MEX and SJO - May 7-10
May 23, 2010, 11:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 257
MEX and SJO - May 7-10
Left early morning (2:50 AM) from ORD T5 on MX807, an A319 to ZCL (Zacatecas). Flight was a bit choppy out of Chicago, but smoothed out fairly quickly. T5 sucks at night, as they only leave one restaurant open (and it is not the McDonald's, which would have been preferable - that's how bad this other place is). Overnight on MX they do not serve any food in the cattle car, just a bag of two cookies, Japanese peanuts, and a drink.
I was in 6A, and was uncomfortable with the angling of the fuselage (there was someone in 6C, but 6B was vacant - but hell, moving over would have been a little awkward).
Landed in ZCL and I was one of the first to immigration. You deplane by stairs, and an elderly man in front of me started falling. The two men ahead of him did catch him and escorted him down. Cleared immigration quickly. Since I was heading to MEX, they escorted me back around customs to the gate for my connection.
I had a backpack with me (with my laptop, iPad, and camera equipment). I had stuffed my Airboss into my 22" Kirkland which was my only checked bag). The plan was to race around Mexico City like a lunatic and take a bunch of photographs, as I had nearly a twelve hour layover before going to SJO.
At ZCL they have a great little candy shop at the gate. Ended up buying several miniature bottles of liquor and candies. Weight I did not want in the backpack, but could not resist. Also bought a bag of garapinados (sugar-coated fried peanuts) which I ate as breakfast.
Had an ATR-72 on Aeromar down to MEX. Was in 6A for that flight, right next to the prop. Smooth flight that left about 15 minutes late. Only had 20 of us on board. Quick arrival to MEX, though they park close to T2 and bus you over to T1. Fortunately they dropped us fairly close to the Metro station. I raced down and started my trek (3 trains) to the Zocalo.
Got off at the Zocalo and immediately started taking some pictures. Walked down to the Latin American Tower and went to the observation deck. Grabbed some great shots up there. Then I raced over to the Sanborn's to finally have some lunch (burritos of cochinitas pibil and an iced tea). Caught the metro again and headed over to Tlatelolco. Walked the ruins and took countless photographs.
Caught a cab to bring me to the Bascilica. Got to sleep a little bit in the cab (hadn't slept in 36 hours at that point). Grabbed the shots I needed and began the Metro ride back to the airport. Slept for a couple of hours in a chair in the airport lobby. Long about 8 PM I was going to clear security but thought to ask about the liquids policy for Costa Rica (if you collect mini liquor bottles there are a few stores in landside in T1 that you must check out - but they're towards the domestic side). I was told I could bring 5L of liquids. So I got out of security and went and bought some miniatures that I didn't already have.
Came back, caught the A319 to SJO. Easily cleared immigration and customs, and took an authorized taxi to my hostel (Hostel 1110). Funky little place. Please understand I like to stay at hostels to get a more "authentic" experience, and try to stay away from hotels whenever possible. This was a funky little place and I did manage to accomplish a lot of work while there.
Arrived in SJO at midnight or so. The cab ride took 35 minutes. Immediately crashed.
The next morning I woke up early (7 AM) and had a traditional breakfast (a tamal, eggs with rice, beans and plantains). Started exploring San Jose. Had a bit of time to walk downtown. Then business obligations took over for a while. Had the evening free, where I found the Red Cross' bingo casino. Gambled a bit, and won $40 on a $2 investment (I would have stayed but had to meet someone).
Dinner consisted of pizza and a guava drink. Went back to the hostel and Skyped back home for an hour.
Woke up the next morning and was really able to spend the entire day exploring San Jose. Also took care of my shopping (went to the Centro Comercio del Sur and right across the street is an interesting store called Mundo Pequeno). Bought some coffee, hot sauces, jelly, and miniature liquors, too. Also bought a couple of large plates (still in the box) at Mundo Pequeno - white square plates that are $20 each here. They were $3 each there, and heavy as hell. I know - when I had to pull them out for the security check at the airport the box gave way and my two plates crashed to the floor)
.
Finished my work that night, and went to bed early. Had a 7:15 AM flight out of SJO. MX 386. Had the incident with the plates when they were hand-checking the bags. Checked both my Airboss (decided to after the plates broke) and the Kirkland 22". Flight was fairly smooth coming in to MEX (a little turbulence over Chiapas and Guatemala, but not too bad).
Was the first one in line to immigration at MEX. Decided to stay in the airport, so I did not need to clear Customs. Had some chilaquiles and went to the gate. Cleared the hand-check with no problems and boarded with the other OneWorlds/elite class/other priority boarders.
Flight arrived in Chicago. I raced to the Global Entry kiosk and cleared in 30 seconds or so. They had closed the immigration hall closest to our gate, and the other hall was as chaotic as I've ever seen it. The lines were literally backed up to the main corridor. I stood and waited for the flight's luggage. Mine were the last two pieces, of course. But by the time my pieces came off, not one person had cleared from my flight. Thanks Global Entry!
Two days later I had to leave for Bogota.
That's another story that I really don't feel like writing about.
I was in 6A, and was uncomfortable with the angling of the fuselage (there was someone in 6C, but 6B was vacant - but hell, moving over would have been a little awkward).
Landed in ZCL and I was one of the first to immigration. You deplane by stairs, and an elderly man in front of me started falling. The two men ahead of him did catch him and escorted him down. Cleared immigration quickly. Since I was heading to MEX, they escorted me back around customs to the gate for my connection.
I had a backpack with me (with my laptop, iPad, and camera equipment). I had stuffed my Airboss into my 22" Kirkland which was my only checked bag). The plan was to race around Mexico City like a lunatic and take a bunch of photographs, as I had nearly a twelve hour layover before going to SJO.
At ZCL they have a great little candy shop at the gate. Ended up buying several miniature bottles of liquor and candies. Weight I did not want in the backpack, but could not resist. Also bought a bag of garapinados (sugar-coated fried peanuts) which I ate as breakfast.
Had an ATR-72 on Aeromar down to MEX. Was in 6A for that flight, right next to the prop. Smooth flight that left about 15 minutes late. Only had 20 of us on board. Quick arrival to MEX, though they park close to T2 and bus you over to T1. Fortunately they dropped us fairly close to the Metro station. I raced down and started my trek (3 trains) to the Zocalo.
Got off at the Zocalo and immediately started taking some pictures. Walked down to the Latin American Tower and went to the observation deck. Grabbed some great shots up there. Then I raced over to the Sanborn's to finally have some lunch (burritos of cochinitas pibil and an iced tea). Caught the metro again and headed over to Tlatelolco. Walked the ruins and took countless photographs.
Caught a cab to bring me to the Bascilica. Got to sleep a little bit in the cab (hadn't slept in 36 hours at that point). Grabbed the shots I needed and began the Metro ride back to the airport. Slept for a couple of hours in a chair in the airport lobby. Long about 8 PM I was going to clear security but thought to ask about the liquids policy for Costa Rica (if you collect mini liquor bottles there are a few stores in landside in T1 that you must check out - but they're towards the domestic side). I was told I could bring 5L of liquids. So I got out of security and went and bought some miniatures that I didn't already have.
Came back, caught the A319 to SJO. Easily cleared immigration and customs, and took an authorized taxi to my hostel (Hostel 1110). Funky little place. Please understand I like to stay at hostels to get a more "authentic" experience, and try to stay away from hotels whenever possible. This was a funky little place and I did manage to accomplish a lot of work while there.
Arrived in SJO at midnight or so. The cab ride took 35 minutes. Immediately crashed.
The next morning I woke up early (7 AM) and had a traditional breakfast (a tamal, eggs with rice, beans and plantains). Started exploring San Jose. Had a bit of time to walk downtown. Then business obligations took over for a while. Had the evening free, where I found the Red Cross' bingo casino. Gambled a bit, and won $40 on a $2 investment (I would have stayed but had to meet someone).
Dinner consisted of pizza and a guava drink. Went back to the hostel and Skyped back home for an hour.
Woke up the next morning and was really able to spend the entire day exploring San Jose. Also took care of my shopping (went to the Centro Comercio del Sur and right across the street is an interesting store called Mundo Pequeno). Bought some coffee, hot sauces, jelly, and miniature liquors, too. Also bought a couple of large plates (still in the box) at Mundo Pequeno - white square plates that are $20 each here. They were $3 each there, and heavy as hell. I know - when I had to pull them out for the security check at the airport the box gave way and my two plates crashed to the floor)
.Finished my work that night, and went to bed early. Had a 7:15 AM flight out of SJO. MX 386. Had the incident with the plates when they were hand-checking the bags. Checked both my Airboss (decided to after the plates broke) and the Kirkland 22". Flight was fairly smooth coming in to MEX (a little turbulence over Chiapas and Guatemala, but not too bad).
Was the first one in line to immigration at MEX. Decided to stay in the airport, so I did not need to clear Customs. Had some chilaquiles and went to the gate. Cleared the hand-check with no problems and boarded with the other OneWorlds/elite class/other priority boarders.
Flight arrived in Chicago. I raced to the Global Entry kiosk and cleared in 30 seconds or so. They had closed the immigration hall closest to our gate, and the other hall was as chaotic as I've ever seen it. The lines were literally backed up to the main corridor. I stood and waited for the flight's luggage. Mine were the last two pieces, of course. But by the time my pieces came off, not one person had cleared from my flight. Thanks Global Entry!
Two days later I had to leave for Bogota.
That's another story that I really don't feel like writing about.
May 23, 2010, 12:24 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: UA, Bonvoy, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,582
Thanks for the report. ^
Amenities at T5 are woefully inadequate in the middle of the day, let alone at 2:00 a.m. They desperately need to add more dining options, IMHO. It's a beautiful building but not fun to travel from.
I was in SJO a couple of years ago and stayed in another hostel called Casa Yoses that I really enjoyed. It's a bit off the beaten path--about a 30-minute walk from the main part of downtown San Jose--but the staff/other guests were great, and the grounds are pleasant.
Amenities at T5 are woefully inadequate in the middle of the day, let alone at 2:00 a.m. They desperately need to add more dining options, IMHO. It's a beautiful building but not fun to travel from.
I was in SJO a couple of years ago and stayed in another hostel called Casa Yoses that I really enjoyed. It's a bit off the beaten path--about a 30-minute walk from the main part of downtown San Jose--but the staff/other guests were great, and the grounds are pleasant.