Going In Cirlces

This month’s winner is ROSEMARY McDANIEL of Trenton, Florida:

On my first trip to Madeira, Portugal, in 2014, I changed planes in Lisbon for my 1½-hour flight to Funchal, Madeira. I was to be met by a private driver who would drive me to my apartment, so, upon deplaning and going through Immigration, I went outside and looked for someone holding a sign with my name on it.

After waiting an hour and not seeing my driver, I decided to hire a taxi. I gave the driver the address of the apartment, but he was unable to find it when he entered it into his GPS. He kept trying but was unsuccessful and finally asked another driver. During that conversation, I mentioned that I knew the address was in Funchal and that it was correct.

He then said, “Funchal?! You’re in Lisbon!” 

Two police officers approached and tried to convince me that I must have missed my flight, but I was insistent and told them that I had gotten on the bus to go to the plane, I got on the plane and we took off and flew. My being a senior citizen, they must have thought I was confused and had simply missed my flight.

They escorted me to my airline’s customer service desk, where I was told that the plane I was on had been unable to land in Funchal because of severe crosswinds and had returned to Lisbon. They were arranging for another plane, which would arrive several hours later. I was given a seat assignment and a meal voucher.

I must have fallen asleep during the flight and didn’t hear the notice about the landing problem and the return to Lisbon. Just one more travel adventure!