“I just pray to God that he doesn’t say that again in English,” said the female passenger next to me. A second later he announced “Ladies and Gentlemen…” and her head dropped as she crossed herself.

Traditionally I go to the capital at this time of the year, probably not the best time of the year to visit Zagreb I know as the asphalt is radiating heat like underfloor heating. However, when the King calls you don’t hesitate and we celebrated his birthday in style, if somewhat in humidity as well.

So the plane to Zagreb was as busy (and as expensive) as ever, and I was sitting in what felt like the 51st state of the US. Americans to the left of me, Americans to the right of me. And as the flight was already delayed by 30 minutes they weren’t in the best frame of mind as they were all on connecting flights, to Frankfurt, Amsterdam, etc.

“You have such a lovely country,” said Virginia, who rather amusingly lived in Richmond, which is in the state of Virginia, so yes, Virginia from Virginia. “Well, it isn’t actually my country, but thank you,” I joked with here.

They giggled and chatted as we sat on the runway with the pilot apologising that the “plane was delayed in Amsterdam.” Unfortunately, this wasn’t the last time that the pilot had to say sorry on this flight. The American accent drifted into the distance as I fell asleep. I actually fell fast asleep before the plane took-off, probably before it had even taxied into position, so I am not really in a position to comment much about the flight.

I awoke (as I often do) with a jolt as the plane touched down in Zagreb. Rubbing my eyes, I glanced over to Virginia, “I hope I didn’t snore too much.” To which she just raised her eyebrows.

The plane pulled up outside of the terminal, a newish terminal that was shining like aluminium foil in the June sunlight. We stopped, people started standing, luggage was being arranged and the American group were nervously looking at their watches and murmuring about “running to the next flight” and “hope our luggage doesn’t get lost.” We all waited. And we waited. Heads started looking down to the front of the plane. Nothing was happening. No hiss as the door opens.

Then, “Ladies and Gentlemen, sorry for the delay, but due to a lack of staff of the airport they aren’t able to connect the air bridge to the plane.” The Croatian speaking people looked at each other. And that’s the moment when the passenger said to me “I just pray to God that he doesn’t say that again in English.” He did!

“How embarrassing, the capital’s airport doesn’t have enough staff to let us off the plane,” said another passenger from Dubrovnik. I had to agree with her. Virginia and her group didn’t know what to think. “That’s the first time in my life that I’ve heard a pilot say that,” I tried to comfort her and let her know that this wasn’t a daily occurrence.

It took a further 25 minutes before they let us off the plane. And it was then they I noticed that the director of the Dubrovnik Airport was sitting a few rows in front of me. “That’s ironic,” I whispered.

But that wasn’t the only irony.

As we filtered out of the airport I waited for a colleague from Split, and yes you’ve guessed it her plane had been delayed “due to issues at Amsterdam airport.” I have a feeling that Amsterdam airport is a code word they use to cover any delays, sorry just being sarcastic.

So I waited for her to land, but all of a sudden hundreds and hundreds of passengers from India flooded out of the doors. “You are in Bus 1, and you in Bus 2,” shouted the organiser. Quite clearly these were foreign workers going to work in the construction industry near Zagreb.

I felt like asking “If any of you know how to operate air bridges, or indeed drive an airport bus, then I am pretty sure they are in need of workers right here.”   

Read more Englishman in Dubrovnik…well, if you really want to

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About the author
Mark Thomas (aka Englez u Dubrovniku) is the editor of The Dubrovnik Times. He was born and educated in the UK and moved to live in Dubrovnik in 1998. He works across a whole range of media, from a daily radio show to TV and in print. Thomas is fluent in Croatian and this column is available in Croatia on the website – Dubrovnik Vjesnik