[written a week ago, but put on hold and forgot to get back to it ...]
So, Passover is almost over, and it seems like I'm only just getting into it.
I don't think it's ever been as uneventful and easy as this year - and I was expecting the worst, since it's our first ever completely in Zurich (I/we always went home to Cape Town this time of year to spend it with family).
First night seder we spent at friends. Second night at our Rabbi. We were expecting a very long seder, but although it was late, it wasn't "long" at all ... Aron slept fantastically, and we enjoyed the whole seder in peace. About 20 people in all, good food, good company, and a really pleasant environment.
I forgot my lunch at home today, but fortunately I had a slab of chocolate in my notebook bag, and didn't drink my can of Sprite from yesterday, so the sugar buzz will have to see me through the day...
[rant mode on]
Well, I sincerely hope the pen is mightier than the sword, because there are a lotta people in line for a pokin' with something sharp (perhaps my wit will have to suffice? :) )... and I couldn't kill anyone ... ummm.. and - I don't have a sword.
But semantics aside, I am seriously peeved with United Airlines. I selected flights for us, and informed Google which to book for me. Once I got confirmation from them, I booked the same flights for Dvora online, and phoned United's call centre to add Aron to the reservation. I chose United, because of the price, and booked on a code-share (operated by Swiss) flight because I had good reports about Swiss planes and service. I got through to what must be a decent-sized call-centre in India, because I didn't speak to the same person more than once. I added Aron to the reservation, changed my seats so Dvora and I would be seated adjacently, and was then put through to the accounts department for billing and issuing. I was given the choice of having them post the tickets to me, or collecting the tickets myself from the airport - I chose the latter...
Roll on Saturday, and we make a trip out to the airport early Saturday afternoon, around 2pm. I park near Terminal 1, which is from where the Star Alliance [Swiss, Lufthansa] airlines depart.
While looking for the United terminal, I was informed by a Star Alliance assistant that the United desk is in Terminal 2, but is only open until midday ... so home we went, only to return early the following day. A real rocket-scientist sat behind the counter, and asked me what I needed. I told her I was there to collect tickets, and that I had a reservation number. She asked what kind of tickets ... I said, jokingly, "flight tickets". Somehow that was an adequate answer for her because she began typing away at her terminal, and told me she could see that the tickets had been issued ... but she didn't know where they were, and that I'd have to call the support centre the following day during office hours!!
Another day passes, Monday rolls around, and I call the support line.. Get through to India again, where they inform me that reservations are held for only 24 hours, and that since I didn't collect the tickets on Saturday, the booking had expired. How they were planning to post the tickets to me is still a mystery! So I went back to the website to re-book the tickets, but now the flight was full ... Another long call to my Indian compatriots and they said, basically, "tough luck dude" and that I'd have to book my wife and infant son on a different flight! Of course I resisted most politely, and didn't let up until my request to speak to the supervisor was honoured. She (her name is Jasmine Douglas, in case anyone from United is reading this) told me initially there's nothing they could do, then later said she's speak to Swiss about re-instating my initial reservation... A few hours passed, I called again, asked to be put directly through to her and despite meeting with initial resistance, she somehow became available once they realised I wasn't going away. I was told there's nothing they could do, because the flight I was booked on, was now quite overbooked and my wife and son would have to fly on another flight.
Far be it from them to recommend any compensatory alternatives (ie, that they screwed up and could upgrade us, or even upgrade someone else to permit Dvora onto the flight)... Eventually I suggested them booking Dvora and Aron onto the United-operated flight and new connection that leaves 30 mins earlier, and gets to Vegas 40 minutes later than our original schedule ... and to change my ticket to put me onto the new itinerary ... After much delay, I was assured that the reservation was changed, and that the tickets were available for pickup at the airport ... and that the ticket office would be open until 21h30. So after work, I went home, collected my tickets, and headed straight for the United ticket counter at Terminal 2... which was closed! I went to the Lufthansa (Star Alliance) desk in Terminal 1, where a really friendly woman called the United helpdesk on my behalf ... She got through to Poland.
Words were exchange ... for 30 minutes ... afterwhich I left, still without tickets, and a directive to call the callcentre the following day for details - but assurance that the new reservation was in place.
So now it's Tuesday - remember, I booked online on Friday. I called United's 1-800 number again to find out what I was supposed to do. India. The assistant found my reservation, took my details, and ASSURED me that now all was in order, and the tickets would be posted to me.
Being old, wise, and very sceptical, the following day I phoned the 1-800 number again, this time via Skype so the call originated in the USA. Presto - I get through to a super-helpful American woman (no disrespect to the penny stock helpdeskers in Bangalore, BTW) who says to me "bottom line - if you don't have a US billing address, we can't issue the tickets unless you're present at the ticket counter". So she confirms my reservation won't expire, and tells me the real opening times of the United ticket counter at the airport here, and sends me on my way.
Thursday, and on my way to work I stop off at the airport to secure my place at the counter during hours of attendance. I was there for about an hour, during which a long phonecall was made to United on my behalf, and reservations were confirmed. Of course, leaving with tickets in hand would be too easy - they don't issue tickets at the counter, they simply get the details of the customer and tickets would be posted. Sound familiar?
I insisted on a printed confirmation of my itinerary before leaving.
It's Tuesday today, and the tickets arrived in the mail. I was charged full price for both Dvora's and Aron's tickets, *AND* they slapped on another 90 francs in processing fees because I issued at the counter, not online. Needless to say, much of the content from this rant will be transcribed in a friendly letter to the United administration "team".
[end rant]
On the plus side, at least it's sorted out and we're guaranteed of our trip.. I think.
Food: took a few days off from cooking (you'd be amazed how one can happily live on chocolate muesli :) ). Friday night we had friends over for dinner.
I made a curry: fry onion, fresh ginger and garlic, basil and cinnamon, masala curry, chunks of beef; then combine with potatoes, sweet potato, carrots, zucchini, brocolli and peas. Put into pressure cooker, and about 40min later a wonderful curry emerges. I served it with slices of avocado (with black pepper and lemon juice), and a mixed salad with a mixture of basilico vinegar and olive oil as a dressing.
In the meantime, I made gefilte fish (boiled with carrots and celery salt), which I served as a starter.
Last night I grilled salmon, with black pepper, basil, celery salt, and onion salt. Rubbed fresh garlic on foil, wrapped the fish in the foil, and grilled for about 35 minutes. Served with steamed butter herb veggies.
This evening, I made sloppy joes:
Dice an onion, and sautée. add mince, diced tomato, and chilli spice. I add a very small amount of water at this stage to help the mince absorb the spice nicely, and then cook until reduced. Serve on a fresh soft oversized bun - like a spicy hamburger, but without the formed burger.
San Diego:
