Aires airline doesn't exactly have the greatest service. But then again, airport security checks consist of 5 seconds of jabbing at bags and 5 minutes of watching passengers' video footage/fiddling around with camera to entertain themselves.
Anyway, we left the airport 45 minutes late, I think. And in our dual-prop puddle jumper, we were given our option of drinks:water. Or exorbetently over-priced soft drinks. When I asked "tiene jugo de naranja?" and the reply came,'¿como?!', it was business as usual; the woman was caught off guard by my accent. I looked across the isle at the couple (one australian and one colombian) and was met with reassuring nods. So I repeated myself quite clearly, albeit with an accent "tiene. Jugo. De. Naranja?" to which the flight attendent responded with a baffled look on her poor face, '....jugo de naranja?'. Give me a break. I simply smiled wide and gave a very deliberate nod. After a brief moment, something clicked. She dug out a juice box of none other than a tutti frutti "jugo de naranja". After opting for water, I looked over at the couple who had been watching the exchange. The Australian man simply gave me a deadpan 'was-she-serious?' look. And the colombian woman gave me a 'give-me-a-break!' wag of the head and rolling of the eyes. That was validating. I suppose they encounter it all the time as well. People just can't get past the accents.I'll give the benefit of the doubt to the average Barranquillero, But you'd think that a flight attendant would be ready for such an exchange.
Problems in panama. I tried running my card in the ATM and it was rejected:'please call your bank...' great. After 1.5 hours and a collect call to my bank i got the go ahead to run my card in a panamanian ATM. In the middle was an atrempt to recruit the aid of the police at la oficina de Polica nacional, but i was in comprtition with a boxing match on the 13" TV, after the policeman i was trying to talk to put me "on hold" with his outheld palm about 4 times to converse with his buddy about who-knows-what, i "hung up" with a shrug and perhaps a little bit showy exit. Later one came out and passed me whilst I was between payphone and Cajero (ATM), and tipped his hat with an over-the-top 'Buenas!'. No thanks.
I realize I was probably attributing my frustration with Chase Bank to the persons involved in this ordeal (including a taxi dispatcher who tried several times to show me to the cajero instead of listening to me say, or the one willing taxi driver say "necescito llamar mi banco; mi clave (PIN) no es funciónal".) basically treating me like an idiot—yes, i see the cajero, but i'm asking about a payphone.
Anyway, in doing some reflecting, i've discovered that what really irked me was paying 28 dollars essentially for the privledge of leaving the airport.
But now I'm here in Luna's castle Hostel. I can't complain. Free pancake breakfast (make 'em yourself) and quite an array of characters. I went to a mall at least 7 times as big as the SLC airport. Met a couple of girls who are well-travelled, but seeing central America for the first time. One from Hawaii and one from Canada. They are about where I was with my Spanish prior to coming to Colombia. tomorrow—wait, make that Today..in 5 hours. I'm going to Balboa Yacht Club to see if I can find a small boat captain or two looking for volunteer line handlers. I'll keep you posted.
Good night.
¡Gringo!
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