23.03.2004
LP 132 JUL-AQP
Seat: 13L
Airbus A320
15:05-15:45
We arrived early to JUL airport and saw an Aero Continente Boeing 727 flight leaving before us to AQP. Our flight was a little delayed due to late arrival from AQP. Short flight to AQP without any service and not many people on the flight. At AQP, we took a taxi to the Posada del Monasterio hotel in downtown Arequipa. This hotel was very modest (especially breakfast) and I wouldn’t recommend it. As we wanted to visit the Colca Canyon, we went to a tour operator called Giardino and booked a one night tour leaving on the 25th. This gave us a whole day to visit Arequipa and especially the Santa Catalina monastery (opposite our hotel). I recommend to take a guided tour in the monastery, which is almost a city inside a city. We also visited some of the churches in Arequipa and made some alpaca goods shopping in an outlet store (Grupo Inca). We also found a very good restaurant called Zig-Zag. In Arequipa we had also had to arrange our last night stay in Lima. We tried to find a room in a good hotel, but everything seemed to be fully booked. On the internet we saw that the Park Miraflores was offering rooms with a special prices. I decided however to call the hotel directly, and they offered me the same special internet price. Later we found out that a big South American bankers conference was taking place and therefore all hotels were almost full.

On the 25th, we joined the tour for Colca (10 tourists in a mini-bus). This two-day tour was specially operated by Giardino tours and we also stayed their hotel near Chivay. The highlight of the tour was the seeing of giant condors in the morning and the Cruz del Condor itinerary. The infrastructure in Colca (especially the road to Colca) is very undeveloped. On the way to Colca we passed the highest point of our whole journey at 4800 metres. Near Chivay, I also went to take a bath in the hot thermal pools. Late in the afternoon on the 26th, we arrived back to Arequipa and had time for an early dinner before going to the airport by taxi.

26.03.2004
LP 106 AQP-LIM
Seat: 18J
Airbus A320
20:20-21:45
We arrived early at AQP and were informed that the plane would be 30 minutes late due to late arrival. The departure lounge was almost full when the plane finally arrived and we could board a few minutes later. The plane was almost full with tourists and probably local businessmen. In the middle of take-off the LAN Peru A320 plane a sudden stop, after which the captain made a quick announcement in Spanish. After a few minutes, the plane rolled towards the terminal building followed by fire brigade trucks. At the terminal we left the plane and I just had time to ask one of the FA’s what had happened. According to the FA, the captain made a stop after a light in the cockpit had started blinking. Once in the terminal building we were informed to wait for further information. After an hour of waiting we got drinks and biscuits. At the same time we could follow the technical staff making inspections around the plane. After two hours the plane made a test start and we were informed that we could board as soon as some inspection reports would have been filled. In total we were than three hours late once we arrived in LIM.

Fortunately we had for this night one of the best hotel in town, but it was almost 2:00 when we checked in and got our room. The Park Miraflores belongs to the Orient Express chain and we really got a five star service. In the morning we made it for breakfast just before the restaurant would close. Unfortunately as the hotel was fully booked for the next night, we couldn’t keep our room after 12:00, but we were allowed to use the fitness room in the highest floor. We also made a visit to one of the biggest mall in Lima for some last minute shopping.

27.03.2004
LA 530 LIM-JFK
Seat: 6D
Boeing 767-300
23:45-07:20+1
As my friend was flying back to Europe via Madrid, his Iberia flight was a couple of hours earlier than mine. We left early to the airport and I had to wait an hour before the LAN Chile check in for the JFK flight was opened. Business class had its own separate check-in (without inspection of luggage), where I got an invitation for the lounge and also my boarding pass for the JFK-HEL flight whit my pre-reserved seat. After paying the departure tax (using the rest of my Peruvian soles), I went to the lounge via the temporary buildings. I think that by this time LIM airport will have finished all restoration work, and they should have a nice airport. The lounge was OK, whit some small snacks and different drinks. Behind the smoking room, there was also a business center whit a couple of PC’s having internet connection. I left the lounge early and hopped on the bus, which was going take me to the aircraft.

On board, some people were already trying to sleep (those flying from SCL to JFK). Business class was once again full. Before take off, drinks were served and once in the air the late snack service started asap so that passengers could catch some sleep before breakfast. The snack and the breakfast were both OK. The staff was also nice and friendly. Otherwise nothing very special on this flight. I could catch a few hours of sleep in the business class seats of this Boeing 767. The IFE system wasn’t the same as on the LAN Chile A340, and screens were much smaller. Landing in JFK was earlier than scheduled.

SNACK SANDWICH
TO START
Fresh fruit juice, tea, coffee and milk
---
Toast served with butter and preserves

GOURMET SANDWICH SELECTION
Ham, tomato and lettuce, served on ciabatta bread with sesame seeds
---
Turkey breast and gruyere cheese served warm on rolled oats bread

OUR SWEETS
Fig cobbler topped with fig compote

BREAKFAST
TO START
Orange juice, fresh seasonal fruit, yoghurt, coffee or tea

WARM ENTRÉES
Omelette served with grilled Canadian ham and sautéed potatoes ‘Spanish style’
---
English ham and Edam cheese sandwich served warm on country bread

FROM THE BAKERY
Choose your selection from our variety of bread served with butter and preserves
Once out of the aircraft, it took some 20 minutes before clearing the passport control. The passport control officer was friendly and just checked that I was really connecting to another flight later in the afternoon. I also got my suitcase very fast and just after customs I went to the LAN Chile / Oneworld transit desk to leave it for transfer to the JFK-HEL flight. As I had a whole day before my flight to HEL would be leaving, I decided to catch the Airtrain and subway to Manhattan and eat something there. Manhattan on a Sunday morning was very calm, but I enjoyed just walking, watching and taking some pics. After a light lunch at a Au Bon Pain, I took the bus back to JFK.

28.03.2004
AY 006 JFK-HEL
Seat: 2D
MD-11
16:55-08:50+1
Even if I had my boarding pass ready, I still went to AY’s check-in to confirm that everything was OK. Now I still ha time to go to the AA lounge to get a shower before another night flight back to home. AA lounge staff was friendly and I was able to take a shower and some orange juice. I left the lounge early as I saw that the security check lines were rather long (an Iberia plane for MAD and BCN was departing at the same time). Once at the gate, I joined the queue (no separate queue for business class) and went to the plane. I got some questions on why I had BP from LAN Chile and had to explain that I had already checked in LIM for this flight. On board I went to my seat and was offered champagne, while waiting for the departure. Business class was full (Finns, Americans, Russians). We took off a bit late, as we had to wait for some connecting passengers, however we arrived early to HEL. Service on board was almost the same as from HEL to BKK. I managed to sleep for a while before breakfast service (some passenger skipped both dinner and breakfast). We arrived earlier than scheduled to HEL and I could make it to work after dropping my suitcase home and taking a shower.

Thank you for reading! I hope I was able to share some of the wonderful experiences I had during this trip.

Dinner
Scandinavian delicacies platter
And/or
Chef’s soup
---
Monkfish Saltimbocca with thyme risotto and Tuscan style vegetables
Or
Fillet of beef with mushroom potato gratin, grilled vegetables
Seasonal salad
---
Fresh fruit
Selection of Cheeses
Or
Pear chocolate tart with mascarpone cream

Breakfast
Fresh orange and grapefruit juice
Fresh fruit salad
Cereals
Scrambled egg with cheese, bacon, grilled tomato

Wines same as for HEL-HKG