Rewind to Immigration in LA. How to make one feel like a criminal in one easy lesson. What was our business in the USA? What were we bringing into the USA? Ummm, let me see - that would be ourselves and our luggage. Don't understand the question we said. He - the one wearing the gun - said very slowly "connnnnnntraaaabaaaaaaaaaaannnnnd" - oh no we said, nothing like that. Just our personal belongings. It was all very serious - no smiling, no laughing, face the front, and certainly no small talk. No trouble though, and only took about 10 mins, but a bit intimidating.
We left the hotel not long after I finished the last blog, as we were concerned that we couldn't reserve seats on line, and the plane was showing very full. Was just as well as it took an hour to check in and get through Immigration. Oh yes, there's another story. Do you remember on our last trip when we got to Hong Kong, and I thought someone was telling Richard about the Thai food on Level 8? (And for those of you who don't remember, it was actually a level 8 typhoon.) Well, I had another moment like that going through Immnigration in LA. The airport caters for both domestic and international travellers, and all must go through the same rigmarole (ie what we go through for international travel). And going to Puerto Rico is considered domestic as it's within the USA. So out with the plastic bag for gels and lipstick etc, and the laptop - also had to take everything out of our pockets, remove our shoes, and I had to take off the pashmina which I had wrapped around my neck cause it was so golly cold. I went through first, and was told to walk into the x-ray machine, turn to the left, put my feet in each of the blue squares, and stand like a preacher. Excuse me? Stand like a preacher? Note that I did NOT say this out loud. So I turned to my left, thinking what the golly does stand like a preacher mean? Put my feet in the blue squares, looked up and there was a picture of how to stand. Oh, stand like the picture! Damn Spanish accent!!! From LA on, all announcements are broadcast in English then Spanish on the plane, in the airports, and most brochures are printed in both languages too.
4.5 hour flight from LA to Miami, dozed on/off, uneventful really. Got to Miami, and had 2 hours to kill before flight to San Juan. All good, boarded the plane which was chocka, and were sitting next to a flight attendant who was transferring from Miami to San Juan to get a flight which was to be the last leg of a 3-day shift. Got chatting to her while we waited for the plane to leave. And we waited. 15 mins late - no announcement. 30 mins late - no announcement. Our seat-mate (whose name we don't know) said it was most unusual to not have an announcement about why the delay. Finally the captain said they were waiting to refuel but they were being told "we don't know how much longer it will be", and that all other planes were being told the same thing. The next announcement, about an hour later, said that the refuelling truck was now at the plane and we would soon be on our way. So, 2 hours late, we were finally ready to go. Engines on, and taxi out to the runway. And we taxied, and taxied, and taxied, then an announcement saying there were a couple of mechanical issues and we were going to another gate to get the aircraft serviced. Doors were opened as they had to turn the air off, and an hour later they said we had to disembark and take all of our belongings with us as they didn't know how long we'd be. Off the plane, and we found out there had been a fire at Miami Airport and refuelling was being done by truck rather than underground tanker, which is why it had taken so long, and less than 40% of planes would be getting out of Miami that day. So if the mechanical problems on our plane could not be fixed, we'd have two-fifths of five-eighths chance of getting out of Miami that day. Thank goodness we'd allowed a couple of days before getting on the ship. So, off to the coffee shop, and a look around a bookstore, then waiting waiting waiting. Two hours later we were told the problems had been resolved and we could get back on the plane. Hooray - everyone cheered and clapped. Back on the plane and away we went - 4 hours late, but better late than never.
We were absolutely knackered by the time we got here and both brain-dead - yes, more so than usual. Unpacked, had a look around the hotel, swim (freezing cold!) and spa, drink at the pool cafe, early dinner and lights out at 8pm. Woke up a couple of times through the night but straight back to sleep, and we both woke up at 5.45am so consider that we've done really well. Have been for a walk down the beach, and now on a couple of sun loungers by the pool. Will post this, then we're going to head into Old San Juan for a look around, then hope to get back to the pool by mid-afternoon. Nice. Great way to start a holiday. Adios!
