Landed in Darlington

I am writing this from what I think is an abandoned bus station, waiting for the bus. I just landed in Darlington. Its 10 am here. It was another bad flight. I left Silver at ~6:30 am from Silver City to catch my plane in Tucson. That leg of the trip was pretty uneventful, except for having my backpack screened 4 times at security because they couldn’t figure out what the large metal disc was (turned out to be my engineering medal from NMSU). OH, and when I tried to check 3 bags they wouldn’t let me. I am pretty sure it was just the attendant not knowing how to check 3 bags, but he blamed it on an embargo. An embargo with England?? I have a freight container full of my belongings on its way over here. I don’t think that’s the case. Anyway, it was just bedding so I can pick that up over here.

Landing in Houston went fine as well. I had carried on 2 bags, and when I went for my seat assignment they said I could only carry one on. So, I took the laptop bag and checked the bag with some clothes (had to meet weight restrictions on one of the bags I checked in Tucson), Christmas stuff, and my Wii. Apparently somewhere between Tucson and Houston the foresaid embargo was lifted.

I got on the plane to Amsterdam and found my self seated next to this mid 50’s native American guy. This is where it goes bad. While Kimo Sabe had an empty seat next to him, he really preffered to lean in on my side of the armrest. Also, despite the extra footing available to his left, he would sit with his legs spread (almost Indian style, but in coach) and take up my leg area. I manifest destiny-ed my legroom by taking my shoes off and pushing them between us, forcing a natural reservation for him. Later I would learn that he snores like a chainsaw, which is exactly what you want to deal with on a 9 hour flight.

Free at last, we landed in Amsterdam, 30 minutes late. Once I was able to get off the plane, I ran to my terminal where they were paging me, about to close. I was told that while I was quick, my baggage wasn’t, and would be on the next flight. I was to tell the people in Darlington that, and they would have my bags sent to my hotel.

A side note about my gate. It wasn’t actually a terminal. After you show your ticket, you walk outside and get on a bus. They then drive you halfway across the airport to a tarmac and you board there.

Anyway, I landed and told the desk about my luggage. The people in Amsterdam failed to tell me the next flight would be the next day.

FYI, the bus came. I was the only one on it.