FOR CWMBRAN businessman Marc van der Zwan, travelling across the world is all part of his job.
But a five-day business trip to Latvia took a little longer than expected - when it took him four days to travel 1,800 miles, and cost £1,800 and a whole lot of hassle to get home for his wedding anniversary.
Like thousands of other travellers, Mr van der Zwan’s flight home was cancelled after UK airspace was closed because of the volcanic ash cloud.
Mr van der Zwan, who works for a company which makes oil containments, had flown to Riga in Latvia last Monday for a five day business trip.
But his cancelled flight meant he had to find another way home.
“I travel a lot for business and thought it would all blow over.
“It was the uncertainty, it could have been another week.”
The father-of-two therefore decided to get a boat on Saturday night to Stockholm.
From there, his journey home to Neyland Path in Fairwater saw him take six trains, two boats, one bus, two taxis and a trip in his own car which he had parked at Gatwick Airport.
He managed to book most of his train tickets online but had to queue for about two hours for a place on the boat to Dover.
The 46-year-old luckily made it back in time to celebrate his 19th wedding anniversary with wife Helen.
Mr van der Zwan said: “I’ve had enough of trains to last me a lifetime.
"It was frustrating. I spent my time drawing plans on a piece of paper for the next journey, I was always thinking of plan b.”
He added: "Everybody had one thing in mind - getting back to the UK as quick as possible at whatever cost."
Mr van der Zwan said his flight home would have cost around £700 but said the trip ended up costing about £1,800.
RIGA TO CWMBRAN
Friday - flight home cancelled
Saturday - Boat to Stockholm and then a bus to the train station.
Train to Copenhagen and stay over in Odense (Denmark).
Monday - Taxi to train station in Odense
Train to Hamburg
Train to Cologne
Train to Brussels
Train to Calais
Taxi to Sea France terminal
Tuesday - 12.55am board boat to Dover
Taxi to London
4.30am train to Gatwick Airport
Drive own car back to Cwmbran
Arrive home in Cwmbran
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