Because of the truncation to the Championships in Liberec (CZ), I was qualified for the 8-Ball Championship 2008. Almost a year I could listen for this event, the Championship was back already but a little longer. The day before it started, there was already a little incident, I had run over my own quiver with the car. Was this a bad omen? We shall see .....
I had already Wednesday, 16 04.2008 freely taken in order to get my plane without hassle in Hanover. Also, I should not travel alone, André from Berlin had decided at short notice to come along.
The 50-minute flight to Amsterdam was uneventful, as expected, I was not able to take my quiver as hand luggage. At the security check it slowed me out. When I asked the gentlemen at the X-ray machine, they may not hesitate to guess what they see on the screen, came the reply: a large tripod. Almost correct! At least my quiver was then bulky luggage.
The 3 hour wait at the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam but were more boring than we thought, especially since the entire building was smoke-free. So get out of the security zone, smoking outside the door and in again through the security check. Finally we went on to clock 20.50, the flight went smoothly and it was the latest movie to watch on the monitor in the headrest. To clock 05.10
then our arrival in Dubai, but unfortunately we had no window seat, so we were able to get only brief visual impressions of the brightly lit Dubai. After we get our luggage and completely intact, we went to the passport control. For this I had heard in advance of the craziest stories and read. Iris Scan, and drugs tests, the speech had been.
No, a nice, of course, dressed in white man with black beard, asked politely about the nature of the visit. After I told him about the Billiards World Cup he asked whether the pool or snooker and whoosh, I was in there :-)
Fortunately, we had met in the immigration queue, the two Italian Bruno Muratore and Gabrielle Cimmino, so we could let us share a taxi. The announced Shuttle must actually be the first in 4 hours. Since it was already light even now, you could see during the 125 km from Dubai to Fujairah has a little bit of country and people. Well, there was not much, since immediately after the city begins to limit the desert. Except for a few small olive groves and 20 cm plant there was really nothing. The major highways allow speeds between 100 and 120 km / h. If you exceed 120, you will be warned by acoustic signals. Continue to periodically flash boxes on the center guard rail. In between, the driver had to brake heavily as bumps (similar to Zone 30 in DE) crossed the road. Here were the left and right small business established in the middle of nowhere. In addition, here the central crash barrier was broken, so you could contact. Strange ... ....
are already slightly unnerved Finally we arrived after about 1.5 hours of driving in Fujairah. The taxi driver said, was that the weather here much lower than in Dubai. Where it rains only once a year, while here in Fujairah but it would have rained 3 times. Soso. Now only had the hotel to be found and all is well. Only ... ....
The driver apologized in advance already, he would not know about here. But because of questions he would get it out already. With a loud "Salemaleikum" was the first taxi driver called to the car. After a few unintelligible words, of course, and hand movements seemed to be certain direction. Some roundabouts later, however, the driver had to say that we were mistaken. Flight the next person asked a new direction was given. Again, by the 3-lane roundabouts (traffic lights rarely) in a different direction, again the goal in sight. Oh, and the goal was: Coral Residence Tower
Meanwhile, the driver was slightly annoyed and it was obviously embarrassing. He turned off the meter and said even in Dubai have those drivers now losing their license. The trip reminded a bit to the film: "Help European Vacation" by the Griswold's hours did not come from the traffic circle in Paris.
After further questions and ask the faces of the locals we were able to finally find the hotel. It was great, it was right on the street, it was about 200 yards from the taxi drivers, who we had first asked L
It was now 08.20 and we were happy all the clock to your own room and a shower, but we had to put off the man at the reception, the rooms were clean, not all. We like but please just eat breakfast and would bring us the key within the next 30 minutes. No sooner said than done. In the breakfast room were totally empty now 4 tired figures and waited impatiently for the keys. See, shortly after the Italians got their keys. When I asked when we would get for the keys, you answered me about 30 minutes, the rooms were still not clean. Aha!
After we had breakfast in peace and competed to the end of the corridor to the reception, we had to pay for the breakfast at 10 € per person in cash. Reason: we would have no room number could be posted to the. Class!
Full of expectations we were back at the reception. Say now, even 30-45 minutes, the Rooms were still not finished. Meanwhile, darkened my face, because now was indeed just one hour passed and we were still at the beginning. Friendly staff directed me to the point that actually from 12.00 clock check-in was.
André and I sat now in the foyer overlooking the reception and waited ... ...
two races, players also entered, now with the baggage hall, went to the reception, immediately got a key and disappeared. Immediately I asked the receptionist to account, say now, they both had a different class rooms. Well, look here!
went with huge bags under her eyes, I returned to André and said to him the situation, but since the staff came after me and said it was with the two rooms had been booked some way wrong and whether we really want to have a different room. He could offer us the King Suite.
King Suite? Sound good, but I had become skeptical. I had my first show Suite J
When we opened the door on the 8th floor, it staggered me the language. 3 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms, a living room with a table for 6 and a fully equipped kitchen, all tastefully held by a long, spacious hallway.
Yes, here was I spend the next week. The price was the cost, André and I had for the two single rooms have to pay.
So, now could start the World Cup.
afternoon we moved then times out, to check the surrounding area. Young was hot, tight 40 ° slammed down on the rain-drenched German heads.
a quick set out that there was not much to see. Many construction sites in the resort hotels anywhere arise. Sidewalks are generally in short supply, you do everything anyway by taxi, which incidentally are extremely cheap. Who's foot is on all sides of taxis honked, whether it was not taken will be. A small gesture goes all the taxi slams on the brakes.
The 600 meters exhibition hall, was to take place where the tournament was still closed, however, was directly in front of a small shopping mall, the "Lulu Hyper Market". There, we looked at first and made fast to the rapidly changing room that the guy in the hotel had taken us well in the conversion of currencies over the counter. There were 5.5 during the course in the hotel sports were offered 4.3. The times are only just 20% difference ...........
To be continued ... ... ... ... ... ... ....
