Travel Update:
One thing I forgot to mention in my last blogpost about "Pros and Cons about traveling alone" is that there are a few occasions on which you shouldn't be alone and definitely with your loved ones.. like on Christmas, New Years or.. your Birthday!
And since it's my Birthday is tomorrow, I decided last minute to catch a flight back home to celebrate with my friends and family.
However the quick and usually easy trip, did not go as smoothly as planned.
Here is the Full Story:
At the moment I am busy with a lot of work and travel plans, and I rarely see my girlfriends from my hometown Hamburg. Yesterday, after speaking to them I decided to come home for my birthday and organize a get-together. This was so spontaneous (once again) so that I rushed in the city to get everything done, before my flight the next morning.
I rushed through the streets for 6 hours and right when I was done for the day, I all of a sudden felt my throat hurting and strong back pain. From sleeping little and doing too much, my body responded with catching a virus.
Great! My birthday is in two days, I planned on celebrating into my birthday the day before, I have an early flight in the morning and I am sick. I had no other choice, but to keep going. I took a cab home, packed my luggage (I bought a second piece, because I couldn't fit all of my stuff in one), drank tea, took a pain killer, pre-ordered a cab for 6:00 AM, to make sure I catch my flight at 8:00 AM and went straight to bed.
The next morning I felt worse, but I thought "oh well, I will just carry my bags down, get in the cab and sleep on the plane and be able to rest all day so I can be with my friends at night".
Time Check: 6.00 AM
I carried my bags down, looked at the "my taxi" APP to check where my cab driver was, but it said "taxi cancelled". I tried ordering a new one, but it didn't work. I had no other choice but to carry everything down the road and search for a cab on the main street. I could barely walk, but I was sure that if I made it to the main street there would be plenty of cabs as always.
Time Check: 6.30 AM
I calculated in that there might be traffic, so I wasn't running late yet. But when I got to the main street there was not one cab in sight. Now I started getting nervous, because I had tried ordering, calling and catching a cab outside. Just standing around wouldn't help, so I jumped on the bus that stopped right where I was standing and was driving in the direction of the city center.
Usually in Barcelona there are many cabs on the street and I thought maybe because it's early there aren't any around, but it was still odd to me. I asked the bus driver and he told me to get off in 4 stops, because there was a taxi stand. I thought " I will be a little bit in a hurry, but that's ok". When the bus stopped and I got off, I was standing in some street in the middle of nowhere and the bus driver was right there was a sign for a taxi stand, but not one taxi.
Time Check: 7.00 AM
Now the breakdown began. I started freaking out, I felt helpless and didn't know what to do or where to go and how in the world I would get to the airport. As I was standing in the middle of this empty street and after I had asked a baker if he knew where I can get a taxi and he told me that today there are no taxis driving!!!, I cried out of frustration and prayed for help. At that point I had no plan what to do next, my Gate would close in 30 minutes, my flight would be in an hour and I would need 20 minutes just to get to the airport.
Time Check: 7.10 AM
About 10 minutes later a miracle, coincidence or whatever you would call this part happened. A lady stopped at the red light on the street where I was standing, saw me in tears and frustration, rolled down her window and asked what was wrong. I told her I am going to miss my flight because there are no taxis and without hesitation she told me to get in the car and that she would drive me and I could pay her. I couldn't believe it! But there was no time to think. We stuffed everything in her car, raced to the airport and got there in half the time. On the way, my hope; faith got restored.
Time Check: 7.20 AM
When I got to the Airport (Terminal 1) my Gate was supposed to close in 10 minutes, but since I managed to get to the airport, I believed I could still make it. I ran to the information counter and asked where my airline was (I had already checked-in, but still needed to check in my luggage). The lady told me I was at the wrong Terminal, that I had to take a shuttle to get to Terminal 2. At this point any logical human being would have given up, because when you know the shuttle takes another 10 minutes to get to Terminal 2 and my Gate closes in 10 minutes and I still had to go through security, there would be no way I could make it.
But, I wasn't ready to give up, said out loud "it is still possible" and with that thought in mind rushed to the Shuttle area.
I could see the bus leaving, and while I was still trying hard to get there I was having the next mental breakdown. The next shuttle would come in 4 minutes and I certainly didn't have the time. Still, I got on the next bus..
Time Check: 7.40 AM
I got to Terminal 2 after the official Gate closing time. With my last bit of hope I ran to the check-in counter of my airline and the lady told me that I could no longer check in my luggage, but I could try to go through security with all of my bags. I went upstairs, saw the huge line and without thinking went past the people in the line, to the very front, in tears showed the officer my ticket and all he said was "the luggage is too big". I think all the people in the line were starring at me, but I was too focused on still trying to catch that flight. When I turned around the officer was gone and one man who was part of the line told me to just put all my bags on the assembly line, so I did. In less than a minute I got through the security check and even though in my large bag were many liquids, for some odd reason they let me through.
I grabbed everything and rushed to the end of Terminal 2 and downstairs to my Gate.
Time Check: 7.50 AM
10 Minutes before the official take off time and 20 minutes after my Gate was supposed to close, I stood in-front of my Gate and I could hear an announcement "Last Call For Flight *** from Barcelona to Hamburg" and there were two other people going through the Gate. I could not believe it. In tears of relief I went on board, with my huge piece of luggage and three other bags.
Time Check: 8.00 AM
Ready for take off! The plane started quickly, I was shaking from all the stress and could slowly feel my sickness again. Under this kind of pressure I totally forgot how sick I was and I was surprised how I managed to carry all the heavy luggage around and run from one Terminal to the next and through the security check.
But I made it! Why exactly I cannot tell you, but I know for sure that my determination and willingness to not give up until the last second played a big part. There were many points at which I could have let go and accepted that there was no way I could make it, but as long as you believe, anything is possible!
During the flight I couldn't sleep, so I opened a chapter of a book I had with me and as a perfect end to this crazy story, the chapter happened to describe exactly what I can do in this moment to calm down, which helped a lot.
I am proud of myself that I now have a pretty incredible personal real life example of what belief can achieve.
Now I am home safe, I took a long nap and even though I postponed the birthday celebration to tomorrow (the actual day) instead of the day before I am beyond happy to be home and appreciate my bed right now more than ever.
Now back to getting more sleep and recover for by Birthday Celebration tomorrow/today (July-28)
Question OTD: Have you ever experienced something miraculous that would have not been possible without hope?
Much love and health!
- Mrs.Steemit
Happy birthday :]
Happy Birthday @mrs.steemit from a fellow Leo!!!! may your day be less hectic than the one you just described!!!
Thanks! :)
Oh @mrs.steemit, aventures follow you every trip. Good to know you've got home, you are fine and had fun in your B-Day!
Thanks! :)
Happy birthday and i hope you get to spend time with your girlfriend , all the best on your journey and thank for the post , i also followed
Keep moving forward and don't lose hope. Future is much more rewarding than what you expect...
I wish you happy birthday and more birthday to come...
Thank you very much!
♬Happy Birthday To You, ♪♩
♩ ♪ Happy Birthday To You, ♪
♬ ♩Happy Birthday mrs.steemit ♪
♪ ♩ ♪Happy Birthday To You! ♪ ♬ ♩
Glad you got home safe.
Thank you! That's sweet of you <3
You go girl! Anything is possible if you believe and keep going through any obstacle.
Enjoy your tea, rest, and have an awesome birthday with your girlfriends today/tomorrow. Happy birthday Uma!
Thanks! Appreciate it :)
Happy birthday!!!Take rest and enjoy your day!!! I have had a similar experience. In 2003, i was supposed to take 8PM flight out from JFK to London.I started from my location around 2 PM (2 hr drive to airport).I was stuck in the JFK airport traffic due to road work and accident and reached by 7:30 PM.I thought I missed my flight but somehow there was a delay in take off and got in..The worst part stuck in traffic not able to do basic things for almost 5 hrs!!!
You are someone who values self education a lot check out my blog regarding the same https://steemit.com/education/@sanees/us-education-system
Holy, Tolitto! What a tale! Why weren't there any Taxis on that day for 1?! And 2! I'm so glad you're home and safe for your birthday! Had a similar experience with flying to see my new born baby nephew from two states over. My original flight out of Medford was delayed by two to three hours, and I was supposed to get to my gate at 6:45 but I landed at 6:30. Had to rush get my bag, run over to a staff member to see if I can get a different flight to which she stated that there was nothing she could do until tomorrow morning. Here I am thinking I'm going to have to sleep in this airport in Portland, hoping that no one steals my luggage or attacks me. I called my mother crying letting her know that I probably wouldn't make it and I should just fly back home to Medford and try some other weekend to make it there. But the lady from Alaska Airlines said that she could get me a voucher to a shuttle to and from the airport and a voucher for a hotel for one night and get me on the next flight early in the morning. So I decided to take her up on her offer even though that meant being with my family for no more than 12 hours and have to turn around and fly back to Oregon the next morning. But I'm so glad that I did, and I don't regret anything that happened. It was quite a swift and eventful weekend but i wouldn't have traded it for anything. Family is important and hope will help you find a way to them.
How crazy! Thanks for sharing your similar experience. In that moment you just want to get out of the situation, and afterwards I agree you don't regret it and are actually glad to look back on it. Stay safe! :)
Happy bithday more days to come
thanks!
You was sooo lucky to get the flight.. but well now youre at home!!
Happy Birthday in advance my friend!! ^^,
Thank you!
Wow, das liest sich wie ein Thriller. Sehr interessanter post und ich bin froh das es gut und zeitlich nach Hause geschafft hast.
So habe ich das noch garnicht gesehen :D Bin auch sehr froh es geschafft zu haben!
Happy Birthday!!! Wow what a story so happy for you that you made it, funny that the chapter in your book managed to calm you down! Have a great day!!! x
Thanks <3
A tremendous journey @ mrs.steemit
been there done that. When you got into such trouble yet desperate time, at least try to stay positive and try your best, nothing else you can do..
I used to be solo-traveler, I found it more enjoyable, unless my very good travel mate would join me , then I'll travel with them. I've encountered such problems before, it still thrilled me, and I would do it again some other time.
Now I am traveling more to explore nature,and better with a group of people.
nice post btw :D
Congratulations friend @mrs.steemit , Success and love in your life :-)
Your post is very interesting is really amazing I like your post, now I've followed you and learn to make a good post and interesting, congratulations for you good luck always
good story!
Believe, anything is possible!
Steady story of a very beautiful journey salute success always @mrs.steemit
@mrs.steemit - Amazing post and beautiful pictures. I always enjoy your posts.
Stay connected!
Wow glad you made it! And happy early birthday!
Happy Birthday in advance !
Happy Birthday in advance
great post...nice place .well written..up
Perseverance binds you to luck is no accident
WELCOME TO STEEMIT @mrs.steemit
I'm very happy to have you around and render my assistance on steemit.
Happy Birthday!!! :D I'm glad you made your flight, now relax, feel better amd enjoy your celebration!
I am suhaib Please like my post and follow to me @suhaibashraf155
Thanks
https://steemit.com/drawing/@suhaibashraf155/some-historical-scatches
You are so brave.....MIRACLES HAPPEN.
I am happy that you managed to catch your flight. Missing a flight is a terrible thing to happen
Das Leistungsvermögen bei Todesangst... Da wird selbst Mrs. Steemit zur Sportskanone :-)
Nice post. Upvoted and I'm following you. Please visit my blog. Upvote and follow. Thank you.
Very nice topic I like it thank fr...........
I wish you a happy birthday! I love to travel alone. I dunno! It gives me the feeling of, I'm in an adventure!
I can't even believe you caught it! That's a miracle! I was late for a flight once but didn't have your luck. Missed it! Glad you made it on.
Happy Bday!!!! What a story. I was happy to read it and see how you never gave up. Hope you are much better now. Have a great celebration with your family and friends. Totally worth it .
Happy birthday! Hope today is not as stressy as the other one ;) enjoy and keep the work up!
hello, I live in Myanmar Country.You are post is
nice and upvoted.I like it
Happy birthday @mrs.steemit! Great post! Upvoted
Upvoted and RESTEEMED :]
Really interesting to read your story! Yes, on Christmas, we need at least two or more people. Otherwise, it will be so lonely!
so great photos, the photography is so real that it seems i am with you, seeing with my own eyes all that fantastic place
See My Visit to Attock
https://steemit.com/travel/@jakkk/my-trip-to-attock-fort-in-pakistan-the-fort-is-a-memorial-of-great-mughal-empire
Oh dear! Sorry to hear that your farewell was so bitter!! Shit happens they say...
Hopefully you recover soon and ready for your birthday party!!
I went back to the office today, after 1 week in bed! :(
Happy Birthday and hope meeting you again soon! <3
Nice post
Luckily there are worse things in life. Have a great party! @mrs.steemit
Happy Birthday to U
Don t give up,, you are perfect ,, just rest and keep on
good luck with your amazing and exciting travel stories :) @mrs.steemit
Great post❤ lol, Upvoted! and yes do check my latest post on a place in India nicknamed The Scotland of India
https://steemit.com/travel/@alexkoshy/the-scotland-of-india-coorg-why-should-you-tour-india-vii from my TOUR INDIA Series.
Alex Koshy
Hello Mrs. Steemit, I have been following you for a little while now and really like what you do for steemit platform which is helping it to head in the right direction. This made me to think what is there I can do to contribute. I did make a post today for a Steemit meet up in Prague that I would like to organize and could use some of your influence to spread the message across. It would be great if you could resteem it for me, possibly give me some feedback or point me in the right direction. Thanks ever so much and steem on! Thank you Tomas. You can check my post here: https://steemit.com/travel/@czechglobalhosts/steemit-quarterly-meet-up-in-prague-october-2017