A regional daily editor has been stranded in Majorca after the volcanic ash crisis forced him to extend his Easter holiday.

Paul Robertson, editor of Newcastle’s Evening Chronicle, was due back at work this week but instead is enduring what he terms a “frustrating and very expensive” extended stay at the Spanish resort.

Meanwhile, Birmingham Mail content editor Mike Macklin spent three days travelling back from his holiday in Italy as the ash cloud forced the closure of airports across northern Europe.

Both Paul and Mike have now written about their holiday travails for their respective titles, extracts of which can be read below.

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Paul’s story…

We have often joked at the end of a holiday how great it would be if we were forced to stay in a beautiful location rather than return to the reality of life at home.

Never again. Being stuck on the island of Majorca, not knowing how and when we will get back is frustrating and very expensive.

Yet we are among the lucky ones. Our hotel has been very accommodating while turning away hundreds of others desperately seeking sanctuary. We have no kids in tow, a credit card and mobile phone to hand.

Every day begins with a search on the internet to try and plot a way home. It is proving futile…..There are no planes, trains, buses, ferries or even hire cars available to get moving.

Yes it is unprecedented – but surely some sort of co-ordinated effort can be made to mobilise all forms of transport to alleviate the situation or at least improve communication drastically.

All we can do is sit tight and be thankful we have not, unlike many of the others waiting to go home, missed birthdays, weddings, funerals or some other important family occasion.

Stuff the big debate, the beauty parade – put the election on hold and work together to at least try and alleviate this major crisis.

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Mike’s story…

The Dunkirk spirit was definitely there as we joined the huge army of British holidaymakers swarming across Europe to try to get home by any means possible.

It took us three days, a battered wallet and a lot of anxiety and frustration, but we were among the lucky ones.

My wife Helen, teenage son Jack and I were due to fly home from Turin, in Italy, last Friday, the day after flights were grounded.

We took the plunge at 3am on Friday morning and decided to organise our own way home. The obvious route was by train from Turin to Paris, then Eurostar to London.

Each train that showed availability was full by the time we completed the website booking….by trial and error, we finally got an option on a Sunday evening Eurostar.

We raced down to Turin station at 7.15 in the morning to book the train to Paris – and that’s when the enormity of the situation hit us. There were no seats available for the twice-daily train until next week.

We trekked around various travel agents…..investigated car hire…and tried coach firms. It seemed like we’d been quick, but not quick enough.

Then one travel agent suggested just getting onto the Paris train from Turin by any means, and paying by cash on board. We went for the evening train.

We arrived in Paris at 1am on Saturday, and picked up the Eurostar tickets later that day. Those trying to get a Eurostar ticket were told Wednesday was the earliest available date.

We got the Eurostar on Sunday evening, then a train from St Pancras to Luton Airport to pick up our car and drive back to Birmingham.

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Have you or a colleague been affected by the Icelandic volcano erupting? Please tell us by emailing [email protected].

Comments

Ajinexile (21/04/2010 11:49:36)
A sub’s nightmare: Eyjafjallajokull. Doubtless, it will always be called ‘the Icelandic volcano’ — few will remember , and even less will be able to spell or pronounce its name. Be thankful for a mountain called K2