So... this is it !

After a nice hot bath, and a good night's sleep, i'm finally able to type freely. It's been a long long 36 hours, and I've done and seen so much already.

2 memories to leave Bangalore with. Getting soaked in the rain on my very last day there, along with Louis, on my way back home from office. And then, reaching the airport EARLY, and having to stand in a 300m long queue for check-in. It was a stark reminder of all the calls for growth of infrastructure in Bangalore, and the desperate need for a new airport. 3 international flights were to take off, and all were delayed due to lack on security check counters, and long long queues. Of course, had the occasional laugh, like when this German guy who was flying Lufthansa to Frankfurt went "Ol ze ladis, please muv to ze security countar neer zat woll". Apart from that, there was some crazy guy who was working for Fidelity Investments, and was flying to the US. This guy just kept cursing anything and everything. He even cursed the fact that Bangalore is probably the only airport in the world where you find ceiling fans. I am sure i can dispute that, if i do some research.

Not much to say about the flight. We left an hour late, and being my first flight, i was really looking forward to it. Didnt have any issues with my ears popping. But yeah, i loved the experience of take-off. Was like a roller coaster-ride, and is was over just when i was beginning to enjoy it. Landing was even better ! In the 9 hours in between, they fed up thrice, and didnt let me sleep. There was a cute air-hostess, but she was serving the other aisle. Damn it ! She looked nice giving those safety instructions.

Ah the flight food. The breakfast was good. Croissant was very very nice, and so was the juice and yogurt with cereal. But guess what the following description on the menu is :

Spicy Potatoes in Deep Fried Indian Bread

Oh yes, that is the Air France description for "Poori Saagu". No further comments !

We landed in Paris half an hour earlier than scheduled ( i was very very surprised). It was 11 degrees, and had rained all night. Was really really cold.

My first encounter with French was at the security check. Usually, these guys speak English with the international travellers. But this guy noticed that I have a work visa, or something to that effect... and goes "Vous allez a Lyon?".. and must have thought i'd reply in fluent French.. took me 5 secs to frame my reply... and then in the worst French accent EVER, i said "Oui, je vais a Lyon, mais apres je vais a Grenoble". I think he was glad to just stamp my visa, and go "Voila!"

I was actually able to make it to a connecting flight that i earlier thought i'm sure to miss.

This aircraft was like a toy. Was an Airbus A-318, very very small, seating capacity must have been like 80 or so, not more. And guess what, there was an even cuter air hostess on board !!
Anyway, this flight was very short, only about 30 mins to Lyon. Were just gaining some altitude, when the pilot announced that we're making our descent to St.Exupery airport !

It was just as cold at Lyon, as it was in Paris. And I broke into a cold sweat when i heard my name on the public address system, asking me to come to the Air France office. My baggage didnt make the connection, and they volunteered to send the bag to Grenoble later than afternoon. Damn it... all these days i kept thinking the baggage will make the connecting flight, and i wont. And finally it was the reverse !!

Took the bus to Grenoble, and was surprised to get stuck in a huge storm. It was pouring all the way to Grenoble, and I was even more surprised to see that it was bright and sunny in Grenoble. Well, i guess this is the "mountain weather" that my friends told me about...

First thing i notice about Grenoble. Where are all the people ??? It was a saturday, and the place was to be "crowded", but i couldnt see a soul. It was like a ghost town in one of those western movies. The only thing missing was a foul-mouthed sheriff and a few tumbleweeds.

So i met Tony at the bus station, and we grabbed a bite at a nearby eatout, that served an awesome Kebab Roll. Hung around a bit, took a couple of tram rides, did some small shopping for essentials, and landed at the hotel.

Waited until my baggage arrived (thank god, else i wudnt have clothes for another day) and then crashed. Woke up this morning feeling refreshed and determined to explore my new home town a bit... opened the window, and voila !!

It's raining in Grenoble !!!
And it's supposed to be summer.