Well, since I arrived well in advance of my flight (Nelspruit to Durban at 11.40) I thought I'd find a nice placeto sit and relax, have a cup of coffee and maybe some cake or something, hopefully check up on my e-mailand perhaps work a little on my trading strategy.
I started with the upstairs Cafe called "Wings" restaurant or something like that. From the end of theRestaurant (essentially the smoking section / bar) there is a view of the Apron and the aircraft and Iwas able to easily get a table there as there were practically no other customers. The tables and chairsare sort of rustic wooden but fairly comfortable.
The restaurant lacks a bit of background music and ambience but then, I suppose, it is an airport cafe.There is nowhere to plug in a power cable so I didn't take out my notebook. I assumed there would be nointernet either.
A glance through the menu shows that they are pretty much focussed on meals rather than coffee-shop typefare. This didn't really suit me so I tried to find the smallest thing on the menu. It was a Cruisin'Croissant for R19. Looked OK, so I ordered a cup of filter coffee and that. No luck, they are out ofCroissants. I asked if they didn't have muffins or scones or something like that but this was alsogreeted with a shake of the head.
So I sat back, enjoyed my coffee (which wasn't bad) and watched police sniffer dogs check out the Jetstreamaircraft on the apron waiting to depart. They seemed to give it the all clear and it left.
I noticed the pilot spun the port engine up to full speed and ran it for a while before even startingstarboard. I wondered if they were anticipating some problem. I also wondered how an aircraft is able tostand still with one engine (and propeller) belting away at full tilt. I don't know much about these thingsbut I believe the pilot can vary the pitch of the propeller so perhaps when they do this they have thepropeller pitch in a neutral position, thereby generating very little thrust? Seems to make sense.
I finished the coffee and tired of listening to the cellphone conversation of my fellow patron so Ithought I'd try the coffee shop downstairs, Buondi Cafe. Paying was a bit of a mission as the waitress had to empty her personal handbag to find the correct change for me.
Buondi Cafe is not blessed with much of a view and has no windows but looked cosy enough. They boastan internet connection at (less than! R1/min). That is hardly cheap. I won't give all the prices butthe 90min deal is R50. Not great but comparable with the Jo'burg airport wireless deal, if I recallcorrectly. However, this deal is to sit at their special machine. I have yet to check if there is a wirless offering.One moment, while I do....
OK, only one detected - Interlink KMIA security enabled. Signal weak here so I guess it's not specific tothe Cafe. The lady at information didn't know much about it. So no luck there.
As for Cafe Buondi... before ordering *another* coffee I checked what muffins they had (as these werepublished on the menu). The answer- none. So I told the waitress not to worry and haven't had anything.Very disappointing. Surely that is basic fare for a coffee shop? In their defence they aren't griping atme for sitting in the chair and not ordering anything but I'm still not too impressed.
I guess there's a chance that if I go through to departures I will have more luck (possibly a notebook desk orsomething?) Will let you know shortly.
Nope, same story at departures. had to sit with machine on lap and no internet. Pretty poor, I'm afraid,so I suggest when visiting Kruger Mpumalanga airport, take a good book ;-)
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1 comment:
Good one, Jamo!
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