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A NIGHTMARE JOURNEY.

How about a trip to Japan?...I couldnt believe it. It was twelve thirty of a nondescript winter

day and my wife was on her feet in the middle of our living room staring at me, grinning from ear to ear,

asking me about the journey which I had dreamed of all my life, since I was a child and I was very fond of

reading Japanese comics.But, I had thought about a nearby country to spend our holidays I replied

shyly. But she insisted on doing this trip and that was fine by me. It was two years ago and it was the

beginning of the worst nightmare we have never been able to imagine.

First of all: a terrible traffic jam when we went in a cab to the airport. Where is it supposed all

these people go so early on a Sunday morning? I asked to the driver when I was getting nervous and

glanced at the meter. The formula 1 races, no doubt. Theres a new circuit near here and today is the

most exciting race in the season, grunted the man in a low voice. What a coincidence! I thought

sadly. In spite of the problems on the road, we managed to get to the check-in-desk two minutes

before that it was closed. A tired-looking attendant picked up our luggage and pointed the gate hurrying

us up. Its too late she shouted angrily. At last, we sat on our seats (aisle seats, as usual, the best way

not to enjoy with the view during the flight) and we fastened our seat belts . Relax!, said to me my wife

staring at my flushed face.The most important thing is that we got on time and our holidays start now.

Dont worry about anything!But this thought was a new mistake again...

Two hours later, when we were approaching to Amsterdam airport, the city where we had to

change planes, the pilot spoke into the microphone : ladies and gentlemen, Im afraid but I have to tell

you bad news. The Dutch air traffic controllers went on strike yesterday. Due to this fact our plane isnt

allowed to land here. So, we are going to land on another nearby airport. I apologize for any

inconvenience. Nearby? , How far is it to Amsterdam from Frankfurt? I believe that lost of kilometres

but this was the city where we landed and the airport where we wasted our holidays because , what a

pity!, the weather, which had been chilly so far, changed into really freezing and runways remained

covered with snow and ice for a week.

A whole and endless week which we spent in the airport waiting for...who knew what? Sitting

on our hand suitcases and sleeping comfortably lying on the filthy floor. We had horrible vending

machine sandwiches for breakfast, for lunch, for tea and for dinner. So, I suffered a terrible stomach

ache and had a temperature. My wifes health was similar to mine because she had the worst flu

nobody has ever seen. Central heating didnt work because the mechanism was frozen and the

departure lounge looked like a piece of North or South Pole in the middle of Europe...perhaps Central

Pole.

Finally, we could escape taking a crowded train to Paris and an expensive plane to Madrid. It

took us three days, three long days during which we had to travel around Europe feeding us with more

delicious sandwiches ( we promised we wont have them any more in our life forever and ever ). But,

in the end, we came back home on a rainy and cloudy Sunday evening. At home, at last! Theres no

place like home! Home, sweet home!, we cried at the same time when we went in but we continued

crying when we noticed that some burglars had been there in our absence...thank goodness that he still

had two off sandwiches and we could have dinner.

Fernando Sanz Yage ( 1st

intermediate )

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