Well, we made it home...
The last leg of our flight was more than a little uncomfortable - and frustrating - but we're here safely and that's the main thing.
We had layovers both coming and going .... on the way to Victoria we had a stop in Edmonton, then on the way back, it was Calgary.
Won't do that again ... next time, will look for straight through flights, or failing that, will DEFINITELY avoid Calgary.
Didn't much care for the airport even BEFORE my flight was delayed for "about 10 - 15 minutes" ... it is the only one of the four that didn't have any cool restaurants or shops, their metal detectors are set on super sensitive to the point of stupidity (my ankle does NOT normally set off airport detectors - except in Calgary... and the security person did not seem inclined to believe that I had metal screws and plates in my ankle even though I offered to show her the scars).
And Calgary is, according to the West Jet flight attendant, the home of West Jet - seems rather ironic then that of the 4 West jet flights we took the only one that SUCKED was out of Calgary.
On the other 3 flights, the attendants were polite, personable and pleasant - at Calgary, not so much. The woman that checked us through at the gate, for example, called each person by name - but with an undertone of "I'm doing this because it's required but I really think it's stupid and couldn't care less" .... just a snippy tone, if you know what I mean.
In Toronto going out, our flight was delayed a few minutes and we were told why and then provided with updates; in Calgary we were told that it would be delayed "a few minutes" that turned into an hour, everyone that had been boarded on standby was sent off so that people from another plane that was supposed to go to Ottawa/Montreal could get on. The entire process was (unlike the smooth, good natured interactions of the other 3 flights) disorganized, unfriendly, and quite, I thought, obnoxious. An apology for the delay would have gone a long way when we finally DID get going... and for those passengers that were worried about making their connections, some updates a bit sooner than when we were about to land would likely have provided a lot less anxiety.
I didn't find the attendants to be very pleasant throughout the flight, either - I'm sure they too were frustrated by the delays and by having had to deal with a lot of unhappy people - but only 1 of the 5 seemed at all inclined to smile or be pleasant. The rest ranged from perfunctory to downright rude.
The other three flights were all very good - the last leg home was just no fun at all. It didn't help that I was having a major gall bladder (or something) flare up and feeling like crap ...couldn't sit comfortably, couldn't sleep, couldn't read. Time goes awfully slowly when you are trapped in a very small space and hurting. Still hurting at home - but am so happy to be here!
As much as I enjoyed Victoria - and the course I took (I got to be a geek again - yay me) - there's no place like home.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 19
Glad you're home safe and sorry you had that experience. It's very frustrating. I hope whatever is making you feel ill settles down. Did you stick to your diet?
I did pretty well.... we had kitchen facilities so ate most breakfasts and some lunches there.... and the fruit and veggies were really fresh and far more flavourful than what we get here.
Last night's dinner (at airport restaurant) was WAY bad though... Andrea ordered calamari and it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO good! (probably what caused gall bladder flare up though; no fun)
Calamari has been known to do that.
Yeah, I was thinking maybe you'd had something you shouldn't have. :\ I hope it goes away fast. I hear that vinegar is good for gall bladder issues ...
it was awfully good - but not good enough to be in this much pain for.... won't do that again.
I'm staying in a house in Peterborough for the next two weeks so am planning to cook rather than to eat out all the time; it's way cheaper - and far easier to do the diet thing, too.
Definitely so, Flit, that there's no place like home. Did you remember to bring Scrooge a present back? You know he had a hard week without you there. I know he loves Ross, but he loves you too, and if you aren't there, for him something is wrong. maybe not horrible, but it's still wrong. Besides, does Ross drop food on the floor for Scrooge the way you do?
If we ever go to Canada and back to Victoria, I will come back to this article to know which airline NOT to get on.
Did you tell the new doctor about your gall bladder raring up on you from time to time? There might be something you can take for that. I don't know, but it's worth asking about.
Did you get to see the author of the book about the sisters? Who did you get to see that impressed you?
We went to the grocery and to the meat market a little while ago and there are messes all over and utilities still out all over. It's a mess. What a shock. Not as bad as the one that knocked power out for us for 15 days, but I'd hate to see it worse than this. Our house guest number is increasing. Good thing we have plenty of space.
Lock your door like Rabit in Winnie the Pooh....and say "No ones home....go away".
Um...I brought back lots of presents, but none for Scrooge.... my bad. he was happy to see me anyway though.
Peterman wasn't there - he was at a conference at the other end of the country (had an email from him today)
I enjoyed a lot of the graduate student presentations... and we went to hear David Sedaris give a reading... oh, and one of the lecturers we heard was EXCELLENT... but mostly the best part was just being there... and being part of the geek class LOL
It's been a long time since I did any real programming - so it was fun to be back in geekdom. And I learned to use a lot of tools that will help me (and maybe some other people) working on the project I'm working with.
I'm just smiling....Calgary and Edmonton....two stops that we looked forward to coming down the Alaska Highway all those many times....cities at last....hot showers....and good restaurants. Spent a week in Calgary one May when we "blew" the engine on our VW bus at Mile 800....a truckdriver with an empty bed coming from Whitehorse hauled us up out the ditch and drove us there. Charged us $25. 'Course that was in '70.
But now you are home....must feel good.
Yay! You're back! Temporarily...
Ross and I were just talking about when he should take me to Peterborough.... I'm definitely voting for Monday morning..... I wants to sleep in my own bed! And two nights is definitely better than one.
gotta love airport/plane delays....remember that time i was going to winnipeg and i was stuck in the wheelchair at the airport and my flight was delayed like 3 hours...not fun considering the wheelchair was not one i could maneuver myself so couldn't go anywhere...
Glad you made it home safe and sound Flit. We're leaving tomorrow for Minnesota....driving. Oh joy! I hope my laptop will keep me entertained (and my books).
sorry your plane ride wasn't a good one.
I know you're glad to be home safe and sound.
I'm not a big fan of flying, but every now and then it's the most logical way to get from Point A to Point B. Glad you're happy at home, and that you arrived safely.
glad you are home safe :) sorry that last leg so bad :(
YAY you!