Go Time

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Its all about how you get there....

6.30am - Wake up. Pack, shower, repack, get violent with zippers, get dressed in innumerable
layers of clothing (think less fashionably bohemian, more bag lady)
7.30am - Step out front door and notice snow falling.
7.31am - Realise that said layers of clothing are completely redundant and begin shivering.
7.40am - Arrive Picadilly station. Recieve notice that there will be delays.
8.30am - Really bad delays.
9.50am - Arrive Heathrow after several train changes, including a 15 minute wait on freezing
platform. In my now increasingly agitated state, rather than a winter wonderland,
snow covered tracks bring images of being whisked off to a Siberian work camp.
10.20am - Clear customs. Go to Travelex desk with a few simple requests.
10.55am - Stomp away from Travelex desk having finally fulfilled requests, that due to inept
staff, were not that simple.
10.59am - Gates closing in 10 minutes. Suggested time to get to gate, 15 mins.
11.00am - Start running.
11.35am - Take off for 12 hours of blissful (read sedative induced haze) flying.
9.30pm - (gmt+2) Land in São Paulo. Skip down onto the runway stripping off en route.
9.35pm - Unable to wipe smile off face, despite being rather near the back of a huge crowd
trying to clear passport control.
10.20pm - Smile is temporarily erased during argument with a line jumping, obnoxious,
loud American woman. She hurls insults about Brasil. Tell her to go home.
Tell guards to send her to the back of the line. They do. Smile returns.
10.30pm - Skip hellish Nothing to Declare line by joining the tiny Something to Declare line,
feigning confusion and declaring aspirin. Waved on by guards in minutes.
10.35pm - Step outside into heavy,humid air, wait in taxi line.
11.00pm - Get into taxi. Chit Chat with lovely Leandro during a speedy trip to Tiete bus station.
12.00pm - Step aboard bus bound for Rio de Janeiro. Stretch out for the 7 hour ride.
6.30am - Arrive on the outskirts of the the most amazing city in the world.

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