Cold Journey

I wrote this some time ago but since I don't seem to be able to come up with anything remotely interesting, and I've run out of photos to use, I'm reposting it...

Saturday, March 5, 5 p.m.
Right now we should be running out onto the court, beginning our warm-up for the match. Instead, we are stuck here, on the road, in the middle of nowhere. Standing still for about 12 hours already, the blizzard not relenting a bit. Limbs ache from all kinds of uncomfortable positions. Cold sinks in. The heating has been out for hours. And the wind... you could hear it, see it, feel it, taste it.

Friday, March 4, 7 p.m.
A dozen young tallish women embark on a bus, followed by a few men: a basketball team on a mission. Just as we reach the outskirts of the town, one of the men tells the driver to pull up. »Have you guys any idea where Split is? I'm off!« And he disappears into the drizzle.

Saturday, March 5, 8 p.m.
By now we should be out of the locker rooms, showered, refreshed, heading for dinner in the hotel. Instead, we haven't eaten for hours, all the food supplies gone. The cold gets unbearable, despair creeps in. We squeeze tight to each other, seeking some comfort, trying to preserve as much warmth as possible.

Sunday, March 6, 1 a.m.
Something is happening! Faint light from the opposite side, followed by a huge plough breaking its way through the snowdrifts. Rescued at last!

Sunday, March 6, 5 a.m.
Somewhere on the Adriatic coast, waiting for the petrol station to open. The wind is relentless. I'm awakened by my own chattering teeth. These last few hours before the daybreak seem endless.

Sunday, March 6, 11 a.m.
Reaching Karlobag, we are stopped by a road block. Black ice, they say. Starved, we try to find some place to eat. A nearly impossible task! The small coastal town is almost deserted out of season. Finally we stumble upon an inn. Yes, they can make us ham and eggs. The food is greasy and it tastes bad, but we eat anyway. They even sell us some waffles. Finally the block is removed and we move on.

Sunday, March 6, 7 p.m.
Home at last! We'll have to play that darned match some other time.