The Best Laid Plans of Lois Often Go Awry

Don't misunderstand me. I had a fantastic Bank Holiday weekend but it was a complete surprise to me at every turn. Post the B word, I have found that the new normal is that airlines like to expand your holiday at least a few hours by delaying flights and allowing you to board planes which really are not ready to fly. The give away is the man at the front of the plane with the clipboard and the high viz jacket, which blatantly should be on the other side of the still open door. To be fair on this occasion only the return flight was delayed, so 50% success, for them and me.

Having done my research on the tinterweb in advance, I thought that I knew routes, train times and main places to visit. Well, the Italian train companies, of which there are many, a moot point, decided that they would like to piddle on my metaphorical bonfire. However, I remained strong and resourceful, initially, but they continued to mess with me and I must admit that when queueing up for the third time to try and get another refund for another cancelled train and being told it was only possible online, my love of travel temporarily left the building. Thank goodness for the hop on hop off bus, both in beautiful Turin and rainy Milan and the all too short funicular which seemed to scrape the sides of the city walls and meant that I did not have to climb up to the old city of Bergamo, which was a gem that did not even feature on the initial plan. So what if I wanted to go to Portofino, at least I managed to see it on a bottle of gin, which unfortunately remained in the shop, and hey maybe next time the trains will be running to Genoa. For a few days, British Rail did not seem too bad but then I got back to Gatwick train station to find mayhem and yet another cancelled train but this time in another language!

Luckily, there are two Bank Holidays in May so I will try it all again very soon but this time I will be in Spain. Maybe I won't make any plans and just go with the flow but I can't see that happening!