
In 2015 we had one of the most horrible experiences ever – the devastating earthquake that hit Kathmandu back in 2015.
I didn’t know that it had hid me mentally before we moved to Lisbon.
The first occasion was a few weeks after we arrive in – and its was kind of funny in a very bizarre way. I was waiting outside Continente in EXPO where Annette were shopping when I suddenly felt the ground beneath me trembling. Annette I shouted and jumped to the floor next to one of the big pillars. When I looked up I saw a lot of staring eyes from people who thought I was drunk og crazy (or both).
The trembling I felt came from the Metro below 🙂
It was early morning around 6:30 am. I was sitting on the terrace with my cup of Nescafe enjoying the first warming rays of the rising Sun, when I heard a familiar sound: An airplane! – again I time travelled back to Nepal.
The days after the earthquake our guests at Tings Kathmandu (actually it all foreigners in Kathmandu) we’re desperate escape from the nerve wracking aftershocks and return home to safety – especially those who were in chock and needed mental treatment. But we were caught in Kathmandu Valley because the Airstrip at Tribhuvan Airport were damaged AND because rescue workers and first aid cargo had priority to the one or two daily flights.
All we’re sleeping together in our garden – waiting for the aftershocks that followed the big one… I slept with one eye open so I could could keep an eye on the glass of water next to me. When the water surface started trembling a new quake was on the way…
On the morning day #3 we heard the sound all have been waiting for. Airplanes – Nepal Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Southern China… the planes that would pick up people!!!
That was the sound I recognized that morning on our terrace.
I looked up and saw a plane – Wizz Air!
People start traveling again 🙂
We are now officially open – but opposite restaurants where the guestst are waiting outside the doors – our guests wait foir the Airlines to operate again…
So the story yesterday in Forbes was very encourageing.
Just checked Flight Stats – the Airlines the mention are arriving. Lisbon have had around 50 international arrivals daily the last week.
Can’t wait to follow the flight stats the coming weeks.
Thomas