So I’ve been extremely lucky on this Epic Experience – but still I have had two Nightmare Situations on my trip so far and they both have been due to late night arrivals into a new City (yea – I don’t do that anymore).
The first was in Warsaw. My bus was 55 minutes late leaving Kaunas Lithuania & took 48 minutes longer to arrive, mostly due to traffic. By the time I got into the main station, the info booth was closed, so no help and no map (which was my usually standard – I now download a map before I arrive). I caught the tram but it was in the wrong direction & by the time I figured it out (language barrier) we had turned a few times & crossed tracks. I got off to discover that the tram stop in the reverse direction was not right across the street, as is the norm. And actually nowhere to be found!!! Uggh. Finally, after backtracking quite a bit I found a stand. 19 min later a tram arrived (of course there wasn’t a schedule posted). I got on & tried to match up letters for my stop. Nope. Then about 9 min later, the tram stops & the driver indicated I needed to get off, end of the line & end of service. I asked him for help but he didn’t speak English & I had not yet downloaded Polish for my translator (now I do at least two days before a new country) so no help from the driver. Now I’m completely lost. So I looked for a taxi. I saw a couple in the area, two with lights on, one off. They drove right by, even with me waving frantically. So I figured I needed to be at a specific location – sure enough I see something that looks like a “stand” either bus or taxi way down the road. So I go there, yep it indicates TAXI. Good – I wait. Nothing- 18 min, Nothing, they still do not stop. I hike back up to the Main Street – now mind you I have no idea where I am & the area does not look “safe”.
Finally I see a guy on a bicycle & I waved him to stop, which he does. But no English & we can’t communicate. He gets frustrated & leaves, saying something angry, shit/damn – Now I’m getting really concerned. I was supposed to arrive at my Airbnb @3 hours ago & it’s now it is a little after 1am. What the hell am I to do? Oh and did I mention, my phone does not work in Europe so I can’t call, text or go online without a wifi connection & at this point and where I am, that is not an option. Finally, I see another guy across two streets on his phone. I hiked over to him. Finally, he speaks broken English & says he can help me – the address I’m going to is on his way & we can share his ride. Just then a car pulls up just as he says this is his car and to get in the back. Now normally this would send up huge flags but – I approached him in the middle of nowhere so I figured I’m really in a bind and need help – time to trust. So, I climb in the back and off we go. Only about ten minutes drive and we are at a folk – he tells me my flat is just down the street and that he is going in the other direction. I thank him and the driver and offer to pay, but he refuses and says “welcome to Warsaw, enjoy your stay”. Well that was cool. I head in the direction he pointed me to and unfortunately there aren’t any street signs posted. Usually in Europe they are on the buildings but not here – nothing. So again, I’m turned around but in the general vicinity. Across two streets I see a Taxi parked. I rush over to him and show him the address asking where it is. He points back to where I was and says it over there. I offer to pay him to drive me to the door step, but he refuses saying its right there. Ok – one more time, I march up across the street. Now mind you I know I’m in the right spot BUT it was not “right there” – it was a good five blocks up the street he indicated (one over from the street the 1st guy showed me – so again I’m glad I asked). Finally the numbers line up, I find the Tram stop and my Flat is right there. All good, the owner was worried for me (it was now 1am), but was thankful I had arrived. So again, lessons learned: always download the City map in advance; along with the translator (both are available for use “offline” when downloaded). Don’t arrive after dark if at all possible, be aware of your surroundings at all times and trust…
Story #2…
I was in Stansted Mountfitchet last week because I had an early flight to Nuremberg, heading to Oktoberfest for the weekend. Stayed in a hotel but it was 50£ for the night. The Kings Arms Hotel advertised 35£ but were fully booked. However I still went in for a pint, they are also a Pub & spoke to the owner about staying on my return because I was getting in late (scheduled to land at 23:25). He said no worries & put my name in the book “Jeff – 1 night Oct. 5”. The next day I went to Oktoberfest and got Crazy.
Now the fun part: I’m at the Nuremberg airport for the return, checked in early no issues, until the arriving plane showed up at 22:15, we started boarding at 22:39. Doors closed & ready for take off at 23:07 (scheduled time was suppose to be 22:25). Then the Captain announces that there will unfortunately be a head wind so our flight time would be 30 min longer than expected. The worries start to materialize: I’m 42 minutes late taking off and + 30 minutes flying time. Now mind you, on this trip – I don’t worry about time. I always say to myself “I have nothing but time”. Which is true – however in this case, I don’t know if I have a place to stay or not tonight. Which again, I don’t really care so much, if I have to sleep in the Airport so be it – that will actually save me money. But I would like to know and I do need to know. I would hate to cancel on my “reservation” if indeed I still have one. From what I surmise – I will arrive at least 50 minutes late. This means I will not make the last train leaving the airport to the town. I can try the Bus, but I think that has stopped also. I can Uber, but I can’t get online to arrange so my option is a Taxi & that will cost me about 15£ which is BS because my flight from Nuremburg to London via RyanAir was only 14€. Or I could walk, but I think it’s around 4 miles and it will be very late – nope, sounds like it’s a Taxi or bail and just sleep in the Airport. Then the Captain makes another announcement: due to our delay the ONE pushback sled went to a different plane and we have to wait for it to be returned. Good times. We take off at 23:29 – 64 min late. Now there is nothing to do but listen to put on my headphones & wait until we land.
Finally we land, taxi & disembarked, it is now 1:20am. While walking in the crowd, I tried to log onto the airports wifi. Now I’m in line for passport control and there are easily 120 people in front of me. I finally log on and get phone # to the Hotel & I try to call but I have no service- good times. I finally get thru passport control & out – find a phone booth (remember those). However it doesn’t take credit card, only coins or phone card and I can’t buy a phone card because all the shops are closed. Wait! I have some Pounds from when I was here before. I retrieve them from the bottom of my backpack & ask a Policewoman for change – which she has. Finally, I have coins – I dial the number and “Paul” answers. I ask if Carl is available and he says no, I tell him I’m at the airport and I’m not sure how to get to the Hotel, but I really want to confirm that I still have a room waiting for me. He tells me he is 4 minutes out & will pick me up in front of the Airport zone C, in a white van. Ok – Ah wait, is this the…. Dial tone…. Well, I don’t really know how this is happening but I go out the main entrance and wait about four minutes and sure enough – up comes a white van. I lean in and ask if he is Paul – “yep”, with the Kings Arms Hotel in Stansted – “yep”. Well, I’ll be damned. He just happens to be picking up four other guests at the airport, didn’t know about me, but I can sit up front. We wait for the other guests, drive 15 min to the hotel, yes I have a room – small, comfortable, warm and with a Hot Shower – I make it to my room at 2:06. Bed – asleep…
More Lessons learned – however what a Ride…
The next day – I buy a UK SIM Card, I’m here for six weeks so worth it… Oh and the owner of the Hotel only charged me 30£ & gave me a free Pint of Guinness – That’s what I’m talking about…
