Thomas tracks down the night manager to call a cab while I finish packing thinking I'm ahead of schedule maybe time for some coffee. Thomas comes back saying, "the cab will be here in five minutes". Crap! No coffee. I scramble to finish packing, do a sweep of the room and hear the cab honk. A quick goodbye to my consummate host and I'm out the door laughing as Thomas mentioned he hadn't been to bed yet so it was really no problem being up to see me off.
Medellin's international airport is actually in Rio Negro about an hour drive from the Palm Tree Hostel, with no traffic my cab driver makes it in 40 minutes a still a feat considering that the drive is mostly up hill.
The morning is beautiful as the cab climbs above the city, lights sparkle, low clouds roll in and out of the valleys, lush green pastures along the road and hardly anyone else on the road. This is a beautiful part of the world.
I arrive at the airport at 6:20, check in and am offered an earlier flight I decline as I have this part of the trip timed to meet Knikki later tonight in Lima.
The Avianca airline agent checks me in then sends me to the immigration office to get may passport stamped, with the reminder it cost nothing. Quick, clean and easy I'm back at the agents window for my boarding pass he then makes it clear I need to go to the cashier window. My immediate thought is how much will this cost however the agent makes it clear they will be giving me money? Really?? With my limited Spanish I have no idea why the cashier gave me money when I showed her my ticket, I just smiled, thanked her and wondered if this was again part of a huge Columbian pro-tourist campaign.
Coffee, leisurely breakfast I watch as the sun lights up the country side around the airport. It's early, I have coffee, I'll see Knikki soon, life is so good.
And easy flight to Bogota where I change planes to Lima. Somewhere in route another first for me. I cross the equator. I have now travelled from 60 degrees north to 0 degrees latitude. Laughing because I know I'll get to do it again on the bike.
From the air it's apparent just how huge Lima is. I've read some scary accounts of certain parts of town and it seems that as we come into land we are flying over one of those parts.
I had made reservations at the Hotel Victor based on a search of TripAdvisor. They were there as advertised to meet me at the luggage claim, yeah!
The Victor is close to the airport, clean, has a great staff and cold beer.
Beer in hand a pizza ordered I arranged to go to the airport to meet Knikki when she arrives around midnight.
In the lobby at 11:30 I'm told the driver is picking some other people up but will be back in time to meet Knikki's flight....hmmmmmm. I watch the clock and begin to calculate the time to the airport. The night desk clerk sensing my concern assures me the flight is 20minutes late, I relax. With a quick drive to the airport I walk right to the custom clearance area hoping To be there as Knikki walks out. Crap! Searching the crowd of arriving passengers I spot Knikki waiting, crap again. Smiling, laughing she walks towards me we hug, kiss, she laughs some more saying she knew she would beat me there. Crap! I melt. After an entire day of being early...........Aaarrgggggggg.
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Location:Flying Medellin to Lima
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