Flight Cancelled!

So after spending 3 days on a boat, 2 days on a bus, all i had left were 15 hours by plane and i was to be Home Sweet Home! That was until SpiritAirlines had a pilot strike, and my flight was cancelled. When i got this email, i was in Chiclayo, and still had a 12 hour bus ride to get to Lima. So until i got to the airport there was nothing i could do.

I spent the day with 2 other people i met on the boat, walked around the town, through the market, and took the bus to the beach. It was an enjoyable day and boarded my bus at 6pm. Off toward Lima.

I made friends with the woman sitting next to me, and when we arrived to a bus terminal on the outskirts of lima, she told me to get off with her and we will share a taxi. It would be closer to the airport than going all the way into the city center. I got dropped off outside the terminal, and walked inside. Asked where the offices for SpiritAirlines was, to only find out they are only open on Saturdays and Sundays. Great! I needed to find internet, and the internet in the airport, is extremely expensive. So i left, walked up and over the bridge, and to the other side of the busy road to some offices. Inside i found some interent.

The woman in this store were very kind and let me store my huge bag in the back storage room and use their bathroom to clean up. I also told them i didnt want or need a few things and they let me leave a bag of stuff with them.

I was able to contact my mom through Instant messenger and she called to find out what was going on about my flight. Apparently, it was back on schedule and i was checked in. Good! So the rest of the day, i took my time. Wasted a few hours on the internet, found a cheap restaurant with amazing food. Walked down the street more to the market and bought some last minute presents, and since i had the time and a little money left. I splurged and got my 2nd South American pedicure. I wanted to have nice feet for when i came home and it is extremely cheap here. Everyone i met was extremely nice and friendly.

So pretty feet, my bags are packed, I thank the woman for helping me, and head over across the street to the airport 4 hours before my flight. I wait around for about an hour even before the counter is opened. As i was sitting, i started talking to a woman next to me. She is from Poland but lives in Albany, New York. She is traveling for 2 weeks. I gave her some information about Iquitos, since that is where she is flying to. Although, her flight was for the next morning, she was planning on sleeping in the airport that night.

My counter finally opened and i went to check in. Excited that after an amazing day, talking with so many peruvians, i was ready to go home. When i got to the counter, the woman told me it was cancelled. Again! This time, there was not even a plane at the airport. She gave me a voucher for $100 for my next flight perchace. She told me i was schduled to leave saturday night. I didnt mind waiting, the only problem was i had a connecting flight in Chicago to Minneapolis, i would miss, and i had no way of contacting them. I went to use the extremely expensive internet to thankfully talk to my mom again, and my parents called the airline. After about an hour, nothing could come of it, and i was going to miss the flight. There was nothing i could do now, and just really needed to find somewhere to sleep for the night. I asked a few different Information desks, and they didnt give me any information. As i was about to leave, i noticed the Poland girl walking, pushing her cart of luggage. I waved her down and she was happy to see me. I was going to go back and sit and talk to her more after i checked in, until this whole mess occured.

I told her what happened and that i was stuck here for 2 more days. I told her i just wanted a beer, and she said she would buy me one, she felt so bad for me. We walked up stairs and into the caffeteria area and found a beer. I felt bad, i didnt want to spend her travel money, but she insisted. We sat their talking for a good while and she asked if i wanted to spend the night in the airport with her. That way she wouldnt be alone. Ok, ive slept on the floors in the London airport, why not Lima! A little before midnight, we walked over to where the internet place was. Earlier i had seen someone curled up against the wall, and it was in a hidden area from the rest of the airport. I layed down my hammock, and curled up in my blanket. Few minutes later, a whole group of churchy volunteer people came over by us. Thank goodness i still had some ear plugs, put them in, and was out in minutes.

Waking up a few times during the night, so switch sides, shivvered, and fell back asleep. I finally woke up a little before 7 and decided to go to the bathroom. When i came back, i watched out the airport window for a while until the polish girl woke up. She wanted some coffee, and offered to buy me a donut. I enjoyed talking to her, she is an interested young woman, only one year older than me. I decided to give her one of the bracelets i bought as presents, for helping me in the airport. In exchange, she gave her necklace which she had 4 more also for presents. It was very touching, and we exchanged emails as well. It was time for her to go check into her flight, so we hugged goodbye, and i was going to head back over to the intneret place across the street again to figure out what i can do about my connecting flight.

When i got back their, the woman were shocked to see me. I told them my flight was cancelled until sat night. So i stored my bag again, and used the internet to call the airline. After an hour, the only logical thing i could do, was to buy another flight from Chicago to Msp. and just do nothing about the one i was going to miss. So another $200s, and i was set. I purchased the additional insurance, just incase something else were to happen. I thought the travel insurance i had would have covered missed flights, but it didnt. great!

Once the flight was set, i needed a hostal. I was tired and just wanted a place to lay around for a while. I asked a few of the helpful, friendly peruvians outside of the office, and one guy new of a place down the street. He walked me down there as another guy followed, chatting away asking all the same questions. They helped me get a room, and one of the guys wanted to take me to lunch. So we walked back to the market, got some food, and now all i wanted was to sleep.

I got a room with my own bath and a tv and luckily found a few english channels. It had been a long time since i watch any tv. I was quite happy and content being in my own room. I ventured out later, to check internet quick, get a little bit of food, and back to watch the movie ´Ray´ before going to bed.

This morning i slept in to an amazing 7am. and with nothing better to do, turned on the tv. I found some american tv shows until later when i came across a South Africa vs. Italy rugby game. Perfect! and after this game was New Zealand vs. Wales. Both good games, i was happy to see some rugby again. I showered, got ready, and checked out by the 12:30 checkout time. My plan was to walk back towards the restaurant i ate at the afternoon before, and then go use the interent back at the same office i used before.

As i was walking i somehow got lost, and was heading in the wrong direction. I asked for directions but i still wasnt going the right way. So finally flagged down a mototaxi, and realized, that the street i was following, curved to the left when i sould have kept walking straight. I wasnt paying attention and was just following along the storefronts. Once i recongnized where i was, i got out, and found my restaurant. I decided to order a beer, it would be my last cerveza in peru. Hopefully! And back to the offices. I saw again the same old men who i had talked to before, and went to my interent place. The woman told me they were closing. They only work half days on friday. Oh well, so i went serching for another internet place in a not so nice looking neighborhood. But, i spend a few hours here and head back to the airport again 4 hours before my flight. Hopefully, everything goes well, and i can fly home tonight.

I realized while sitting in my hotel room, that i am defineatly ready to come home. And even though i dont know what im going to do, im not worried. After my whole flight fiaskel, im in a new, calmer, state of mind, and am just going to go with whatever is presented. Because really when things dont go your way, there is nothing you can really do about it. All you can do, is step back, calm down , think about it, and then you will figure it out. I know when i get all worked up, i only make things worse for myself. So easy does it!

The other thing i thought about was, how thankful i was for the people i had met and how in small ways, they helped me. And i hope to continue to offer help to others when i see they need it. Its one big circle, and if you continually give, you will continually have. That is one thing ive noticed on this trip. Its amazing how it works.

I am however, excited to see my family, friends, and have lunch with my grams on monday. But, ill keep that excitement down until im officially on the plane!!!

See you all soon.