Although some planes made it back to the skies from European airports this morning, many more flights are still canceled. There is news that after a bit of a pause, a bigger eruption (and cloud of ash) is in the works in Iceland. It's such a huge storiy with far reaching implications -- although I am wondering if the news would be even bigger in the U.S. and Canada if the winds were blowing to the west and covering New York and Toronto's airspace instead.
At any rate...I put on my journalist hat for a bit yesterday to help get out the word of the plight of those stuck in Europe (particularly Canadians, who feel they have received little guidance, much less help, from the government). As a result, Janay (my friend who is stranded in London) did interviews with the Globe and Mail, the CBC, and the Calgary Herald. You can read the G&M story here, the CBC story here, and the Calgary Herald story here.
Some of the negative comments are hard to read. Yes -- there are certainly worse places in the world to be stranded, and Europe in the springtime is, I can fully attest, quite lovely. But the people who are stranded can't really just go and sit in cafes and wait for the wind to change. They might not have enough money left to do that, for one thing (hotels are raising their rates each night). Some are running out of their medication as well as their money. Others are missing family events, work deadline, weddings, funerals, and more. And instead of being able to take advantage of an unexpected extra week in Europe, most are tied to phones and computers trying to reschedule, replan, rebook, and reorganize as they search for ways home.
And the financial implications go far beyond the airlines (although truly they are suffering, too). But Laura, our wonderful landlady, wrote about the hundreds of little business people like her who are losing bookings -- and their income -- because of the ash. If my mom isn't able to make her flight over on Saturday night, we will not be heading to the Loire -- so that means two hotels, a half-dozen restaurants, four chateaux, and countless cute little shops won't be getting our business. Even John's aunt in a tiny town in Montana is feeling the effects... they had a bowling championship playoff canceled because some people on one team had travelled to Germany and have not been able to come home yet. That means lost food, lodging, and other business for one small Montana town, too. Scenes like this are playing out in villages, towns, and cities throughout Europe and -- because the globe has become so much smaller as a result of air travel -- throughout the world.
Many people are struggling through this, and I think it will take quite a long time for things to settle down, even if the volcano quiets tomorrow. (And in the meantime, if you are in Europe and looking for a terrific place to stay -- contact Laura! Her rentals are wonderful!)
A friend of mine here in Burgundy just sent me a very thoughtful essay about this whole experience. It's worth reading the whole thing, but I especially liked the conclusion:
It is commonplace to acknowledge that people so often only grasp the full value of something when they lose it ... but the events of the past few days remind us how it is true. Well, some of us have for a while at least lost the ability to get home. And all of us right across Europe have lost air travel for the time being. So when that comes back, let's try and use that wonderful freedom more thoughtfully, sensibly and wisely.And with that thought...fingers are crossed here for a safe and available flight for my mom and Sharon on Saturday, too... and that all of those stranded here will soon be able to make their way home.
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