Journalled on Monday, 6 November 2023 | Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro: 24 degrees, warm, sunny, and slightly overcast.
There are 16 days until I travel and leave Brazil, and 17 days until I arrive at Birmingham International Airport.
The flights are with KLM. I have flown with them a couple of times. They were always good, but that was 20 or 30 years ago; I’m not sure how they are now. We’ll see.
My flight from Galeão Airport in Rio de Janeiro to Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands, near Amsterdam, is at 10 p.m. I will probably head to the airport at about 6 p.m., less than three hours before my flight. I should arrive at Schiphol Airport at 8:15 in the morning, their time. The connecting flight from Schiphol to Birmingham is at twenty to one in the afternoon, arriving at Birmingham Airport at 1:50 p.m.
I will have about four hours to wait at the airport. I know this airport well, so spending time there, walking around, or buying something is no big deal. I’m travelling, so everything I do is a plus. I have also pre-booked a train ticket from Birmingham International Airport, which has a train station inside the airport, to Wolverhampton train station at 3:08 p.m.
This gives me an hour to disembark, clear customs, and reach the platform.
If the flight arrives on time, there should be no problem, but it could be a bit stressful if it doesn’t. However, I’m not worried because I will catch the next train if I miss it. I’m travelling, so everything is fine.
My mother said she would pay for a taxi to pick me up from the airport, which is roughly a one-hour drive by car. I think it’s too expensive. I’ll have to tell her I’ll make my own way to her place by myself.
She won’t like it, but she’ll have to accept it. Besides, I want to get there independently; it’s part of my adventure. I haven’t caught a train in England for at least 40 years, and I’m also looking forward to it as part of my trip.
It takes half an hour by train from the airport station to Wolverhampton, arriving around 2 to 4 in the afternoon. As it is winter, it will already be dark, especially compared with Rio.
Upon arriving in Wolverhampton, I can catch a taxi or a bus to my mother’s home. She lives in Wordsley, a small village with an industrial glassmaking heritage from the Industrial Revolution.
Nowadays, almost all of the ancient and highly skilled glass factories in the region have closed, particularly those that specialised in lead crystal glass engraving. However, two or three of them have become museums offering glassmaking courses, serving as cultural centres.
These centres help preserve the glassmaking tradition that was so important to the region at the time. My grandfather, Jackson, was a highly skilled and renowned glass cutter.
My mother lives in Wordsley, a small village in the countryside, just a three- or four-minute drive away. Once you venture out, you pass farmland dotted with sheep, cows, and more. Numerous quaint villages are scattered around, all connected by roads that meander through the countryside like veins on an old person’s body.
When travelling from one village or town to another, you often pass through stunning farmland landscapes. This is truly fantastic, especially in spring, summer, and autumn.
According to Google Maps, the distance from Wolverhampton train station to Worsley is 9.1 miles. At current exchange rates, a taxi should cost between £12 and £15, about R$90 to R$100 Brazilian Reais.
This is still a little expensive for me, but it’s not so much for my mother. Perhaps a taxi could pick me up from Wolverhampton train station instead of the airport. Catching a train in England after so long would be a nice way to complete the journey.
I shall speak to my mother this week and sort everything out.
My day was pleasant, featuring an intense workout, classes, and a walk with Perola.
In bed by 10.30 pm.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
