A few flights later

Day 272 – Quito, Ecuador; Fort Lauderdale, USA; Dover Beach, Barbados

I don’t remember the last time I visited three countries in a day. Passed through or flew over, sure, but actually stopped in, I’m not sure. Anyway.

When I presented myself early at the boarding gate, I was taken aside for a control of my backpack. I was lead through corridors, down stairs, through more corridors, until I arrived in a room with queues of luggages waiting for control.

When it was my turn, fortunately they made me empty inly the top third of my bag. Apparently they wanted to check on some bracelet made from tanga, the vegetal ivory. Once it was checked, I was urged to pack everything away quickly, they put my bag to be loaded and I was led back to my gate. At least it whiled the time away.

We boarded the plane, took off, landed at Fort Lauderdale, where I had to pass the US immigration -“How long are you staying in the US?” – “Five hours”-get my luggage, pass the customs – “What kind of food do you have?” – “Chocolate”-, check my bag again, fortunately right after the customs, then pass the controls again to have access to my boarding gate. And wait 5 hours.

I bought Reeser’s cup at the duty free shop, and I learned that I couldn’t eat them right away, they would be handed to me when boarding the plane. What a bother. So I waited some more then went to a sit-down restaurant for a leisurely meal, where I was shooed away -handed the bill- before I could ask for desert. That’s a waitress that didn’t get a tip, since she didn’t even give me the opportunity to leave one.

Finally! We boarded the new plane, took off -“We are sorry but we cannot offer in-flight movies during this flight”-, and landed safely in Barbados -“Please don’t wear camouflage on the island”.

Cue more immigration, customs, and finally! I stepped out, waited a few minutes and was picked up by my host. She kindly dropped me off for a few minutes at a local supermarket and we arrived in my rental flat.

What a day!