Many things don't necessarily go to plan when travelling - or throughout life for that matter. In fact more often than not it goes the complete opposite. Touring around the globe however has taught me to move forward with a three step mindset. Being realistic this is subsequent to the initial reaction of mentally (and equally verbally) going S**t with a capital S. I allow myself a limited time to play the drama queen before I must rationally remind myself that;
1) Everything happens for a reason.
2) What is the worst that can happen.
3) At least you obtain a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious story from it (yes I googled how to spell that).
Such lessons have been assimilated through less extreme events such as a train changes, cancelled buses, and forbidding weather. The higher scale curveballs have been misplaced passports in Sweden, taken by airport security en route to Dublin and being both snowed in and out in Austria. The repercussion of most scenarios is loss of money and a dissatisfied travel bug. I like to keep in mind that Milton Snavely Hershey was due to board the Titanic but circumstances changed this. Let's all take a moment to think of a world deprived of the Hershey chocolate bar. Perhaps there are great things envisioned for myself too so an unforeseen road change may be a fortunate predicament.
Lost Passport in Sweden
During a stop over in Latvia I was travelling with a Kiwi friend so naturally exited the plane with the handsome black and silver New Zealand passport. Initially we assumed his passport was the one left on the aircraft but it was promptly discovered that it was mine. We were denied access to recover the passport, instead a message was transferred to the cleaners to return it. Undeniably they did not look. 1.5 hours of layover was a whirlwind of frantic calls being executed including that to the New Zealand embassy;
'Kia Ora you've reached the New Zealand Embassy in Wellington you're speaking with ---',
'Hi there you're speaking with Rosie. I'm a New Zealander in Latvia and I've misplaced my passport. Is there anything you can please do to help me'?
'You need to call the London embassy aye'.
'Ok do you please have a number for me'?
'Nope'.
'Is there anything at all you can do to help me please'?
'Nope, see ya'.
Dial tone...
Lesson Learnt - no one gives a flying (literally) f**k about you.
Did I state that it was Easter and we were flying on the Thursday with everything halting from Easter Friday through to Monday? All relevant documents were forwarded from the London Embassy to arrange an emergency passport. But iPhone photographs are not up to passport standard so with application denied I flew on my drivers licence to Sweden praying that the team in London wouldn't sign off before touch down. Bolting out of the airport with roughy thirty minutes to find a shop to take a snap of my tear stained face I'm surprised we weren't on the CNN for reckless driving. Thank you to the employer who mid closing up let me slip under the gate and took the picture. Application number two sent off we breathed for the first time since Latvia, proceeding with the original plan to travel from Stockholm to Lapland. With reception below substandard in the Swedish countryside McDonalds provided a quick hot spot where an email made my heart fall out my ass. The documents hadn't dispatched and staff were checking out to go eat their weight in chocolate for the weekend. Again another thank you, the gentleman in the London Embassy who worked after hours I am forever appreciative. The short recollection is the new passport didn't arrive in time and we were grounded in Sweden for three additional days. Rebooked flights, cancelled hotels, cars and experiences later we eventually arrived at the Kakslauttanen Igloo Hotel in Finland, which on a positive record I indubitably recommend. The midnight sun creates an eerie glow visible throughout the night. Transitioning between sauna, igloo and buffet there is complete silence besides the huskies howling. Moreover there is the rare novelty of sleeping in an igloo!
Lesson Learnt - The worst that can happen is you are deprived of experiences and lose a few dollars. If you have your heart beating (although it did stop multiple times) and essential amenities all is ok. Throughout this incident I wish I'd stressed less. Proven we were stuck in Sweden but seriously who can say they were stranded in SWEDEN. Now I have a momentous anecdote and a passport photo where I resemble a drugged up, red eyed puffer fish from Nemo.
Security in London Travelling to Dublin
We have laughed about this event numerous times since. However the moment we literally lay on the floor of London Gatwick Aiport and cried while security remitted our duty free haul is a distinctive evocation.
My New Zealand bestie and I were off to support the All Blacks in Dublin for the weekend and party it up for her birthday. We glided through all airport procedures and were the first to reach the line in preparation for boarding. As this commenced we were asked to stand to the side and advised to wait. High fiving the other AB supporters the enthusiasm ebbed as the last passengers ascended onto the aircraft with staff apprising us there was a time cap of fifteen minutes for security to arrive else the plane would depart - which it did. Security showed up escorting us to return our duty free then proceeding to the flight purchase counter. We had been swiped from the system and 700 pounds each would get us to the game in time. Teary eyed we went and evaluated all options. We rebooked flights from an alternative airport, my friend's partner would drive us overnight and we would witness the Haka, fabulous. The airport bar was still open and substantial sized glasses of wine meant the elation of going to Dublin was back in full swing. This is where we were pinpointed by security again to inform us they had checked the airport footage and could confirm we had checked in earlier that day. Our complementary taxi (400 pounds) was ordered to the new flight and we received 100 pounds in vouchers. Unquestionably these were spent on food and beverages. Whilst finishing our merlot we had a great deal of entertainment busting dubious couples getting funky in the bathrooms with security telling us their most outrageous stories. A latter email had us compensated for the flights and 'mental trauma'. Well done All Blacks for winning and making it all worth it.
Lesson Learnt - Everything will work out. If plan A doesn't work there are 25 more letters in the alphabet. You may not sleep for 34 hours but you'll obtain an epic story and chortle about it eventually.
"Everything happens for a reason. Live it. Love it. Learn from it."
Undeniably it is easier when plans do go accordingly but s**t happens, it's up to you how you react to it.
R x