E-VITA

In the first year Greece joint the European Union a huge number of European scientists including myself were invited to participate to a conference on the future of education. The conference took place in the nice looking island Spetses in Greece. Definitely the location was very interesting and I felt should accept the invitation and held a presentation about the German educational system to all this honourable audience. The Ministry for Education and Religion- quite an interesting combination - was hosting the conference. As a delegate all my expenses were paid by the ministry and even got quit a motivating honorarium. So I went there.The last day of the conference arrived - well what a pity to live this most interesting and relaxing island - but I had to go back to my duties
The closing session took place the delegates said farewell. Before I left I was asked to come to the conference desk and they gave me an envelop with the money for my travel and subsistence expenses as well as my honorarium. By that time money transfers were almost impossible to do. I made a note to myself don’t forget to change the money to DM in Greece; otherwise you loose a lot of money if you do it in Germany.
Almost at the end of the conference I started an interesting conversation with a Dutch colleague. Besides the exchange of interesting information on the status of education in our countries we also find out that the both of us had to be the next day around nine o’clock at the Athens national airport. Normal complains about having to get up early in the morning and live the beautiful island were expressed on both sides.
Since we were on an island not far away from the mainland, we were pretty optimistic that could leave the Island early next morning and be on time for the airport.
The most efficient way to reach the mainland was by taking the float plane. A short check the hotel reception should give us reliable information on the departures time for the floatplane. After sometime waiting we were told that the first float plane was living to Athens at 5 o’clock. Further information were not provided, the receptionist was pretty much occupied with a long and exciting talk on the phone. Well by starting at 5 o’clock we would have enough time to be on time at the airport. Our geographical feeling told us that we were about 100 km from Athens. So in less of half an hour we should be there.
At 4:30 the next day I got up. And at 4:50 I met the Dutch colleague and we could buy our tickets. I asked the man in the booth about the flight time, but we didn’t manage to understand each other. A flight plan in English was not available. No problem, it was obvious we had a lot of time.
At 6:00 we were still flying above the many islands. Meanwhile we had landed for four times to pick up some further passengers from the other islands. We started to worry about…how long was the trip going to take? Unfortunately none of the persons around us was fluent in English to understand our question.
6:30 Things are getting better. We could see Athens and even the Acropolis from high above. We were almost there. Time is running, but we still could manage it. Landing, taxi, and we were at the airport. Check-in was quick and could run and be in 10 minutes at the gate. That was easy.
The float boat landed, but we couldn’t get out. No anchor place. We could swim…well not a really alternative. We had to wait.
I got more and more nervous. Pulse rhythm went up. Next plane to Germany would be two days later…What could I visit in Athens. Interesting city. Probably every body would believe I intentionally stayed longer:-))
7 o’clock a solution was found. Our floatplane was brought close to two others. We went out, went in the next float plane in, went out again and in the next one again and finally we reached the peer (impossible to do in Germany, but I was happy that Greeks had a different understanding of security…)
Now Taxi, quick…what a queue….sure three float planes arrived…be patient. Finally we got one. Quick, it is already 7:30.
A nice taxi driver is driving us. He asks “where do we have to go”? Well to the international airport. At your time is your plane living? At 8:45 and 8:50. Which terminal: KLM departs from 1 and Olympic airlines (my flight) from 2. We decide to go first to Terminal 1. .
8:10 we arrive at Terminal 1…Bye, bye Peter hurry up. I have to get my flight. So how long does it takes us to go there: about 20 minutes
“WHAT??? Impossible…I thought it is just next door!” No, we have to go all way around the airport..
Twenty minutes like hell…Move faster…. The taxi driver stays relaxed and I can discover a kind of smile in he’s face.
My luggage I should I don’t need to give at the check in. To visit the check in and from there to the plane I have about 20 minutes.
I get to the terminal…. Running I get to the check-in. I see an endless queue. “Excuse me I’m late…Please let me be the first” I tell the person in the queue. Lucky me, the most part of the Greeks in the line let me go. Friendly people, they quickly understand I’m in trouble.
I’m the first one in the line…a lady with a powerful looking and voluminous body looks at me. “What do you want?”
“My flight to Munich is departing in 15 minutes…and I have to get there”. She looks at me and says “Impossible” the plane is already closed. “Please? I have to be back home, my family is waiting for me”. “No way”. You have to wait for the next one. What to do? I start to panic and I have an idea “I’m a guest of the Ministry for Education and Religion”. The lady looks at me, she says nothing for 15 seconds. And in that moment I know that the plane is going to wait. Uhmm I remember the Drachma in my pocket and I ask “where can I exchange money?” Very furious she looks at me and tells you have ten minutes to be in the plane. I know that I just lost a big portion of my money. The exchange costs in Germany would make it shrink quit a lot. But lucky me, I have business class ticket.
I run and get to the gate. I’m completely out of breath…A friendly looking women with a surprised face asks me: “Excuse me Sir: “Can I help you?” “Yes…I have to get in the plane; I’m the one that is delayed”. “Well Sir you are not the only one…The flight has also a delay of three hours”.
 

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