Monday 17 May 2010

Bloody Volcanic Ash

What a morning I've had...

Here we are, Jenny and me another two days in Krakow, why cause of volcanic dust,
We'd learnt last night that there may be problems with Bristol airport, to find out this morning that the flight home was cancelled.
This meant an exhausting couple of hours trying to get a flight out and then a hotel room for the extra two days.

I'd driven down to Jenny's in Devon we'd flown out from Bristol, and there are no flights back till next Sunday!!

So now we are flying to the other end of the country, to Liverpool, an hour from me.
This means that Jenny's husband has got to drive up to my house for Wedneasday night.My youngest son has got to come to the airport and pick us up to take us back to mine for the night,then the three of us go back to Devon. Cause my car is there!
Then I have to drive all the way back....

So no lovely relaxing time in Cornwall and possibly not seeing my friend there for another year, cause I've no idea when I'll be able to get back there.
This also may stop me seeing my other Devon friend as I can't see her till Friday evening, and although Jenny is fine about me hanging around hers for another 24 hours it may just be easier to go home on Thursday.

As for the hotel we have been lucky enough to stay in the same place, and almost got the last room here, which was nerve wracking as their computers went down this morning and the wait was stress making on top of trying to get a flight out.

What is really annoying is Easyjet, who will refund the cost of our flight home.... 45 pounds each, have hiked the price of the flight home to 200 pounds each. They will also appearantly give us 100 between us a day for room and food, room 230 per night!!!! So what was going to be lovely reasonably priced break is turning into a finacial mightmare.....

We can only think of the fact that we are settled have a flight booked and not let the money side worry us one bit (AAAARRGGGGHHH!!!!)

Added to that since 9pm Saturday night it hasn't stopped with torrential rain, the Wistula river outside the hotel has flooded. If we go out we get soaked in minutes up to our knees so having to go out to walk or got for food is also proving a nightmare.

All in all an interesting way to spend my precious weeks holiday.

Any other impressions will wait till I get back as Krakow is beautiful and Auschwitz was profoundly moving and disturbing.

Please forgive any spelling mistakes the spell checker is only working in Polish!

18 comments:

Zan said...

Oh dear, what a nightmare. Isn't it awful how everything goes up in price as soon as the airports close or flights get cancelled? They've been giving out stink about it over here.
Hopefully it'll stop raining though so at least the remaining days will be somewhat nice..
Sorry to hear all of this, you must be so disappointed. But it's another interesting story to add to your book of adventures!

xx

Helen said...

During my travel years I thought I had a few of the most stressful stories .... but yours may top mine! Breathe ... but not too deeply if the ash is surrounding you at ground level. Stay safe!

Paula said...

Bot sure what to say in 25 yeras of traveling and working overseas I didnt manage such a nightmare in such a short time. It tops all I ever experienced! Sorry to hear it, you were so much looking forward to this vacation. Take care!

AkasaWolfSong said...

Oh My Dear! This is one instance where rising from the ashes and working it out really needs to be put into play.

Godspeed my friend! And do please by safe!

Blessings on Your Journey!
xx

karen said...

wow! oh dear... Safe travel, Mandy and I do hope you get home soon.

On a non-ashy note, your previous post with the flowers is just to beautiful for words!

Take care x

BenefitScroungingScum said...

Oh noes! Hope you get home safe soon BG Xx

Merry ME said...

Well the good news is I see no misspelled Polish words. I do hope when you get home and get the rain, ash and frustration washed off, you'll look back and say, well that was fun! Maybe not fun, but out of the ordinary!

Rosaria Williams said...

You are caught by the bloody volcano mess. Sorry to hear that. When will it stop? I bet too many people are losing patience and money.

diney said...

Awful hassle - my brother and sister in law were stranded in Barbados airport for 36 hours - that particular airport is nothing but a large shack with no shops and only a small area to buy a drink. Sadly the volcano is likely to continue spouting forth for months and months yet, so lots of disruptions still to come. Hope you arrive home safe and sound.

Mel said...

Yup--they've been saying it'll be an 'off and on' issue. Dangit that it's an 'on' issue during your journey.

But I do look forward to hearing about the adventures.
And you're in good company.
And you've got more adventures coming--with or without ash....

Manchester Lass, Now and Then said...

Pleased to hear you finally sorted everything out but what an ordeal and stress you could do without! Safe journey home♥

Lyn said...

Mandy, you are having a true adventure! Maybe more than you bargained for it sounds. I auppose all you can do is go with the flow - so many things out of your control. Here's hoping you will get home safe and sound - soon. Take care my friend and I look forward to seeing some pics of the trip. Stay dry.
Lyn

speck of dust said...

I'm so sorry to hear how disrupted your travel plans have been. I know how you love going away and seeing friends and new places. So glad you have son to help and that you have a car! I've had quite a few travel nightmares and since we always use public transport it usually means being stuck on an over-full train when you feel like killing everyone. Now, that's a spiritual challenge. Rise above Mandy!

Beatnheart said...

oh my darling, what is going on... Bummer in a big way...so sorry.

Anonymous said...

To me that volcanoe sounds positively menopausal. Not quite knowing what's it's doing, everyone trying to be accommodating as a result, while it has hot flashes it has no control over...and yes, it may go on for a while yet. The volcanoes attitude? Deal. And you are. Really well, considering!Pity about Cornwall though!

Angela said...

Oh my, I heard about the RAIN, and it might even come over here. I`d rather have the Finnish high temps (30°), what a crazy world. Be brave, Mandy, and yes, at least you have a story to tell! Who wants a boring life?!!

nitebyrd said...

What an awful experience on your vacation! So sorry that has happened.

I will look forward to your descriptions when you (finally!) return and have had a chance to set yourself right.

BTW, that picture in your header is GORGEOUS!

CheekyDani said...

Nightmare!!!!!!!