January 23, 2011
Hi you two,
I finally got home @ 1645 on the 22nd. Far cry from the original 1000 arrival. I went to bed at 1730 and woke up at 0730 this am. Yikes!
So sorry to hear about the food poisoning, what a disaster. Hope you are all better now. Did the medicine that Richard & I used in BA help at all? I do not think you will give the cute little restaurant a second chance. Probably had chipped cups as well!
No problems after you left the hacienda of Carlos. I went back to bed and got up about 1000. I started to pack using your roll method. It worked well. I had a leisurely shower complete with water perfection and none on floor...rah.
I thought to myself, self why not hang wet towel on balcony for a few minutes to speed drying of same . I was pretty sure it was rude and a no no, but I gave in to my impulse. I hung it, walked to the side of the bed and the phone rang. It was Carlos, telling me to get rid of the towel...not allowed. This brings rise to the question...where was Carlos lurking and had he been there all along??? Perhaps he was one of our buddies in the sandbox?
I'm not kidding, not even four minutes lapsed between hanging of towel and phone call. H'mmmm I decided only to dress in the bathroom, not the bedroom. Needless to say the towel as quickly removed from balcony.
I finished packing and even got the suitcase closed. Since it was only 1130, I went to the Arretta for cafe con leche and a scone. I had two of each (both coffees in a chipped cup) but they were delicious. The waitress was the cute (and very thin) one we had before. She told me the people who sat behind us while you where working on the internet were also Canadians. She (waitress) was very nice and her English was pretty good. It was a lovely morning and I was sitting outside and loving it all.
Man in wheelchair had different clothing on (I suspect he is really Carlos) and was looking quite presentable. Went back to apt. and changed in bathroom and awaited the "inspection". Carlos' sister arrived (very young, thin & gorgeous). Inspection took two seconds and I am now clutching your $300.00 (no penalty for towel). I may not have it by Mar 30th but we'll see. Sister called the taxi company for me and they arrived soon after. A very nice man took me to the aeropuerto, and I got there about 1515. I tipped him twenty pesos and he was pleased.
I could not check in until 1630 so finished my book and gave it to a woman who was travelling home to Wyoming. I whiled away the rest of the time by paying fifty pesos to have my bag wrapped in plastic. I was so paranoid that the cheap damn thing might explode in transit and then where would I be. It gave me GREAT peace of mind so it was worth it.
As I stood in the huge lineup to check in, I was wondering how you folks did, if you had enough time for all the line ups...it took forever. On to security, and another massive lineup, but finally got through. When I was eventually released into the departure area, I found it to be one giant duty free shopping area. You will be so amazed to learn that I did no shopping except for a bag of potato chips which I proceed to wolf down.
At last we boarded and off to Lima. The Lima airport is the best, once you get into the waiting area, the first thing you see is the H. Stern jewelry store. WOW....my credit card was trembling, but I calmed it and assured that would be more time later. There was a group of Peruvian musicians playing in the lobby. They were not looking for tourist money and they looked like they were having a great time. Lots of interesting shops to peruse, but by now was too tired to do more than look.
Finally on the plane to SFO. Stewardii acting like it was privilege for us to have contact with them, very superior, very haughty, very boring. I watched three movies but sleep would not come
My seatmate did not have the same problem I have never seen anyone sleep like that in a plane. Not even one trip to the washroom during the whole nine hour flight! Her kidney's were a lot younger than mine. I spent some time hovering around the staff area of the plane just to get some standing room. They did not like that much...did I care...NO!
Arrived in SFO at 0730 on time. Thought lots of time for my legal connection. Wrong...huge line up for customs where they gave the entire plane a thorough going over. Found plastic wrapped case (still intact) and headed for UA to get on flight to PSP at 0852. Only one clerk on duty and who had a PHD in WITCH and STUPIDITY. No one cared that I was missing my flight while she diddled around with some client who could not decide what she was doing. The clerk finally granted me an audience at 0815 only to tell me there would be no 0852 flight for me, I would have to wait until 1455 for the next flight. By this time I was almost hysterical with tiredness. Miss WITCH informed me that she was doing me a favour by not charging me a change fee for missing the first flight. She does not know it but she almost suffered a near death experience. I think she knew I was at the edge so there was no discussion about baggage fees.
I wandered around the terminal which I now know well enough to lead guided tours through. Had a hamburger...not nearly as good as the one on Libratador and twice as expensive. Read another book and moaned (not too) quietly. Listened to two Filipina UA uniformed staff members talk loudly in their first language (not English), laugh gleefully at their conversation, fiddle with an electronic device, talk on that (not in English), sit down, yawn, stand up, open strap on security gate, close it, sit, laugh, talk, and generally do nothing for three hours at least. I WANT THAT JOB.
Finally I am aboard the flight to PSP. Stewardess is named Sueann and must be in her sixties, very professional, very nice, not worried about picking up a rich old guy and ignoring all else. Why do they only put bimbos on international flights and check in counters and save the good ones for minor domestics?????
John was waiting for me when I got off the plane complete with a dozen red roses! I was so tired that the poor soul got little thanks or conversation. Got home...went to bed (alone) By the time I got up this am, he was gone. I know he said something about golfing with cousin George but I have no idea when!
It is great to be here but I am already planning my next trip to BA. Want to come?
Be safe and well and write me when you get this tome.
Thanks again for a wonderful time. I never would have made it to BA without you two.
Jan
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