Stopover: Venezia Mestre / Italy

08/28/2023-08/29/2023

The train now takes us to Venezia Mestre. Actually, my plan is of course to take the bus to Venice, since I've actually never been to Venice. Unfortunately the weather is putting a damper on my plans: it's raining cats and dogs. So I decide at short notice to make myself comfortable with a tiramisu in a nice café. There I met two sweet 6-year-old cousins who actually live in Germany and who were also stranded in the cafe with their large family from Bangladesh due to the rain. We play rock, paper, scissors and guessing animals and of course the family invites me for espresso. The time passes quickly until I head to the airport in Treviso to fly back to Albania...

And then everything turns out differently than expected: First it is said that the flight is delayed due to the weather and our plane has landed in Rimini, then the flight is suddenly canceled. I can't believe it because it's just raining a little and all the other airlines are flying normally. I was already warned about Wizzair, but I really didn't expect what happened next... So think carefully about whether you want to book with Wizzair...

At first we were left completely in the dark about what was going to happen to us. An overnight stay at the airport would not have been possible as the Venezia Mestre airport is closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. According to aviation law, you actually get something to eat and drink from the airline after a 2-hour delay. When I ask politely about it, the staff shouts at me. Then it means that we can fly the next morning and that a shuttle bus would pick us up and take us to the hotel (as it has to be according to aviation law...). However, only a few minivans that can carry a maximum of 8 people come to pick you up. After 3.5 hours. Waiting (including children, pregnant women and old people) without any care is of course nerve-wracking for most people. In addition, the Wizzair staff does not act in a de-escalating manner, but rather treats you aggressively and derogatorily. In the end we are the last group of 8 and the stewardess tells us that there will be no more minivans coming for us. We should take care of a taxi ourselves to get to the hotel and spend the 70 euros there. She also doesn't know whether only minivans would be sent back to the airport the next morning for further transport.

In the end, however, we end up at the luxurious hotel that was booked for us. After dormitory beds etc. That's really an upgrade!

At Wizzair's expense, we first go out for a delicious meal in the pouring rain and then I treat myself to a hot bath and eat all the cookies provided in my hotel suite.

The morning after, an equally decadent breakfast among stewardesses and pilots awaits us at 5:30 and after we see the first minivan pull up, we order a taxi straight away....

In the end, however, everything turns out well. And the great thing is that I get to know Magda from Warsaw and she invites me to sleep with her in her apartment in Tirana, since her boyfriend can't come to Tirana until a week later at short notice...