I am sitting in the departure lounge of Chinisua airport. This airport is smaller than other domestic airports.The flight is delayed. I took bus no 165 from the Cosmos hotel and in 30 minutes reached the airport for 6 lei. Driver charged one ticket for my large packsack also. Now the gate has opened and I will write in the plane.
There was no problem at the check in but when I went for Passport control, the immigration officer said that I did not have stamp of entrance to Moldova. I suspected this problem. I told him that I came from Kiev by bus, the passports were collected by the immigration officer there in the bus and then after an hour or so returned. What could I do, the bus was running. He said that I should have gone to a special office in Chinisua and got a clearance. Now I was not allowed to go. I had to pay a fine of 100 euro to magistrate in the city. I would lose all the money of the air ticket. Frankly was aware that my passport was not stamped and I should have gone to police. This I read in Kiev on Internet that this problem could come. Some other travelers has faced it. But I did not go or thought it important to go. The immigration officer went to some other officer and then on phone they talked to their boss who probably asked him to stamp the passport. Now this officer had an intention of taking some money. Two of them asked me how much money I have. I told them the truth and also that I have to travel 30 days more. Then they asked me to meet in the hall and behind me. First they gave me a lecture on their political situation where Moldova does not have control of the area through which the bus come and the area is not politically with them. The embassy should have told me that. I had collected my passport and so was in no mood to listen to them. I said I respect your land boundary and thank you for stamping my passport which does not have entrance stamp but exit stamp only. They did not ask for money directly but were leading to that.
The airport departure lounge is also very small. There are only 3-4 duty free shops. The flight to Vienna was by Austrian Arrow airlines probably a part of Austrian airlines. We went in a bus to the plane parked nearby. There may be 60-70 passengers in a Fokker plane having capacity of 120 passengers. The flight was 10 minutes delayed. It was low flying and one could see small villages and towns. One apple in a packet and a packet of chocolate wafers were served. It may be apple or wafer. Everyone was taking both and I also picked up both. The flight reached 20 minutes before than the scheduled time of 4.55pm. The immigration was quick. The officer looked at the visa and stamped it. I collected the rucksack and came out. I adjusted the time in the watch as Austrian time was one hour behind.
Himanshu, my elder son must have come in the morning. I waited for him at the exit gate and he met me at 5.20 pm. It was nice and refreshing to meet Himanshu. He had come all the way from Basel to meet me. He had already bought train tickets from the airport. We came down and boarded local train and then changed metro twice to reach our station where hotel was located. He has checked in the hotel earlier in the morning and hotel (Kolpings familiewienmeidling) has agreed for his stay in the same room for extra 23 euro. Price for one person is 44 euro. Before coming to hotel, we went to Wienmeidling station to cancel 8 am train to 11.02 am train. I could go by any train on 8th July but 8 am train is direct to Moribor, slovenia but 11.02 train is upto Graz and then I will change two times to reach Maribor. I preferred second train as it will give some more time with Himanshu after breakfast.
All the time I was chatting with Himanshu and told him important events of my travel which I have already written and sent. We reached the hotel room which is basically like a hostel type. There are two bunk beds also but folded up. I kept my rucksack and within minutes left the place. This is Himanshu's first visit to Vienna and I have had come here many times. I told him to go to Stephenplatz which is the centre of Vienna and every tourist comes here. We changed metro after studying the map and reached there. As expected it was full of tourist mostly from Italy. We walked here and there. We now were hungry and looked at the restaurants. Almost every restaurant was selling italian pizzas. I was avoiding this food. We found a good vegetarian restaurant, =Freshi=. This was all vegetarian dishes. Soup, Salad and burrito were good in taste and quantity. While returning Himanshu withdrew 500 Euro and gave me. I told him I have sufficient money for my further travel. In fact he was insisting on giving 1000 Euro which I did not agree. We reached back the hotel after changing metro lines. Himanshu went to another room where wifi was functioning and talked to Devika on skype for long. I joined him and talked to her. I could see her also and she could see me on skype. She did not read what I sent her yesterday and today. It was early morning in Singapore. She was happy to talk and so was I.
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