Great Scott, first time one of these actually sees use!

The perks of flying RyanAir are few and far between. This message is mostly to my American audience which, if you’re lucky, have not had the dubious opportunity to experience. Inexpensive tickets are standard at RyanAir and an unparalleled ability to hose passengers with extraneous fees are as well. Their ability to make flying uncomfortable and awkward is as figurative as it is literal; their hard plastic backed, recline’less seats are the perfect example. Comparatively, at least with a company like Southwest, the staff is generally cheery and you get complimentary nuts… as opposed to the figurative kick to them.

I now find myself at the Alghero, Sardinia airport en route to continental Europe before jetting trans-Atlantic for a merry Christmas. Flying in Santa’s sleigh at 35,000 feet, fully exposed to the elements sounds like a better alternative than kicking it cattle-class, being offered smokeless cigarettes by the live, on-board RyanAir infomercials. Alas, I’m on my way home and am psyched for the holiday with friends and family. RyanAir’s unkindly tidings can bah humbug themselves!

I write this particular post, however, to point out exhibit number 3,769 in RyanAir’s level of absurdity. I have just witnessed them measure EVERY SINGLE PASSENGER’S CARRY ON LUGGAGE. While I cry fowl just as much as the next rule abiding traveler when I see someone with a freakin’ suitcase as their carry on, these silly RyanAir personnel have the gall to check everyone yet still let every single passenger go through, despite when it takes three people to shove said luggage into the bin, and one extra generous bystander to help remove it.

Anyway, I wish you all a merry December 22nd everyone! Safe travels, joyous eating, and a happy Festivus to boot.

I’m also not terribly fond of effectively living in the in-flight sales catalog. See, RyanAir features the incessant *DING* of the PA system followed by a sales pitch for scratch tickets (two-for-one, today only! …and coincidentally every day I fly), smokeless cigarettes, perfumes, calling cards, and gelatinous hair products. Bonus: they do each sales pitch in no fewer than two languages!

I will credit the passengers as the most appreciative in the business as every landing is accompanied by a round of applause from the grateful 150 folks in the rear of the plane. “Yeaaa! We landed!”

At least there’s a scenic, mountainous background to these flights from G’town.

Anywho, after a refreshing few weeks recharging the proverbial batteries at home in Spain, then training hard like a, umm, well I suppose training hard like a professional cyclist including two awesome six-hour days in a five day period, I’m headed back to the races. Early April is a busy time for me as I gear up for the Giro. I start tomorrow with a “mini-Amstel” at Mergeland in Holland. The *mini* is a bit of a misnomer as the race is over 200km itself – as opposed to Amstel’s impressive 260km distance. That’s followed closely by next week’s Circuit Sarthe in France. Interestingly (to me anyway) this will mark my third stage race in France already in 2010. Comparatively, I had just one race in France in all of last season. Soon on those coat tails, I head back to Spain for Castilla y Leon. I’m pumped.

Plus in any down time I have, I get to scope out what CTT and others are doing in the northern spring Classics, which is always entertaining. Bam. Rad.

Typed on my phone.