August 19, 2006

De Rosa Daily
FEI World Equestrian Games 2006 - Aachen Germany
Exclusive coverage for HorsesDaily text and photos by Diana DeRosa

Let The Journey Begin

At first I thought I would prepare for an alternate plan but by the time I left for the airport it was too exhausting to worry about “what if.” And so I decided to take my chances and be polite. Trouble started pretty quickly at British Airways who indicated that I had to check my bag because even if they approved it in New York they would confiscate it in London. Now, that’s a great way to head off on a trip wondering if your $20,000 worth of equipment might be confiscated.

I still pushed and when they continued to insist that I check my camera bag and that they had no say over the condition it would arrive in I asked for insurance. Well that seemed to do the trick and they let me through. Once inside the security zone area it was not a problem.

The six hour flight was delayed a bit on the ground and our humorous Captain commented. Well, we left a ½ hour late so --- and here we were expecting him to say we were going to arrive late but no he said, “we’re just going to go faster.” In fact he made up that difference and we arrived on time at Heathrow. Oh, did I mention that I had the luck of having to go through Heathrow. Out of all the places I could have booked through eight months earlier mine was the unlucky straw.

I was dripping by the time I made it through customs not just for the worry factor but also I’d been battling an infected tooth for which I was taking antibiotics. It was wreaking havoc with my stomach and most of the flight I spent doubled over hoping the pain would subside all because I took one of the pills on a pretty much empty stomach.

At Heathrow there was a way to go for your connecting flights that was covered with security. There must have been ten security people watching out. As much as I tried to be inconspicuous they got me and told me my bag was too big that I would have to go outside the security area to the arrivals ticket desk and check my bag. And this time it appeared there was no way around it.

I headed in the direction he sent me but then turned around to tell him my flight was in an hour and could I make it, but he was gone and so were a lot of the security at the door. I’m not usually one to not follow orders but I figured I could just keep looking for him as I went through the door and if no one stopped me. Voila! It worked. I was in the very long security line and from that point on no one even questioned my luggage. It was almost as if once you passed the security check you were home free.

The bags went through the x-ray machine and passed with flying colors and you can bet I was one happy camper. But the thing I thought most about was what’s going to happen when I go back home in 10 days. Let’s just hope the security measures are lessened even more.

The big issue is really liquids. You had to throw out anything that had a cream base. If you were drinking something you had to finish it before boarding the plane. When we got onboard the pilot told us that the day before someone brought a bottle of water on the flight that was discovered one hour into the trip and the flight had to be turned around and taken back to Heathrow. They are not kidding and you had best take them seriously. I must admit I really lucked out.

After I retrieved my luggage it was time to take the S7 train downstairs to the main train station where I would pick up my train to Aachen. The first couple of days I am staying in Aachen at Aquis Grana, which is right in the city center and easy walking distance from everything. Then on the 20th I move to the press hotel Van der Valk Hotel Heerlen.

This was my second time this year to Germany as I had done an advance trip in March and slowly but surely the memories came back. Mostly with the graffitti that lined the tracks throughout the trip. It was done by some amazingly good artists and often it was the bright colors that made it so impressive.