Oh boy, I’m leaving Asia now, having spent months here and heading for Europe. Its time for me to explore another part of the world, get back to a little bit of familiarity and decompress my nervous system. While I have enjoyed Asia more than I ever imagined, the busy cities, crowds, pollution and chaos have taken their toll on my introverted anxious brain. Not looking forward to my 32-hour travel day, Shanghai to Bratislava via Helsinki.
Shanghai PVG
I take a Didi ride from my 2nd hotel in Shanghai (yes, I did change hotels as the first one was not good), to the airport. The drive is over an hour, almost 50 km and costs ¥177 or $36 CAD. Shanghai PVG airport is huge but easy to navigate. As soon as you enter the doors, all bags are x-rayed and you are granted entrance into the departure terminal.
Next is finding the check-in desk which already has a considerable line when I arrive. Luckily, I checked-in online yesterday so can bypass this and simply drop my bag off. Its then I head through passport control, security and into the airside portion of the terminal. I have three hours until my flight and because I haven’t eaten since my free breakfast in the hotel this morning, I decide to hit up a lounge.
Juneyao Air Lounge
Its 6pm, dinner time when I use my DragonPass to enter the Juneyao Air Lounge. It is not large or fancy but has nice clean seating, lots of selection and beautiful facilities. First stop is to the small bar area where I fix myself a nice gin & tonic. Next is over to the hot foods for my first plate of dinner. At one end is a noodle station where a lovely staff member hands me a piping hot bowl of ramen.
After adding the bits and sauces that I enjoy I return to my table. One taste of those noodles and I’m in heaven, they might just be the best thing I have had in Shanghai, with exception of some dumplings I purchased from a street vendor.
Shanghai to Helsinki
When its just about an hour away from my departure time, I make my way to the gate. This airport has over 530 gates, so don’t leave it until the last minute to find yours. 😬I am flying a red eye flight on Finnair that is just over 14 hours long. Ugggggg. Once on board the Airbus A350 I settle into my economy seat and to my complete joy, the seat beside me remains empty. I do have a woman in the isle seat, she is young and friendly, what great luck!
We are no sooner in the air and the meal service is presented. It looks pretty grim after what I have just enjoyed in the lounge but I nibble away anyways. Its now 11pm and time for some movies. I generally am unable to sleep on flights. I have seen a trick on TikTok, creating a head hammock out of your scarf, so I am going to try that and see if I can at least get an hour or two. Finnair has provided us all with a blanket but no pillow. 😩 Breakfast comes around just after 9am Shanghai time and it is unappetizing. The sky is just beginning to lighten above the clouds.
Helsinki HEL
Arrival into Helsinki is overcast and grey however the agricultural views are lovely and green. I have a three-hour layover here and thankful for that because of what is currently happening at Immigration counters all across Europe. A new digital system is being implemented and many airports are having queue’s lasting for hours. Helsinki is no different. I wait in this incredibly slow-moving line for almost two hours. 😩
Tired beyond reason, I have to sit on the dirty floor and scoot along on my butt, I cannot stand for that long in one place. I’ve already been awake for over 24 hours. I notice a section of automated Immigration machines, in fact I can see 44 of them, however none are working. Just like when I arrived into Italy last year, nothing is working. Once past immigration another security checkpoint awaits. I can see that almost everyone from my flight (entire tour groups) are dumping out bottles of red wine that they pilfered from the flight. They are over 100ml so a no go.
Into the terminal now and wow its so cute! Really wonderful to see so much local flair. I am surrounded by Finnish eateries and shops, no garish big name brand stores or the like. Its really charming. I’ve never seen reindeer pelts for sale before!
Helsinki to Vienna
Walking towards my gate with haste, I do stop to have a quick coffee and cinnamon bun, unable to resist these lovely bakeries that I am passing by. This next flight is also with Finnair on an Airbus A320. At just over two hours long and during daylight hours, I can pass the time looking out the window.
Vienna VIE
Arrival into Vienna is smooth as butter and the airport is pretty and easy to navigate. I am through everything, even collecting my luggage and seated having a sandwich in the arrivals hall in under 25 minutes! Oh how I love some of the efficient airports in Europe!
After messaging my Airbnb host, my plan is to take a bus from here to Bratislava in Slovakia. Originally, I was going to take the train and had even purchased a ticket, but the bus is one less leg of travel. In my state of exhaustion, anything easier is better at this point. Because I am too early to check in for my Airbnb (my host cannot meet me until later than the designated check-in time with the keys), I kill some time here in Vienna airport.
Vienna to Bratislava
It doesn’t take long before I am too antsy and have to get moving. I’m just too tired to sit in this little bakery any longer. Following signs for the bus, I head outside and to the right of the arrival’s doors. Here I find an area where many buses are stopping to collect people. I read a chart and head towards one that I think might be heading where I need.
The driver of the Slovak Lines bus says yes! He is going to the Nivi station in Bratislava. I pay my €15, put my suitcase under the bus and hop on board. I’ve got a window seat and no one beside me, perfection! The drive is mostly scenic landscape and short! Only lasting 50 minutes, I have already travelled from Austria to Slovakia!
Bratislava
I get off the bus at a large central station called Nivi, located under a mall of the same name. Because I’m early, I take a seat on the bottom floor of the mall to wait. To tired to sit still, I walk around and see a bus lounge? I check it out and the lovely ladies inside tell me that because I travelled from across the border I can not only sit in the lounge but can have a free coffee too!
I’ve waited a few hours now, done some computer work and my Airbnb host is here to take me home. Finally, finally I have reached my new residence, a cute little flat on the fourth floor across from a cemetery. Its absolutely perfect.
