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Paulius and Ieva Martinkaičiai flew to the Philippines on February 27. It was a previously planned trip that they did not want to give up. Although an emergency situation had already been declared in the world at that time, there were still no quarantine restrictions, the flights were in progress.
“When we left Lithuania, there had been no cases of COVID-19 in our country. We left in silence. The next day, when we were already in Qatar, the first case in Lithuania was announced, “said Ieva and Paulius.
Holidays for two weeks
The couple’s vacation would last three weeks. Two of them devoted themselves to exploring the Philippines and active time, and the last week to passive recreation.
“We did a lot of things. We dove into sharks, jumped waterfalls, and hiked the islands. The last week had to be on one of the islands and just relax. But on the last day of that second week, the guide said that as of tomorrow everything would be closed, no tourism-related services would be provided.
Personal file photo Paulius and Ieva Martinkaičiai
I had read on Facebook in the morning that the Philippine capital was closing and would not allow tourists. I thought it was a rumor. But it really was. It was March 13, “Ieva said.
According to Paul, the situation was exacerbated by uncertainty as the Philippine president continued to change his decisions: “And you continue to learn what news. It was that the situation changed every 15 minutes. The locals themselves said of the president that he was a man who changed his mind very often. “
So after two weeks of quality vacation and instead of the planned third week, the journey back to Eve and Paul’s home began.
Personal file photo Paulius and Ieva Martinkaičiai
He bought tickets to Poland
Philippine authorities have announced that March 19 is the last day for planes to leave the country, and March 15 is the last day to access the Philippine capital, Manila. In addition, news came that the Copenhagen airport, through which the couple had to return, is closing.
“We started looking for ways to return, we realized that in 15 days we will not be able to reach the capital.” We were constantly communicating with other Lithuanians on vacation on the island and coming home, we shared information. So we knew what the situation was at airports: everything was clogged, there were no tickets.
We started looking for return flights not from Manila but from Zebu islands, which also has an international airport. There is no possibility of flying to Lithuania, not Latvia. However, we found tickets to Warsaw, which we bought, ”said Kaunas residents.
We stopped at the airport with all the things and thought about what to do.
Trapped on an island to get out of – difficult
March 15, when Zebu The island had a flight scheduled, already on its way to the Ieva airport, and Paul discovered that Poland was closing its borders, from where Kaunas residents had to get home.
“We had no choice at the time, it seemed like Poland, Europe, and we would be almost at home.” We arrived to Zebu airport, we checked in. We had to fly from the island to another Philippine island, from there to Singapore and from there through Dubai to Warsaw, “said Kaunas residents.
But, from where Zebu islands upon arrival at Mindanao island, it became clear that the flight from here to Singapore was canceled.
“We stopped at the airport with all the things and thought about what to do. This island is not touristy at all. There are no plans on how to return. All we knew was that our tickets we had were no longer valid because half of the countries were closed. All washed. We appeared on an island that is difficult to get out of, “Ieva said.
Later, Paul contacted the British agency where he bought the tickets, but no help or solution was offered.
“We knew so much that the situation had changed and we needed to get to the capital Manila before March 18 because 19 thereafter, the last flights,” said Paul.
Flights from Manila airport were only international and planned in the past, but the only way to get to Manila was from another international airport, from there there were still tourist buses that went directly to Manila: “Those tickets from Mindanao islands, so we bought not from Manila, but from a nearby airport Clark Internationalso we can go to Manila from there. “
Be in the Philippines wherever you want, but not on this island.
However, when Eve and Paul bought a local flight from Mindanao islands, was also revoked. Although at the risk of canceling subsequent flights, I had to buy tickets again because there was simply no other option. Next flight to Clark International The airport was a few days later.
The island is not recommended for tourists.
Mindanao On the island, Eva and Paul stayed at the hotel. Both decided to go to the airport in the morning to see if the scheduled flight would be canceled in a few days.
The next morning, on the way to the airport, Eve and Paul were detained by local soldiers: “Because the country is closing, the situation in the Philippines in general was much more serious about the coronavirus situation than in Lithuania. They used the army to control the situation, the soldiers detained everyone, demanded tickets, without which they were not allowed to enter the airport. “
Another surprise awaited Kaunas residents at the airport. It turned out that the second flight, for which Eve and Paul already had tickets, would not take place.
“The most interesting thing was that it was still possible to buy tickets for that flight in the mobile application. It is very unfair for a company to sell tickets for a flight that will not happen.
We knew that the country’s airlines would continue to operate local flights, so we found them working kioskWe bought tickets to another Philippine island, which provided access to an international airport near the capital Manila. “
At the airport, Eve and Paul met a couple from the United States, New Jersey. They were also trapped Mindanao on the island and recently interacted with the United States Embassy.
“They were told at the embassy: wherever you want in the Philippines, but not on this island, because terrorism is the biggest problem here. The country really has terrorism problems, kidnappings of tourists, and this island is considered the most dangerous, “said Paul.
Offered a flight to Germany
Eventually Eve and Paul managed to get to the island from where they could head to the capital.
“Our plan was to spend the night in that island city and drive to the Qatari airline’s office at the airport in the morning, wait at their office and demand a change of flight. That is what we did. We wait in the office from 6 a.m. at 3 p.m.
Not only, there were many like us. Some people simply spent the night in the airline’s office. The flow of tourists was inhumane, as it was the last place to reach the Philippine capital. The airport itself is approximately the same size as Karmėlava, ”said Kaunas residents.
However, when he finally managed to get to the Qatar airline office, it became clear that the ticket clerk couldn’t change. While waiting, Eve tried to contact the airline by phone for several hours, but to no avail.
We tried to explain that we are EU citizens and that Germany should let us in, but the one who verified it didn’t care.
“Then I refused to leave his office and asked him to help me contact the company. Just then, another employee came to the office. She changed her tickets, but it was not possible to fly to Lithuania. They offered us a flight to Germany, “said Paul.
There is a traffic jam near the bus.
The couple jokes: when they received the tickets for Germany, they were left with a small detail: to get to the capital, Manila, from where there was a flight to Germany.
“The airport we were at had an organized service to transport tourists who needed it to Manila. Due to quarantine requirements, one was planted on the bus. But there were about 500 people waiting on the bus. Queue, everyone is tablets, “residents of Kaunas laughed.
Eve and Paul arrived in Manila around 8 p.m. and the flight to Germany the next day around 11 p.m.
Personal file photo Queue on the bus
“We just realized that Germany was closing its borders. However, if you are a citizen of the European Union, you are traveling in transit,” said Ieva.
Kaunas residents had to fly from Munich airport in Germany to Frankfurt, and from there to Vilnius. Another message soon arrived: the flight from Frankfurt to Vilnius was canceled. That meant the Manila couple might not let him go.
When you leave the Philippines, check your tickets, see your travel destination, and ask how you will return home from Germany. You have to show them you have tickets, and that’s the only way you can get on the plane, “said Paul.
He was asked to dictate the flight numbers
Checking in for a flight from Manila to Munich, the couple actually asked for other tickets to prove they had them.
“We tried to explain that we are citizens of the European Union and that Germany has to let us in, but whoever verified it didn’t care.” He asked for tickets, and we knew that one of our flights had been canceled, “said the interlocutors.
However, even the ticketing was not enough, because Kaunas residents were then asked to dictate the flight numbers from Germany.
“I understand that if the airline representative enters those numbers into the system, he will see that the flight in Germany has been canceled, which means that we will stay in Manila.” Slowly I began to dictate the flight numbers to him, but he finally waved his hand. It says: very much, I trust, go away. I think due to the large flow of people, he just got tired of checking our flights, “said Ieva.
One of the options is a ferry.
The couple arrived in Germany carefree. After landing in Munich, I had to find ways to return home.
Ieva and Paul found the Lufhansa office at the airport and asked to change their tickets instead of canceling another flight. At that time, one flight a day from Germany went to Lithuania.
“The airline representative said that she could not help anyone, that there were no tickets to Lithuania, and advised to fly from Munich, as planned, to Frankfurt and then think what to do next.”
We had a backup option that if we cannot get a plane ticket, then we traveled all over Germany to the port of Kiel and tried to return by ferry. However, this meant that it would take us two days, and at that time, the virus was widespread in Germany, and we did not want to travel this way to protect our health, ”said Kaunas residents.
Erik Ovcharenko / 15min photo / Ieva and Paulius Martinkaičiai
After a conversation with the airline representative, Ieva reviewed possible flights and tickets on the mobile app for everything. It turned out that they were told the truth: there are tickets. However, the price per person is 800 euros.
“And you can fly tomorrow. Then I went back to queue at the airline office. When I had my turn, I just asked: how can you say no if I see that you can buy? And they tell me: okay, we changed the tickets. So it’s like we finally had tickets to Lithuania in our hands, “said Ieva.
The trip costs more than the vacation itself.
The spouses say that their return trip cost more than the vacation itself, and the impressive numbers were also on the phone bill. However, half of the amount was reimbursed by the mobile operator.
“They should be thanked for that. In general, for all that we spent on the return, we were able to stay there and live for a few months. But I wanted to return, I needed to work. Finally, those who remain cannot return yet. And we returned to Lithuania on March 20, ”said Ieva.
Although the situation in the world was constantly changing and new knowledge was gained about the consequences of the pandemic, the countries that closed their borders were neither panicked nor very eager for the entire journey back home.
In such situations, people get to know each other, help each other.
“There were a lot of tourists around, the situation is similar for everyone.” We react to everything fairly calmly. Also, in such situations, people get to know each other, help each other. They all communicate with each other, “said Paul.
It is true that the reactions of the tourists were varied. Eve and Paul met a girl who had been taking acetaminophen prophylactically for the virus, had seen people cry, and had been challenged to return to their home country for not speaking English.
Incidentally, the return trip is memorable not only because of the uncertainty at the airports, the canceled flights: “It is such an interesting experience that you measure the temperature about twenty times a day. Wherever you walk in the door, you measure. ”
According to Kaunas residents, there are good things in this whole story. This is a new date.
“We met people whose situation was similar to ours. From Australia, the United States, Great Britain, Russia. We still interact with some people.
When we got stuck at airports, we also tried to contact embassies in Japan, which was closer to the Philippines, and then Germany. However, they could only provide general information. And this is normal. After all, we left, so we have to think about how to get back, “Eve and Paul said.
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