birthday as you. But it turned out that one was a guy. What I did was that I've updated our system so that next time you come again, we'll know that one was not you."
我长出了一口气说,“Good to know. Thank you."
又经过七折八转,到了Aer Lingus的服务台,确定原定的班机肯定已经错过了。好在一小时后就有下一趟航班。
......
到了Dublin, 对行李就没报什么希望。
似乎经过无数行李带,终于看到EI155的那一条。四行行李车,只有一行的行李车拉得出来。都觉得很正常。
开始出行里了,第三个包怎么那么眼熟?
拉过来看看。哈!竟然是小女子的行李。这太不正常了!
......
到了边检,问:Why are you here in Ireland?
答:Business trip.
问:Tell me about your business.
答:Well, I've got 3 people working for me here in Dublin. I'm here to meet them.
问:Wow! 3 people working for you in Ireland! And you live in Australia! Crazy isn't it?
答:Well, kind of.
问:Which company do you work for?
答:S
问:What does S do?
答:Information secutiry...Information protection...or best to say online experience protection.
问:S? Online exprience protection...Why don't you meet online? You know video conference. I suppose it's pretty safe for you.
答:Oh we use that all the time. But occassionally we like to meet people in person.
应:Welcome to Ireland.
应:Thank you.
......
这次来Dublin,决定自己租辆车。
自从上次在亚利桑那租过车以后,很有一种我有GPS我怕谁的感觉。
拿到车,是一部Nissan小嘀嘀。车子虽小,开起来却非常轻松。
只不过小Garmin GPS 找不到我的hotel. Crowne Plaza 列了一大串,从2公里以内的,到几百公里之外的都有,就是没有Blanchardstown Dublin 15的。
Blackberry 也被我把电玩儿没了。
只好朝着Blanchardstown Center开。
到了Town Center,跑到一个商店里求救。小姑娘说,没事儿,Crowne Plaza 就在边上。朝前开,第一个转盘右转,开到底就看到了。
两分钟后,我终于胜利到达Hotel。
32个小时的旅程,到此结束。
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或许是老虎 回复 悄悄话 呵呵呵呵,谢谢!
可能就是游走江湖,起个吓人的名字给自己壮胆 :)
点缀 回复 悄悄话
痛快!你叫那么个吓人的名字和有那么一副英雄形象,他们还敢刁难你,也不怕你一口吃了他们。这些人真是有眼无珠。支持你!
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