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Epona · 09-16-2001, 03:33 PM

Well, now I've stuffed my face with food, I shall tell you a little more!

Normally the flight from Verona to London is about 1 1/2 hours, then I would expect 1hr to get home from the airport. Before the flight was a 2hr bus ride to the airport. So the whole journey should have taken about 4 1/2 hrs from door to door. Then add 2hrs for checking in.

Well, firstly the bus was 1/2 hr late, then the flight was delayed for the first time for an hour. So I went to check in, found out no bags were going to be allowed in the cabin (understandably), so had to do some imaginative repacking. Then the flight was delayed for a further hour. And there is nothing to do at Verona airport whatsoever. I had books, but had packed them in the luggage to go in the hold as instructed. So I sat... and sat... and sat...

Then finally we were allowed to board the plane. Then we sat on the runway for 1 1/2 hours because our take-off slot had been reallocated because of the earlier delays! Then I got to London and our luggage took ages to be unloaded! Then I had to queue at the luggage problems counter because my supposedly indestructible rucksack had been damaged by the baggage handlers! (I have loads of forms to fill in just to get the repairs paid for. But at least I hadn't lost anything, unlike the other 20 people at the desk.)

My train was then delayed by 1/2 hour! I was getting a bit fed up by this time. So eventually we get back to Victoria railway station, and decide to get a cab, but we have no money. None of the ATMs were working, so we wandered round, luggage in tow - eventually got some cash and had to queue for a cab for another 1/2 hour. And it was nearly 7pm instead of lunchtime!

Other than that, I had a great time, very relaxing, by one of the lakes in Lombardy, North Italy. Lovely mountains, and saw the first snow of the season (from a distance!!). Weather was perfect - apart from one day which was very wet, but which ended in a spectacular lightning storm in the nearby mountains!

I took loads of photos and will put some on Stealthy's site later in the week, if the films survived their journey in the hold.

Unfortunately I don't understand much Italian, so it was a bit of a nightmare following the news - managed to keep up with it all though. When I first heard about what had happened, it was very confusing trying to work out what was going on, and spent Tuesday evening straining to understand the news reports.

------------------

Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.

Epona of The Laughing Hyenas
Proud winner of the 'Most Useless Post 250 Has Ever Seen' Award 2001. "I'd just like to thank my friends and family, without whom none of this would have been possible..."

[This message has been edited by Epona (edited 09-16-2001).]

09-16-2001, 03:33 PM	#9
Epona Zartan Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: London, England Age: 53 Posts: 5,164	Well, now I've stuffed my face with food, I shall tell you a little more! Normally the flight from Verona to London is about 1 1/2 hours, then I would expect 1hr to get home from the airport. Before the flight was a 2hr bus ride to the airport. So the whole journey should have taken about 4 1/2 hrs from door to door. Then add 2hrs for checking in. Well, firstly the bus was 1/2 hr late, then the flight was delayed for the first time for an hour. So I went to check in, found out no bags were going to be allowed in the cabin (understandably), so had to do some imaginative repacking. Then the flight was delayed for a further hour. And there is nothing to do at Verona airport whatsoever. I had books, but had packed them in the luggage to go in the hold as instructed. So I sat... and sat... and sat... Then finally we were allowed to board the plane. Then we sat on the runway for 1 1/2 hours because our take-off slot had been reallocated because of the earlier delays! Then I got to London and our luggage took ages to be unloaded! Then I had to queue at the luggage problems counter because my supposedly indestructible rucksack had been damaged by the baggage handlers! (I have loads of forms to fill in just to get the repairs paid for. But at least I hadn't lost anything, unlike the other 20 people at the desk.) My train was then delayed by 1/2 hour! I was getting a bit fed up by this time. So eventually we get back to Victoria railway station, and decide to get a cab, but we have no money. None of the ATMs were working, so we wandered round, luggage in tow - eventually got some cash and had to queue for a cab for another 1/2 hour. And it was nearly 7pm instead of lunchtime! Other than that, I had a great time, very relaxing, by one of the lakes in Lombardy, North Italy. Lovely mountains, and saw the first snow of the season (from a distance!!). Weather was perfect - apart from one day which was very wet, but which ended in a spectacular lightning storm in the nearby mountains! I took loads of photos and will put some on Stealthy's site later in the week, if the films survived their journey in the hold. Unfortunately I don't understand much Italian, so it was a bit of a nightmare following the news - managed to keep up with it all though. When I first heard about what had happened, it was very confusing trying to work out what was going on, and spent Tuesday evening straining to understand the news reports. ------------------ Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so. Epona of The Laughing Hyenas Proud winner of the 'Most Useless Post 250 Has Ever Seen' Award 2001. "I'd just like to thank my friends and family, without whom none of this would have been possible..." [This message has been edited by Epona (edited 09-16-2001).]