Stuck in Europe

[Primalex]

So, all airports here closed due to the ash cloud, I'm the modern Robinson Crusoe.

It's great.

The sun is shining and the sky is blue.

I mean, really, really blue. There is NOTHING else.

I've seen nearly perfect blue a lot of times - just with a contrail f.e.. Now even they are gone though. This is unbelievable. There was an old woman on the radio who said, she hasn't seen such a perfect sky the last 60 years. And I believe her.

I wonder if it's worth to make a picture - the only problem is: you won't see anything, just...blue. Travel charger is loading the digicam batteries now. I just have no clue yet how to photograph the fact that this blue is 360° around you.

So I'm having one of those "Now I can die peacefully." moments. At least they still have internet access in the airport

One newspaper cited an expert, who mentioned that a volcano could continue this for years.

I wouldn't mind.


Bad thing though: No idea when I will see my wife again. The availability of transatlantic flights changes every minute. She is not very happy - especially due to the fact that even if there are flights again, there is an increased chance that I become a newspaper headline:"Transatlantic flight 123 flew through ash cloud! No survivors!"

 

[the captians wench]

Yes, the mention of this volcano going on for weeks, months or even years has me a bit worried about my travel plans as well. I know they are a ways off, but any posibility of cancilation usually keeps me edgy.

I'm very anxious to see real green again.

 

[Bandit58]

My son just made it out of Zurich before the airport closed (he was there for 2 weeks for a computer conference/presentation). He said it was chaos at Singapore because of all the people camped out waiting for flights back to Europe.

 

[CurlyKat]

Yeah.... I'm supposed to go back to Europe for a visit at the end of May. Hopefully it'll all be cleared up by then.

 

[caela]

Reporters here have been saying that the last time this particular volcano went off it continued erupting for two years! Hopefully it won't do so this time or Europe is going to end up with some serious issues beyond just people being stuck.

 

[Etoile]

I flew on Friday (short domestic hop) and heard about a man who flew from Baltimore to Amsterdam via Los Angeles. That's just insane. I feel lucky my flight to Japan won't be affected.

I do like John Cleese's solution, though. He was trapped in Norway so he took a $5000 cab ride to Belgium and caught the Eurostar train home to the UK.

 

[Primalex]

I do like John Cleese's solution, though. He was trapped in Norway so he took a $5000 cab ride to Belgium and caught the Eurostar train home to the UK.

Something I really don't get. You get ferries from Norway to Denmark and from Denmark to UK.


*shrugs*

 

[DVS]

Personally I don't have enough money for flights of any kind, but I do understand the stranded people in this country waiting to get home, and in Europe waiting to come back home.

But, I think it's a necessary safety thing. I heard that these sandy clouds can sometimes be impossible to see and when a jet sucks the grit into the engines it can shut them down completely. When the jet stream (no pun intended) pulls this sandy cloud around the world, who knows when or where a plane full of people might be endangered.

I also heard that the last time this particular volcano erupted, it was a long one. The last I heard, officials thought it could be as long as two weeks before some flights would be restarted. And if the thing keeps erupting, transatlantic ocean liners could become the choice of travelers.

It's strange. We're in the 21st century and something as old as a volcano can cause nearly a full stop to air travel. It just goes to show how vulnerable we still are to the normal events of nature.

 

[DVS]

I flew on Friday (short domestic hop) and heard about a man who flew from Baltimore to Amsterdam via Los Angeles. That's just insane. I feel lucky my flight to Japan won't be affected.

I do like John Cleese's solution, though. He was trapped in Norway so he took a $5000 cab ride to Belgium and caught the Eurostar train home to the UK.

I think that would have been an interesting cab ride for the driver. Can you imagine chatting with Cleese while in such a personal setting?

 

[missy_me]

.....

 

[Etoile]

I think that would have been an interesting cab ride for the driver. Can you imagine chatting with Cleese while in such a personal setting?

I know! I heard they brought along two extra drivers and had a lovely time. The article I saw quoted him as saying that all boats and trains were full, which is why he opted for the taxi.

 

[incubus'_sub]

hey guys, come to australia. we have those perfect, cloudless, bright blue skies all the time. i didn't realise that they were uncommon in other countries.

bright, vivid blue can be glary though. i actually prefer "simpsóns' sky" , the blue with the little white clouds.

 

[Etoile]

You make it home yet, Primalex? I hear they've reopened all the skies but there is a significant backlog.

 

[Lizzie_Borden]

You make it home yet, Primalex? I hear they've reopened all the skies but there is a significant backlog.

From what I've heard here, Qantas aren't scheduling any extra flights, they're just filling the gaps on existing ones with the backlog, so it could take weeks.

 

[subish2009]

From what I've heard here, Qantas aren't scheduling any extra flights, they're just filling the gaps on existing ones with the backlog, so it could take weeks.

Good lord. I hope all these people's employers are being understanding!

 

[Primalex]

You make it home yet, Primalex? I hear they've reopened all the skies but there is a significant backlog.

I'm scheduled for Wednesday.

 

[Primalex]

4 hours to go...

 

[unregistered]