Round The World and other travels
A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries
This is: Shanghaied in Tuscany!
Flight Log 4 : LH728
Frankfurt (FRA) - Shanghai Pudong (PVG)
The limo driver led me through Door 2L and up the stairs, delivering my cabin baggage directly to my seat. The experience had barely started and already the needle on my imaginary Service Standards Meter was pushing comfortably into Excellent territory. As I took my seat with the distinct impression that the vast majority of passengers were already on board, I noted that there were six passengers on the upper deck, out of a possible sixteen. As well as myself in 82A, there were couples in 82H/K and 83H/K and a further solo passenger in 84A.
I was quickly offered Champagne, water and macadamia nuts and was also given pyjamas, slippers and a new design of washbag. My suspicion that we were nearly ready to go was confirmed when, in a new variation of the standard announcement that struck me as a perfect example of the Anglicisation of the German language, I heard a member of cabin crew say over the public address system: "Das Boarding ist completed"! Shortly thereafter, the Captain announced an expected flight time of 9hrs 25mins, which struck me as very short. We eventually pushed back a little late at 1740. Although it was a short taxi to Runway 25R, we needed to hold for quite some time, so that it was 1754 when I took my temporary leave of European soil. A U-turn was required to get us heading in the right direction and this was done to the right (i.e via North).
As I started up the movie Terminator Salvation
on the IFE system, service commenced with the beautifully presented
hot towels to which I had become rather accustomed during 2009. At
this point, the couple in 82H/K moved into 81H/K as their IFE was
inoperative. This was good news as far as I was concerned, as they
were a little on the loud side for my delicate sensibilities.
I now had the whole of Row 82 to myself, which was an excellent
development. What a stroke of luck!
I was soon enjoying a repeat of my choice of boarding drinks, accompanied by a delicious amuse-bouche of tuna, water melon and orange. There was a further announcement from the flight deck, describing our routing as being via Leipzig, Berlin, Poland, Lithuania, Russia (to include overflying Moscow), Mongolia and the city of Nanjing in China. By now, I was tucking into some delicious garlic bread and German Schwarzbrot. The former, being still warm and crisp, was the best I'd tasted on board an aircraft. I had already given the cabin crew my selections for dinner, taken from the impressive menu compiled by New Orleans-based Star Chef John Besh.
| DINNER |
|
WINES |
| Hors D'Oeuvres | Champagne | |
| Caviar with the traditional Garnishes | 'D' de Deveaux Brut, Champagne Veuve Deveaux | |
| Louisiana Crayfish en Gelée with Lemon and Tomato Vinaigrette | ||
| Grilled Watermelon, Balsamic and Goat Cheese | White Wines | |
| Tartare of smoked Goose Breast with fresh Cilantro and Sesame Oil | 2008 Meersburger Jungfernstieg, Weißer Burgunder trocken, Staatsweingut Meersburg, Germany | |
| 2006 Napa Valley Chardonnay, Rutherford Ranch, USA | ||
| Salad or Soup | 2007 Iphöfer Kronsberg Silvaner Spätlese trocken, Weingut Wirsching, Germany | |
| Frisée, Lollo Rosso, Romaine Lettuce and Radicchio with Saffron Cauliflower, Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, fried Mushrooms and Herbs, with your choice of Ranch or Macadamia Nut Oil dressing | ||
| Spicy Lemongrass Soup | Red Wines | |
| 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Domini Veneti, Italy | ||
| Main Courses | 2005 Merlot, Veenwouden, South Africa | |
| Prawn, Tofu and Pancetta Stew served with red and green Bell Pepper, Shiitake and Rice, savory pickled Arugula Salad | 2002 Chateau Belgrave, Cru Classé, Haut-Médoc, France | |
| Swordfish with Beans and Carrots served with Wild Rice | ||
| Pumpkin Ravioli served with glazed Chestnuts, Walnuts, Mushrooms and Citrus | Dessert Wine | |
| Sugar and Spice Duck Breast served with stewed Quinces, Leaf Spinach and creamy Polenta | 2006 Muscat de Frontignan, Chateau de la Peyrade, France | |
| Cheese and Dessert | ||
| Fourme D'Ambert, Fougeru, Tomme de Savoie, Pont-l'Évêque and Goat Cream Cheese garnished with Walnuts, red Radish and Grapes | ||
| Streusel Pear Tart and brown Butter Ice Cream | ||
| Passion Fruit and Grapefruit Jelly, Marshmallows and Pecan with Lime Leaf Sorbet | ||
| Specialty Dessert Wines |
The starters trolley, beautifully presented as
always, was soon on the scene. I decided to have the caviar and the
crayfish, both of which were excellent and went down nicely
accompanied by Champagne and ice water. I could have had vodka with
the caviar, but I've never really understood the point of vodka to a
non-binge drinker. The lemongrass soup proved to be another winner
and the main course of swordfish was also very nice with a glass of
the Californian Chardonnay. Feeling that I still had some room left,
I had some naughty pear tart and ice cream and finished the meal off
with a pot of my beloved Earl Grey tea. What a wonderful feast!
I was asked if I'd like to be woken up one and a half hours before arrival and said that I would. Before changing into my PJs and settling down for the night, I listened to a performance of Haydn's Symphony No 96, the 'Miracle'.
I had a good sleep, albeit a short one, waking up on my own some twenty minutes before the cabin crew would have roused me out of my slumbers. As soon as I'd changed back into my day clothes, another hot towel, some orange juice and a further pot of Earl Grey appeared, quickly followed by toast, butter, jam and a copy of the full menu.
| BREAKFAST |
| Cold and Hot Specialties |
| Freshly squeezed Orange Juice |
| Fresh Fruit |
| Curd Cream with Fresh Fruit and shaved Almonds, Yoghurt, Smacks and Milk |
| Emmental, Camembert and Savory Cream Cheese |
| Parma Ham, smoked Turkey Breast, Tyrolean Bacon |
| Smoked Atlantic Salmon, Filet of Trout |
| Scrambled Eggs freshly prepared upon your request, with your choice of Bacon or Chives |
Repeating a request that I'd made on my previous LH F sector, I asked if I could have some scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Again, no problem at all, and very nice they were too. The cabin crew member seemed to think I hadn't had enough (!) and recommended the very unusual-sounding cream / fruit / nuts / yoghurt / cereal concoction. I agreed to try it and found it very much nicer than it perhaps sounds.
The seat belt signs came on some thirty minutes prior to our expected arrival time and we were soon on final approach into Shanghai's massive Pudong airport, touching down at 0939 local time. After a lengthy taxi, we made it onto stand four minutes ahead of schedule.
Overall, this had been a superbly executed flight and, as I prepared to disembark, I briefly allowed myself to look into what felt like the distant future of March 2010, which would bring my next planned experience of Lufty First Class, this time ex-Munich on the A340.
Date: Tue 06 Oct 2009
Aircraft : Boeing 747-400
Scheduled dep : 1730
Actual departure : 1740
Scheduled arrival : 0955+1
Actual arrival : 0951+1
Cabin : First Class
Seat : 82A
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