My final day in Gran Canaria could not have been more perfect. The sky was brilliant blue and there was not a cloud in the sky. I managed to pack fairly quickly then made my way to check out. Thankfully the Hotel Katarina has a Hospitality room where you can leave your bags, shower and freshen up. I then grabbed a newspaper and found myself a spot on the grass down by the pool. After some time I realised I was starting to drip with sweat. It really was hot today. Ideal for a last minute chance to top up ones tan, however it was so hot and without any breeze there was only one thing for it. I would have to go to the Beach.
So I packed up my back pack and headed south walking beneath the Hotel Rui sand then down onto the dunes. I ensured I had at least two litres of water to survive the journey then packed up and hiked across the dunes.
At 1530 my alarm sounded warning me that it was time to make my way back to the hotel. A quick shower and moisturise and then I was sat waiting outside the hotel for the shuttle to the airport. You know how it is, you get talking to people that you are travelling with. Well this lady was asking, Have you been before? What did you think of the hotel? Then she announced to everyone. "Oooh you can tell his got money, look at his luggage". Okay so we have fabulous Swiss made suitecases. Clearly the lady knew I had class. The shuttle is definitely the cheaper option. I believe we paid about 60 Euro each way in a taxi before. However it did stop at a lot of hotels on the way back. Still that said, we were at the airport within an hour of leaving my resort.
Joining the queue for check in, the family chav arrived behind and were quite vocal and I over heard them saying the flight outbound had been delayed. Now I have nothing against Easyjet at all. Infact they just happen to be my very faveourite of all the budget airlines, but I have to wonder why, when I checked in, the check in person could not have told us of the delay? Infact the boarding card I was given still stated the orginal time 1915. I really don't mind not getting extras but customer service should not come a sloppy second.
Checked in, albeit 24 Euros worse off as my bag now exceeded the 20 Kilos limit, I made my way immeditately to the VIP Lounge. The Las Palmas Lounge has complimentary alcoholic beverages and light snacks. Its nothing snazzy, but they do have Private bathrooms and a private smoking terrace. I poured myself a large Bloody Mary and settled down to an episode of Glee on the laptop. The flight delay, of two hours, meant that I had more than paid for my visit with the amount of whiskey I'd enjoyed.
I don't know if it was that Thomas Cook Airlines were so uncomfortable last time that the journeys seemed much longer or if, infact EasyJet do have faster planes? Our flight time was 3 hours, 45 Minutes, while Thomas Cook took 4 Hours and 30 Minutes. Hmmmmm, well lesson learned.
Once we touched down there was no walkway available. We had to wait for a coach to take us to the terminal. Through immigration, baggage claim and customs, I took the Monorail back to the South Terminal and to the train station.
"Due to emergency engeeneering works there are no trains between London Victoria and Three Bridges". WTF!
Dozens of people were gathering on the terminal, all seeking assistance. Clearly the Gatwick Express is not running, despite the fact they advertise it leaves every 15 minutes 24 hours a day. A lady approached the Asian man at the information kiosk. "Excuse me but how do we get to Victoria?"
"You need to take the bus from here to East Croydon then take a Train", he answered.
"How long will that take?" she asked
"I don't know", he said, bluntly.
"How far is East Croydon?", she politely asked.
"I don't know", he said, bluntly again.
It was like they had put the most unhelpful person on the planet in the posistion of trying to help people in distress? This is what really furiates me about this country. The Customer Service is appauling. We were left without information and the one person who could have helped had a single response "I don't know". A polite it may take about an hour on the coach would have been suffice. Incomptent fool. What makes it worse is that I'd had to pay £16 for a ticket.
Eventually the Station Idiot got on his Walkey Talkey and found out where the Coaches were and escorted us downstairs where we boarded. Now rather than just taking everyone to a single station where we could continue our journey, they instead stopped at every train station along the route. Even those where not a soul exited the coach. Eventually, some hour later we arrived at East Croydon. It was now 4AM. I was due at work in the morning. Thankfully Ian had said I could work flexihours. Grabbing my case I hauled it up to the Station then looked at the Train Times. Next Train to Victoria was in 30 Minutes. Then I noticed a London Bridge Service. That would be much better. Far closer to home. I could jump a taxi from London Bridge. The London Bridge bound train was 45 minutes wait, but so much closer to home, worth the sacrafice. I sat down in the waiting room as the clock slowly ticked by. 4.07, 4.12, 4.19, 4.30 stand clear of the closing doors. Eventually the 04:45 pulled in, but contarary to advertised, this service would not stop at London Bridge and was non stop until Blackfriars. At blackfriars I changed platforms for a southbound train to London Bridge and then evevntually got a train to New Cross and a Bus home. Phew. It had taken me some 13 hours door to door. It was 0605 when I finally arrived home. I promtly composed an e-mail to my boss enlightening him of my journey and the fact that I needed a few hours sleep before work. It almost feels as though all that rest and chilling had been thrown aside by this one catastrophic journey. Still I made it in the end.
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