Thursday, 14 February 2019
San Augustin, Colombia
It’s been rammed home that the maximum luggage weight for the small twin prop aircraft that’s going to fly from Bogota to Pitilito in the south west of Colombia is 15kg. Rucksack is bordering on 15kg and daysack is about 4kg.
Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men.
Guide drives me to the main international terminal 1 to drop my bag off before we have to drive to a separate domestic terminal 2 some distance away. He’s told that there’s no need. Am a hand luggage only kind of guy. He has to ring office as this is against protocol. Airline insists on checking baggage in excess of 5kg. I’ll sort that problem out. Don’t you worry about it. Just drop me off at domestic departures. I’ll sort myself out. I know what I’m doing.
Domestic departures is a basic affair. Guide is not convinced the size and weight of rucksack will pass the hand luggage test. He speaks with an airline rep who straight away puts a ‘Hand luggage’ tag on my rucksack (admittedly I’m hiding the bulk of it behind my back) so it just looks like a small shoulder bag. As soon as I have that tag on I know I’m OK.
Having already checked in online don’t need to approach the check in desks for further bag inspection.
Plenty of sniffer dogs at security which reminds me I’m now in Colombia. Flight delayed an hour and a half due to weather. Boarding takes place and can see that the aircraft is small. Flash boarding pass making sure rucksack is hidden behind my mass. Not the slightest quizzical look at my bags and straight onto aircraft. It’s a tight fit for the bags but they’re squeezed into the small overhead locker.
Next problem is leg room. There isn’t any.
Boarding gate told me I can’t sit in an emergency exit seat as don’t speak Spanish.
Attempt to sit in normal seat. Can’t physically fit. There’s going to be some young stewardess charmed to death once boarding completed.
Having to sit at an angle with legs and knees in the aisle. Just to prove the point. Do my puppy eyes routine. It’s clear I can’t fit and am in some pain (can do acting when I want!). She asks if I speak Spanish. Can’t. Tell her that if she shouts “Emergencia” I’ll open the exit doors. She giggles. And relents. Am offered the exit row. Ah bliss. Leg room.
You have to push people in life I find.
Short flight to Pitilito. The third smallest airport I’ve flown into (Comandatuba resort in Brasil being the smallest and Honningsvag, North Cape, Norway being second smallest). Not really an airport though. More…an open air building with a small control tower.
Having all my luggage with me there’s no need to wait for all the bags to be unloaded. Unlike all the other rule accepting tourists.
Greeted by a beautiful young girl. Blonde and blue eyed. Ah yes. My guide for a few days. Things are looking up. Naturally assume she’s Colombian. But it gets better. She’s German. And as some of you know, have a fondness for German ladies.
Drive through very scenic mountainous terrain covered in lush green coffee plantations. Drive along the side of a gorge with a river below. There’s a nice feel to this place. Rural houses seem well kept and tidy. Not like Ecuador.
The buildings of San Augustin are painted white and green and the remnants of the town’s Guinness World Record attempt can be seen on a number of walls which have been painted with scenes of the nativity at Christmas.
Arrive at the Akawanka Lodge in San Augustin. Fantastic location on the hillside overlooking San Agustin. A series of lodges with individual rooms set amongst nice gardens.
This’ll do nicely for a few days.
This has a relaxed feel to the place.
And to lift the good mood even further. A Valentine greeting from an old friend.