Well yesterday was officially the worst day of my trip. I have not really had a bad day until yesterday. It started out fine and as the day progressed it seemed to get worse. I have some other posts to put up but this one seemed like a good one to write in order to vent a little bit.
I should be in Frankfurt right now hanging out with Alex and buying jerseys to wear to the National team game tonight. Instead I am sitting in Gonzaga in Florence, which is a nice place but is not what I had in mind for today. Now yesterday is mostly one blur of anger, but it started out as a nice day as I said good-bye to friends I have made and set out to Pisa airport. I had the inside track on a bus that was leaving from Florence SMN and heading straight for the airport arriving an hour and half after it left. It is important to note that my flight left at 4:40 and I was planning on arriving at 3:00. That was before the bus decided not to run at 1:30 and by the time I figured that out I was running to catch the train which left at 1:40. I just made it to the train before it was scheduled to leave. Catching my breath as I settled into my seat I had flashes of being on the wrong train. Fortunatly, I was able to confirm, with my broken Italian words, that the passengers around me were also headed to Pisa Centrale. Sitting in the happy glow of my accomplishment I realized that the train wasn't moving. After 30 minutes of sitting there I finally heard the doors close signalling the departure of our 1:40 train at 2:08.
Feeling confident I could still make it on time, knowing the train took just over 1 hour to get to Centrale and that it was a short hope to the aiport I settled down once again. Jolted from my calm resting place once again to the sound of brakes on the track, I became deeply worried. At we slowed to a stop my mind started racing wondering if I would make it. From the title of the post you know what happened. We sat there for another 25-30 minutes making me late to catch the airport train in Centrale and putting me at the airport a little after 4.
I ran to the counter in hopes that I could get on, but all my begging and even a 30 minute flight delay couldn't save the day. They would not allow me to board. After talking to every airline I realized that it would either cost too much (600 euro) or cost a better price (200 euro) and put me into Frankfurt with only a day to spend time there. The businessman in me took over and the cost benefit analysis said to go back to Florence. Defeated I am in Florence already thinking of ways I will travel to the "motherland" for an Alex extravaganza and a futbol game.
I will make it back someday and those crazy Italian trains will rue the day they tried to keep me out of Germany.
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A slow-moving story about one man's travels under the guise of productivity and personal growth. A true boondoggle is a business trip to a popular travel destination where there is plenty of personal time and not enough actual work. My chronicles are similar, but instead of business I will be going to Europe for a Graduate level class in International Marketing. The class is scheduled to meet twice a week and the rest of the time is left for my own curiosity and enjoyment.
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- jeffrey
- Just a guy traveling around Europe for a grad class. It isn't a required course and isn't offered regularly. In fact I had to work out the details of the class and trip myself. I think that qualifies the trip as a genuine boondoggle.
2 comments:
oh man! that's a crappy story! i'm sorry it didn't work out for you to get to germany. gives you a reason to head back to europe though, right? counting down the days til you get to come home!
That is a bad day! I talked to both mom and dad yesterday and felt really bad for you, but I also said.."Well--it gives him a reason to go back!" I know you will! Love ya and see ya in a week!
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