Actually I wanted to sleep early - the night before I
start to the airport.
My flight is in the very early morning!!!
But I
wasn't able at all. I think I strained myself a bit too much yesterday with
running around and shoeshopping, though it was great fun with my friend Kathrin.
The result was really ugly heavy back aches. So
I was not able at all to get any rest. And now I was wide awake! And the left time
is too little to try again... I had to get up at 03:00 am when the action
starts!!!
---
By 03:20 am my recent flatmate also got up and helped to take my luggage down the 93 steps of the staircase.
The Taxi came
very punctual with a very nice and helpful driver.
After 20
minutes we reached the old Airport Schoenefeld and the driver brought me and my
luggage to the RYANAIR check in.
There was another
friendly man who checked me in before official check-in even startet.
Then I was
placed in the waiting area for disabled people in the hall by the actual
Special Helpguy.
 |
| Waiting in the Departure Hall Airport Schoenefeld |
 |
| Other people had to queue |
 |
| I didn't like the unattended luggage next to me |
He left me
there and came back after 30 minutes to lead me through the luggage and person
controls. Everybody was very helpful and friendly.
I then landed
safely with this very nice and helpful assistent in the waiting lounge at gate
7. In between I had a coffee and also bought some water for a reasonable price of 2 EUR for 1 liter. It was a hint by the assistent.
 |
| Gate 7 |
 |
| Up up and away |
When all
formalities were done and the crew was on board he brought me and the
handluggage right to my place 32C in the machine.
 |
| In the machine |
The flight
was smooth and short.
Landing was
07:20 am english time!
I asked the
Steward when I will leave the plane after landing – first or last. He said
last.
OK, so I kept seated in there till all passenger have gone out.
I already
saw a minibus with the disabled person sign on it.
A man was there and came
into the plane when the Steward called him up. But I had to force him to take my
handluggage because I needed my hands for the handle of the plane staircase.
He placed me
in the bus and then hunted for my wheelchair which had strangely dissapeared.
The driver
then started towards the Airport Arrival Hall and there he just dumped me in
the far end corner from the exit.
He told me to stay put, till another Help
Assistant would fetch me.
Two other
disabled Ladies also waited. They came from other flights.
 |
| Dumped in the furthiest corner |
I had
planned enaugh time between Check-Out and Bustransfer to the City with
STANSTED CITYLINK BUS.
I thought
the assistance would be efficient like in Berlin, but I was very wrong.
We waited
and waited for approx. 20-30 minutes
The husband of one Lady started also to
be nervous and we all have been worried that they just leave us there like a
piece of shit in a corner.
This Hubby then
went to the next gate, approx. 80 meters away and asked the Assistant there.
This one said he is not responsible but will ring the Center for Special
Assistance.
OK. We
thought – now it will go further any time soon.
No, we
waited again. I also was getting nervous and started to roll myself with my
handluggage between my knees and rotating the wheels with my hands.
We again
complained about the missing help.
The guy said
he cannot do anything about it.
So now it
was already 08:00 am – my prepaid and booked bus was running at 09:00 am.
We also have
been worried about our checked-in luggage. It was cruising and cruising on that
luggage band and anyone could take and steal it.
After a
short while I decided to roll to the luggage claim and that guy helped pushing
me there.
Thank godess both my suitcase and the additional bag were still
there. I fetched it from the band with the help of other passengers and stayed
there again. The guy had told us, that he will send the Assistances to that
place when they ever appear.
I was in
need of the bathroom and also had to get some british money from the ATM. So
one Lady watched my luggage meanwhile. The second vanished with somebody else.
Then we saw
an official person in a business suit and called him to come.
He did and we
talked to him and presented our situation. He was awefully friendly, got his
mobile and phoned someone.
After he came to us and tried to calm us down. He
had called the Central Boss of the Help Service and this man would send 3
people immediately!!!
What a
relief we thought ----
But after
another 20 minutes the clock turned 08:35 am…The official „help“ wasn’t at all
working either!
I was not
able to wait anymore – and in danger to miss my transfer bus.
So I started
to push my 4 items of luggage one by one and 5 meters by 5 meters:
I went
forward and back again. It was very exhausting, but I was just helpless and
speachless what happend here in this airport.
You need to
know again, that I have booked the special help in advance, but really nobody
cared.
An english
Lady came up to me and asked if she can help. I was so thankful.
She took over
my heavy stuff and I managed my handluggage between my knees again.
She gave me
company to the point of duty where she had to return to catch her own luggage.
Then 3
other, but spanish, Ladies took over.
The time was
running. It was 08:45 am now… only 15 minutes for the bus to catch.
Then I saw the CITYLINK TRANSFER booth.
I asked the ladies to get me there that I can get
assistance from there.
The Lady behind the desk was also speechless, was not able to believe what I told her and immediately took
over – rushed me with high speed the approx. 400 meters to the bus station where the bus still was
receiving passengers.
After this
real nightmare in Stansted Airport - NOBODY came for assistance - I managed to
sit in the Transfer Bus which I booked in advance. All helped me now and I was
placed safely on a seat with enourmos place for my hurting legs.
 |
| The very nice female busdriver |
 |
| Much space for my tired and hurting legs |
I felt very
exhausted, but I made it nearly to my final destination in the house of my
friend Deej..
The busride
into town was interesting and the female busdriver was awefully nice and
friendly.
 |
| Houseboats on the Thames |
 |
| The first red Double-Decker Bus |
Now Mark, Deej's
partner, was already at the busstop in Kings Cross. He took over my heavy
luggage and brought me "home".
A glass of
water and a slice of bread was the only thing I needed and after to go to bed
as quick as possible.
Before I brought my belongings a bit in order.
 |
| Wonderful bright room |
 |
| and a big cosy bed --- wonderful! |
I slept 2,5
hours in the late afternoon. That was necessary after 28 hours that I've been wake!
After that
small nappy I felt much better.
Then I was
waiting for Deej to come home. I heared her by 07:45 pm.
We had a
little chat, watched some BBC reports in TV and I was introduced to the 2 cats:
Caspar and Olive. Lovely small animals. Caspar has long and silky fur and loves to be
cuddled. Olive, complete black, is a bit more distanced but also came to me and purred. A perfect Lady for my Othello. :-)
Good place
to be.
But I still
have been tired and off I went to bed for a good nights sleep.
x
