PLAIN ENGLISH
Maureen N. Maratita
Robert Louis Stevenson said, “To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.” There is no more traveling hopefully — at least in Europe during vacation time, and possibly in the U.S. mainland too.…
This summer more than 10,000 flights are expected to be cancelled from the U.K., due to airline and airport labor shortages — also affecting Europe. Then there are strikes in the UK and Europe in the transport industry for better pay and working conditions, as well as general strikes. UK inflation reached the highest level since March 1983 — 9.1% in May. …
What the transport chaos meant for my husband and I was a schedule from London that saw us change our flights to the Eurostar train to visit the kids and grandkids in Amsterdam, then revert to flying when our outgoing train from Amsterdam was canceled, and then revert to Eurostar, who got us on another train back to London.
I’d like to thank Devon of Customer Care at Eurostar in London who emailed to say how sorry she was we were encountering problems, digested my email plea for assistance and called to help fill our schedule again. (If you need Devon’s email, let me know.) …
I have not traveled on a train in Europe for 20 years. These days, your luggage sails through security and then is with you. Nobody asks about plastic bags with liquids or laptops. Want to take food and drink onboard? Totally doable.
The journey was quicker and easier than flying. The seats are comfortable, the table stays put, and the free WiFi works a treat. …
We arrived back in London in time for the biggest days-long rail strike in 30 years. It was impossible to predict when the roads in London would be busy.
Our flight out of Heathrow was smooth because Terminal 4 had just re-opened and all airlines flying internationally had not yet returned there, as Korean Air did. Still, KAL opened the check-in four hours before the flight. The Maratita’s were first in line to drop cases.
Incheon Airport is seeing some signs of recovery. In Terminal 2, there is one lounge and one restaurant open with a limited menu, 7-11, Dunkin’ (Donuts) and a coffee shop. All were busy. Koreans are traveling.
While we took care of personal business and had fun in Europe, I am glad to be home, where there are advantages to living in a Right to Work state (or territory). We were cleared through Guam customs by a very nice officer who is heading for Europe in July with his family. He is now a wiser man about what awaits him.
CNN has posted a story asking, “Could you fly a plane in an emergency?”
If you are traveling to Europe this summer, I suggest you read it. …
Back in Guam there are more billboards for the upcoming elections, but we are not yet at saturation point. The village pocket meetings and debates will be back.
More places to eat are opening, but other businesses remain shuttered.
Given the severe June heatwave in Japan, I hope our potential Japanese visitors are ready for some island sea breezes in Guam and Saipan. Tourism marketing from Guam and the Northern Marianas to our market segments is in full swing. Let’s hope the numbers do curve up, despite all the challenges to Japan arrivals. …
— Maureen N. Maratita is the publisher at Glimpses Media. Publications at Glimpses Media include the Marianas Business Journal, MBJ Life, The Real Estate Journal, Guam Business Magazine, Beach Road Magazine, Buenas and Drive Guam.
