Lessons learned

Lessons learned while trying to leave Colombia:


E-mail sent from Bogota airport:
Frack!! Apparently if your flight connects within the same country you have to go to a whole different airport!! So the first check-in lady yelled at me and then sent me running all over the airport looking for a bus. Then (after asking 8 people where the bus was) I had to go through security to even get to this imaginary bus....of course they wouldn't let me through since I have scissors in my checked bag. The lady told me that I had to go back downstairs and give my scissors to the airline. Right. So I ended up leaving and taking another expensive taxi to the other airport where I arrived just minutes before my plane is supposed to board. Wow such excitement!! I haven't even gone through customs yet, so I will have to do all of that fun in Medellin, good thing I have that long layover! Phhhheeoooowwww!!

E-mail from Quito:
Man oh man the excitement just wouldn't stop today. Once I got to Medellin I had to totally exit and check back in...only my airline wasn't open yet!! So I had a nice sit down lunch and used up all but about $1 of my Colombian money and then went to get my boarding pass. The lady sent me back to the other side of the airport (it is shaped long and skinny like the KC airport) to get my tax exempt form and then tried to keep my piece of paper that had my hostel information! No worries, I got it back from someone else who then sent me to immigration. Of course my airline wasn't set up at immigration yet either and I was sent away for another hour..booo. So I studied during that hour waiting break, pretty sure I am a Spanish expert after that hour refresher ;)

THEN I made it through security without too much problem (I set the alarm off so they made me take off my shoes) but then some random security lady stopped me and gave me a very thorough pat down...she found my my passport pouch that I carry around my neck, but nothing else that I hide on me...muahahaha!! Of course I was only hiding money...US money!!! But then I got to my gate and it was for the wrong airline! (and they don't have ANYTHING posted about what flight is leaving from what gate) So I asked some dude and he pointed me to the next gate. I then got on the plane when an announcement was made with the flight number and destination LIMA...so I leaned over and asked the Grandma next to me what the flight number was and had a momentary freak out when I thought I was on the wrong flight. Then when we were about to take off Grandma started freaking out with her seat belt so I leaned over and showed her how to do it....then we were even :)