Maldives (Google maps)
MALDIVES (KFGO) – What was a bucket list vacation for a Fargo couple has turned into a travel nightmare.
Jim and Jodi Spaeth are stranded on an island of the Maldives.
They left Fargo on February 19 and arrived two days later after 36 hours of travel. They traveled through Qatar. The U.S. State Department says American citizens in Qatar should evacuate because of the risk of armed conflict related to the war with Iran. For now, Jodi Spaeth says they are safe at a resort.
Jim and Jodi Spaeth
“There’s islands all over the place, but it’s kind of weird that we cannot go to another island because they’re very protected, people can’t come here (the resort) unless they have a room, we can’t go exploring to other islands unless there’s a tour set up that they have available, but otherwise, we are just here and that’s it,” Jodi Spaeth told KFGO News.
Spaeth says the couple has notified the U.S Embassy in Sri Lanka of their whereabouts, but have only been told that they should leave Maldives.
“I registered with embassy in Sri Lanka so they will give us any updates on safety issues, whatever the case may be, but all that we ever seem to get is “get out now, get out, we can’t,” she said.
She says they’ve checked with multiple airlines and thus far, have not found a way out.
“People are commenting to us like, well at least you’re in paradise, you know beautiful beach and all that, yes we are and we feel very fortunate that we are safe where we’re at, however, the fear of the unknown is what’s really hard, I mean it’s pretty close to us, Qatar is not far at all, so it’s really kind of scary,” added Spaeth.
Spaeth says they’re scheduled to return home this Friday, but she’s not optimistic that will happen.
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