So, I am off to Brazil. Half an hour to get to Woking station, an hour on the bus to Heathrow Terminal 5, 20 minutes to get a shuttle bus to terminal 4, 45 minutes to check in and go through security and over two hours to wonder why British Airways make you check in three hours before the flight.
The flight started on time at 21.45 British time and 11 mind-numbing hours later we were over São Paulo. We could not see much as Guarulhos Airport was closed due to fog. 90 minutes later it was clear enough to land. Customs and Immigration was a breeze and my case came out in record time and I was back on schedule to catch my connecting flight to Vitória.
Check-in was easy and there was no problem with my vast amount of luggage and duty free shopping. Unfortunately there was a problem with the flight. Ten minutes after departure time they announced a four hour delay.The regulars reckoned that it was because there were not enough bookings and that they were merging two flights. Nobody bothered to tell me that the new flight was from Congonhas Airport an hour away by bus.
Looking up from my crossword I noticed the passengers drifiting away. I asked what was going on and was told to collect my baggage and go to the coach to Congonhas. This was an interesting ride as it was my first sight of Brazil and I was in Brazil´s biggest city. Greater São Paulo has a population of nearly 20 million and is the third biggest Metropolitan area in the Americas (after Mexico City and New York).
My first impressions were that it looked quite prosperous, the driving was disciplined (apart from the motor bikes), crash helmets are worn by all motor cyclists, the roads were good, there were no dangerous looking wrecks on the road. In fact if I had been told that I was back in Spain I would not have been surprised.
So another check-in and the fight was on time – well that is what they told me. Ten minutes after departure time they announced a one hour delay which, in fact was 90 minutes. I spent the time trying to invent a better Acronym for the TAM airline. Twist and manipulate. Terrifying Accident M?? Travellers are martyrs. TAM are misanthropes. I settled for Take-off a miracle. Seriously, the flight was OK, the food dreadful and my main concern was the very poor communications with the passengers.
28 hours after setting out I arrived in Vitória where Flavia was waiting at the airport. She had had the same difficuties tryng to find out what was happening. Ten minutes after I left the plane we went to the car park. I like small airports.
4PM local time and I had to stay awake as long as possible to reduce jet lag. Not hard to do with Flavia, we went shopping.
7 Comments to this entry.
Excellent! Nice descriptions. Nice writing style. Looking forward to more…plus photos
Alegre viajando!
Interesting and graphic. Thanks.
I see the Brazilian airlines are as thoughtful towards their ‘customers’ as those here in Europe.
I often try and work out acronyms for “take their money and treat them like mushrooms” or “take their money and treat them like cattle”.
I came back from the UK last Tuesday on EasyJet from Gatwick. The plane was (eventually) on gate 113 which is about halfway between the airport and Malaga. It’s a 15 MINUTE WALK with no travelator things!!
I’m going back on the 20th July with Monarch which is the least offensive (along with Thomson) and always seem to have decent gates.
GOODBYE EUROPE sounds a tad final – is it supposed to be like that?
Nice start, but will it last? Too much fun in Brazil to keep blogging?? I’m betting 2 weeks tops and then silence!
Yes, +1 for photos!
Vagaries of flying I have similar problems every time I go to Jersey, apart from the language problems! Was shopping all that Flavia could think of to keep you awake lol! Enjoy the trip Steve look forward to further posts
Great to hear from you. We have very nice weather up here in the polar-region.
I realise that you have a better place to be right now since we are still on duty before our summer vacation period.
Lisa is back home but she is not feeling so well since she have her thyroid problems. She is always extremely tired.
Anyway new time is always coming to us so we intend to take it easy and spend the summer relaxing as much as possible.
We will of course follow your Brazil progress and experiences and we are looking forward to hear from you again.
Live well and take all opportunities to pleasure, joy and delight.
Rickard
Summer is a great time to be in Sweden. I have a feeling that the Brazilian summer is as bad as the Swedish winter but hot and humid instead of cold cold cold. Fortunately winter is just starting here amd it is mostly 28/32C and not unpleasantly humid.
Enjoy your mid-summer party.
Harriet
If I continue to get feedback like this it will be easy to keep on writing. It will be hard to keep motivated if nobdy notices what I say.
Bob.
No, not permanent, I return to Europe early in October.
Sorry about the posting delay but we have been inundated with family. Looks and sounds great. Pity about the slow connection.
We are hoping to get going shortly by road through Portugal and onward and upward but the weather reports on the tele do not encourage.
Returning in October ! I thought you said one should never go back in life. It will be great to catch up if you do make it back. Have a ball !
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