Due to the general strike in Paris, our flight from Athens was a little late in getting the clearance to leave. This made an already tight connection in Paris tighter still when they could not make a standard attachment to the airport, but instead had to send us multiple buses, further dividing our group. I made sure that I was in the back so that there weren’t stragglers. I caught up to my group at the passport check where one of the adults in the group pointed out that one of my students was on the ground desperately taking apart a carryon. We had already had a near miss at the Athens airport when another student had done something similar but multiple adults giving search were able to find the passport in a different part of the bag. We were not as lucky this second time. I knew we were in trouble when the student told me that they were certain the passport was left in the seat pocket on the plane. The student’s parent had already passed the check point but someone must have gotten word as the parent came running back.
I told the rest of the group to move on and left my wonderful chaperones in charge. [Note: I have since been told that since the student’s parent was there that I should have stayed with my group and left the parent to deal with it on their own. However, I was stuck on the ideas that I wanted all of them to make it back, that I wanted to help any way that I could, that I would not want to be left alone, and that I trusted my chaperones to help the rest.] We followed the directions of the security officer who sent us to one AirFrance counter. After some miscommunication, they sent us to another counter in another part of the airport. It’s here that someone was able be informed about where the passport was located and go and check. However, they also informed us that there was no way for us to make it back through security and get on our plane to Minneapolis.
We waited there for a while until we learned that they were able to find the passport, but that we would need to go to yet another counter in yet another part of the airport to get a change in flights. The rebooking counter then mistakenly sent us to another counter who sent us back only to have us wait in an even longer line for them to tell us that we needed to go to the Delta rebooking desk. The Delta desk originally suggested that there was nothing that they could do as the general strike (which delayed our first takeoff) had all of the flights booked. After a discussion with our EF representative (whom I had on the phone) they used a “computer trick” to get us the same flights that we had today for tomorrow.
EF suggested that we explore Paris, forgetting that there was a general strike that made getting there or back difficult and expensive (not to mention closing down most businesses and tourist areas) AND massive protests which would make it not much fun anyway. They did get us a really nice hotel (with the most comfortable bed that I’ve yet had on this trip). However, it took us an hour an a half of phone haggling (a lot of it spent on hold) and waiting for the hotel to send its shuttle to pick us up.
Janelle told me that I need to walk out of the hotel so that I could at least say that I walked around in France (beyond the airport). I did so for a couple of hours and explored the Disney-esque town of Roissy. I came across a locally historic church and nearby well. I followed the playful sounds of children to find them at recess (I only took a picture of the name of the school as taking a picture of the kids would be a little creepy). I found a patisserie and was able to follow my parents’ advice to eat a croissant while in France (I also purchased a lemon tart). It wasn’t as earth shattering as my other days on tour, but I had a couple of pleasant hours.
Today could have been so much worse. Still, I desperately hope that tomorrow gets me and my fellow travelers home.
Oh, and happy Vernal Equinox!