Again I had to get up fairly early to catch my flight from Buenos Aires (Argentina) to Bogota (Columbia). There is no proper public transport in the morning. So my hostel organized a taxi and told me it would be 490 Pesos (32USD). It is very important here to get the prices fixed in advance. However, that didn’t stop my driver to charge me 50 USD when I got to the airport. I started discussing and he said ok to 600 Pesos (40USD), which I also didn’t have. So I got into the airport for the ATM. When I came back with the money he said 500 Pesos would be alright as well. I assume he got a bit scared that I tell the hostel that hired him. He would definitively loose them as customers.
Now I got some Pesos left for breakfast, but the check in comes first. I went to the self check-in counters and tried my luck: passport scan, booking number or milesandmore account. No identification found me on that flight. I went to the counter and they wanted to see my booking. A look at my Mail from my travel agency clarified the matter. Flight Buenos Aires – Bogota booked for the 20th of AUGUST! I just changed my flights last week and in all mails it clearly said 20th of July, but what help is that. My travel agent said she had booked me the earliest possible flight. So now I thought I might be stuck in Argentina for maybe another month.
Luckily the airport featured free Wi-Fi and with the current time difference I could call the travel agency via skype. The issue was solved within 15min and I could check in. I didn’t even expect that. Half a year ago I would have been really gotten to me, but all the traveling seems to calm you down regarding these matters. I am glad that it worked out though. In the end the flight had a 3h delay anyways :D
last example of crazy pricing in Buenos Aires
(21 USD ~ 18 EUR are duty free!)
Migration in Bogota was very straight forward, though here even migration officials wouldn’t speak any English. Most people use taxis to get into town, but after my experiences in Buenos Aires I wanted to try public transport. I have read about it online and a police officer confirmed that I had to get to the red bus to the main airport gate. According to my information the bus shuttle ought to be free. However, one in the bus they pointed to a card reader. Ok, I didn’t even find a cash machine near the gates, save a shop to get the electronic tickets. One of the passengers noticed my confusion and went straight to the front and swiped his card for me. That way I met my first Columbian friend. Cesar was really helpful, explaining me the bus connection to my hostel area in great detail (actually I had anything on my phone but better have it confirmed). After he heard that I was traveling alone he gave me right away his mobile number in case I need any more help. These people here are really helpful!
I arrived safely in my hostel in the Candelera quarter of Bogota. What an amazing difference to other South American countries. A mix of colonial charm, Peruvian architecture and punky alternative lifestyle. I really like it here. Also, it is finally a cheap country. Hostel room 9$, beer and food all around 1-2$. Though 95% of the shops I have seen so far were closed (Wednesday 17:00, very strange). Turned out that I arrived on Columbian Independence day (my third holiday here in South America), so even the banks are closed. Banks are closed means here: no cash machines, means no money to buy food! Apart from the plane breakfast I hadn’t eaten anything. Luckily I could exchange some dollars I had left from Paraguay to fill my stomach.
my hostel:
more empanadas, here they are all deep fried
I went to the supermarket to get some beers (one nearby was open). A friendly fellow costumer told me that I had to ask the staff to open the beer fridge for me (not unusual in many countries actually). In his next sentence he offered my some cocaine and showed me his goods right there inside the supermarket. I smiled, thanked, refused his kind offer and we went both to the counter to get our boozes. People are indeed very friendly here! It was my first warning that things here work a bit differently.
All in all I had a pretty interesting and lucky start in this country (for example I wasn’t robbed yet). Lets hope for the best. It will take some time to get used to this new environment. Especially the sudden attacks of short breath. The air here is much thinner at 2500m altitude.
Good night
20 July 2016
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