Travelogue - Lisbon Airport
Lisbon airport workers are a kind, industrious people with a rich social history and a really big atrium. What few electrical outlets the airport contains are situated nowhere near the waiting chairs, which all happen to be unupholstered. Here are some fun facts should you find yourself in the main Portuguese airport when the UK terror alert goes to Code Teal Armageddon:
- GDP: I spent at least 50 euros there, so at least 50 euros.
- Population: A thousand?
- Primary exports: People. But not today, at least not to London.
- Languages spoken: Portuguese and English. Also many other weird European languages.
- Climate: 22 Celsius year round, no precipitation
- Cost of a Coke: 2 euros for a can at the cafeteria, €2.50 for a liter bottle
Having spent the past 6 days in Portugal, I was supposed to fly to London today. As you might have noticed from the news, that’s not really possible. So instead I’ve spent the past eight hours in the Lisbon airport. The Internet connection flaked out a few times, but for the most part I’ve been kept entertained.
Mostly, though, I think about the Nap. The Nap I expected, the Nap I deserve at the close of my vacation. Denied to me by this hard, concrete bench and the need to watch my luggage, the Nap is always out of reach. It would be so easy to just close my eyes and slump on the floor, but it would not satisfy. Truly I am the Tantalus of the Lisbon airport.
Man, I want to go to sleep.
August 11th, 2006 at 3:23 am
i must admit i find a perverse pleasure in the thought that maybe andrew is still there as i read this, bleary-eyed in his unupholstered chair, scratching for morsels of online entertainment.
are you still there andrew?!?
August 11th, 2006 at 4:25 am
Yes, I am still at this stupid airport. I spent the night in a hotel, getting the fantastic Nap, but I have spent the past 3 hours on the plane on the runway. The baggage belts broke down, so they’ve had to load everything manually. I don’t see any donkeys or carts, but I’m sure they’re involved. I’m sure I’ll miss my connecting flight, so stay tuned for fantastic information about the Dublin airport.
August 12th, 2006 at 5:19 am
dublin, hmm? well your exercise in insomnia will prove to be good training when you catch a leprechaun and then have to stay awake to prevent it from disappearing. when you have that pot o’ gold in your hands — you can thank the Lisbon Airport passenger lounge designers!
August 29th, 2006 at 6:35 pm
Andrew, I work at Lisbon airport. About that terrible August day, the luggage belts did not break down. Due to the hightened security , caused by events in London, ALL luggage had to be screened, causing a backlog on the belts. Check.ins where delayes, flights were delayed, and the amounto of lugage that was not loaded on to aircraft was mind boggling. bear in mind that in heathrow alone over 20 000 bags were not loaded on aircraft. I lisbon the number was closer to 5000. Working in Lost and found, let me tell you it wa sno easy task to re-tag all tjos ebags as RUSH and send them on to their rightful owners.As for the chairs, teher are various types of chairs at the airport. Some departure gates even ahve a new type of chair with integrated footrest, so you can have your NAPThank yopu for your compliments on Lisbon airport staff, at least i hope it was a compliment and not a sarcastic remark. We apologise for the caos during those days .. things are slowly returning to some form of normality. Come back and visit us again.
August 29th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
Wow. I never thought I would actually learn anything from that post! Thanks for the information.
I have no complaints about the staff at the Lisbon airport. My luggage ended up spending the night in Ireland without me, though, so they certainly beat the Dublin airport
September 11th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Hey andrew, I’m a very big fan about your website!
Since I saw you on orkut, a couple months ago, I isited this, and I really enjoyed the photos from your trips, it made me wonder, what do you do for living?
I’m a psichology student, and I love traveling!!!
Yes, I know this has nothing to do with your post, but I could be helpful to you there at Portugal, since I know how to speak portuguese, a litle bit of spanish and english.
I live in Brazil, hoping to go to canadá soon to study there =)
Kisses for you
(I hope to see your answer here)
if you wish to contact me just to talk, just say it so!
Mary White_
September 17th, 2006 at 10:56 am
Hey Andrew i see you photo is very amazing i’m from Canada but i’m living in peru and is very good your web site, i’m enjoyed the photo from your trip, I travel by everything south America and you have a more photo about you trip ? i hope to talk to you
Alex Kennedy