Un Inicio Retrasado

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Alrighty so I just want to start this off and say a few things. Thank you to my Momma, Grandma, and Washington College for making this trip possible. It is sure to be a great time! I was in Peru from August 2011 until December 2011 for the fall semester equvilent at WAC.

Well yesterday I was suppost to take my flight at 3:30pm to Bogota by 9pm. From there have a 45 minute layover and leave to Lima at 10:30pm. As I have found out, flights with Avianca don't really follow any kind of schedule. My original flight was an hour late. They assured us that we would still make the connection flight in Bogota (How? I don't know). But of course we missed it. I met a pretty lady named Ana who was also stuck like me and we made our way through the madness towards the help desk. Eventually the airline agreed to get us a hotel, transportation, and food. The next flight wasn't until 1:30pm the following day.

Ana and I had dinner with a Venezuelan girl who was on her way back from her own study abroad trip in the United States. Over that hour I learned a lot about Venezuela and the less-fortunate parts of Latin America. Apparently to fill a tank of gas in a car only costs $1. I did a fact check on this, gas is only $.12/gal in Venezuela. So a $1 is about right. Rediculous, huh? Cokes and bottled water, however, cost $3 each. Also, the dictator there, Chavez, does some pretty sneaky stuff. Apparently he has held elections where the votes are not secret. Then he takes the list of all the people who had voted against him and fires them from their jobs. Thats why you don't vote against a dictaror, DUH? All jokes aside it is an awefully sad situation.

The next day Ana and I went outside the hotel to see the city. We took several pictures (which I wait for her to send to my email) and went shopping. Surprisingly it was difficult to find an artisan market. When we did, the market building was very large, yet only a third of it had things to sell. The rest was empty and baren. The city was beautiful. I want to return one day for a longer trip and really get to see the place. If I can figure out how to put photos on here, I will!

The next flight (of course) was late as well. I was just happy to be on my way. Lugging a 40lb tuba/trunbone/whatever-the-hell-it-was, plus my suitcase, PLUS my backpack had taken a lot out of me. On the plane a sat next to a Columbian Accountant. This was her first time on a plane and she had been saving up to go see her "friend" in chili. I didn't want to pry but she eluded to running off with him and leaving Columbia behind. Chili has better job prospects too. Also she gave me her dinner... What a nice lady. Anyways, we landed and I made it to baggage claim just fine.... However..... THEY HAD LOST MY TRUMBONE. 2 Delayed Planes, 1 Missed Flight, and Lost Luggage! Luckily they found it after about an hour and I took a taxi with an asian gentlemen and his wife to Mira Flores, Lima. From there I dropped off the Trunbone and went on to my to-be-home for the next 5 months.



Para ir de Mira Flores hacia Pueblo Libre, era necesario encontrar un cambista para cambiar plata por un taxi. Tenia mi maleta y mochilla, ambos muy grandes. Fui por la calle Benevidas, durante la noche, como tourista idiota. Despues de minutos encontré un cambista y su amiga.--

"Que necesitas? Estas bien? No pareces bien. Permítanos a ayudarte!"

La mujer -- "Este no es un lugar para tomar un taxi así! Vamos a escribir la placa para usted, no te preocupes. Vas a estar OK"

Ellos fueron para encontrar un policia para ayudarnos encontrar un taxi bueno. Eventualmente los tres me ayudaron a entrar de un taxi. Finalmente, a punto de salir, a traves de la ventana, la mujer me dio un ojo de papel con su numero.

Ella dijo--"Si tienes cualquier problema, llamame! Aqui es mi numero"

En el ultimo momento yo grité-- "GRACIAS PERO NO TENGO SALDO!" Los tres parecian con caras graves, con el taxista riendo cuando fuimos por la noche.

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Photos

Bogota
Un foto bueno de Bogotá. TANTOS ARBOLES. Como un ciudad en medio de un bosque.

Avianca
Avianca Airlines of Columbia

Comments

[Q.Geniz]

Like the sart, but im a little confused!
I don't understand what happens when you went to find someone to get money? Did you just get lost in a wrong place? Why did the people write down the license plate number? Anyhow, keep writing this! It's a great way to share your story and also keep this for yourself! Me gusta!!