Blog 5: The Barcelona Disaster

I was asked to step aside as I checked in for my flight leaving Barcelona; after impatiently waiting the attendant informed me of a strike, which seem to be quite common in Europe, which would delay departure from Barcelona and cause me to miss my connection from Rome to Florence. Being raised to always be optimistic, I remained hopeful as I sprinted off the plane in Rome with under five minutes to make the flight, but reality struck as I saw a bus sitting there waiting to take me to the main terminal. At the departure gate for my flight the attendants rudely informed me that the flight had waited as long as it could but had to leave. Frustrated with the system and exhausted from traveling, I walked to the station that was responsible for booking my new flight. Here I waited in line with other travelers who were equally as hungry, tired, and annoyed as me; however, after waiting for what seemed like hours I was finally given a hotel including free dinner and breakfast. The hotel ended up being a four star hotel with a beautiful lounge, clean showers, and cold air conditioning. The dinner was a huge buffet with numerous choices including pastas, meats, vegetables, and deserts as well as wine and water and breakfast included American favorites such as eggs and bacon. When I woke up the next morning feeling the most American I had felt in weeks, I was almost happy about the strike.