The guy looked at my ticket and waved me through. While walking I tried to get my belt out of my jeans and put it in my coat pocket while selecting one of the many airport security agents to check my luggage. It was still quiet so I had enough time to get all my stuff on the belt. As I put every everything on (trolley, camera bag, handbag) the agent looked at me and asked: 'What is this?' while he picked up the black bag. I looked at him surprised and just at that instance I realised that I might not take it on board with me. I stuttered and said statief euh, ah, tripod, umbrella. I saw his eye brows going up. 'You can not take it with you.' I was genuine surprised as I taken it on board from Amsterdam 'Why not? I took it with it when I got in?' he shook his head picking up the tripod bag 'That was a mistake. You have to send it.' (send it where?) I did not understand it was not a mistake, it was a tripod and I was not checking it in. But no matter what I said which argument I threw his way, he was not having it. 'I am sorry was what he kept on repeating.' (yeah right).
I was saying not so nice words in my native language while I went back down stairs. When I checked in there was no line, well when I got back down there were at least 50 people ahead of me and another word crossed my mind. Fortunately another desk opened and when I asked the lady why I could not take my tripod on board she only shook her head (it must be an Italian thing) and labeled my tripod bag. With lead in my shoes I walked towards the odd size bagage desk. The two ladies were kind of surprised to see me with my small bag. Wanted to know when my flight was departed and what was it. Eventhough it was all on the label I provided the info, showed them my tripod and umbrella and they bid me a good flight and a nice day. I will never see it again I said under my breath and waved while I went back upstairs.
When I touched down in Amsterdam I made my way to the odd size bagage belt and waited. I took all my other stuff on board so I did not had to wait for my luggage. Well I waited and waited. After two flights that came in behind mine had off loaded all the odd size bagage on the belt I went to the bagage handler. They were surprised wanted to know I had waited at the proper belt I just nodded. After completed a two sheet A4 paper it was official, my tripod was LOST!
They had no idea if it was still in Naples or in Amsterdam. So I received an apology, a letter of the airline, an I am so sorry and went on my way. Two days went by without any news from the airline handler. I was mad at myself for taking it along in the first place (I did not use it at the wedding). Mad at the airport as they allowed in on, when I went down to Naples but not when I went back. In my mind I said goodbye to my tripod and then I got the text message. They had found my lost luggage!
'I take it back, I take it all back. Everything that I said about the tripod, the airport, the handler. I take it all back. I apologize.' My bag is back. I can see it had a rough time. The bag is damaged and dirty but it is back. And it thought me a valuable lesson because I will never take it with me again on an airplane. No matter what happens because I love my tripod to much.
