Marty Fleishman’s Trip to Spain Derailed – Literally (but made it anyway)

Marty Fleishman’s Trip to Spain Derailed – Literally

Here’s a story someone could not make up.  Marty called it a one in a million chance of happening.  I give it higher odds than that – like scoring 15 points in a row against Boliver in the 1980s.   Now, I get to do a story on my senior blogger, Marty Fleishman.    

On Tuesday, Marty Fleishman and his wife Sue took off for their dream trip to Spain that was four years in the making.  Marty was filling me in on how great it was to take the train from Tampa to Ft. Lauderdale.  It was only $45 each way for the four-hour trip – and you don’t have to pay to have your car parked at the port.   While of the four-hour train ride, Marty was telling me how relaxing and stress free it was.  He had made the trip multiple times when his wife had moved back to Tampa while he was finishing up at Dania (ironically that is the timeframe we are at in the 95 stories he has posted with two to go).   Plans were to stay with his son that night in Miami and then take the plane trip to Madrid on Wednesday, where Solaun was going to pick them up.

Marty was then “bragging” about the train and how awesome it was.  Tremendous legroom.  Comfortable seats.  Loving it.  He even had brought in a Jersey Mike’s sub, and “having a picnic even though they have a dining car”. 

Two hours and 14 minutes went by till I got the next text.  “Not so awesome. We just hit a semi near Sebring.  All ok but need a new engine.  Maybe rethink the train.”  

What are you kidding me!!!  Marty’s trip to Spain was derailed – literally.       

I turned on the TV for the news after playing jai-alai Tuesday evening , and sure enough, there it was.  An Amtrak train with passengers onboard struck a semi-truck trailer in Polk County.  The crash happened at the crossing on South Scenic Highway at Livingston Lake Road.  Thank God no one was hurt.

Luckily, Marty’s flight was the next day.  It’s always wise if you’re flying internationally or going on a cruise, to arrive a day early.  You never know what might happen on the way there. 

UPDATE: “He made it to Spain!”