My morning started at 4.30 AM when I
had to wake up to prepare myself for the first big day in technology.
No problem there, with plane and accommodation tickets in my pocket,
I jumped into a cab and off at the airport. The check-in went
smoothly (the Lufthansa people know their business, I gotta admit)
and the flight to Munchen went without incident. At Munchen, I had to
switch planes in order to get to Hanover-there is no direct flight
from Bucharest, I knew that.

That was around 10 A.M. And of course,
my connection flight was canceled! Not delayed, not “we’ll see what
we can do about this” but simply canceled along with other 4
internal flights.

Now, I could’ve (not would’ve) listened
to the “microphone lady” that kept on rambling in 4 languages
that we should wait for further instructions and then, in a much
lower voice, to contact our flight company. I didn’t know why until I
saw the trails of people waiting to talk to someone about their
situation.

Dashing thru the lines, I’ve seen a lot
of “Business Class” people sittin’ nice and neat (calm, too!)
talking to people on their phones, emailing from their Blackberries
but overall, just minding their own business while waiting in a line.
I come from a society where the calm ones have no place to be. Like
many others, I am trying to solve things quickly, moving and talking
fast, in general creating a bit of a rumor around me. The same
principle applied to the 3 guys standing right in front of me and
talking to some Lufthansa employees about the current state of
events. One of them knew what was going on and was kind enough to
share it with me after I kindly asked him to do so: it was a strike.
People working for the Munchen Airport decided yesterday that
Wednesday was a good day to start a strike, maybe to soften some
people and touch their hearts with warmth. Which I guess it didn’t
happen, as it costs Lufthansa some hundred thousand of Euro in
collateral damages. And delayed baggages from my side. But I am not
at the end, nor am I jumping to conclusions.

Along with some other 3 guys also from
Romania, I went to a line that was forming with Deutsche Bahn, where
you can get a ride to Hanover, which we did! At first, I was a little
reluctant to go but because it was no possible flight soon, I went
along. And I did good because the train usually goes between 150 km/h
and 250 km/h. If you have a laptop with you, a charger and a mobile
phone, you can’t go wrong – we played a little bit, watched some
movies, talked a lot esp. because the beer bottles kept popping out
on our table. At the end there where more than a dozen and the
janitor was not very happy. Nor the other passengers as our loud
voices and laughter were the only ones to be heard. But we didn’t
care – that’s a “quality” beer can give you, even if you don’t
need it! :) So I had no baggage, only a laptop and a phone and the
money, of course, but that all I need! They said we should inquire at
the “Lost and Found Luggage” at Hanover Airport that night
because the strike would end around 12 P.M and there was a good
chance they’d send it right away.

Four hours later we made it to
Hauptbahnhof , the Central Station in Hanover (the bliss was not out
yet!) where you can see a thousand people running wild all around.
Lots of Japanese with little baggages, youngsters with 7 bags from
CeBit, visitors from around the world, all in a big rush! I guess
you can make your way without asking around but I had to do it
because it was busy, cold and I knew had to switch at least 2
trams to get to my room. I am only seven minutes from CeBit but
half an hour away from Center which is not good – I have to eat,
you know!

Knowing that the U-Bahn (subway)is very
complicated in Hanover ( they have around 16 different lines, grouped
in co lours) , as I said, I called the landlord (lady) and she was
very nice and gave me directions. I arrived there only to leave as
soon as possible to buy some clothes – thank you Lufthansa and
Munchen airport for giving me the chance to update my wardrobe even
if I didn’t need it! Of course, at the end of the day, around 11 P.M,
I went to the airport with my new acquired friends and met a nice man
who let me watch thru a big window, in case I find my bag among other
200 that just arrived. Which I did because mine I a normal
duffel-bag, with silver and Frey and has Volkswagen Golf enscribed
on it – thank you Roxy for getting that bag for me, you saved me :)

I was so happy that I forgot all about
the lost day of CeBit (which it was and I am mad for it!) and about
the long way home at midnight. But everything is alright when you get
home, start this article, do it only half, go to sleep, only to wake
up the next morning ready to go to CeBit and see, touch, feel, smell
and experience all this wonderful world of gadgets!

The 2nd day at CeBit is not
over yet but my camera card is full and my mind has a thousand
thoughts which will be written here soon tonight:)