Just a quick note to say that I have arrived at Yekaterinburg, after catching a 3 am flight from Irkutsk. It took 4.5 hours to cross Siberia, the same as crossing Australia. Did not see much as it was mostly dark, which surprised me a bit because yesterday was the longest day. More surprising was the Russians expectation of Pilot ability. When the plane landed at Yekaterinburg, all the Russians on the plane applauded with clapping, as if to say, job well done. I tend to think landing the plane is an absolute minimum required standard of service of a pilot and that landing the plane should not deserve any special acknowledgment. What next, no applause and they crash the plane!
Arrived at hostel ok, seems very nice. Yekaterinburg is Russia's 3rd largest city and it shows, it is a big place and looks very nice and well organised.
More later.
LB
LB - Julie had the same astonishment when patrons on a Ryan's Air flight applauded on landing in Dublin last year.
ReplyDeleteI haven't experienced applause on landing but was somewhat surprised when prayers were broadcast before the flight on a Pakistani airline.
ReplyDeletelike to hear you pronounce yekaterinburg after a 'polite triple shot' of vodka...
ReplyDeleteI keep forgetting you are still in Melbourne photoshopping yourself in all those photos from the web. Yes you need to be more imaginative. Heard gunshots the other night - what a wasted opportunity, you could have worked that story a bit more. Keep it up Doug. Tristan
ReplyDeleteThe applause was actually for the fact that the thing didn't fall apart in mid-flight due to poor maintenance. It is an old Cold War tradition - Gary.
ReplyDeleteGary, I knew you'd get the airline reason down pat.
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