Yes gentle reader, this was the itinerary AV got me for their snafu: 0505 dep to SAL San Salvador, 0400 check-in deadline (no matter that I only had a carry-on), 0315 pick-up back to UIO, and the resultant inability on my part to sleep properly.
Notice the strategic placement of the coins - just a bit paranoid since I've read somewhere that it is possible to extract info from barcodes on BPs.
Now this was a much better offering - then again it was an international sector after all:
It actually tasted decent... not unlikely a function of lack of sleep and reduced faculty in discriminating what 'tasted decent' really meant.
After a bit of work on my computer, and a fitful nap of indeterminate length, the verdant tropical coast of El Salvador bathed in golden light was a sight for bleary eyes:
SAL - a single runway, one terminal hub of AV:
After a 50-min connection, off we went again:
SAL behind and below us
Somewhere over the Gulf of Mexico...
When another breakfast was served:
Scrambled eggs instead of omelet for variety
Scheduled arrival at YYZ was around 1400, but I knew I'd be hungry again, so here's what I got from the other comp. meal at the Sheraton. I went back to the restaurant after my stroll in the old town and ordered dinner from the 'chef's menu' - grilled chicken breast with roasted veggies. I chuckled inwardly when I spied somewhat envious sideway glances from my seat mate - or was that a bit of a derisive smirk at the fact that a grown man had a 'travelling companion' (just out of the shot)?
So there you are, my rather fun and eventful trip down to the equator (first of two, on two continents, in just a bit more than two weeks - next one being SIN, in a week's time at the time of writing).
I did in fact miss work for Monday, and AV's offer of an EMD worth USD $46 for their mistake and my disruption is unsatisfactory at best. We shall see if my colleague in GPS manages to get more out of them and from the travel insurance company; not holding my breath tho.
Despite that hiccup, I would absolutely want to go back to the Galapagos and Quito and spend much more time exploring so much more those places have to offer.
Until next time, thanks for reading, and happy contrails!
Engage!