EU after 12 years (2): Arrival at MXP, Forget about the Travel Advisory

I was a little shocked to know that Malpensa Airport is actually named after the former Italian Prime Minister, when I just came back from the trip and no one ever, even once, referred to that! Silvio Berlusconi (Perhaps one of a few Italian names that could be easily, quickly and correctly pronounced by foreigners!) was a controversial figure in modern Italy, perhaps after Benito Mussolini. There was even a movie made about him a few years ago but I haven't seen it. He died in 2023 in Milan at the age of 86. 
Nevertheless, let's talk about Malpensa Airport (MXP) and how you can easily manage your trip's first steps. Stage one: Ignore everything that you have read in the Government of Canada Travel Advisory website!
I regularly check the Government of Canada Travel Advisory website to see what the situation looks like before I plan for my trips. This time ignoring that resulted in a huge amount of time and money saving! I planned to drive to Gruyeres in Switzerland from Malpensa, a nearly 290 Km (180 m.) drive, (which you will see how crazy it went in another post!), the website tells you to have an IDP which stands for International Driving Permit, as well as a notarized or official translation of your Operator's License. Here's how I handled them: I was quite tired, frustrated with all the damn cost(!) and exhausted from work. So I said to myself: I'm going to take the train and make it to Gruyeres in 05:30 hours instead of 03:30. I'm not going to spend any more money on photographs (for the IDP), the IDP processing fee itself, the translation and of course going to all these places! 
Here's what happened instead: I reached MXP around 17:30, you can easily find out by looking at the Timeline in Google Maps on your phone, if you have a Pixel or any other Android based mobile phone and I don't know about Apple but I do know that law enforcement agencies use the devise to catch the lying criminal and I love that(!), and I went to Passport Control. It took nearly 3 minutes. No line, no questions. Only looking at the passport and obtaining the finger prints of the right hand, electronically and I guess taking a photo. I then went to a SIM Card booth and bought one with 2 GB data available which would work in Switzerland (which will be the subject of a topic later!). I think it was €38, if I'm not mistaken. Then I headed toward Enterprise which is located on the lower floor. The people happily considered my reservation despite the fact that more than 7 hours, I think, had passed the original time that I was supposed to get the vehicle. The young girl, who was very nice and polite and helpful did not ask anything about IDP or the translation of the freaking O. License! She probably didn't even know what it was! Finding the parking was a challenge at first but I asked one of the guides and he directed me there. There, in the lot, I was given a standard, hybrid, hatchback, Puma Ford! What an unusual combination of featured but it worked. I think by the time I left the airport it was almost 18:45, not too far from sunset, in a country that I had never driven in, toward the destination that I would have to cross a border and I solely depend on Google Maps! I didn't get any food or beverages, considering I had eaten both at YYC and the plane. I just followed the map and tried to get myself familiar with the features of the Puma! 

(Photo: The Puma is seen here which was parked at the first hotel's spot. I think this is specifically designed for Europe as I have not seen any in Canada or the US)

EU after 12 Years (1): LHR instead of MXP

I have this habit that never say to anyone where I'm going when I leave the city or the country for a trip. It has been with me for 3 decades, at least. Why? The answer is simple: First of all I don't want people to know where I'm going until I reach there, do whatever I had planned and come back in one piece. Secondly I don't want my family to worry. This recent trip's change proved me right.
I was scheduled to go to Montreal and then to Malpensa near Milan for my European trip just three Saturdays back but the flight got cancelled and I went to Heathrow and from there flew to Malpensa! The delay was nearly 8 hours but it is way better than re-booking everything. My only worry was missing the rental car and the hotel in Gruyeres, Switzerland.
I was relaxing in my kitchen as I had hours until my early afternoon flight when the message on the phone, from the airliner, indicated that there would be half an hour delay to the flight. Fine! I said to myself. It was not much longer that I received another message: The flight had been cancelled due to a technical problem or something. It was stated that I could either fly at night or book another flight! 
Book another flight?! Are you kidding me?! I booked this damn flight more than six freaking months to avoid any high price or last minute seat selection. I'm not going to go through that sh*t again or anything even easier that requires me to sit at the desk for another even 15 minutes to browse around the scheduled flights! I agreed to fly at night, I think it was 20:00 or a little sometime after that. 
The boarding and everything went smoothly but here is my problem: I can't sleep on the damn planes! Therefore when I reached Heathrow I felt like a zombie(!) and here what else I can tell you, Heathrow DOES NOT make every journey better, unlike what they say as their motto! 
I had been to the damn airport only twice before and this time was the last time and that was not my choice. It's overcrowded with the least amount of guidance and help available and there's not even a spot to sit for a few minutes unless you're going to one of the establishments for food or drink and what if you're neither hungry nor thirsty and you just had enough on the plane? You have to force yourself to eat or drink yourself to be able to relax for a few minutes, although the meaning of relaxing changes here because there's no relaxing in an overcrowded and noisy place! 
I don't know how long my layover was but happily it was not too long. The other thing is I realized that you can't get a damn SIM Card in the airport or at least it's what I was told by a guy who worked in a tech shop!! This is really stupid and ridiculous at the same time. Does that mean that many tourists do not arrive at Heathrow?! Do they have to go to the city to get a card of that nature? What's the damn deal?! A quick search on the web shows there are several stores in the airport but the piece of shit, ugly, nasty guy in the store told me I would not be able to buy any. 
The other thing is Heathrow is filled with East Indian (both Muslim and non-Muslim, as far as I could tell) and lots of Arabs with long robes and head covers working as screening or all the other businesses. I guess that's the case in the UK these days. The guys who are very pious and restricted Muslims beg Christians to go to their countries to have a better life! The irony of that! This is a long discussion which will have to be waited for later.
The flight to Malpensa was quite smooth. I think not more than 75% of the seats were full. Some British guys and some Italians who like peasants! The British Airways plane looked run down. It was a short trip, about two hours and it was a pleasant day in terms of meteorological events! The stewardesses gave a small McVitie cookie and perhaps some water, If i remember clearly but hot beverages were only available for purchase! The good thing came at the end: Donation! Something that I had not experienced on any flight. I didn't get much of it mostly because it was not loud enough for me to hear and of course the strong British accent but one of the stewardesses walked from the front to the end with bag and the poor lady got nothing. I think the UK has distanced itself from its glorious days that the Sun does set on its territory. With all the refugees coming crossing the English Channel, all the Arabs who despise the UK like poison and all the Pakistani and Hindu and Punjabi, not to mention the Africans, Afghans and Iranians, who knows what the future of the US would look like? Is that not the reason Dinosaur (an older cousin who resides in the UK since mid. 1980), wants to move out? I don't know and I don't care. We're not in speaking terms. He has been married to a really disgusting and nasty bitch. Nevertheless, that was how I got myself to Malpensa, one of the two airports of Milan (Milano in Italian), where I guess most of the international flights land.  

(Photo: The plane is taxing passing a row of British Airways plane in Heathrow, before taking off for Malpensa)

A simple Calculation for EVs

The price of gasoline went up again yesterday and remained the same today! It was after a sharp drop. That is why it's called roller coaster. With that in mind, I thought I do a little, simple calculation to see how the ones who drive an EV, enjoy it. However, I need to mention the concept of battery depreciation, something that EV owners cannot close their eyes to it.

My story is a little bit different. I drive a Hybrid-Electric which has less dependency on the charge. I have been able to charge it at work, most of the time, free of charge. I haven't heard anything from HR but I guess when I hear it would be the day that they ask me to leave and never come back! 

Apart from that I wanted to do a little calculation to how it actually looks. The data is based on Toyota App. This system record all the details: Where the charging took place, the date, the hours and most importantly, the amount of energy extracted in Kwh. Here is an example:

The Battery was at 0% and went up to 89% in less than 9 hours, or to be exact 8 h. and 57 m. and 19 sec.! Keep in mind that it is a small battery. Not like Tesla's. It extracted 9.167 kwh of energy. This amount of energy combined with just a few drop of gasoline is enough for a reliable and enjoyable drive of nearly 70 km (43 miles). It will cost $0.104900 x 9.167 = $0.96! 

Solar Panels installed in the first solar plant within the limits of City of Calgary in the southeastern quadrant. These panels last up to 30 years and generate convert nearly, if remember correctly, only 26% of the sunlight to alternative current. Inverters then are used to convert the current the DC and make it suitable for the public use

It seems pretty attractive to have an EV. Does it not? Especially now that the prices are coming down but you also have to remember that many of these cars are simply Compliance Vehicles meaning that they just are a cheap copy of the originals big brand luxury EVs and the pathetic companies have to make them to be able to comply with the governments' rules which mandates them not to make internal combustion vehicles after a certain year.

It is said that if you drive them well, perhaps meaning not accelerating suddenly, do not expose them to extreme cold or heat and consider some other factors, they will last up to 10 years. What do you need to do after that? You must consider the battery changed or the vehicle is only good as a carriage which needs a couple of good horses! All the money that you have saved in the past 10 years now is going to be spent on a new battery! What have you gotten, then? Just comfort and the joy of driving the EV. The question is was it worth it? You also can buy solar panels and make your charging free after a few years but as these panels normally last 30 years. The final verdict is buy a good EV, if you can afford it. Enjoy driving it, enjoy its luxury and then who knows what happens in 10 years?! 

(Photo, top: The Toyota App gives you lots of options as well as interesting data about your vehicle)

Everything's Not Lost

Sent this lyrics of Coldplay to one of cousins today:

When I counted up my demons

Saw there was one for every day

With the good ones on my shoulders

I drove the other ones away

So if you ever feel neglected

And if you think that all is lost

I'll be counting up my demons, yeah

Hoping everything's not lost

When you thought that it was over

You could feel it all around

And everybody's out to get you

Don't you let it drag you down

Cause if you ever feel neglected

And if you think that all is lost

I'll be counting up my demons, yeah

Hoping everything's not lost

If you ever feel neglected

If you think that all is lost

I'll be counting up my demons, yeah

Hoping everything's not lost

Singing out

Oh, oh, oh, yeah

Oh, oh, yeah

Oh, oh, yeah

Everything's not lost

(Photo: The school in Hormozgan Province in the south of Iran after being hit by an American missile. These guys didn't even bother apologizing, let alone compensating the poor people who lost their kids during the murderous attack) 

The Roller Coaster of Gasoline

I purchased $30 worth of gasoline last Sat. night for approximately, if I remember correctly, $1.85 per liter. I had planned for a hike the next day. I got lazy and didn't go! That amount of gasoline would have lasted me the entire week or at least up to Thu., had I continued driving my old internal combustion engine vehicle. I, instead, drove my PHEV. What was shocking was the price of gasoline today: $1.50 per liter! Just after one week! 

A week ago I did not see prices lower than $1.85 in most of the major gas stations across the city

One might thing ȼ35 per liter is nothing but it adds up. There has not been any exchange of missiles or any bombing during the week. The US has just increased the economic pressures and blockades on Iran and the Saudis have helped the Yemeni Government in their fight against Houthis. Leading those to a more stable oil market is surprising but thank you. The food prices, damn, they're out of control. It's so bad that I don't even want to discuss them. No wonder why some people go to bed half hungry or the lines are long at the food banks. I'm not going to discuss this issue again.  

(Photo, top: The price of gasoline in the southeastern quadrant of Calgary, Alberta, yesterday afternoon)

The Anxiety before the Trip

The last time I was in Europe was 2014, 12 freaking years ago and the world was a different place back then. I spent more than a week in the State of Bavaria in Germany and had a great time. Look at all the horrific things that have happened in these 12b years so so:

1) Syrian Civil War. That poured nearly 1,000,000 refuges to Germany, alone. It started in 2011 and got worse by the year until it ended in Dec. 2024, less than two years ago. Watching A Private War could shed some light on the details of this devastating war but you need to dig deeper to understand it thoroughly. 

2) Covid-19 Pandemic. (Started in early 2020).

3) Taliban taking over Afghanistan after the US forces left in Aug.2021. That has created an unstoppable wave of Afghan refugees to all over the world. Many of them flee to the neighbouring countries, more specifically Pakistan and Iran but both the countries have started expelling them. Some left for Tajikistan and Russia, the wealthy ones, I would say, and many aimed for Europe through Iran and Turkey. 

4) Russia's war with Ukraine or as the Russian Government names it the Special Military Operation! It started in Feb. 2022. Many Ukrainian villagers and low-life pathetic losers were let in Canada now they feel like they're the kings of heaven and earth, enjoying all the benefits that the Government of Canada provides them simply because they are against Russians, the imaginary enemy that the Westerners have created for themselves just to keep their citizens on their toes and then rub them blind! The funny thing is I'm not a bar or a shopping mall guy but there hasn't been once that I have been to a public place without seeing a young Ukrainian couple hand in hand walking, laughing, drinking and eating! If Ukraine, which has been the most corrupt government in Europe by the way, is so important to you that you clown president wonders around Europe and North America to beg for money and equipment, why the hell are you here? Why the hell don't you pick up a rifle and fight the Russians?!

5) Iran's economic collapse and repression of the public. The situation in Iran has gone out of control for the past 10 years or so and declining rapidly. That has forced many people out. It has reached the point that people now struggle for their daily meal and the infrastructure system is falling apart.

6) The US-Canada Trade war. This has created a sense of instability in the country because no one really knows what that mentally unstable, pathologic liar might do next! 

With all that said and with the unstable position I have been holding for the past one year and five months, and only 1 week to my trip, I don't have such a good feeling! First of all I will not get my rental vehicle that I've booked and it is not solely because of the price of gasoline in the country that I'm travelling to, which is €1.84 per liter (CAN $2.86, about CAN $1.36 higher than the price here!), it also because of the unfamiliarity with the area and the fact that crossing into the second country might be difficult and the rental agreement might be complicated! The second thing is high cost of the services in those countries. I booked my ticket in Mar. when the situation was not like this! Besides the Group Lead has not been kicked out of the place yet! So there was not much uncertainty around. Also in the recent evaluation that I got from my manager I was told that I need to move on! I was told by him that I should go back to the Management position! So how do I go on to my vacation and enjoy that while they are so many things negatively affecting me! I'm trying to forget about all the trouble, focus on the plan and have as much fun as I can. I think the circumstances where not similar when I left the continent two years ago but what can I do rather than being relaxed?!

(Photo: This, might have been uploaded at the time the trip was made but in case no one has seen it, this is the Bavarian Government building in Munich)