Leaving Glasgow the weather was reasonable I think but then at 6am it could have been awful I still wouldn't have noticed. The flight to Heathrow was very nice (comparing it to RyanAirs no frills flights which I had been taking previously.) On arrival I had to make my way from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 which proved to be quite a trek, I was now very grateful Glasgow had booked my cases direct through to Bogota. On arrival I was soon seated in the seat I had chosen online for the flight out, alas, I was surrounded with families with young children obviously going to do the Disney Experience, noisy and crying children do not make for a relaxed 9 hour flight, and by the time I got off in Miami my nerves were shattered.
Had I known this was only the start of the flight problems I would have probably turned around and flown home. Miami Airport is quite big and not very well signed for the casual traveller, but before you get to read the signs you have to go through Homeland Security.
Everyone even if your only transitting the airport has to be digitally photographed and have your fingerprints taken electronically. This process takes close to an hour from the time of queuing till you you are eventually seen (So much for my relaxed shopping spree I had planned). Having been able to use the internet to get boarding cards for the BA flights was easy and fast but for AA (American Airlines) I had to queue to get a boarding card. Up to this point my view of americans was favourable, alas as with any nation not everyone is polite, the ones I met while queuing were rude, belligerant and took every opportunity to skip the line and get as far forward as possible.(maybe I just chose a bad day to travel). The boarding card fiasco took almost another hour and I made my flight to Bogota with just 5 minutes to spare.
I shouldn't have worried the plane was delayed by an hour with the pilot tannoying at one point "You might have noticed we haven't taken off yet" something about the fact we were still sitting on the runway next to the docking gate did give that away. The reason apparantly was the baggage handlers were having trouble closing the cargo bay doors due to too many suitcases - at this point I had that sinking feeling about whether my cases had made it on board (Not to keep you in suspence - they had). Eventually we were airborn just 1 hour late. The sky was a glorious blue as we circled away from Miami's 82 degrees.
The flight time to Bogota is a long 3 hours 30 minutes and it was about 2 hours into the flight I realised my ability to reason was gone. Up to this point I could tell the time and easily convert between UK/US/SA time ,zones but then as if by magic my mind turned to mush and I could not for the life of me change my watch by putting it 1 hour forward.
I simply gave up and waited to arrive, looking out of the cabin window I was amazed how quickly it had got dark. It was like a curtain being drawn across the sky.
As we approached Bogota there was a quite amazing electrical storm, it was a long way off but when the sheet lightening flashed the whole sky lit up infront of me.
Landing in Bogota El Dorado airport was a relief even if I hadn't a clue at that stage if my cases had landed too. However once obtained from the conveyer belt (Yes I watched 1 suitcase go around 4 times because my reactions and concentration were still sitting somwhere in Scotland) I soon made my way through Bogota's version of Homeland Security (and they seemed to be more organised than the Americans, and better armed, no small pistols in a belt here, Colombian airport security carry BIG guns and I respected them more for it - no arguing with these boys). Once through the customs and immigration I was led to believe someone would pick me up, but looking up and down amongst the many cards being shown I couldn't see my name, until just as I resigned myself to finding a taxi and a hotel a colombian representative of the school called Ramiro held up the sign that meant I had somewhere to go.
The Journey from the Airport.
Ramiro was a great guy (Not just because he picked me up but because he also spoke excellent english - not everyone does - this proves to be a big problem and one I thought I had considered - I Hadn't.) Ramiro (Great Guy) took me to his car got my cases loaded and off we set, the airport is in the east of Bogota about 40 minutes drive from the North where we were heading, the first thing that hit me (not literally - though I have no idea how) was that drivers in Bogota have their own rules, and lane markings are there not to advise but to decorate the road. A 3 lane road gave the impression of having 5 lanes. Cars change lanes when they feel like it no matter what is coming up beside them or in from the side roads. Getting onto a fast moving road requires a skill at playing chicken that surpasses anything I have seen before. I think I will leave driving in Bogota to the Colombians, I value my sanity and my life far to much to risk the roads. The roads are notoriously covered in deep potholes which can be avoided when its dry but become invisible when wet, In mosy places its like riding over cobble stones.
I asked Ramiro about the motor bikes thats zip in and out of traffic, in an almost suicidal dash for space but what I noticed was not their incredible skills or luck, but rather that every rider and passenger wore a reflective jacket that must by law carry the motorcycle number. I commented on what a good idea it was till Ramiro said it was brought in to help combat the drive by shootings - suddenly things began to look a little less rosy and it reminded me that Colombia is still a country in turmoil.
Once you start looking around you do see a lot of Paramilitary style police walking the streets all heavily armed. The other sight that catches your attention in Bogota is the extremes as you drive up the streets even on the 3 lane roads there are impoverished people selling anything they can get their hands on. Ramiro points out it is best not to gain eye contact - which is hard to do when some look so pitiful and it must be desperation that drives these people to walk down the middle of what can only be described as suicide alley.
Another interesting concept being run in Bogota is the limitation of use of cars on certain days of the week at certain times (Rush Hours) depending on the last letter of the cars number plate. Depending on the letter you might not be allowed to drive between 7 and 9 in the morning and 4 and 6 in the evening on 3 days a week. To do so would incur a heavy fine from the "armed police" and as such it seems to work well with various cars not being used at those times.
40 minuutes later after at least 4 close calls we arrived at the flat I had been allocated which was controlled entry by a security guard (Though I notice he isn't armed). I can almost hear the bed calling I don't really care what the flat is like, as soon as Ramiro leaves I collapse onto the bed with the memory of him saying "we pick you up tomorrow....at 0730 !!! arggggghhhhhhh.
The Flat
Morning dawns very slowly in Colombia its almost as if daylight is struggling to get out of bed - Not me of course my sodding body clock is still 6 hours ahead so I wake at around 4am (A nice long l lie in UK but middle of the night here) I struggle to go back to sleep which amazes me as only a few hours earlier I was a walking zombie - I finally got up at 6 it was by now light enough to explore the new flat better - the first thing to catch your eye is NO central heating or a need for Air Con, Bogota is known as the land of eternal spring with temps between 8 at night and 21 during the day on avearge.
The flat comes fully prepared (Well sort of)I have a selection of fruit provided which I have no idea what it is - well ok I spotted the apple but some of the other stuff I haven't a clue.
The flat itself is in a nice area of Bogota, certainly safe enough to walkout in but you do have to be aware of what goes on around you, but thats the same for any city even Kilwinning.
Inside the flat I have I living area.
A galley style kitchen leads off this into a small washing utility area - complete with washboard !!
Next to the kitchen and coming off the living area is a small hall which connects to a bijou toilet nd shower area (If I get in I bang my knees on the wall if I try to sit on the toilet - I know, too much information but you get the idea) The shower cubicle is a tight fit but before using it I notice there is no shower head just a pipe sticking out of the wall - might need to talk to the school about that one, also off the hall I have 2 empty rooms and a bedroom with ensuite (Which is slightly bigger than the main one) and it has a shower head. Colombian houses don't have baths unless you are very rich. The spare rooms are completely empty of furniture one looks like its been a childs bedroom at somestage with a colourful frieze the other perhaps a work room. All floors are polished wood apart from the kitchen and bathrooms which are tiled.
Overall its a nice comfy clean flat and once internet and cable TV are set up will be quite liveable.
First Day at School
Today I get picked up at 7.30 in a minibus, already inside are some of the new teachers that will be working at the school this year. After quick introductions we are off to the school (the drive was as hairy as before but we are soon outside the gated complex of the school) once through the, what is becoming a normal security process we get out at the school. From the number of security personnel I see on a daily basis at every sort of location I get the feeling security is a major employer in this area. Inside the school we are met and greeted by a selection of staff one of whom I note is Ramira, these personnel will assist in any way they can to help us aclimatise to the requirements in colombia. The school provided breakfast which consists of a fruit starter of Mango and Papya followed by toast with honey (I hate honey but this was delicious). After breakfast our first task is to go and get a blood test this is carried out in a small medical / dental shop, I say shop because they don't seem to have surgeries but more small medical shops that appear on every street corner once inside we are each seen individualy where the finger is pricked and a smear of blood is put onto a slide and the slide is then placed on what can only be described as a window sill !! there are no markings as to whose slide is whose only the order they were taken and placed, I happen to know my blood group so was quite happy to see they got it right. Though wasn't surprised one teachers blood group was not what she thought it was.(Perhaps she was adopted?). The reason for the blood test became apparant when we attended the office of immigraion which was protected by 2 armed guards who frisked everyone on the way in - inside we handed over a selection of previously filled in forms and our guide asked how long it would take the answer of three hours proved to be remarkably accurate. During the processing we were photographed (The official photographer works outside on the street with a blue cloth draped on the outer wall, he takes the photograph digitally and prints it out while you wait) then finger printed - finger printing seems to be the signature of choice here as every government agency want your prints, both electronically and manually). After the 3 hours are up we are issued with our Temporary Colombian ID Cards (complete with fingerprint - if I ever lose my right index finger and someone finds it they could go anywhere in colombia - scary thought). The need for the ID is that you cannot buy anything not even a bottle of water without an ID and it is definitly needed to open a bank account, which funnily enough was our next port of call at around 4pm. The bank were very good we filled out 1 form showed our colombian ID Card signed on the line and were given instantly a Maestro card that we could use as soon as funds were deposited. We asked the school representative when that would be and were told it was being done at that very moment, how long would it take to clear was asked only to be told it was already clear as soon as it was in your account (British Banks take heed lol). I testedthe system and went to a cash machine and my acount had 7 million colombian pesos in it. The Peso as a rough guide is 4000 $COP to £1.00 sterling so 7000000 is about £1850 approx - it was just the speed that made it work well. Finally I felt more in control I now had money in my account to buy required items and an ID card that allowed me the privilidge. Least now I could buy some water.
Altitude Sickness.
Bogota is 2800m closer to the stars and above sea level I had read as much as I could about altitude sickness but it still doesn't prepare yme for it. Symptoms vary queasiness headaches cramps but the over riding factor is a feeling of weekness - in my case I can walk 20 paces and feel like I have run a marathon the oxygen just doesn't seem enough for my body but I'll get used to it ....think when I get back down to sea level I'll be like superman !!! (and no I don't mean wearing my pants over my trousers.)
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