Safe and Sound (reposted from 22 APRIL 2017)

(Friday night April 21, 2017)

I fell in love with Qantas again. I never want to fly with anyone else ever, ever again. 


Unfortunately I had to. Latam Airlines from Santiago to Rio DJ. No doubt my opinion was somewhat effected by the fact I just came of premium economy back to cattle class with cold soggy cheese & tomato sandwiches as the flight meal. 


Santiago Airport seriously needs a facelift but was efficient. I hadn't thought about needing pesos.  But during my transit there I had a few hours to fill and NEEDED COFFEE.   


RDJ International Airport is very modern and efficient. Time from disembarking plane to outside was not more than about 40 minutes. Travelling light does help expediate this process. 

 


Once ensconced in my hostel I set about unpacking. It's awkward you know - trying to stack & hang everything in one locker which has one hanging rack and one coat-hanger. Then there's the inevitable overstuffed bag of stuff to take the bathroom in which there are too few hooks and no benches or shelves. Two women were relaxing in the room when I arrived and they turned in early. I felt like an elephant crashing around as I tried to sort myself out - changing my mind several times on where things should go, accidentally slamming the door behind me, padlocking, unpadlocking, and then repadlockingj my locker, changing my mind about which hidden pocket should hide which card or what cash, etc. It all screams 'NEW GUY!!!' to everyone around you.

 

(Saturday morning April 22, 2017)

I slept pretty well for my first night although not long enough.  I was so comfy though!  I slept on a lower bunk, mattress supported by a couple of wooden boards and a seriously scruffy, flat pillow (I covered it with several layers of sheet).  And I had my "sleep sheet" made from an old sheet my mum had given me, that my lovely mother-in-law modified for me before I left.  


I began waking up at about 5am I think and at about 6:20 I decided it might be good to go for a walk.  Locate some grocery stores, check out Copacabana Beach and get a little exercise.  It rained in the early morning and it was pleasantly cool for my walk but not raining.  It is overcast though.  I kind of hope it will fine up but it may be very humid then.  Okay, brekky is ready! Yay!


Here's some tips I've gleaned from the journey so far because learning vicariously usually involves less pain.


TIP #1 Fly with Qantas in preference to any other airline.

TIP #2  Buy at least one small snack & water bottle to take on the plane - especially if not flying Qantas and/or flying economy.  (Take more if it's a long flight!)

TIP #3  Get a small amount of currency to use at any transit airport (unless you're one of the VIPs in the club lounges)TIP #4  Travel light!!  (Hopefully I'm not going to wish I'd brought more)

TIP #5  bring your own flat pack shelves

TIP #6  Everyone gets to be the new guy sometimes. Be patient when it's someone else's turn.

TIP #7  Ignore tip #5. It's silly.

TIP #8 Definitely bring your own sleep sheet if you're staying in a hostel.

TIP #9 ok, now I'm just getting carried away....sorry.

 
  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Clubbing Rio Style

Image
  One benefit of staying in a hostel is the opportunity to meet other travelers and explore the city together.  This is especially beneficial when you are travelling on your own!  I met Wassan at the hostel and she, also traveling alone, invited me to accompany her to a the Samba Festa at Arcos de Lapa on Saturday April 22 .   At night this area is buzzing, people spilling out onto the streets   , music pumping out of every doorway (mostly samba, but also some western pop/rock cover bands and reggaeton or rap).  The energy is electric.  People dancing everywhere.  The photo on the left doesn't really do it justice, but we were in an area where I had to be careful not to have my phone/camera out whilst in the street so I didn't get the best photos of the scene! The music and dancing was pure joy to me  and Wassan and I stayed for a few hours dancing to the samba band and the reggaton DJ.    It was incredibly loud and took a...
Read more

Central Markets and "The Selarón Stairs"

Image
After teaching yesterday there was no more work for the day so I decided to go and check out the "Museu de Arte Moderna" (Museum of Modern Art).     However, there was a strike in Rio DJ yesterday and pretty much all the 'attractions' were closed so I wandered around town until I found the "Mercados do Centro" and did a little gift shopping.  Cidade do Centro is full of Portuguese Colonial style and wire spaghetti.     Feeling a little footsore I decided perhaps I'd had enough so I returned to the hostel knowing I had plans to go to a samba club later that night with a couple of the girls from the hostel.  However, due to the strike and general unrest, we were warned against going to the place we had planned and instead went to a live concert somewhere else.  I had no idea this was a hip hop artist famous with the teens and young adults.       My first real night club experience I have to say!  Crushed!  Although I was glad to ...
Read more