The Terminal

So I arrive at the airport, hoping to bring my flight home a few days earlier. Am told it is only possible if I pay the difference which ends up being about €314. I state in my own words that if I could spare that much money I would be at the Hilton, not at the airport. Even to leave on Sunday would have cost me at least €150. I have to concede defeat at that stage but at least the airport is open 24hrs. So as it was 8pm and there weren´t any flights until the next morning anyway, I thought I´d wait until then and try and sweet-talk the Saturday crew.

I found some chairs (that are basically 4 seats stuck together) on a second level that had nothing on it. A door to security. That was it. Nothing. I thought at least I´d get peace and quiet up there so I blew up my inflatable pillow and slept the night there. Well attempted but it was constantly interrupted.

So I´m stuck in the airport for 4 days!

To get to second floor, there were escalators that were noisey but after 5mins without sensing anybody on them, would shut off. Seeing as there was nothing up there, they were off for most of the time but as it got later, people waiting for late/delayed planes would start to explore the airport and they´d come up and turn around immediately and go back down. Great now another 5mins with the noise of the escalators. But because one couple went up, others thought there was something of interest up stairs so other people would come up  and after 2 more couples the escalators were a popular to be in the airport as there was always someone going up and always people coming down. It´s was a bit like the theory that if you look into the sky long enough, people will stand next to you and look up wondering what you´re looking at and then the crowd gets bigger as people believe there´s something up there. When there isn´t. That was the escalators whole purpose of existance I think. So after the last plane had left, I got some peace and quiet.

I woke up and went down to try and pled with with the Ryanair crew but alas it was the same people from the day before so I wasn´t getting sympathy. I tried to explain that if I went then they would have the opportunity to sell my seat again. I knew there were vacant seats on the planes leaving that day - they told me! But I couldn´t because I wanted to fly out early and quote unquote "The company always wins!" Nothing like bueraucrats sticking their finger in some salt then putting it deep in the wound. I tried the other companies that flew from Santiago but none fly back to UK and the train would have been just as expensive and more hassle.

So I´m stuck in the airport for 4 days!

It was about now that I realise that I have a serious connection with Tom Hanks in the movie The Terminal. I was in a foreign airport where I had language problems, I was sleeping there on the seats, I kept seeing the same lady who would be shaking her head saying no before I had reached the desk. I noted that there were extentions being built there and toyed with the idea of getting a job working there but figured I wouldn´t get paid before I left on Tuesday. Anyway, they weren´t giving me food vouchers, so why should I work for them.

I bought a book to read, as I´d finished the one I brought with me. And a deck of cards. Entertainment sorted!

By the night of the second day I´d worked out the book was interesting but not enough the keep me entertained and solitaire was getting boring (read:I wasn´t winning). Basically, I´m that good at cards, that not even I can beat me!

I went to sleep thinking that I´d catch a bus into town to go to the cathedral for mass on Sunday. Maybe I just needed to get out of the airport...