Winter Wonderland????

As we left Florence the sky was very low and it started to snow, just lightly and mixed with drizzle, but snow nonetheless......a portent of things to come I wondered?

And again at Florence Airport we were reminded that travel is a wonderful thing to do......experiences being the spice of life, but it does have downsides .....one of which is running the check-in / security gauntlet.

In our travels we have become quite used to waiting at the airport (preferring to be early rather than late and understanding that on a "moving day" you just have to write it off) as well as being used to doing the security "thing." In this day and age it is line up, strip down, deposit all your personal belongings in a tray to be x-rayed etc and then get dressed again with Wendy handing me my clothes, all with a crowd of people, all doing the same thing...and without much dignity!

Usually it is me that is targeted for a "pat down" and explosives swab but this time, and unusually I think for Italy, we struck quite an officious security group hell bent on checking us to the nth degree. Although I still got my obligatory (and much looked forward to I might say) "touch up", it was Wendy and her carry-on luggage that was singled out for extra attention......and it took her by surprise...and I didn't have anyone to hand me my clothes. What a shambles!

.....but wait....there's more!

The flight information board listed our flight at 6.25pm....even at 7.00pm....and then 8.00pm and later it changed to 10.30 pm...only a four-hour delay....and then joy, we are boarding.........but, no (sad trombone) ........we are CANCELLED!!! 

Well, I wish I could have taken a picture of the faces...😕😠😫😳😤😠☹️😡😡😡😠😡😠☹️.....

and quote some of the language......€£#+%%#¥¥!!!! .....which really didn't need any translation!

I won't bore you with the details but long lines of angry people getting re- allocated flights for following days and bussed to the hotel for their overnight stay before trying again tomorrow. We spoke to an airport person who suggested that Florence airport at this time of year is renowned for fog, wind, rain (all of which we had) and lots of cancellations...all of which we saw. Air France, British Airways, Alitalia and a host of others all cancelled due to the conditions ...and the location of the airport...one small runway and a mountain in front of it to boot.....and the next day would be the same! I thought they were a bit practised at handing out vouchers!

So, on the advice of this very helpful airport employee we booked on another airline from Pisa, a bit over an hour away with a bigger airport. Then we organised a car and driver to take us there..... with a guided tour of the region along the way. Good, we thought with a smirk, got it sorted

But wait....there's more!

Text message from the airline in Pisa.......flight CANCELLED!      What????😳
In a blind panic, called the driver we hired and who was due in an hour.....no go....it's cancelled! Sorrrrrright.  

Checked the website for the flight from Florence......no prizes for guessing......CANCELLED!
Dashed downstairs to the lobby to garner the latest info.......yes, CANCELLED.....you're all here for another night.......two days lost...........noooooooooooo! 😫

As it turns out Amsterdam and the airport were experiencing their worst storm in quite a few years. The wind, snow and atrocious conditions not only closed the airport to all flights but, according to the Dutch people in our group of strandees, the centre of Amsterdam was in a code red (which we were assuming is bad) and people advised not to go outside unless absolutely necessary.

Well, we didn't want this.....

And we certainly didn't want this.......

So, all we could do was wait it out.