Icelandic Volcano
Photograph from NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) spacecraft
Who would have predicted, that because of volcanic ash from a mountain in Iceland – 700 miles away – there would be a no-fly-ban extended all across Europe. It began the day my sister and I were scheduled to leave Tenerife and fly back to Dublin. Here’s our story.
After the worst Irish winter in decades –floods, fog, ice and snow – I was delighted to accept the offer from my sister, to accompany her to Tenerife, for one week’s rest and relaxation. We had a glorious week of sunshine, blue skies and golden sands. Soon it was time to return home. On Thursday 15th April we got to the airport before 7am. The screen showed the flight was delayed. The delay was due to the volcanic ash cloud sweeping across Europe from Iceland. An unprecedented delay, but surely it would pass over quickly. What’s another day! We waited patiently enough that first day as hours crept slowly by. However there was a nice surprise in store for us. A bus was waiting to take passengers, courtesy of Aer Lingus, to a hotel for an evening meal and overnight accommodation. Breege and I had two lovely big rooms looking out to sea on the 15th floor of the Princessa Dacil Hotel. The wind blew strongly and I had one of those marvellous deep sleeps.
Electrical-storm-at-icelandic Volcano
The Friday morning call was at 5.30am. We needed to leave on the 6.30am bus for a 9am flight to Dublin. Though, as 9am on the screen changed to midday and later to 6pm, the smiles and hopes had faded. Instead it was frowns and audible protests. It was past frustration, as there was no Aer Lingus or even Iberian representative to tell us anything – just a bemusing sign to “check the web.” Incidentally there were no available computers in the airport.
One passenger rallied us around him; he called on us to march with him to the Head Iberian Office. We lugged our cases and baggage down flights of stairs and long corridors after him. No official appeared, just four nervous security men. When one lady passenger snapped a picture of them on her mobile they swung into action – they grabbed her by both arms and dragged her into a room behind them. When she returned without her picture we traipsed back to base! All flights were now cancelled! Another bus took us to a labyrinth of apartments, somewhere up the hills, along the Adeje coast far away from the airport.
On Saturday morning we were asked to “be out” of apartments before noon. We were advised to continue to check the web! Those apartments were no longer available to us. We were on our own. We decided to check the 15 floor Princessa Dacil, alas all 15 floors were full. We got the same response in the next hotel. Luckily that hotelier gave us the name of apartments in Tenerife Sur. Breege and I together with two Cork ladies, Pam and Lynn, took a taxi there. This was our base for the next five nights. On Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, it seemed that any eagerness or efforts there were to mobilise possible means to get people home, came to naught. There were lots of rumours but nobody really knew anything. It was estimated that the travel plans of 6.8 million people were disrupted, causing huge amounts of misery and anxiety. There was also catastrophic economic damage with disastrous unexpected side effects, for example African farmers who rely on air-freighted exports to Europe were hard hit. In Kenya during the first weekend 400 tons of flowers were destroyed.
Photo Astronomer-Snaevarr-Gudmundsson
What did we do? We walked the beach, prayed for an exit, attended Sunday Mass, read endless books, met loads of stranded ones like ourselves and became more and more panicky. “We could be here till June”, “Last time this mountain erupted it continued for thirteen months”. Then the chats changed from “ash” to “cash”. “ It costs €800 to fly to Barcelona or Madrid and get the ‘chunnel’ to England” “It will take 4 or 5 nights and there’s no accommodation” “Maybe better to fly to Paris, from there to Calais and ferry to Rosslare” When my sister got very serious about trying one of the above options, I remembered the Communications Office in the Western Province!
On Tuesday night after many texts, I faxed passports home and mirabile dictu, on Wednesday we got faxed boarding cards for our flight home on Thursday night at 9pm, with Ryanair. Groans changed to gratitude! It was a long week’s journey into night, but despite the frustration and anxiety, I have lasting memories of peoples’ kindness and patience during long hours trying to make contact with an air line. Thanks to family, community and friends for numerous texts, landline phone calls and prayers.
Yippie, we touched ground at 1.45 am, Thursday 22nd April, seven nights later than scheduled. When delays happen to one abroad what can be more attractive than being at home?
Loreto McLoughlin rsm
Western Province
