Seriously. This morning I had the hotel flag me a taxi to go to the airport. They said they had an arrangement with the hotel for a 25 euro flat fee. So I put 30 euro in my pocket to give a 5 euro tip.
So the guy takes me to the airport with his meter running, then shuts the meter off but not before I seen the reading of 32 euro. Then he says it was 30 euros.
Fuck it. At this point I didn't want to dick with it. I already had the 30 euros in my pocket. Rather than argue with the guy, it was worth just giving him what I would have given him if he was an honest man anyway. Every shitty thing that has happened to me in Ireland was from getting shat on by the Irish. Every nice gesture and cool deal was from someone from England or Scotland. Or an immigrant to Ireland.
To be sure, I met some nice Irish folk, mainly the women. But out of every country I've been to, Ireland has been the worst by far. Maybe its just Dublin, but I sure as hell won’t be back in this country.
Then the airport was a screwed up deal. The itinerary I have from Delta says my flight from Dublin to Amsterdam lands at 2:05 pm. Then my trip from Amsterdam to Oslo leaves at 2:45. I don’t get off the plane until 2:30 and the gal in Ireland said I would have to go to a transfer desk to get my boarding pass for Oslo. So I’m hauling ass through Schiphol airport, which is fucking huge, desperately trying to find a transfer desk. I find an auto one where I flash my passport and get my board pass. I have to get to gate D82. I’m at D27. Its waaaaaaay on the other side of the airport. So I’m hauling ass and come up to another security checkpoint, the ones where you empty your pockets, etc. With ten minutes to go.
I’m freaking and the gal looks at my boarding pass. Apparently the Delta itinerary doesn't take into account time zones because it actually takes off at 4:45. Fuck.
So I’m sitting in a place that make fresh grilled burgers (they have good food in Schiphol) and eyeballing getting a beer I desperately need.
I get on the plane to Oslo. From Dublin to Amsterdam it was Aer Lingus next to a grandma and screaming kid, in cramped seats with pay for peanuts service. From Amsterdam to Oslo was via KLM and I was upgraded to business class. The plane was spotless, even the coach seat I could view behind the curtains had more room, and I was in seat 1A with the entire front row to myself. The first thing before we even took off, they gave everyone in business class a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. Then later a tray of snacky things and fresh bread, with free drinks. And a hot towel afterwards. This was for a two hour flight.
When we landed it was in a spotless airport, the seats I walked past were curved wood backed with soft cushioning in front. Then I got an express train into Oslo and figured out how to take the tram to the hostel. I have a single bed room to myself that cost about 550 dollars, as compared to the Dublin room which ended up costing me around 850 dollars. Plus free wifi, a lounge, outdoor garden area, gym downstairs, game room laundry service, and a game room. And Oslo is known for being the most expensive city in Europe. Everyone I talked to spoke English, though usually not fluently. Weird thing is that I can understand them far better than the Irish. And every single person has been polite, helpful, and nice.
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