<rant>

First, the concierge at the Palace hotel is a moron.  Don’t ask them for any advice, because they are stupid.  Not only did he screw up my museum information, he told me I had to be at the airport 2 hours and 30 minutes before my flight.  2 HOURS and 30 MINUTES.  So – in most cases I would not listen to that, but I made the biggest mistake and did.  He said the taxi was going to take 1 hr – I didn’t believe that, I said 30 minutes.  Fast forward – I’m now at the airport 150 minutes before my flight.  The checkin windows aren’t open.  They don’t open for another 45 minutes.  I stand around and wait and wait and wait.  One guy shows up – there are 3 lines, 2 tourist class, one business class.  I am in business class, front of that line.  He goes to the tourist class line, tells me I have to wait 10-15 more minutes and begins checking people in.  Now I don’t think I’m a pompous prick or anything, but this was REDICULOUS.  5 minutes later, a nice woman shows up, says hello and a friendly way and swaps the business class line (that I’m in alone) with the tourist class line (with 20 people in it).  I don’t move.  I’m in front, screw it – the manager comes – he speaks perfect English, and brings a stack of paper talking about flight delays.  Oh yes, FLIGHT DELAYS.  My plane is still in Prague as I write this, expecting 2-5 hour delay, they aren’t sure.  My flight was scheduled for 3:20 --  it is 1:51, I won’t take off until I’m guessing 7 or 8pm – 3 hr flight, fully booked, gets me into my hotel after 1am…  oh my LIFE SUCKS – I have no idea how I’m even going to pay the taxi to get me to my hotel – I don’t they use Euro in the Czech Republic, and there is no internet at the airport – backwards.

So what is there to do.  Luckily I have access to the lounge with couches, I think I may sleep, I’ve staked out a nice couch all to myself, I have 650 pages of a book, I can probably make quite a dent if I put my mind to it.  Lessons learned: never listen to a concierge who has screwed you once.  Hopefully I survive.  My presentation is tomorrow morning – I wonder what happens if I can’t get out today?  That would be a nightmare.

</rant>

I’m sure I’ll rant more later.