I’m writing from Rubio,  Venezuela.  What an adventure it’s been getting here.  I arrived at O’Hare in plenty of time for check in on Sunday.  Going through security is always stressful but I met an interesting guy who works for a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C.

I hoofed it down the far end of a concourse and arrived at my gate as stated on my ticket.  After getting settled in all nice an cozy a gate change was announced.  My new gate was at the far end of a completely different concourse.  That gate was a madhouse.  There were far more people than available seats.  American Airlines was trying to motivate people to take a later flight with three hundred dollar travel vouchers per ticket.  Then it was announced that there was too much carry-on luggage and some of it would have to be checked-in.  People were given the opportunity for this but some were forced.  Luckily I avoided this.  Then when it came time to board the employees were completely exasperated in trying to board by boarding code.

As it turned out the boarding code boarded the plan front  to back.  As Group two were trying to board they had to climb over Group one trying to get their luggage in the racks.  Before we boarded I heard the American airlines ticket agent across the hall for a trip to Boston announce that she was boarding the plane rear to front.  I nominate her for president of American Airlines.

The flight to Miami was alright.  The only two things I remember about my long layover there is the fourteen dollars I spent on the most terrible lunch I’ve eaten (well half eaten) and that they charged five dollars for a half hour of internet access.  It gets my vote for worst airport of the trip.

I arrived right on time in Medellin last night.  Pastor Daniel and his wife were there to greet me as well as my friend Fabio and his wife Nora.  What a relief to see them.  I was prepared for the hour long drive to the city.  We stopped briefly for coffee at an outdoor eating spot near the airport.  As we continued Fabio turned off the road and started driving up the mountainside on a dirt road.  I found out that we were to spend the night at Fabio’s farm on the mountainside very near the airport.  This would allow me to get a couple more hours of sleep.  What a blessing this was!

The flight to Bogota was short and very good.  Copa Airlines are very nice and professional and the planes are spotless.  I had a four hour layover in Bogota and had no Colombian pesos.  My last meal was on the flight the night before and I wouldn’t arrive in Cucuta until one O’clock in the afternoon.  I ventures out of my concourse and found a money exchange place and exchanged twenty dollars.  For this I had to present my passport to be photocopied, sign a form and get fingerprinted!

On my final flight I sat next to Orlando who works for a foundation in Bogota that works through the church to provide aid to poor children.  We had a lot in common and talked throughout the trip.  Gave me good practice since he spoke no English.

My friends met me at the airport and there was no trouble with the border crossing.  We were in a terrible traffic jam in Cucuta.  The rest of the drive to Rubio was uneventful.  More tomorrow.  I’m getting tired just writing about this trip.