Take it as it Comes!

Our day at the Toronto Airport.

"Take it as it comes"  has been David's and my slogan ever since we booked a rather undesirable yet expensive B&B on a road trip a couple of years ago. Often when travelling we have expectations and it's hard to pay good money and be so disappointed in a place. But rather then let it get to us, we just grin at each other and say "Take is as it comes" :)

Well, today was one of those days. We were up at 4 am for a 6am flight to beautiful St John's Newfoundland via Toronto. It involves two 3 hr flights. Easy
David had a conference for three days and then we planned 3 days to explore this place we have never been to. Yesterday I booked a whole day of tours of the prominent areas of St Johns while David signed up for the golf tournament (both nonrefundable). The lenses and camera equipment, including the tripod were packed.  I bought good walking shoes yesterday. After a late night packing and a few hours sleep we were on our way to Newfoundland. A photo feast for me!

Saskatoon to Toronto was uneventful, but 20 minutes after boarding our plane in Toronto they emptied the plane. 

The flight was cancelled! Too much fog in St Johns to land.
Really?

Okay, "Take it as it comes"
We rebooked for an 8pm flt - yes we would miss the welcome evening at the Delta and all those fabulous seafood appetizers. But what can you do about weather? We picked up our luggage, stood in line for ever to rebook and then waited with all our luggage because they won't take luggage until 4 hours before departure. 

We wander about the airport the two of us - tired and more tired.
Five pm we get a text from Air Canada - our 8 pm flt is cancelled too! They have rebooked us for Thursday evening! Thats 48 hours from now! The conference ends Friday noon!

"Take it as it comes" arggggg

We knew that getting back in line to try to book an earlier flight would be a waste of time and the internet shows all flights booked.
so......let's just turn around and go home.
We sat on the cell phone for 50 + minutes waiting for Air Canada to book us a flight home tonight. We got the seats in the last row of the plane.
"Take it as it comes" was getting a little difficult. We have been travelling for over 12 hours now.

Once that was decided and booked we set to cancelling a very expensive room in St Johns. And left texts with every conference organizer we could find an email for to cancel and hopefully refund all our conference costs (doubtful).
We still have to 'fight' with Air Canada re any kind of a refund on the $2000.00 we spent on these airline tickets.  Could have flown to Maui for less then this and it wouldn't have been fogged in. And I would be on a beach right now!

"Take it as it comes" 

As I type this we are sitting waiting for our 9 pm flights back home. Talk about a long day. And a LOT of long line ups to book in, book in again and book in a third time!

And I still have to get on the phone when we get home, wait 45 minutes because "we are experiencing high call volumes" to negotiate some sort of refund because the booking agents won't discuss if we get our money back or not. Go figure.

So we watch the sun set in Toronto, not St John's and in an airport, not by the Atlantic ocean.
Another Air Canada experience.... David was trying to get home from Halifax a few months ago when the baggage handlers walked off. He spent a long day and night at the airport and flew home Westjet - we haven't received any refund from AC on that one. sigh....

My photo of the day? Our late afternoon lunch at the Sheraton.

we ordered food too. :)
See that glass of Barefoot Pinot Grigio? Yes, I buy that very bottle at home for $12. 

That 6 oz glass?     $12

Take it as it comes.......

 this added after we arrived home at midnight....

City lights - Saskatoon's city lights not St John's..... feels like we just saw them 19 hours ago...

We had great plans for today and all next week but the Lord has redirected our steps for His perfect reason and I am okay with that. Proverbs 16:9


UPDATE June 12/12 - Just received notice from Air Canada that they will give us a full refund for our tickets. I am thankful. My confidence in air Canada is renewed. I will fly with them again. :)
The tour operator for my $105 tour gave me a full refund. Now waiting for the conference organizers......