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The long trip home
My first flight of today was scheduled to depart at 8 a.m. Not knowing how frequently the bus to Logan Square station would pass so early in the morning, I preferred to have a cab take me there. Out of bed at 4:00, check-out from the hotel at 4:45, taxi very much on time 5 minutes later, on the platform at 5:16. Although I had read somewhere that the Blue Line to the airport runs 24 hours a day at 7 minute intervals, the next train would only leave in 17 minutes. Not too much of a problem.https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/1dJJg2.jpg All in all, it took me 1 hour to get from the hotel to the airport. Trekking from the CTA station to Terminal 5 via long corridors, escalators up, overpasses, escalators down, underground passages, etc., took a while as well, but fortunately check-in went pretty swiftly. The (more senior) agent asked me if I intended to stay in Panama, which I negated and explained that I was just connecting in PTY. Chicago ORD – Panama City PTY Copa Airlines CM 236 STD / ATD: 07:56 / 07:56 STA / ATA: 13:24 / 13:42 B738 HP-1840CMP Seat: 2F Once I was seated the cabin crew pointed out that no carry-on baggage should be stowed on the floor, not even small backpacks like mine, so up in the overhead bin it went. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/1nNVcN.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/x8wzr7.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/ildUsl.jpg The pre-departure beverages on offer were water and orange juice. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/Ksxvhf.jpg Suddenly the more junior of the two agents working the counter where I checked in approached me and asked for proof of onward travel out of Panama. Fortunately, I had checked in online the evening before and was able to show him the boarding pass for my flight from PTY to BOG that same day. He then asked for my passport, and after flipping through the booklet returned it without any comment. All very strange. In any case, my U.S, visa is good for entry into Panama and I had been there both at the beginning of this trip and in February on my trip to St. Maarten. Were they really afraid that I would stay? After another lengthy taxi through that immense construction site that ORD is at the moment, we took off from runway 10L 15 minutes after leaving the gate (sorry for the blur). https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/NxSyWF.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/e1Yjv6.jpg Breakfast choices were French toast or omelet, of which I opted for the latter. It came with a croissant and a fruit salad. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/bzHYDD.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/P7xeMS.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/W32aUT.jpg Skirting Florida’s west coast, we passed Tampa, Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda, Fort Myers/Cabo Coral, Naples, Marco Island, the Florida Keys, and Varadero in Cuba in relatively short succession. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/VdKDuZ.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/3z8D2w.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/CbUmci.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/P74jDX.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/0Wpdmy.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/Fhm9Rr.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/73A7cq.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/yKB6Eg.jpg Who would have thought that these places would all be battered by Hurricane Milton only a few days later? To pass the time I watched a couple of movies from the IFE and soon we were on approach to PTY, with the southern access to the Panama Canal clearly visible. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/LdQR8Y.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/CQZfzk.jpg After a first landing attempt which was aborted due to wind shear or tailwind (the explanations were different in English and in Spanish) we landed without any hiccups 15 minutes later and had an extremely long taxi (for PTY standards anyway) of 21 minutes to the gate. Instead of the usual recording on the IFE screen, the purser came personally to each seat to thank the passengers for choosing CM. |
Stopover in Panama & Copa Lounge in T2
Once off the plane at the far end of Terminal 2 I made the long trek to the opposite end of Terminal 1, where the gates usually used by Avianca are located. At 20 minutes without using walkways it was certainly a good exercise after several hours sitting still on a plane. The Avianca gate was just opening and I quickly got my printed boarding passes. Now back to T2. Access to the Copa lounge in Terminal 1 is located quite inconspicuously between a candy shop and a coffee outlet, on the landside-facing corridor of the concourse. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/ffXJO4.jpg This used to be the only CM lounge and was equipped with showers, but since the opening of Terminal 2 and the lounge there the shower area here was shut down. Access to the Copa Club in Terminal 2 is via escalators in front of the Attenza Duty Free in the center of the concourse, though I am sure there is also an elevator. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/BbY8fZ.jpg With the boarding pass from the flight I arrived on in J and the statement that I would continue on another *A carrier I was invited in. The lounge offers a manned bar, several different seating areas, a TV room, a working area, family room, resting room, and great views of the apron and one of the runways. There are also washrooms and four shower rooms available in the lounge. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/2iFuIz.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/8bn2HP.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/5gGQGs.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/wPGstB.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/d5IDbD.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/PEyiT8.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/ctuDXp.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/bCKZla.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/Vq5epa.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/1KOnK4.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/5YoXOj.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/okWqhN.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/yogR0N.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/q3hpCH.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/tEzDXO.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/H5Zj8G.jpg On offer at the lounge buffet were lemon crumble tart and bread pudding for the sweet tooth, and Tex-Mex salad, chickpea salad, yucca ceviche, toast, hot sauce, and beef and chicken empanadas. A coffee machine and a beverage dispenser rounded up the offerings. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/QQdi0g.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/pkFPRB.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/ZJsXEB.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/isOCdY.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/IDNO2h.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/1v1Iq1.jpg These items were constantly restocked but remained unchanged throughout my 6-hour stay from 2:30 pm to 8:30 pm. I helped myself to a bit of everything except the chickpeas. Contrary to what I had expected, the beef-filled empanadas were bone-dry while the chicken ones had a proper moist filling. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/7hagL7.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/K5ha5M.jpg Later I may have had a G&T or 3 from the bar while catching up on TR’s. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/AG07gd.jpg Closer to my departure time I had a shower to freshen up and then made my way back to T1 and the AV gate. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/krVXPj.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/nfjQaq.jpg Panama City PTY – Bogotá BOG Avianca AV 057 STD / ATD: 21:40 / 21:33 STA / ATA: 23:14 / 22:56 A20N N963AV Seat: 30A Boarding started at 20:55, early for the relatively light load on this flight and by 21:44 we were airborne off runway 3L. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/DON550.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/shUX1Q.jpg Let’s see if I find something on the BOB menu. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/nratVG.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/kfARft.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/vGY1YC.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/mBYReM.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/TXIZTs.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/5tSnhx.jpg A focaccia sandwich and a beer hit the spot nicely, though I was the only passenger to order anything that evening. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/gHIk0C.jpg The cockpit crew started the descent into BOG just as we were overflying Medellin (MDE) and twenty minutes later we parked at the gate, starting the long trek through a deserted arrivals concourse to international connections. Fortunately, there was no queue at security and I was airside again in no time. My next and last flight of this trip would depart in just a tad more than 7 hours and I decided that it would be too much hassle and too little time to go to a hotel for the short night, staying in the terminal instead. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/X9hjYV.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/a6qnN3.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/DnFLCo.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/oDQC7Y.jpg Not the Raffles, not the Regency, not the Ritz but a rock-hard lounger to spend the night on. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/Cg4PRy.jpg Now, BOG is an airport that has no curfew and operations go on throughout the night. Trying to get some sleep between the usual boarding calls and five “last” calls for Viva Aerobus to Mexico City to my left at 2 am and then the boarding calls and another five “last” calls for American to MIA at 3 in the morning to my right was not very conducive to peaceful sleep. A week or so after my return I learned that BOG now offers sleeping pods in the international terminal at a place called Sleep Oasis for USD 8,50/hr. Good to know for next time! |
The last leg
Very early the next morning it was time for the last leg of this trip, the flight home to SOT, scheduled to depart at 7:15 am. We were leaving again from a bus gate and all passengers from group C onwards (I was in boarding group D) were requested to gate-check their carry-on baggage. The rollaboards were to be taken on the bus and handed over to the ground crew at the foot of the airstairs. The plane was parked at the furthest of the remote stands, literally in the boondocks of BOG, and the bus ride there took so long that I jokingly thought: “They aren’t going to bus us all the way to SOT, are they?” The flight was – again – totally full and in seats B and C next to me I had a young couple with a baby that would not stop crying for the duration of the flight. Rather than being upset I felt sorry for the parents who couldn’t find a way to mollify their baby in all that time. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/LGs3dG.jpg The 737-200 still going strong, at least hauling cargo: https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/dn9MlF.jpg A few random thoughts that crossed my mind while writing up this report: - You can choose your holiday destination, but you don’t get to choose the weather you encounter there. On this trip it was not always bright sunshine, but even the rainy and foggy days had their charm somehow. Besides: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. - As a consequence of the above, I didn’t get to see any northern lights during my stay in Alaska, something I had been looking forward to. Some people said that it was still too early (September), but I saw newspaper headlines reporting sightings. - Also, not once in my 2+ weeks in Alaska did I get to see an Alaska Airlines plane in a special livery. They are probably all deployed in the Lower 48 + HI. Well, this turned out to be a bit longer than I had anticipated. I hope I didn’t bore you out of your minds. Anyway, if you made it this far, you deserve an endurance award! Thanks for bearing with me. Now it’s time to plan the next trip! |
Thank you for taking the time to share your report and photos. I enjoyed the ride along!
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Excellent report, thoroughly enjoyed it, and you are a hardier soul than I, opting to sleep in the airport, those loungers looked brutal.
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A pleasure to read. Thanks for taking us along
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I can remember the first time I saw Denali in the distance. It was looking at some earth Shakra or something like that. It's a very powerful looking and prominent mountain.
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Great TR thanks for that. Very interesting and authentic.
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Originally Posted by halfcape
(Post 36667289)
Thank you for taking the time to share your report and photos. I enjoyed the ride along!
Originally Posted by JapesUK
(Post 36668081)
Excellent report, thoroughly enjoyed it, and you are a hardier soul than I, opting to sleep in the airport, those loungers looked brutal.
Originally Posted by hoffmich45
(Post 36668791)
A pleasure to read. Thanks for taking us along
Originally Posted by HavensAway
(Post 36683701)
I can remember the first time I saw Denali in the distance. It was looking at some earth Shakra or something like that. It's a very powerful looking and prominent mountain.
Originally Posted by stevie
(Post 36684529)
Great TR thanks for that. Very interesting and authentic.
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An exceptional report. As someone who has traveled around many parts of Alaska once upon a time, but very skittish about getting stuck somewhere (after I spent several hours @ OME on the way to OTZ and never made it, instead flying back to ANC - for some folks, it was their third diversion to OME that day) and learning afterward that no one made it in or out of OTZ for 3 days, I was pleased that I never made it. I've spent a crystal clear winter day in Kodiak (spectacular, albeit limited roads on which to travel and the inflight chop was special), the better part of 24 hours @ BRW - during peak midnight sun time only to have it overcast the whole night - I found it a quite unappealing place. But had I never been, I'd still want to go,and can say I've been from Point Barrow to Punta Arenas.
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Originally Posted by Eastbay1K
(Post 36688110)
An exceptional report.
Originally Posted by Eastbay1K
(Post 36688110)
As someone who has traveled around many parts of Alaska once upon a time, but very skittish about getting stuck somewhere (after I spent several hours @ OME on the way to OTZ and never made it, instead flying back to ANC - for some folks, it was their third diversion to OME that day) and learning afterward that no one made it in or out of OTZ for 3 days, I was pleased that I never made it. I've spent a crystal clear winter day in Kodiak (spectacular, albeit limited roads on which to travel and the inflight chop was special), the better part of 24 hours @ BRW - during peak midnight sun time only to have it overcast the whole night - I found it a quite unappealing place. But had I never been, I'd still want to go,and can say I've been from Point Barrow to Punta Arenas.
By the way, I'm sure I'm not alone in wondering when whe might see a new report by Eightblack. Definitely missing those gor may feasts aloft with le pop du cork and filay minyone! |
Saludos Trekkfugl!,
What a fantastic trip - and an equally wonderful trip report! :tu: :tu: It was great to meet you during your short visit to Fairbanks, and I hope you'll find an airfare worthy of returning to Alaska after we finally get the park road open all the way to Wonder Lake again. If I may say so, you take some excellent photos - especially those taken from the air. Not everybody has the eye that you do, so thanks again for those great photos. By the way, just as an update - that trip report that I've been working on for the past few months is up to 56000 words and a couple hundred photos so far - entirely too wordy for most of the Photo Report devotees here at the TR Forum, but hopefully they'll like the photos. I'm on the final portions of it, after which I've got to proof read and finally post it. Hopefully that will happen within the next two weeks. In the meantime, estoy seguro de que hablo por muchos when I say that we eagerly anticipate your next excellent trip report. Here's wishing you many future great travels, and should my travels take me to or near your corner of the world again, I'll be sure to give you a heads up. :tu: |
Originally Posted by Seat 2A
(Post 36881140)
Saludos Trekkfugl!,
What a fantastic trip - and an equally wonderful trip report! :tu: :tu: It was great to meet you during your short visit to Fairbanks, and I hope you'll find an airfare worthy of returning to Alaska after we finally get the park road open all the way to Wonder Lake again. If I may say so, you take some excellent photos - especially those taken from the air. Not everybody has the eye that you do, so thanks again for those great photos. By the way, just as an update - that trip report that I've been working on for the past few months is up to 56000 words and a couple hundred photos so far - entirely too wordy for most of the Photo Report devotees here at the TR Forum, but hopefully they'll like the photos. I'm on the final portions of it, after which I've got to proof read and finally post it. Hopefully that will happen within the next two weeks. In the meantime, estoy seguro de que hablo por muchos when I say that we eagerly anticipate your next excellent trip report. Here's wishing you many future great travels, and should my travels take me to or near your corner of the world again, I'll be sure to give you a heads up. :tu: Sorry for the belated reply. I was on the road, on the tracks, in the air myself during the last several weeks and did not check in much on this site. Don’t get too excited though, as this last one wasn’t a “reportable” trip, so there will be no write-up about it. Thanks for your kind words regarding this trip report, though – at least to me – my photos are on average not nearly as good as those of other contributors on here. It was indeed a pleasure meeting you up in Fairbanks. A return there is dependent on the reopening of the park road all the way to where it used to go. Let’s hope that happens in the not-so-distant future. I see that you finished and posted your most recent report a few days ago. Congrats on that! Many of us were anticipating this eagerly. |
I am reminded that on a trip once from Fairbanks to Anchorage I drove by a place with the charming name of Skinny Dick’s Halfway Inn. It wasn’t much past Ester, I think. Have you stayed there and can recommend it?
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f6342c88a.jpeg |
Originally Posted by vanillabean
(Post 37333205)
I am reminded that on a trip once from Fairbanks to Anchorage I drove by a place with the charming name of Skinny Dick’s Halfway Inn. It wasn’t much past Ester, I think. Have you stayed there and can recommend it?
I haven't been in there in a few years, but it's always good for a cold beer and a laugh. It's closed during the winter months (November - April I believe) Over the past couple of years, they have been building some basic cabins on site, but I don't know if they rent rooms out. |
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