Bogotá

Where did we leave off last time.  No time to read backwards.  I think I was just leaving the airport?  

Sure, as good a place to start as any.  Our plane, such that it was, FINALLY made it to Bogotá.  

Rookie mistake, I paid for a taxi inside the airport.  It cost me as much as the one through the hotel. But I was so tired by then, what's money anyway? 

Hotel was fine.  No window.  It had a bed.  That was all I really cared about at that point.  I immediately used it.  I woke up at almost 7.  I booked the breakfast.  I had the 'healthy' option.  Yogurt, fruit and guacamole toast.  

The court yard outside my door  (Bottom right)

I had one day in Bogotá.  So, I was at the Botero Museum at 9am, opening time.  I had to kill some time until the English tour at the Gold Museum at 11.  You may not know Botero's name but you will recognize his stuff.  He paints people who look like they drank the fizzy lifting drink from Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.  

It is really an art gallery in an old house with a beautiful center courtyard.  The displays were very ascetically pleasing, I do like a symmetrical photo. Rule of thirds be damned.  

Picasso

Well. I'm already too tired to go on.  Tomorrow.  

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Not tomorrow, the day after.  After the Botero Museum, I went to the Gold Museum.  Everyone who's been there told me it was a must see.  

First I had to find it.  Bogota is very easy to navigate, numbered Calles and Carreras.  So I managed to not get lost.  But I did take some pictures along the way

I found a market.  I bought nothing.

there are a lot of hats, beads and bags for sale

I got there in time for  guided tour in English (11 am).  

It is really more of an archaeological museum rather than a 'gold' museum according to our guide, Gabriel.  But the archaeology of Colombia involves a lot of gold.  The museums here, and especially this one, are owned by the Bank of Colombia.  Gold was a commodity, they had the gold.  It was later that someone said, 'hey, maybe people might want to see their heritage'.   $5000 COP, ($1.50 CAD), super cheap to get in, and the tour is included.  

This little pot is a big deal.  It holds some additive to cocoa leaves for chewing.  I think the sign says it represents a woman's body.  Our guide thinks it it a sprouting seed.  Another guide I overheard says it's a cat.  Clearly they are all wrong.  This is a proto-muppet.

This is called the offering raft.  It is tiny, the size of a shoe.  The intricate details are crazy.  And it was a cast.  They created this in wax, made a mold, poured in molten gold and here we are, in a museum! I imagine this took a few million attempts before it turned out so well.  They found it in a pit, in a cave.  It was a burial offering. The priest had to convince the farmer who found it, not to melt it down to sell.

This is the offering well.  A darkroom in the museum with very cool, eerie chanting as the lights highlight gold offerings found (this is where my knowledge ends)

This is the wall, those are all gold pieces.  Enjoy this photo, it took 20 minutes to upload.

Four seated figures representing various styles from different cultural groups. And some lick'a'sticks.

My flight to Cartagena was scheduled for 6:45.  So I figured I should be at the airport by 5, 5:30 at the latest.  That should be enough time to go up Mount Montserrat (which is probably redundant with the two monts).  There is a funicular and a gondola (teleferico).  I walked to the base.  I did get a bit lost this time.  

I finally found where I needed to be with a plan to take the gondola up and funicular down, or vice versa.  But I discovered that the funicular only runs in the morning and the gondola in the afternoon.  Gondola it is then. 

There was a line to get on.  But it wasn't too too bad.  They really cram you in.  I was last on so I got a view.  

2 minutes up but it is a pretty cool ride.  Beautiful views.  

Then I wandered around a bit.  There is a big church at the top.  And the stations of the cross, of which I only saw a few.  

I saw this bird.  Merlin has some flaws.  I can't find it.

Then I noticed a big line.  Is this the line to go back down?  Yes.  Yikes!  I stopped wandering and got in line.  Finally we got to the door only to discover the line now fills a big room! 

An hour that line took!  As soon as I got to the bottom, I jumped in a taxi to my hotel to grab my backpack and then to the airport.  I made it to my gate at the 'required time' of 5:45.  

And then I waited around for half an hour, looking at other people's tiny child's school bag sized carry on.  You will all remember that I bought the cheapest tickets for my Wingo flights with one small personal item only.  They made several announcements at the gate that they would be measuring people's bags.  Oh well, either I have to check it or pay or both.  

But by the time I was allowed to board, no one was checking and I sailed through. There were people with TWO bags to carry on.   Y'all know what this means!!!  Shopping! 

My wifi is somewhat terrible in my hotel in Cartagena so the photo uploading is very slow.  Sorry this is late.  

I made it off the coast... but not out of Canada *yet... I'm finally in Bogota

I hate my little computer so much.  It never let's me sign in without the hugest hassle. My next big travel purchase is going to be a non-google product travel computer.  Anyway, I am typing this on my phone with one finger.  If you think that will make me less verbose, think again my friends

I left Victoria this morning.  Somehow I managed to get pulled aside for THREE random screenings in Victoria!  First from the line waiting to get scanned.  They swabbed my bags.  Then again after the screening.  They swabbed my hands and belt.  Then my bag got a good going over.  Well, that third one may not have been random.  I did have a knife in my bag.  (A little pocket knife, they let me keep it)

My original flights got messed up with yesterday's snow and there was more snow issues predicted for today so I was a bit anxious.  But the snow held off for Victoria and again when I left Vancouver for Montreal. I hear it is pretty bad now but too late to waylay me. 

I watched the first four episodes of Ted Lasso.  Now I have to decide if I watch the next six or sleep on the next leg of this trip. 

We were a bit late into Montreal but my new itinerary gave me enough time.  I should have knocked on wood as I complacently sat down at my gate. 

My flight was scheduled to leave at 9:45 pm.  I got an email as they were making an announcement in French.  My flight was delayed. Until 1:10 am.  Something to do with a new plane. They were offering food vouchers. The line was insane. I was just going to skip free dinner.  But then I got another email saying I have a new seat and I need a new boarding pass so I got into line.  

Now I am sitting in Ubar, the only restaurant that was still open other than Subway, enjoying a free Quebec beer and a selection of Quebec cheeses.  Quite nice for airport food.  

You know I'm loathe to be nice to Air Canada but they have been pretty good with the communication and the free food was a nice touch.

Interruption between the start and end of that last paragraph.  The young woman sitting beside me told me that she wasn't feeling well. Probably a panic attack.  Being fairly useless I tried to distract her with inane patter, my specialty. 

That didn't work.  She asked me to find some medical help.  I asked the manager who called the airport paramedics.  They arrived.  She asked me to stay with her.  So I did.  Still useless but now I could watch her bags while they chatted with her in a quieter area.  Then they took her away. 

paramedics

Is she ok?  Will she be on the flight?  Will I ever find out?  Doubtful, I didn't even find out her name.  I really am bad at this stuff. (update next day, she is fine)

Did I say something nice about Air Canada?  I take it back.  A thousand times.

So, they made an announcement that the flight was cancelled.   Something about if you live in Montreal go home, if you don't ... vague mention of a hotel.  We will get an email.  Get out.  

So we got out.  Some people left.  More people milled around.  The email came finally.  Rebooked for 10 am.  But ZERO instructions on what next.  What about this magical hotel.  Where is the Air Canada agent on the other side of immigration (which we had to go through). Nothing!  Nada!  

I have never been to this airport.  Soon, almost everyone had disappeared.  Just standing there seemed pointless.  I wandered around for awhile until I saw line.  Ah, an Air Canada desk.  I'm in line.  I don't know if this line is any use.  I'll let you know.  It is 2am. 

I thought this was long when I arrived.

  

It's 3:30 am.  Did I say something about taking back my nice comments about Air Canada a thousand times. I mean a million times.  It will have to wait for morning.  

Next day.  So, last we spoke, I was in line with the Air Canada ticket agents.  What a gong show.  I thought I was late to the line, having received no information and discovering it myself after an hour.  But I was comparatively early to the game.  The line grew and grew.  There were hundreds of people on that plane.  And now most of them were in line behind me.  For some reason the agent opened a second line that cut in front of the first people.  If you want to make people mad, officially sanction queue jumping at 2 am.  i was in line, just hoping for a hotel room but I was guessing at that point.

Anyway, I finally made it to the front of the line.  I get more vouchers for breakfast, a voucher for a hotel room and my new boarding pass for my rescheduled 10 am flight.  Go to door 9 he said, there will be a shuttle to your Airport Marriott hotel.  

Off I go to door 9.  But I can see the Airport Marriott is right there, at door 13. So I and another woman go there.  No one.  We met a man who had found a human who said they are full, we are going to a different Marriott. We go to door 9.  There is a little crowd now.  Our guy called the new Marriott.  They said they do not have a shuttle at 2:30 am.  So, thanks Air Canada.  Me, the woman Ellie and the man, Raymond formed some sort of Survivor alliance.  We found a cab and booted it to the next Airport Marriott which is a good 15-20 ride away so maybe change the name?  

there's the wrong Marriott, right there!

We get in line, again.  When we get to the front, the desk clerk was saying 'oh dear, we only have 10 rooms, I wonder how many people they sent'.  Is there three for us?  Yes.  Great, then the rest of them are on their own unfortunately.  It was 3:30 am by the time I got to my room.  Nice room.  Big.  Too bad I only had three hours to enjoy it.  

7:30 shuttle back to the airport. I didn't use my breakfast vouchers because I still had a half a sandwich left from home. I ate that.  I was going to update this post at the airport but Raymond and I chitty-chatted until the plane finally started to board.  Late, but still, we were leaving.

Raymond

I got to my seat.  Now remember, that plane was full.  Not an empty seat to be seen.  I go to put on my seat belt.  there is only half of a seat belt.  There was no way on God's green earth I was getting off that plane so I said nothing.  I used the half that was still there to make it seem like I was belted in.  I did think about that recent incident where the window blew out but i WAS NOT getting off that plane.  

That thing was a relic.  I'm surprised it didn't have the pull down movie screen at the front.  That actually would have been better.  I found Ted Lasso.  The jack for my ear phones didn't work.  The touch screen to add subtitles didn't work. Only four episodes loaded.  So, no entertainment.  I lowered the tray when the very unsatisfactory meal arrived.  The tray fell off.  I hoped that the overnight repair job they did on the plane made the flying bits functional but I kind of resigned myself to falling in the sea.  But, spoiler alert!, we made it.  

broken tray

So, the plane landed.  I made it through immigration with only one wrong line. Apparently, there is a special line just for Canadians.  Because we have to pay an entrance fee.  Just Canadians.  

I assume my government has done something to piss off the Colombian government.  I don't know what, and at the moment I don't care.  Taxi to the hotel as the sun was setting. This is where I will leave you.  I have 12 minutes until my allowable bed time on first day of travel - 8 pm.  My remaining half day (out of the original 2.5) in Bogota starts in the morning.  

Last day before leaving.

 As you all remember from way back yesterday, I decided to change my flights by one day due to an incoming snow 'event'.  Well, it is definitely snowing.  

I'm not even going to stress about the fact that I got ANOTHER email from Air Canada that my flight tomorrow may be affected by snow.  Nope, this time I am just going to do it.  Come hell or high ice! 

9:55 am! I checked in for my flights tomorrow.  I got the last window seat on the Montreal -> Bogotá flight.  

Now I can spend the morning obsessing over whether I made the right decision to change my flight.  So far, so good (as of 10:40am).  Although I could have still made the Vancouver connection.  

And also doing important tasks totally related to my trip.  

My Colombian Pesos (COP) did in fact arrive in time to the bank.  I picked them up on Tuesday.  I am currently a millionaire!  I divided the pile in to my three pocket system. 

"This stack seems light. You holding out on me?"

11:20.  AH HA!  I made the right choice!!  Now I would only have had a 20 minute layover in Toronto with a terminal change.  I would not have made that flight to Bogotá!  (Now let's all hope this doesn't happen tomorrow) 

I am writing a list.  Better late than never?  Camera.  Do not forget camera.  

The understudy is ready for their big break. 

We're gonna be a STAR!

Next day, day of departure. 

I leave in an hour.  A few last minute things to do.  Take out the garbage, make a sandwich for breakfast in Vancouver.  

Packing.  Done.  

I just checked my flights and all three are 'on time' so fingers crossed.  The weather updates say it isn't supposed to start snowing until the afternoon. So hopefully that holds off until I leave. 

I never did find that sandal.  I hope it is enjoying the good life in Madagascar.  

See you all either en route or in Colombia.  

The terrible weather and Air Canada: two national disasters.

 I shouldn't slag Air Canada too much, they weren't that bad really.  It's just habit I guess. 

I got an email this morning (Monday), from Air Canada saying there is some bad weather brewing and it might mess up my flight.  Not yet, not sure, just maybe, when it will be too late to do anything about it (I'm paraphrasing)

I kind of ignored it for a while.  I was busy at work.  But then I checked the weather reports.  I swear, a couple of days ago, it said this cold snap would be over by Tuesday.  I feel like that should be some sort of non-verbal contract.  But apparently, the weather channel can just change their mind at any time.  

I waffled a bit. The email said I could change my flight for free.   If I change my ticket, I will lose a day in Bogotá.  But if my flight is delayed AT ALL out of Vancouver, I will miss my connection in Toronto.  I only have a one hour layover.  So, lose a day in Bogota AND 24 hours in Vancouver or Toronto due to weather, which would be not Air Canada's fault, so hotel will be on me.  Or I just play it safe, cram a lot of Bogotá in one day and change my ticket.  I decided to see if I could change my connecting flight between Vancouver and Toronto. 

So, decision sort of made.  I hit the "Manage my booking' link.  Nope, of course not.  Good bloody luck finding a phone number on the Air Canada website.  Fortunately Google isn't actively anti-customer service when it comes to other business's customer service.  Phone number acquired. 

I tried to call them before lunch, between students.  I was on hold, with very terrible music.  I got through. I gave my name, booking info and a synopsis of my issue.  Then the Air Canada lady said, 'I can't hear you' and hit a bunch of keys.  It was a very 'I'm going through a tunnel, can y...  hear...' line goes dead situation.  

I didn't have time to call back before my next student.  Then I had lunch.  I figured I would let my frozen mini-pizza (aka fate) determine if I should change my flight.  I called them back after lunch and got someone who didn't hang up on me.  If I change one ticket, I have to change them all.  So I did.  

I am now leaving on Thursday morning instead of Wednesday.  And I am flying into Montreal with a two hour layover instead of Toronto with one hour.  Silver lining:  an extra day to find that sandal!  

I was able to cancel that first night at my hotel .  Valerie can still drive me to the airport and the cat sitter actually responded to my text about the date change.  So all is good

I can probably only take one walking tour?  Food or War?  TBD.