Airport nightmare

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  Caracas, Venezuela
Monday, July 26, 2010

My overnight bus from Cd. Bolivar to Caracas was supposed to arrive at 5am. It didn't get in until 8:30 am. My flight was at 9:10am, and I still needed to get a taxi to the aiport. From the bus station, I hopped in a taxi, but didn't have enough money to go all the way to the aiport. The driver dropped me at another bus station, which had an airport shuttle. I got to the aiport at 9:45. After 15 minutes trying to find someone from the airline or someone who could speak English, a man from information brought me down to the airline office. While I waited for the supervisor to get off the phone, another staff lady handed me a Hershey's kiss.  This helped me to not cry.  I was supposed to be meeting Sina and Adam in Trinidad at the airport, and now I would miss them and probably have to pay for a flight the next day.  Lucily, the supervisor was really helpful. He booked me on the flight the next morning at no cost. 

So I prepared for my 24-hour stay at the airport. After a few hours of boredom, I ran into an Irish guy who was also gearing up for a 24-hour stay. He had arrived a full day early so that he wouldn't miss his flight. Smart man.  He was going to go stay at a hostel, but I somehow inspired him to stay in the airport. We swapped stories, and the time passed quickly. We camped out early to ensure we had a good plastic booth to sleep on in front of Church's Chicken, which is where everyone sleeping in the airport camps out.  The next morning, we parted ways and I got to my gate early.  I still wasn't going to be at ease until I was on the flight.  I got on, and the plane took off without a hitch. I had finally escaped Venezuela... or so I thought.

When I got to Trinidad, I told immigration I was meeting a friend on his sailboat.  I didn't have a return ticket, or any proof that I was going to be staying on the boat, so the agent informed me matter of factly that I would be sent back to Caracas. Panic. No, I can't go back there. I gave them Adam's cell phone number - didn't go through. I showed them emails bewtween us planning for me to come on the boat - she didn't care. I asked if I could email him so he could bring the papers - she wouldn't let me. Thank GOD I had my ipod with me, and thank GOD the airport had free wi-fi, and thank GOD Adam checked his facebook. Also, thank GOD the flight to Caracas was four hours away.  Me and another guy who were being deported were taken up to wait for our flights. When I got up to go to the bathroom, the "guard" got up and came with me. Apparently he had to keep us in sight at all times.  Except when he was falling asleep in the chair, I guess. So at this point I didn't know if Adam was coming or would make it in time.  He had to get the papers cleared before the flight boarded at 4pm. At 3:15, a woman told me to follow her. We went back to immigration, and I thought I was free. Then I panicked that I was just going down to get my passport, which they had confiscated, so that I could get on the flight.  Thankfully, my passport was stamped and I was set free.  I caught a taxi to the boatyard and was finally safe. 

Then began my boating adventure. 

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