Last month our flights got changed, from an 8:15 a.m. departure from Warsaw to a 6:15 p.m. departure. There was no explanation, although I wouldn’t be surprised if airlines are consolidating flights based on higher fuel prices and fewer travellers, both due to the uncertainty caused by the war foisted upon Iran.

That change meant two things: needing a late hotel check-out in Warsaw, and a late check-in in Manchester.

We have just one full day in Manchester, and it will be focussed mostly on doing laundry, since we won’t have a washer/dryer again for another 12 days. It’s time to make sure the cool weather clothing we have with us is all clean.

Sightseeing in Manchester was never on our itinerary anyway. Our intended destination was Liverpool, but the nearest flight hub for our round-the-world tickets was Manchester. Our original early flights would have given us half a day of laundry time and one sightseeing day, but we’re not terribly disappointed. We still have York, Durham, and Liverpool!

Today’s flights added another new carrier to our list: Brussels Airlines. Our flights were short ones, just 2 hours Warsaw to Brussels and under 90 minutes Brussels to Manchester.

We started out pre-flight with a couple of hours in the LOT Polonez Lounge (the Star Alliance affiliated option) in the intra-Schengen area of Warsaw Chopin Airport. It’s not a huge lounge and, interestingly, it is open via huge glass half windows to the concourse below.

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The hot and cold food selection was good, especially the desserts, and I was pleased to see the self-serve Prosecco. Ted was pleased to see the Polish milk fudge candies, which are, admittedly, absolutely delicious.

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We both took the opportunity to have one last lunch of Polish bread, cured meats, and mild Krolewski cheese (which we used to be able to buy at Starsky’s Polish grocery in Mississauga, but cannot find in Vancouver).

On our two hour Warsaw-Brussels leg we were offered a cold snack pf bun, pita, hummus, red pepper dip, grilled vegetables, chick pea and tomato salad, and two decadent Belgian macarons. We could also have had something alcoholic, but chose coffee.

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When we landed in Brussels, we were the only non-EU passport holders leaving the Schengen zone, so we finally had our fingerprints recorded for the new biometric European EES (Entry/Exit System) which replaces passport stamping for non-EU travellers passing through the Schengen zone. We could have proceeded without doing it – again. The customs/immigration officer explained that their computer software processing fingerprints is just too slow, taking more than a minute per person, which causes unacceptable delays. But … since we were the only people there, and had specifically asked, we’re now done!

On the even shorter 45 minute Brussels-Manchester leg there were brownies and almond cake. I was amused by Brussels Airlines’ motion sickness bags, which isn’t something you’d normally expect.

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With a one hour time zone change in England, we got to our hotel around 10:30 p.m., prioritizing one of two much-needed loads of laundry (one white, one colours). The StayCity Aparthotel Manchester Piccadilly is a great location, just a one minute walk from the train station, but the apartment itself is an odd design, with a king-size bed in a room better suited to a queen (one side is against the window so both people have to climb in and out from the same side) and a closet door (on a very small closet) that can only be opened if the bedroom door is closed.

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I’ve got to give them credit for amusing toiletry labelling though.

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Tomorrow we’ll do that second load of laundry and, if the rain abates, take a stroll and maybe find a nice pub for dinner. Whatever we decide, it’s York we’re headed to the day after tomorrow.