Let the Games Begin...

At least we´re getting the worst part of the trip out of the way at the beginning.

We arrived at the airport in Maracaibo to be told that our 11:00am flight to Caracas would be leaving an hour late – or more. The pleasant young man at the counter also said that if we didn’t hear anyone call our flight for a long time that we should come back and ask again. ??  Ralph observed that the airport is a microcosm of Venezuela.  Officially everything was just fine. All the flights were on time on the airport boards – they just weren’t really. As Venezuelans have learned, the official numbers look great, but have little to do with reality. The girls at the tax window asked cheerily if the 11:00 flight was going to leave. ??  A cup of coffee, two newspapers and a Sudoku game later we finally took off, arriving in Caracas about 1:30 instead of at noon. Not bad, considering. We have plenty of time before our next flight.

After reclaiming our bags, travelling from the national to the international terminal, checking in at LAN, paying two different taxes at two different windows, and filling out our immigration forms, we were free to go upstairs and meet with Irvin and Blanca who had driven in from Valencia. We had a nice visit with them until about  5:20, then headed down to the security lines to enter the departing area.  We had an interesting talk with the immigration official. She was lamenting that Carnaval vacations were coming up next week. Ralph asked her which times were worse travelwise and without hesitation she said, the summer vacation period. Her reason was telling - families don´t travel together anymore. The parents go off in one direction while the children go their separate ways to soccer camp or other special tours. Each Venezuelan child traveling without their parents must have a special permission form. She said that in the summer the permission forms stack up at her station.  "It used to be that families took their vacations together. Now they all go in different directions..""

Our flight was a bit late in leaving – closer to 8:00 than its 7:20 posted time, but we finally got off. All went well on the first leg from Caracas to Lima. We arrived in Lima at 11:00pm local time (11:30 our time) and immediately had to go through security again. Shoes off, computer out, etc.

We are now waiting for our 1:15 am flight to Buenos Aires. I watched a movie and enjoyed a constant back massage on the flight from Caracas. On this next one I hope to sleep.  Until tomorrow in Buenos Aires!!