July 29, 2009

Hurry up and wait. I Arrived early, like I was supposed to, cleared security then found out flight from Nashville to Newark is delayed by an hour and a half, so decided to eat one of the worlds most expensive BLT's, while I wait.

I finish my BLT and start walking back towards the gate, when I hear my name over the intercom at Nashville International Airport. My flight is ready to leave...early...and I'm not on it. I begin running through the airport dragging my computer case and carrying my camera bag. I get to the gate and I'm the last person to board the plane. I take my seat...and we wait and we wait. We finally leave almost 30 minutes late.

I'm on my way. An uneventful flight except some occassional rain. We begin circling, not at Newark but at Richmond Virginia. It seems rain and thunderstorms have closed Newark Airport. We were "diverted", We circle till we run low on fuel and land in Richmond. We wait in the plane while it refueled. Then we wait some more.rain delay Three and a half hours later the flight gets cancelled for two reasons. 1) Weather still has Newark closed 2) Our pilots have reached their "limit" on time they are allowed to fly.

We disembark in Richmond and I have to pick up my checked luggage and stand in line for changes. I wait in line for over three hours. Then I'm told my next chance for a flight out would be on SATURDAY.richmond airport But the counter person for Continental Airlines, Donna Stapien, was very helpful and found a flight out on Delta, to Detroit and then Germany. I would arrive a day late.

Got free hotel accomodations at the Hilton Garden Inn, free shuttle service and some discount coupons for food. I was starving. Had been on the road or in the air since 9 am and it was now after 9 pm. Checked in at the hotel, put my stuff in the room and headed to the Restaurant. The hotel and restaurant did not know of all the flights cancelled and diverted. One waiter, one bartender and one cook...and probably fifty or more people from the diverted flights. The couple sitting next to me said they had ordered their food over an hour ago and had not received it. I waited thiry minutes, so try to get some tea. Didn't happen, walked 1/2 mile to closest store for tea and snacks.

Tomorrow will be a better day.

White waiting for my new flight to Detroit...then Germany...heard the announcement we all dread. "We apologize, this flight is overbooked. We are searching for four volunteers to give up their seats." NOT ME...not this time. I stood my ground, and finally boarded. A very uneventful flight to Detroit. Detroit is a HUGE airport. I got a little distracted trying to get closer to the gate to catch my flight. We had to walk underneath the runway. It was a spectaculare sight walkway.

While waiting for my flight I decided to update this blog and lo and behold, battery was going dead AND my FTP upload abilities had disappeared. Norton Antirus got corrupted and I could not upload anything. Contacted Symantec tech support and they said they could fix it, but I had to allow them remote access to my computer. With 30 until boarding time I gave the go ahead and the fixed it.

Boarded and began the long flight to Germany. Invididual video player with headphones for every seat. Flicker lights on the ceiling and random laughter throught the plane. It was just a little bizzare. Had trouble sleeping. Arrived Germany at 7 am local time midnight in Tennessee. My body and brain were confused.

My uncle Egon and Aunt Hanni met we at the airport in Frankfurt and drove me to Butzbach. He drove as is we were qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. Asked for no quarter and gave one. If it was visible in front of us...our mission was to catch it and pass it.

Arrived in Butzbach, my home town. He immediately drove me to the site of my child hood memories. Sleep addled and confused, I wandered my personal "field of dreams" a place I never thought I see again. I recognized it. and wandered the area.my old home Then we visited my old school, the old Catholic Church churchand walked downtown. I'm really tired again, I'll stop here midday saturday and post some photos with comments. Oh wait, you've got to see this one first. It's a historical/hysterical sign in my German home town. sign

Today, I become a strange in a strange land. No cell phone, no computer. I take a train by myself to Nuremberg. My camera equipment, my notebook, an english german/german english dictionary and a backback with a single change of clothes (just in case). Will return tonight or tomorrow. see you soon.

cobblestone butzbach butzbach butzbach3 butzbach4 gallery1 Gallery 2 Gallery3 Thurneau

14_saints_church czech bamberg_area

Larry Safko email me