This year for Valentine's Day, Tom decided he wanted to take me on a surprise holiday. So from the beginning of February when he booked it, until 18th March, I had no clue where we were off to. I have to admit, I'm very impressed that he or anyone else didn't spill the beans.
 |
| It was BOILING on the day we were due to leave, so we soaked it up for a couple of hours before our scheduled flight! |
We arrived around 10pm and stayed in the most beautiful 5 star hotel called Hesperia Tower, with the fanciest restaurant I've ever been to in my whole life. Tom had booked everything (flights, hotel, activity) through Travel Republic, and annoyingly the hotel hadn't received our reservation. So within half an hour of being there I was panicking that we would be sleeping on the streets of Barcelona. But it was all good, Tom and receptionist Roger sorted it.
So after an amazingly amazing and perfect holiday, we got to the airport to come home, and LITERALLY 2 minutes before our gate information was about to appear on the screen, it disappeared. After a lot of wandering around, trying to figure out what was happening, we found out that the flight had been cancelled because of the French Air Strikes. Nice of them to tell us sooner eh? After you know, checking our bags in, letting us buy duty free, doing a million passport checks :))))
So we were sent round to collect our luggage again, and ended up in an 11 hour queue to get to a Ryan Air desk. So we basically queued up for the equivalent of a whole day. When we finally got to the desk at 1.30am, there were no hotels in Barcelona, and no transport available because of the time. So we were given a new flight, from Girona to Manchester at 7.45am on the Tuesday (it was currently Sunday night/1.30am Monday morning), and sent on our way. NOWHERE TO GO. NOWHERE TO SLEEP.
So we slept in the airport, and then at 6am we got 2 trains and 1 bus to a hotel that was right next to Girona Airport. We're so lucky that we managed to get a room at the hotel next to the airport. And we're even luckier that we met a lovely couple in the queue at the airport, who took us under their wing and basically sorted us out at the Ryan Air desk, they checked us in as a 4, and because they go to Spain a lot, they were familiar with the train and bus routes, so knew exactly how to get to Girona. They literally rescued us, and I will be always be grateful, they even offered us money for the trains if we hadn't have had enough.
So after an amazing and adventurous time in Barcelona, I now know everything there is to know about Gaudi, the creator of the Sagrada Familia, and my faith in humanity has been well and truly restored! If you have the opportunity to do something kind for someone, don't hesitate, because whoever is in need will appreciate it so much!
Comment below if anyone has ever helped you in your moment of need! Or if you or anyone you know was affected by the French Air Strikes!
