Paolo wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:23 am
One of my greatest fears is going somewhere and getting stranded. If you've never been stranded far away from home, there's no way you're going to understand it.
I appologize for this being a little off topic. I have debated about answering this because I don't want to seem mr. world traveler or anything, but . . . .
I have finally gotten to the position where I have the philosophy of throwing myself to the mercies of the world and so far it always work out. I found myself in pretty much the situation you described about two months ago. I landed at 10 PM in a country I had never been in before. There was supposed to be a driver to meet me, but he was nowhere to be seen. I had not changed currencies in the US airports because they are a ripoff. But my flight to the capital was late and there was just time to catch the connection to the city I where I was going and no time for currency change there. So I arrived with all US money late at night and no driver to be seen after all the other passengers had left the airport. So I fell back on plan B - I looked for a friendly looking person for help. I found him at air cargo office for another airline. He called the cell phone number I had. It turned out the driver had thought I was arriving at the international side whereas it was a domestic flight because I came thru the country's capital. The call got him over to the correct side and away I went - an hour late, but that is OK.
The point being is just to look for help. Except for the hardass hardliners which exist in every country, most people are willing to help a foreigner - if they can understand them. And there usually is somebody around who can speak a bit of English these days.
Plan C is to pull out those C-notes tucked in your socks. I have never had to use one yet.
Again, I understand your feeling and have felt it myself. But older and wiser now, I am much more relaxed with the world because I believe that there are good people of all colors and cultures who will help you if they can. It has always worked for me. Remember - nothing works but everything works out.
Hope this is a constructive and not an egotistical post.
