Matthew's Journal

Well, that was a little more eventful than might have been desirable...


So, I leave Cambridge, expecting to be met at Bari airport, and carrying the 'phone number of my interpreter for the weekend. I get to heathrow OK, fly to Milan Malpensa (about on time), and get on my flight to Bari. Sit on the 'plane for about an hour, and then get told to get off it again. Loiter around Milan airport for some further time, and then get put on another 'plane (the first one was apparantly broken). Leave Milan about 23.20 (which was when we were due in Bari), and arrive in Bari about 00:40. No-one is there to meet me. I hang around, as other people collect their baggage, and then get thrown out of the terminal building 'cos it's closing. I try ringing the number I have ... and get a "this phone is turned off" message. At this point, I must admit, a little panic sets in. So naturally, I 'phone mother. Not perhaps the most obvious thing in the world to do, but I was a bit stuck. This does little but eat my small change. So, I hang around the deserted airport, in the middle of no-where, in a Country whose language I do not speak. Eventually (c. 01:05) a taxi turns up. The driver speaks no English, but we somehow achieve communication. He tries the 'phone number on his Borg, and gets the same answer. He then has a fag. He then tries the number again, and still gets no reply. He suggests there's a hotel 6km away, and I (having somewhat sorted my head out) get him to take me there. He even talks to the night concierge (who speaks no English). I pay lots of Euros from my credit card for the room, 'phone my parents to tell them I'm sorted (actually, I fail to get through to them, and have to get claroscuro to leave a message, but that's an aside), and go to bed. I eventually manage to sleep somewhat later, having calmed down a bit more...

Saturday, I get up and have breakfast, and then 'phone Robert (my interpreter). He answers his 'phone(!), and is very apologetic - Antonio (the person who was meant to be picking me up, and speaks no English) had turned up for the 23:20 arrival, and been told it was 120 minutes delayed, so came back at 01:20 (by which time I was long gone). He says he'll be at my hotel to pick me up at about 9.30. A little before 13:00, he finally turns up, and we go to Trani, and I check in at my "proper" hotel. Later on, after lunch (and an afternoon of wandering round Trani followed by resting), we're due to be picked up at 17:30 from the Hotel to go to the conference which is due to start at 18:00. At about 18:15, the driver turns up, with his girlfriend, to take the four of us to the conference, in a Fiat Punto. This car has already had some crash damage, and is now woefully overloaded such that whenever we go over a bump, the rear right-hand wheel scrapes on the wheel arch! Still, we make it to the monastry in one piece, and pile out of the car....right next to a police car. The police get out and start shouting at the driver (and eventually fine him)... The conference itself is relatively unremarkable, I get some freebies, we listen to a concert, and eventually get dinner at about 01:00.

Sunday is similarly uneventful, other than that I got all my expenses paid in Euros in cash, so had to carry about €1000 home with me... Which irritatingly leaves me a little out of pocket due to the variation between market rates and what you can actually get for your €s in a BdeChange.



Today is going to be a restful day, I think. Beyond catching up on email, that is...

Roll on Sunday, when I can see atreic again! :)