Airports, & Taxis

Well, I didn't think I'd be writing a post about my flight, but it turned out to be a little more interesting and eventful that I'd perhaps thought. After a long wait in Auckland, and a painfully long flight (well at least eleven and a half hours was painful to me), I arrived in Santiago airport. It was nothing that I imagined. As I flew over from the coast it reminded me very much of Central Otago and The Andes from where I was, had a similar look to our Southern Alps. But once I hit the ground things were very different.

As I stood off the plane, everything was in Spanish, and all of a sudden the background conversations like I'm used to in a busy place, just became background noises. As I walked to pass through the security area for transit, I noticed that security was significantly more relaxed than New Zealand. As I put my hand luggage on the tray to get scanned, I paused to grab out my laptop. Speaking in Spanish, & gesturing to me to hurry, the security officer grabbed my bag and just rushed it through the scanner. I later noticed that he was doing this to everyone, not even looking at the screen. It was as if he was getting paid commission or something. I then completely missed the lady who was supposed to scan me with the metal detector because she was laughing & having a conversation with her mate.

In the departure area, the damage done by the earthquake was still very visible. Many of the shops were closed, and almost everywhere you looked there were a lot of ceilings, and walls in the process of getting fixed. It was a lot smaller than I had imagined & there were few tourists there, it was the first time that I really felt I was getting looked at everywhere I went, but I quickly relaxed and was able to enjoy the new experience. After meeting a fellow traveler in the departure area, we went and got a beer where I had the opportunity to speak my first words of Spanish. This is more or less how my first Spanish ever conversation in South America went (My Spanish was quite bad so some of what he said was in English):

Me: "Hi, how are you"
Bar Tender: "Hi, good"
Me: "Do you accept US dollars"
BT: "Yes"
Me: (pointing at the list) "how much"
BT: "Five dollars"
Me: "Can I have that one thanks"

It was by no means a complex conversation, but never the less, it felt awesome to finally put my little bit of knowledge to the test, and it felt even better to be understood, even if it was only slightly! I'm very glad I did learn a wee bit before I left because from that time on, there have been various times where I've had to use it.

When I got on the plane to leave to Quito, I found myself already pretty much in Spanish immersion. I was surrounded by local "frequent flyers", and ended up sitting next to two businessmen. I was eager to have another go at trying a few things out, but I got the impression from their body language that they wouldn’t be to interested in a gringo asking about their personal lives, (Those are the only conversation starters I really have at this stage). That didn't really matter though, because I was very tired by then from getting no sleep on my previous flight. So I took the opportunity to catch up.

After a brief stop off at Guayaquil, I was finally on my way to Quito. I had gotten over the nerves by this stage and was starting to become comfortable with the language barrier, and I thought that it was all smooth running from here until the hostel as I'd arranged for an airport pickup a while before I left, but although I'd been in airports & planes, I was still yet to set foot outside. I later found that I hadn't become so comfortable with the language barrier after all, when I was forced to find other plans for my pick up.

After going through the customs without any hassles, I grabbed my pack & headed for the big sliding doors. "This is it" I thought to myself as I slowly approached. As I came close to the door, I played over the email instructions again in my head, "as soon as you exit through the big sliding doors, look for a big bright “Secret Garden” sign with your name on it, there will be someone there waiting for you". As the doors opened, I was thrown into this crazy, completely unexpected, and completely unknown world, which I now know as Ecuador.

The room was a lot smaller than I expected, and full of local people welcoming their family & friends back home. I looked left & right for a big bright sign with my name on it, but I couldn't see any signs which seemed to resemble like my name, and none of them were very bright either. The room also seemed to be set up so it felt like I was walking the gauntlet, as I took my time to look everywhere, people were yelling out names and everyone seemed to look at me as if I was an interesting specimen from a zoo. I then comforted myself by convincing myself that my ride was going to arrive, and that they were just running a little late, so I went behind the rail to wait, putting on a smug face and a semi confident look to try and hide the fact that I was fucking shitting myself.

Twenty minutes went by and I had to accept the fact that my ride wasn't going to be here, and I had to find a plan B. I saw a public phone in the corner and thought great there it is. As I walked over I noticed that they were card phones, not cash. With plan B quickly foiled, I was really starting to get a bit nervous, still hoping that everything will eventually work out, I went back to my waiting position with my smug look, checking my pockets and making sure my bag was at my side every thirty seconds. After trying various mind relaxation techniques, I looked over to the Information desk and plan C appeared.

I was a bit hesitant at first because I knew this would require me to relax and speak a wee bit of spanish. But by now I had no other choice so I grabbed my gear and walked across the middle of the room, keeping a nice pace as if I was just going to make a "casual enquiry". I had the line all worked out in my head that I needed to say, but I only got as far as saying "hi" before my habit of speaking english quickly kicked back in. She gave me a smile and shook her her saying "I don't understand sorry." I then paused for a minute and after a lot of stuttering, some very weird hand gestures, and a series of awkward "spanglish phrases" I finally got across what I needed to say. (The interaction wasn't made easy by the fact that she was a very beautiful woman!). She called the hostel for me and gave me the phone so I could sort it all out. After telling the hostel reception that I was stranded at Quito airport and I'll probably have to wash my underwear as soon as I arrive, she told me that she'll send a taxi right away.

Finally I was able to relax. I stood back in my waiting spot, this time looking round and noticing a few more things in the room. I saw a shop that sold drinks and food so I decided that I'd go over and buy a bottle of water. This time my spanish came out great and it was about the first time something had gone right for me in this country. But by the time I'd finished the water.......... still no sign of a taxi driver holding up my name. I looked over at the desk and realized that I would have to approach this again. This time however, she knew what I would want, so she put me through right away. After explaining to the hostel reception that the situation hadn't progressed any further, she once again apologized and said she'll call the taxi straight away.

After waiting about another further fifteen minutes, I looked over to the hostel pick up desk and noticed a floral sign saying "Secret Garden Pick up Ready" I went over and asked if the pickup was for Rob. She replied yes, and then all of a sudden a huge weight of nerves, border lining on paranoia left me and I could finally relax, knowing that I'll be at the hostel in fifteen minutes. It was defiantly the most gladly spent ten dollars I've ever spent!

As I jumped into the taxi I decided that I'll have another go at my Spanish. I asked the driver about the weather and where I can buy guitars. I couldn't really understand his answers very well but he spoke a wee bit of English so I found out a little bit. I was then dropped at the door of my hostel, what a relief, I had no idea I'd be thrown into my "adventure" so soon.

Well I think I've ranted quite a bit now so I'll leave it at that. Hope you enjoy.

Rob