¡Hola Minnesota!

It was a mistake to dress for our sub-zero destination on Saturday morning.  After our short ride in the pleasant, air conditioned bus at the airport, it was fixing to be a damn hot day in Punta Cana. The airport was jam packed with travelers to every airport in the Caribbean, the US, Canada and Europe. By the time we got checked in, we were sweaty and hot, though not quite as sweaty and hot as we were after waiting in line at Wendy’s for a pricey hamburger lunch. If only we had worn our shorts and packed our long pants!

Every seat in the airport was occupied, it seemed. We waited and waited, feeling a little dismayed as we realized that the airport simply did not seem to have the capacity to manage the volume of traffic and number of passengers. Planes arriving waited 10-20-30 minutes for a parking spot. We walked outside to the plane – perhaps 100 yards – and then had to wait at the stairs of the aircraft as passports were checked once again before boarding. The sun beat down on us, bright and hot, burning through my shirt to my red back and activating itch in the dozens of mosquito bites on my body.

On the plane at last! Not one first class seat was occupied and I was ready to plunk down the premium $$ for the extra space, leg room and service. There was no point in trying to persuade Bob that would not be a waste of money, so on we trudged to the middle of the plane. It was hot in there too, as we stuffed ourselves into our seats (A-B-C-D). Unfortunately, it seems that only one, instead of three, air traffic controllers was on duty and departures were running an hour behind. And that’s about what ours was, such that we got home at 6:30 p.m. or so, well over an hour after our scheduled arrival time.

When we finally stepped out of the cab, the temperature was cold but not frigid. The snow sparkled under the yard light and it felt good to be home.  As I write this last blog entry later Sunday afternoon, the rest of our group may already have left Dreams Palm Beach. AC1855 is scheduled to depart Punta Cana at 10:00 p.m. local time, for an arrival in Toronto at 1:40 a.m. Monday morning. I’m looking forward to exchanging emails and pics!

Adios!