Thinking about holidays

[liadnan]

I blame Chrysaphi. The first post I read this morning was hers pointing out that KLM have really rather cheap flights to Istanbul throughout July and August. Couple that with Tabouli also planning a visit to Turkey two posts further on; the demise of my grandiose plans to go to Armenia and Georgia; the fact that Dr Lovely is in exam purdah so the half-formed plan of visiting NYC was dead in the water before I'd even broached it with her; and the fact that after a few days of blazing sun it's now vaguely drizzling in London again; and my trigger finger is impatiently hovering over the "book now" button.

I do, of course, have a week of living in a cave villa built into a cliff face in Croatia Sorrento with Rob, Steph, Fiona, Milliesioux and others to look forward to, which will be fab. But what's the point of being a tool of capitalist oppression if you don't go on holiday for more than a week a year? Besides, I'm supposed to be trying to write a novel about Hagia Sophia.

Comments

[fi.livejournal.com]

Hmm. KLM are cheap for a reason - terrible service, and my GOD the food ("Chicken or Cheese? Chicken or Cheese?").

The fare would want to be very good (I can't link to it for some reason)

[liadnan]

Try http://tickets.klm.com/d/Global/UK/Cheap_Flights/

139 quid. Compare with 200 as the cheapest Opodo could find.

I've never flown KLM, thought they had a good reputation? Anyway, I'm fairly used to rubbish flights. Stelios is Your Friend (but doesn't fly to Istanbul yet) See also Ryanair.

[megamole.livejournal.com]

Hagia Sophia?

Ooooo.

Been there, loved it and dig Byzantium big style. Always wondered what would have happened if Princess Eirene HAD married Otto II The Great back in the 11th century.

[liadnan]

Was there three years ago and prmised myself I'd be back again before too long. Byzantium one of my main interests historically.

[eccles.livejournal.com]

I flew KLM to South Africa once a while back. The plane smelled of fresh coffee and Schiphol (sp?) airport is huge.

I need to knuckle down and sort out some tickets to NYC but I fear it may clash with Fionna's visit to London. Talking of which I was in Opodo the other day looking at NYC flights and there weren't any cheap ones, pout.

[lizw.livejournal.com]

I've always got on well with KLM. One time we got delayed on the ground at Schiphol for what would be a laughably short time in England, and they gave us vouchers for free beer.

[fi.livejournal.com]

140 quid isn't bad I suppose. What I have issue with is the fact that KLM doesn't market itself as a low-cost airline! I had better service on Easyjet and Ryanair! (no pretences there at least)

[talvalin.livejournal.com]

I flew KLM to Japan and they were okay, but the plane was a bit rubbish (we had little TVs in the aisles) and our Dutch stewardess on the outbound flight was incredibly rude (her Japanese counterpart was much much nicer).

It's funny that you mention Istanbul, as I have 5 days holiday left and was contemplating that part of the world. Providing my band doesn't decide to do a short tour of the UK or Europe, or anything mad like that.

[liadnan]

Actually, I had a mental note to reply to some comment you made a while back somewhere asking about visiting Istanbul. I'd ecommend it, basically.

Hagia Sophia Novel

[a-rob-z.livejournal.com]

Maybe just don't bother and say you did?

Re: Hagia Sophia Novel

[liadnan]

Which: write the novel or go there? I think people might cotton on to the former. As for the latter -tax deductible. Possibly.