I was meant to go home on Tuesday. What was planned to be a 16h journey (with an overnight stay in Frankfurt, see green line) turned into 62h. What happened? Let me tell you:
After realising the train at 7:30am may be a bit late, I rebooked on Saturday to take the first train out of Aberystwyth at 5:14. About ten minutes after we had left Aber, the lights in my carriage went out, the fire alarm went off and the train slowed down to a halt. What a start, thought I. We were shuffeled into the next carriage, which was fine and had to change trains in Machynlleth. With a delay of about 45minutes we reached Birmingham New Street, where our train was terminated. This was followed by being shuffled from platform to platform to a train that took us to Birmingham International. After facing my first queue, I went through security and settled down to wait. When the information board showed "5 minutes until gate opens" I was nervous, but convinced that the failing train and ensuing chaos had been more than enough bad travel karma. I could not have been more wrong. The board did not change for about 20 minutes and the Scottish family I had been talking to (they had meant to fly to Florida three days before and had been rebooked several times) were worried. Then the info changed to "Next information available at 14:15. Please wait in lounge." (it was 14:00, our flight was supposed to take off at 14:05). At 14:15, it changed to "Next information at 14:30. Please wait in lounge." At 14:30, my flight was cancelled. We were instructed to go to gate 12 to retrieve our luggage and then go to the flybe information desk. When the first few suitcases had tumbled out, the belt suddenly stopped. After 20 minutes of trying to restart it, the ground handling crew dragged our suitcases up by hand (those poor people! The unjustified anger some people vented at them made me ashamed.)The off to a giant queue at the information desk. After a good 2 1/2h it was finally my turn and I told the lady behind the desk that the only option was the flight to Düsseldorf in 1 1/2h. She booked me on it and so I sprinted to the check in and then through security. Again, I had to wait. Again, the countdown got to 5 minutes before a gate was meant to appear. The flight was delayed for half an hour. After half an hour, the flight was delayed for another half hour. After that hour, a German student checked online and discovered that the flight was cancelled. It had been put up online before the airport told the waiting passengers. Again, we were shuffeled to a gate, retrieved our luggage (this time without problems, wahey!)and went back to the information desk. As I had been quicker with my baggage this time, I only waited 45 minutes, asked for a refund and got the next train to London (it was delayed by ten minutes but that really didn't matter at that time). In London, I was met by my flatmate (who is from London) and let me stay the night at her place. In the morning, I booked a ferry from Dover to Calais, hopped on the train to Victoria Coach station, caught a shuttle to Dover. In Dover, it was chaos, as many people who'd been stranded had had the same idea. After queuing for a long, long time, I asked if I could hop onto the earlier ferry. I was told it was delayed by about an hour, so certainly they would book me on that to keep me on time for my connecting trains. Wrong again. Not only was information scarce, when the bus for footpassengers finally arrived, it wasn't announced. ONly from the sudden movement of a lot of people was I able to join in the crowd. We were shuffled to security. As we were driving to the ferry, we suddenly took a turn and were informed that our bus had been selected to be searched for security reasons. I was close to tears and/or a tantrum. Heavily delayed, we left port. At the information desk I discovered that the last train left at 19:14 to Paris, not 19:35. I would have to get to the train station first, too! It became clear that that was not going to happen, so after asking if we would be provided with accommodation (we would not) I started askinf bus drivers of travel busses where they were going. After the first one did not speak English, I was more than down hearted. However, I found one that was driving to Spain, but the travel group would stay in Rungis, Paris overnight. I did not know that Rungis must be the French end of the world when it comes to leaving it...but later. Kindly, the drivers let me hitch a ride. When arriving at the hotel they'd be staying in, I asked the reception to call me a taxi. It was getting late...the taxi came, but the driver never bothered to ask if anyone was waiting until a good half hour later. Upon reaching the train station, my friend in Paris (with whom I would have stayed that night) called and told me that the RER trains were not running. Back to the hotel for an incredibly overpriced price, I asked if I could stay in the lobby since I knew that they were full (earlier I had witnessed an outraged British woman storm to the desk to exclaim: "There is someone in my room!" They acidentally double booked...)Luckily, they found a free room (though it was horribly expensive, especially since I only stayed in it for about three hours). After more consultation with my French friend (my sister's flatmate) the plan for the next day (or rather later, as it was 2am by this point!) was decided. I had a shower, brushed by teeth and fell into bed. I got up at 4:30am to catch the first bus shuttle to Orly airport from where I then took a shuttle to Pont du Rungis train station. Getting off at St. Michel, I changed to the Metro 4, getting off at Gare de l'Est. My friend met me there and handed me a train ticket to Basel, her parents had kindly reserved and bought for me. With 1h delay, the train left. In Basel, I caught a train to Friedrichshafen, where my family met me and finally drove me home.(see red line)
My heart goes out to all the people who are not as fortunate as me with regards to friends everywhere that were willing to put me up as well as those incredible, good people that let me hitch a ride on their travel bus. Here's to all stranded paseengers everywhere: I feel for you, I know what it's like and I hope you have a merry Christmas! And to the airports: it's an utter disgrace. You know it happens around this time of year, you have the means to do something about it. So do it, you have the money.
So long, enjoy the holidays everyone!
