Being on this trip has obviously been completely different than my previous international travel experience. I am never looking for housing or figuring out where I want to go to next, which takes out some of the fun…the adventure. I came to the realization that this would be an amazing trip, but that it would be missing that danger factor I had so enjoyed in previous travel experiences. I was wrong.
We traveled to the port of Le Verdon, France, outside of Bordeaux just 3 days ago and we quickly headed into town and had an AMAZING time at the huge beach and enjoying the small seaside town with sunshine and the beach nearby in the town of Soulac! It was a great day and some of the cast had to get back for duties so when they decided to get the 15-minute-drive shuttle back at 5:00, I decided to stay in town to enjoy the time on land until all aboard at 7:30. After taking a walk and going into some shops I went to the shuttle bus stop right around 6:15. I waited through 6:30 and assumed it must be coming on the quarter hour and I had just missed the 6:30 bus. Around 6:47 a terrifying realization came into my head that I must have missed the last shuttle to the ship! I was a good 15 minute drive away and had to get back on board ASAP!
I don’t know what I would have done had I not had some sort of travel experience and been a quick thinker, but I went into major ACTION MODE!!! I immediately began asking, “Parlez-vous anglais?” to every stranger sitting in the adjacent park, but was unsuccessful with any attempt to find an English speaker. It was too late in the day and now the locals were out…and were little help. After trying people on the street, in a hotel, and shop owners I finally found one man working in a store to help a little bit. I explained I worked on the ship and that I needed to get there immediately. After finding out the ship sailed at 8:00 he gave me a look of, “Oooo- I don’t know, man. That’s no good.” I begged for a taxi and he just laughed and said, “A taxi in Soulac?!”
Right around then a group of 4 other men came up and inquired in French about what was going on. 30 seconds into the conversation one man spoke up in perfect Engilsh, “When do you need to be back on the ship?” “7:30,” I insisted, “can you help?!” They were then approached by a man who looked like the local loon-bug; he asked in French about everything and eventually swung his arm at me to make me follow. I looked at the others and they said that he would find me a taxi.
At this point it was almost 7:00 and I was starting to sweat! I followed this man to the local watering hole, a bar right on the corner of the main street. While looking for a telephone he was asked what was up and finally a man who looked just about homeless laughed and shouted something. My helper said, “He says if you pay him he’ll drive you to the port, but he’s got a big dog in the back of his car.” I said that that was fine and asked what I should pay (knowing full well what was in my wallet, how desperate I was, and how eager the man must have been to take money from the American kid). He suggested 10 euro, which I was THRILLED with, he chugged his beer, and the deal was done.
I am not sure when the last time was that this man may have bathed. It looked as if it had been quite a few days, it smelled more like a few weeks. He also had leather skin that just boiled more as he led me to a white 2-seater car that must have been at least as old as me. We got in and I was glad to see the black lab was friendly in the back and I laughed at his “No Smoking” sticker on the dash as he lit up a cigarette from one of the dozen packs of Camels lying around the vehicle.
For the interest of Donna Hampton, I hesitate to mention the at least 75 mph speed on back roads through coastal France, but when I saw the tip of the ship over the horizon I made sure my driver knew we were on the right track by shouting and clapping. He was highly amused. We arrived at the port gate where I thanked him profusely, handed him the cash, and approached the very confused and defensive security guards. When I showed them my crew card the just started screaming, “Vit! Vit! Vit!” and waving for me to run to the ship.
Upon arrival to the gangway I had 3 ship security guards waiting. They just asked, “Where were you?!?! You have been the only person off the ship since the last shuttle arrived at 6:00!” I asked if I was late and they laughed and said, “Nope! 16 minutes to spare.” I couldn’t believe through it all I made it back by 7:15, but I was so thankful and have certainly learned my lesson! KNOW THE SHUTTLE SCHEDULE!!! Ha ha! The whole entertainment staff was freaking out and extremely relieved when they all saw me. I don’t know what the big deal was, though…. tee hee! Anyway- all is well and I am safe on the ship. Just thinking of friends traveling and family back home. Miss you guys!
Tripp
5 comments:
I'm going to have a heart attack before this is all over.
I was reading this thinking, "poor Donna is probably having a heart attack about now", and then I saw her comment! Would they have sailed without you??
i think you did this on purpose just for the excitment!!
Oh my word. You NEED me. Remember? Time-keeping was my job! You would have been fine had I been there. Actually not. I seem to remember lots of these little...how shall we say? Adventures? Yes, adventures. I miss adventures with you, friend.
that was my French twin that saved you-dirt, cigarettes, dogs. yep, you were in good hands.
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