Hello,
The trip started on January 21 at an
early hour in the morning. Even Leroy finally admitted that we do not need to
come to the airport so early next time. Only three people were ahead of us and
we all waited some time before another person showed up. I did get in a nice
number of steps walking about the small airport. Another good thing is that we
had pre check so that time was short.
In Chicago we were lucky because our
arrival gate was right next to the place where we were to wait for the bus to
take us to the international terminal. We had been a bit anxious about finding
this bus so we did not have to go through security once again. It was just
great after the bus ride to the terminal it was only a short walk to our
departure gate. In this area there was much Spanish signage, a sign of what was
to come? Wishing I knew some Spanish as I could hear much of it around me.
We were able to change our seats so we
could be together. Even though our hosts were to meet us at the airport we did
get their address. Good that we did because, before boarding in Chicago they
wanted to know, along with our passports, where we were going to be staying.
We wondered if this five hour flight to
Panama City would serve food. We just took some snack items and hoped for the
best. They did serve a nice meal. Even though it was betting quite late for us
to be eating, we ate the sandwich like thing that we were served on the flight to
Medellin that only lasted an hour.
In the Panama City airport the amount
of English was much less than expected. Only the very most important things
were translated. We could not understand the boarding instructions, but the
mike stopped working and they held up fingers for the zone number. That certainly
worked in our favor.
We were dressed warmly because it was
0 degrees F when we left Cedar Rapids. Here it was in the 60’s and I felt quite
hot. I just carried my coat, but it was still plenty warm.
I found it interesting that the fasten
seat belt sign was often viewed as an optional item. I do think that the
captain would forget to turn it off. Our flight to Medellin was a bit rough
from time to time. People mostly sat during those times.
We were seated in the last row,
consequently we were last off. I dislike making people wait, but there was no
way to change it politely. It meant that we had to wait a long time in the
passport line. Our suitcase was almost the last one that was brought in so that
too was a long wait. Going through customs the only question was, “Are you
together?”
Paula
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