It started last Thursday. British airspace had closed because of our Icelandic friends had been sending us (c)ash (there is no ‘c’ in Icelandic). Our 29 pilgrims in Assisi were due to fly back from Perugia on Friday. I nearly froze! Suppose this went on for another day? By Friday morning, I had to make a decision. I Authorised Cora (Pax Travel Manager for Italy) to ask Claudio our Assisi coach owner, to find the necessary three drivers, and his best coach to drive the group on the 28 hour journey to Calais. Meanwhile Andrew hired a coach to drive from England to Calais to meet up with Fr Anthony’s pilgrims on Sunday morning. Quinto, Donatello and Enzo, summoned at short notice, performed heroic feats to drive in relays to the French channel port. They met up with our English coach, and by 3pm on Sunday, we were getting calls of thanks from tired but very grateful pilgrims from North London. So far so good, but what about Fr Thomas from Abergavenny, in Venice with 35 pilgrims, and due to fly back to Bristol on Monday. If I have to see the bald pate of Lord Adonis once more saying that he is “erring on the side of Caution”, I will scream! Once again it is left to Pax, the tour operator, to sort out the mess caused by politicians. Cora pulls a blinder here. She is approached by the head teacher of a secondary school in Treviso, Italy whose party of 47 children and 3 teachers are stuck in London. Cora matched the two groups up and Pax hires a coach from Padua to Calais, brings the Italian school children over from London on our English coach (Thanks Dave!) and they do a swap in Calais! Off got the Italians to Treviso, whilst Fr Thomas and his weary pilgrims sail and drive off to Dover and on to Abergavenny, tired but relieved.
“Thank you very, very much”, said Fr Thomas.
Yes, Pax Travel were voted Best Religious Tour Operator for 2009, and we have tried to live up to our responsibilities, unlike the criminally negligent insurance companies and politicians. The total cost to Pax Travel for the repatriation £12,000, total cost to our pilgrims, nil. Total contribution from airlines and insurance companies, nil.
Oh, there is a little piece of Divine Intervention on Wednesday morning; the airspace miraculously re-opens and Fr Stephen and his 30 pilgrims fly back from Northern Spain to Heathrow on schedule.
Of course, many people are still unable to return, some will be stuck abroad for several weeks. But remember, if you book with my company, Pax Travel, I assure you that we will always look after you. If you make all your own travel and tourism arrangements, with no assistance from a licensed Tour Operator, you are on your own, when the sun is shining you may save money, when the rain (or ash!) starts falling, it is down to you to get home!
Thank you to all the clients we have repatriated, for your kind messages;
“Cora, I am so very grateful for all that you and Misia and the drivers and the Hotel did for us. I would like to record how wonderfully Pax Travel cared for its clients. Every blessing, Anthony”
“Although very tired when we arrived home, we had a truly wonderful time and would have no hesitation in recommending you to others. Sincere thanks, Chris & Sharon”
Thanks from all from Pax to Anthony, Chris and Sharon, oh and our pilgrimage to visit the Turin Shroud departs on Friday from Gatwick with Fr Michael! Deo Gratias!
Philip Dean
