You have to love a strike...

Well, as I had mentioned yesterday, we were made aware of a potential strike in Torino at the airport. The reports were true, there was a strike. When we arrived in Frankfurt we were told that the the flight to Torinjo was going to happen - and happen on time. However, what they did not mention was the "real" plan.

Before we boarded we were informed by the USOC team already here in Torino that the ground operators strike had ended at 4:00am on the 25th. So the plan, as it was relayed to us, was to get us in the air because the airport was to open at 10:00am. However, we were told, if the airport could not get opened by 10:00, then while we were in the air the airline would decide to take us to Milan. To address this possibility the USOC had staged a bus half way between Torino and Milan.

Well, the airport did not get opened by 10:00, not even close. We were in the air and apparently told by air control to get into a holding pattern until the airport opened. So we spent over 2 hours circling Torino - or as we told our security officer here - we did aerial survelliance of the area for two hours. We ended up landing just after noon (should have been on the ground by 10:15). When we got here the ground operators - who had been on strike - were not ready to bring the steps to our plane (and you all thought we would have a jet way). So that process took another 15 minutes. Needless to say, after 23 hours of travel, it was not really really that funny.

All is well now. Tomorrow will be another day. By the way, we have been asked about the times that are "posted" with our blogs. The time that is shown is Torino time.