Switzerland: Traveling on Friday the 13th

Call me superstitious, but maybe I should have brought some garlic with me or began my morning chanting prayers over a fire in a dark room with an abundance of crosses to ward off the evil spirits of Friday the 13^th. Instead, I started off the day by having a bagel and butter in a well-lit room.

Clare (what a great friend!) drove me to the airport to begin my journey to Switzerland. Thankfully, about 20 minutes before she picked me up I remembered that I should probably write down my address in Switzerland before I hop on the plane (oops). Once I arrived at the airport, I went to check in. As the lady was punching in my confirmation number, her computer crashed (da da daaaa!). The only other computer that Continental had was occupied with a lady checking in a dog named Charlie who was beginning his journey alone to St. Thomas so he could be with his original owner. I had to wait about an hour while Charlie was being checked in. As soon as she began to check me in again, the manager came out and told us that our flight was being delayed about 2 hours. I would therefore miss my connecting flight. Thankfully, I was able to get re-routed through Chicago. My next two flights were delayed. But, the evil spirits must have been preoccupied trying to ruin other people’s travel days that I still had enough time to make my connecting flights.

Everything else went alright traveling to Switzerland except:

1. 3 flights= 3 middle seats= 4 obese people

 

2. Overnight flight with a snorer to my left

3. When I put in the coin to get the cart to carry my luggage, it jammed. Which normally wouldn’t be too big of a problem except:

4. Suitcase broke so that I couldn’t wheel it (it weighed about 50 pounds, and I had 2 bags). It was a struggle to say the least. I dragged one suitcase and wheeled the other large suitcase and looked like the most awkward, sweaty, and uncoordinated person one can imagine.

5. 10 minute cab ride in Switzerland was $60

6.  Front desk wasn’t open as I expected when I arrived. 

All in all, good triumphed over the evil spirits of Friday the 13^th even without a ritualistic chant or garlic. I arrived safely at my new home in Switzerland and was thankful that it was now Saturday the 14^th.