Angela's Andean Adventures.
Peru and Bolivia 2003 - Part 25.
Hi From Bath.
I can hardly believe it being back here again after
the 6 weeks adventure! Surprisingly the weather is not as bad as I thought
it would be - today Sunday has been lovely and sunny - a promise of
spring just around the corner.
The journey home seemed long! We had to fight our way
through the Lima rush hour to get to the airport and it was consequently
getting on for 7.30 pm by the time I checked in - there to find that
I could go through to departures pretty well immediately, although I
asked permission to go back outside again to make a last phone call.
Erika and I phoned Hugo and Elva at Ilo for a last goodbye and to let
them know I was just at the airport ready to leave.
I was lucky not to have to pay any excess baggage fees
(last visit it cost me an extra 150 dollars!) - they let me off this
time because I was considerably over my limit with one large case almost
too heavy to lift plus a second large bag, also quite heavy. It was
a relief to get rid of these as I was still pretty laden - a rucksack
containing nearly 100 CDs, my two stereos strapped around my waist,
handbag, coat pocket full of books, and wearing lots of extra clothes
that a) would not fit into the cases and b) just in case it was really
cold on arrival back home.
Being later at the airport checking in meant there were
no window seats left and the only aisle seat left would not recline
- I chose it anyway as I did not want to be trapped into one of the
rows down the centre of the plane and having to disturb someone each
time I got out of my seat. I had hoped to be tired enough to sleep after
only having a couple of hours sleep on the long bus journey the night
before but it wasn't easy. It was several hours before I could finally
fall asleep and then I did not sleep for long. Luckily there were films
to watch to pass the time and before that an excellent substantial meal
was served. One thing I can say for Iberia airlines is that they really
look after their passengers. Whatever anyone wants including unlimited
drinks are provided completely free of charge.
When we landed in Madrid it was to grey skies and drizzly
rain - a far cry from Peruvian blue skies and sunshine. The flight home
to London was due to leave at five to three that afternoon but was delayed
by 40 minutes. It was such a relief to relax in my seat on that plane,
knowing that a couple of hours later the long journey would be over
... or so I thought! It was the first time in all the years of flying
that the plane would not start! After several attempts to get the plane
going the pilot finally gave up and announced that we would have to
wait for another plane to be assigned to us. Everyone were on their
feet getting their bags back out of the overhead storage lockers and
then about 15 minutes later we all got off the plane and were taken
in buses back to the airport terminal. There we had to wait until finally
we were allowed through once more and taken by buses to another plane.
Most people took this delay in good part - probably like me, thinking
it was better to arrive safely than never to arrive at all, but one
German couple were going mental at the delay, really ranting and raving
- and when the plane finally landed at the airport barged past everyone
trying to get their luggage from the overhead lockers, determined that
even though they were near the back of the plane to be the first ones
off! It was such a relief to relax finally and this time take off without
a hitch. Once up above the clouds it was astonishing to see the sun
shining - a completely different story to the grey skies and rain beneath
the clouds. The actual landing in London was the smoothest I have ever
known. I thought we were still in the air coming down to land until
I realised we were actually already on the ground. Once in the terminal
I was lucky in that my luggage was among the first to reach the reclaim
carousel, and immediately spotted Colin as I exited into the main terminal.
It was lovely to see him again and in no time we were on our way home.
Halfway home we got off the motorway at Hungerford and had a nice meal
in a pub in the town before continuing home on the A4. By the time I
collected my car and keys from Colin's house and drove home it was just
before midnight as I arrived back at the house. Back home I opened 6
weeks worth of post and was especially delighted to receive 25 CDs from
my dear friend Jorge in Tierra del Fuego - with these and all the ones
I bought in Peru and Bolivia I will be very happy listening in the weeks
to come!
Well that really is the end of the adventure and I am
back at work tomorrow. I shall be living for the next adventure in 18
months time and saving up like mad for it - in the meantime enjoying
every possible opportunity to keep up my Spanish with various Peruvian
friends either here or in London. My next trip to London is for the
weekend, leaving straight after work on Friday 14th March, in order
to see my USA friend Layla who arrives in England on the 13th for a
month's holiday. I will be staying with Johnny's family those 2 nights
and am really looking forward to seeing them all again. Hopefully there
will be time to visit Portabello market on the Saturday as I have promised
to buy London T-shirts for the whole band who played at Patiti's restaurant
in Cusco. After seeing the two I bought for Angel's birthday they were
all keen to have one as well!
So until my next trip to Peru, this really is the last
of the communal messages. I hope you enjoyed reading all about the trip
and that maybe I prompted some of you to perhaps think about an adventure
in South America one of these days. Believe me you would not be disappointed!
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