#9 An Extended Vacation

Our group were up early for breakfast and getting packed up for our departures from Greenland. The Spaniards left about 1 hour before Maralyn, Graham and I were to fly back to Reykjavik. We were transported on the zodiac boat across to Narsarsuag and the airport. The Spaniards had already flown out as be disembarked, gathered up our luggage and started walking toward the airport (it is a small airport about a ¼ mile from the dock. But, as we were nearing the airport terminal, part of the groups also from the hostel were heading toward another building that turned out to be the Narsarsuag Hotel. Kunuk, our guide was shouting for us to head toward the hotel instead of to the terminal. Outside the hotel he announced that all flights INTO Reykjavik were canceled for the day due to very high winds there and that Tasermiut Tour company would be picking up our meals until the next morning when we, hopefully, would be allowed to fly.

Well, that certainly came out of left field! All those who had been booked to fly   were now lined up getting rooms for overnight. This was not complicated but was tedious waiting in line. Once with a room, Maralyn, Graham and I headed to the dining hall, much better accommodations and appearance than the hostel, with white table cloths, wait staff and a bountiful buffet. This was like  the lap of luxury in a cold and rustic land. And they had vegetables and green salads! Those were items we all had missed over the last 8 days. No more “picnics”!

Ah, but with this last minute change in plans, came a frantic effort on my part to revise my travel plans, something I began tackling as soon I was able after getting a room, and which became an arduous effort. You see, I was booked for one night, this night, in Reykjavik and then for a flight back to the US the next day. My first priority was to contact Delta Airlines to find a later flight out the next day. This proved to be nerve wracking and an seeming endless circular, go nowhere loop. Calling the airline only led to endless routing to other phone numbers and never to an actual living person. And when I finally did reach a real person, the call was suddenly ended. So, the whole process had to be re-done, with all the delays and re-routings. (I discovered that the live person I had been conversing with had ended his shift and simply ended the call!). There was a case number, so with some effort and more than another hour, I was reconnected with someone who found a later flight from Iceland to Minnesota and then to Phoenix. I told her I would take it. 

Whew! I was happy that my predicament was resolved.

HA! Not so!

Thinking all was well and I would still be back home the next day, albeit much later in the day. By then, mid afternoon, I thought everything was settled, I joined Maralyn and Graham to visit the nearby museum which had an extensive collection and records of the years when Narsarsuag was an American airbase in WWll and after. I found the museum to be very educational as I learned more about the presence of the US in Greenland. I was so absorbed that I did not realize the museum had closed until the caretaker came into one of the back rooms where I was, surprising her, and me as she informed me they were closed. If she had not checked the rooms I would have been locked in. 

Leaving, I was headed back to the hotel when Maralyn and Graham called out to me from a little bar/cafe attached to the museum, inviting me to join them for a drink. They had lost track of me and went on the the bar thinking I had returned to the hotel. So, sitting there relaxing, chatting and feeling confident that all was well with the world, I took out my cell phone and discovered I had a message – from Delta Airlines. Wouldn’t you know it? My flight was not booked after-all and when I thought I had agreed to take the later flight out the next day, that flight was really not available. Sinking feeling. Not this all over again! 

Immediately getting back on the phone, the whole ring around the rosy circus resumed. Finally, I simply asked, what about the day after, are there open seats available? Oh yes, we can book you on that flight sir. So, this time I waited online while they confirmed with a confirmation number that I was actually booked. One obstacle down, now to book an extra night in Reykjavik. I called the Iceland tour company for their help in booking a room for me. They quickly resolved that for me booking me in a CenterHotel like we had while in Reykjavik previously. They also arranged transportation to pick me up and then to the airport the day after. 

Finally, I felt I could relax! I had confirmations on the hotel, transportation and a flight back home! What a day!