Monday, May 22, 2023

Turkish Lounge IST

インターコンチネンタルでの滞在を終えて、サンフランシスコへ帰ります。

IST ⇄  SFO は夏ダイヤだと毎日2便の運行ですが、遅い出発の TK79 が取れました。
なので、運ちゃんには9時半にピックアップに来てもらいました。最初、10 時ピックアップのつもりでいたけど、ディスパッチャーさんがあと 30 分早いほうがいい。と強く勧めるから、そうしました。
また大型のメルセデスで、ビジネスクラス専用の入口前まで送ってもらいました。

帰りは雨降りになっちゃったけど、もう濡れるのは空港前の数メートルだけ。

搭乗券をもらって、出国審査を通ってセキュリティをくぐって…
空港のど真ん中に「ラマダン・ビレッジ」という期間限定の子供向け施設が開いていました。

でも、子供あんまりいないし… ヒマそうな大人が写真撮ってうかれてた。

足が痛いからって言って、身障者用の入口からラウンジへ入れてもらって。
エレベータを出たら、いきなりこんな景色です。でないと 200 メートルは余計に歩かされます。

荷物を適当に置いて… 今朝は何があるかチェック。
クロワッサンやダニッシュペストリーがいろいろ。

スープがありました。レンティル(レンズ豆)のスープです。
レンズ豆ってフムスっぽいから少し警戒したけど、飲んでみることに。

クロワッサンひとつに、レンズ豆のスープです。
スープにはレモンを添えて、チリペッパーをかけて。
これ、羊の腸のスープを飲まされて以来の工夫です。
コーンフレークみたいなのは、クルトンにしました。なかなかです。

おなかが温まったら、冷たいものを一本。
コールドドリンクは、こんな冷蔵庫に収まっています。

スルマの水を一本もらって。でもゲート前で検査があるから、その前に飲み干さないと。

また移動して… 今度はラマダンビレッジが上から目線で眺められる席へ。
ここです。ガラスの向こうにはエコノミーと呼ばれる厩舎へ向かう民草が見えます。

今度はバクラヴァとカプチーノを。
ピスタチオ、くるみ、グリーンドラムの3種類。

エスプレッソバーは自動ではなく、バリスタさんが注文を聞いてから淹れてくれます。

着座姿勢での景色は、こんなでした。
正午間近で、まあまあの人だかり。欧州では旅行客はもう普通の状態に戻ってきました。

アメリカ行きの便はゲートで全員が全部の荷物検査を受けるから、早めに退室します…。

途中、なんかこんな展示場が出来ていました。
どうやらトルコ航空は… サッカーの、何かのチャンピオンシップのスポンサーになったみたい。有名選手のユニフォームとか記念の鞠とかが飾ってありました。

そういえば、あのソラジローみたいなヘアスタイルの「ブラボーながとも」って、ガラタサライにいたよね?
サッカーは完全に頓珍漢ですが、少し前まで日本人だと言うと「ナガトモ知ってる?」ってよく聞かれました。

一般のビジネスクラス用出入口まで来ました。
ドアは自動化されていて搭乗券をかざせば通過できますが、未だにレセプションへ行って撃沈する輩がいます。

ここに達する以前に、エスカレータの麓で搭乗券をチェックされるんですけどね… なんだかなぁ。

ラウンジを出て… 10 分くらい歩いて、A ゲートのつけ根まで来ました。
ここからさらに動く歩道をみっつくらい乗って、ようやっとゲートへ到着。

ビジネスクラスやスタアラ金だと「優先手荷物検査」を受けられます。
行列は短いけど、結局荷物全部開けて引っかき回されます。ひどいわ。

でも、空港の入口で自爆テロが起きる場所(旧アタテュルク空港)ですから、文句は言えません…。

4 comments:

  1. First of all, are you getting ready to return to Japan soon, or on the way? It's somehow strange to think that I will see you in person here in Okayama the day after tomorrow. My brain is still analog and stuck in the Showa era. In any case, please take care when you come.

    The fact that there are two daily flights between IST and SFO during the summer schedule is amazing, even though it's only for a limited time. Of course, there are direct flights from SFO to major cities in Europe, but even if it's a city without direct flights, you can probably travel to various places through Turkish Airlines connecting at IST. It seems that there is a significant demand for such travel.

    Hmm, is your drop-off at the airport by a large Mercedes? It's a reliable and classic choice, I suppose. If it were a BMW... By the way, in this G7 summit, President Zelensky's transportation was the previous generation 7 Series with enhanced safety features. In terms of appearance... it might have lacked a bit of grandeur compared to Mercedes.

    By the way, I read on the internet, "Turkey's presidential election: Candidate in third place declares supporting Erdogan. Disadvantageous for opposing candidates?" It's getting really complicated. I hope it will result in peace.

    Speaking of which, Nagatomo moved from Inter to Galatasaray and contributed to their league championship. After that, he returned to FC Tokyo via Marseille. If the Turkish people still remember him, it would be a source of happiness for us as Japanese.

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    Replies
    1. Yamada Denki sensei,

      Yes, I already checked-in ANA7 for Narita, I will text you when I purchased the tickets to Okayama at Green Ticket Window at Narita T1. …and I am ‘visiting’ japan at this moment, my real return will be – I am cremated then remain will be return to a temple in Tokyo to join the family.

      I am surprised THY started the 2nd service to SFO but actually, the main cabin is always packed. Passengers are not only for Istanbul but also heading to somewhere beyond – India, Saudi, Qatar, UAE or those ex-Soviet countries. SFO also has flight to Dubai or Bombay but THY offers more affordable tickets for main cabin. I always see half of passengers are speaking US English or Turkish, but others are different – usually well san tanned people.
      Therefore, there are lots of availabilities of economy award seats, I don’t want to fly by economy on these flights… meals are good and the attendants are friendly, but the other passengers are… how can I say politically correct… They Are Red Necks, or They Are from The Countries of Shit-holes!! ←I followed the words of President Trump♪

      The name of that minivan is Mercedes Vito, due to the reservation info. This is the smallest car by this airport transportation service… so if I booked as solo, the record reads “party of six.” BMW has good sedans but no big minivans, right? Mercedes has a lot – vans, trucks and buses… no wonder they are Daimler!!

      The presidential election of Türkiye, whichever wins, I am quite sure, I can be a precog, or everyone can be a precog – there will be riots, Molotov cocktails and water cannons in Gezi Park. …and I am okay with that as long as my Turkish bath is open and local daddies are gathering there.

      I was asked frequently when Bravo Nagatomo was at Galatasaray. But since he left Türkiye I don’t listen anything about him, or that’s because I am not a fan of sports games… Music, Sports and those celebrities are the knowledge I don’t cover at all, both US and Japan.

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  2. Yes, based on my recent experience, I assumed that the Midori no Madoguchi at Narita Airport would likely be crowded. The Midori no Madoguchi at the JR Akoh Line's Saidaiji Station, near the clinic, was not only discontinued in March of this year, but the station itself has essentially become unmanned (although there seems to be occasional patrolling by staff). As the Midori no Madoguchi continues to be centralized at major stations, queues are always long at stations like Okayama Station, especially with the resurgence of foreign tourists who struggle with purchasing tickets from automatic ticket machines (as it takes more time to assist each individual at Midori no Madoguchi).

    By the way, I was wondering whether to write "returning to the country" or "visiting Japan" when you come to Japan, but in the truest sense, your return would be when you are cremated and your ashes are returned to your family. Since that is under the management of iSO-san, I will refrain from commenting.

    Speaking of Mercedes minivans, it's the V-Class, isn’t it? BMW, as far as I know, has purposely avoided entering the minivan market, and I certainly don't wish they would. If the current BMW were to produce a large front minivan... It would likely end up with a terrifyingly large kidney grille, something I don't even want to imagine. If they do it wrong, it might look like the face is all nose? Too scary.

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  3. Are you preparing for your journey back to the United States, or are you already on your way? Of course, I am well aware that the beginning of your visit to Japan this time was quite challenging for you while here in Okayama, but I hope the subsequent events were enjoyable. Most importantly, I hope your mother was able to spend time with her beloved son in comfort. I pray for your safe return journey.

    I apologize for bombarding you with emails the day before yesterday from the Hokuriku Shinkansen train. Concerning the CT radiation, different types of CT scans vary depending on the location and purpose of the imaging. and the radiation dose varies depending on the imaging area (head, chest, abdomen, whole body, etc.) and the imaging technique, typically ranging from 5-30 mSv per scan. Compared to when I became a doctor, the radiation dose has become significantly lower. Although CT scans involve a higher radiation dose compared to low-dose examinations like chest X-rays (approximately 0.06 mSv), they still involve a small amount of radiation when considering the risk of cancer.

    I have ridden in the Gran Class (which reminds me of ‘Gran Coupe’…lol), several times, but unfortunately, they were all bound for Tokyo Station, and I have never used the "Gran Class" from Tokyo Station. If I depart from Tokyo Station and present the Gran Class ticket on the day of travel, I can access the "View Gold Lounge." The "View Gold Lounge" is a premium lounge available to Gold members of the View Card issued by JR East Japan and their accompanying guests. If I frequently use the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, it may be worth acquiring it.

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