The trip to Haiti actually began last night, as I took a late flight to Dallas and spent the night. This morning came much too early, but meeting my dear partner, Chris McRae, at the airport immediately brightened the day.
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| Despite the travel chaos, the team is still smiling! |
We arrived in Fort Lauderdale, and as soon as we unloaded the plane, there was our Haitian enthusiast, Surpris Cherazard. Surpris is another dear friend, who I originally met while living in Houston. We formed an amazing relationship while serve alongside one another in the Bellaire Southwest Houston Rotary Club, and since he is a native Haitian, he makes the perfect traveling partner for our water/solar installation trips.
A team of four was supposed to meet us in Fort Lauderdale. They even flew in the night before to ensure they would not miss the flight; however, they did not receive the departure time change update, and just barely made it onto the flight! In retrospect, their tardiness did not effect our flight plan, as we sat on the plane for an hour, and then were taken back to the gate where we were told there was a "brake problem." This worried Chris & me especially, as this was the same plane we had taken from Dallas to Ft. Lauderdale!
The delay allowed us time for lunch, and then we received word the plane would board in one hour. We were happy, and made calls to Ancy and Olizard, who were awaiting us in Port Au Prince. .... The hour came and went, and the crew came off the plane...with their bags in hand. Sure enough, we would not be flying to Haiti today. They canceled our flight, and thus began the rebooking process and trying to find a hotel for the night. There was only mild chaos (understatement of the year...), and our team, being the travel professions of the masses, organized at the front of the line. Within the hour, we were gathering our bags from baggage claim and waiting for a shuttle to the approved hotel, where the airline had made us reservations. Sure enough, the shuttle pulls up, and by this time a crowd had formed. The driver loaded our bags...one-by-one...and we sat aboard the shuttle. Minutes later, he comes on the shuttle to announce we will not be staying at his hotel, due to the owner rejecting American Airlines vouchers and reservations. Thus, he unloaded all of our luggage, and back to the AA line we went...
You can imagine the chaos was not nearly over...
Part of our group took up camp at the ticket counter, while the rest of us sat with the luggage. Back outside we went to await a new hotel shuttle... This driver only took one hour. Thankfully, I had chocolate along, and within minutes, I was the most popular person on the street! Finally, we made it to the Cambria Suites. (If you're ever looking for a swanky, new hotel in Fort Lauderdale, I highly recommend it!)
And thus ends night number one of what was supposed to be Haiti Trip #10! Perhaps tomorrow will bring a Caribbean vacation?
And thus ends night number one of what was supposed to be Haiti Trip #10! Perhaps tomorrow will bring a Caribbean vacation?
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| See... We did make it to Haiti the next day! :) |
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