Dan says on Jul 1, 2004, 10:57:
I'm back First Tiopipe, Yes Delta is flying Atlanta-Bogota. Thats how I flew.
Well, first part of my flight was from my city in North Carolina which Delta has Connection flights going from the regional airport here to Atlanta, From there, I had to wait abt 3 hrs or so for the flight to bogota. The International Concorse (E) seems to be a nice area to spend some time in. I did a lot of walking around in concourse D also just to wast time. Anyway, When I checked in at my regional airport, they just asked to look at my passport just because I was going international. Then was checked again as you go on the plane to Colombia. Normally, I travel to Colombia via other means on official buisness/passport, so this was the first time going through Bogota airport and using my own passport. First thing done while going into the airport, you come to some LONG lines, turns out this is the "Inmigración" lines. At first, I only saw about 3 lines or so until you get closer then realize the area goes around the corner to see other lines. Going through the inmigracion was easier than I expected, I was just asked how long I was going to stay in Colombia and the purpose, got a stamp for 60 days and was on my way. The only way to go after that is through baggage claim. I didn't have anything there so I didn't worry about that. There were people working there to help with your bags on the carts. After baggage claim, you go through a door to hand the guy standing next to it the customs form filled out on the plane. through the door, there are x-ray machines to scan bags, I'm not sure if it was random or if I was supposed to go through it, so I just followed another guy around them and to the outside. That was interesting too. Outside, there are close to a few hundred people waiting to greet the arrivals along with all the taxi drivers and airport personal and police around. I found a taxi and went to the hotel. I was charged $20,000 pesos. does anyone know if its normal to be charged that to or from the airport? Just asking because I know I can go from on end of the city to the other and normally not charged more than 10mil MAX.
Anyway, the time spent in bogota was great. It was nice to be there without worrying about work. I spent every moment with my girlfriend and a little bit of time with her friends, cousins and daughter. It was only a week and wish it could have been longer. It just keeps getting harder and harder to leave her and it's not much easier for her either. She is such a wonderful woman.
I had asked her to marry me and now the hard part is going to be actually going through with it. The reason being is that I have to go to colombia for work in Aug for 3 months or so and can't spend much time with her and also trying to get the paperwork done in time. I know with some of the requirements like the copy of her cedula and letter it would be easier to get that to me. but then I have to get a copy of my birth certificate from the state dept. in Washington DC and I believe she needs hers too which may be a bit out of the way for her (luckly she has family where she was born). I'm just hoping getting all the neccessary stuff done goes well. I'm looking at getting it all done before Dec if possible. The main reason for that is because she is pregnant and I told her that I prefer to go through with it before the birth because I believe it would be a better chance for dual nationality. I myself was born in a different country, but as far as I know, I don't have a birth certificate for the other country and with out dual citizenship (Something I should probably ask my dad). Right now, she is a little (ok a LOT) worried about the whole process too and I keep trying to reassure everything will be alright. and shes also worried about insurance for medical costs, so I'm hoping all goes well for that too.
Anyway, back to the trip... I found everyone in Bogota very helpful when needed and very kind. I've never felt more comfortable anywhere else that I can ever remember. All the places that I have seen around Bogota, I would say that it is probably one of the cleanest/well kept cities that I've visited whether it was in the high class zona rosa area or what would be considered "the slums" or whatever you might call them. I had gone to my girlfriends house where her two cousins that she lives with welcomed me with open arms. The main reason for my trip was for my girlfriends daughters 7th birthday. it was interesting because the sang "happy birthday" and then I believe something else in spanish.
The hardest part about the whole trip was having to leave. My girlfriend was asking me to stay even for one day more. From what I know, the flights into and outof are always full. so I couldn't stay. It was not easy to watch her get into a taxi and head back to her house. After I checked out of the hotel, I went to the airport with the hotel car and again was 20mil for the ride. When I got to the airport, everything seemed fairly quite around the outside, until walking though the doors to the inside. At a couple of the doors there were police looking for reservations or tickets to get inside. I just showed them the flight info that I had printed off the internet from my reservation. When I found the line for Delta, it took a moment to find the end of the line. as you move forward in the line you come up to a counter to show your reservation to continue in the line. There was a second counter for the airport/exit tax. When I got there, I was told I had to go to another part of the airport to get some card for a tax exemption or something or another. I think it was because I was there as a visitor, I'm not entirely sure on that. Anyway, I left the line, to get the card and returned to the back of the line, again. The purpose of the card is to pay the tax at 80mil or $29. After I paid the exit fee. I waited to contine in the line for the counter and there I got my boarding pass. By the way. If you have any baggage to check in, the take and scan it before you get to the counter. they set the bags aside until you get to the counter and you just point out which ones are yours. After getting the boarding pass, you head up the stares to toward the gates. There you go though a security checkpoint scan carry on bags/jackets or whatever you might be carring on, metal detector and get padded down. If I remember right, afterwards you go through the inmigracion booths again for the exit stamp and then to the gate. At the gate, again, get bags checked and scaned and then to the plane for the flight.
When I got into Atlanta, they have customs officers by the doors of the gate to check passports and ask questions. I was asked what the purpose of the trip to colombia was for and whether or not I worked for the airline (trying to figure that one out) At the immigration booths there are a lot of lines some are labled for either US Citizens or Foreign Visitors. By the time I finally got to the booth I was asked the usual questions as far as purpose of trip, am I carring food products, etc. I mentioned that I was on vacation and visiting my girlfriend got another stamp there and on my way toward baggage. Because I didn't have any there I bypassed that and was stopped by one of the customs officers that was by the plane as to whether i had any checked baggage, I told him I didn't and he asked me about how I mentioned visiting my girlfriend, which I thought was odd because this guy i had seen only by the plane but I mentioned it to the guy at the booth only. He also asked me if I was in the military and to check if I had any ID for it. He gave me my passport back again and I was on my way. somewhere in there, there was more baggage scanning and rechecking of bags for connecting flights etc. I ended up staying in Atlanta Airport for abt 8hrs for my next flight to my cities regional airport. all the earlier flights were full so I couldn't get an earlier one. So I walked around a lot.
Some of the things I will remember to do next time and advice for others:
1. Hotel reservations: Call them to make sure they get it. don't rely
only on internet reservations.
2. I didn't see/notice any ATM's in the Airport when I arrived but
you should make sure you have something for the taxi ride away
from the airport.
3. When you leave Colombia, arrive at the airport early to get through
the line.
4. When you arrive at the airport. get the card for tax exemption for
the exit fee. it's a little booth just inside the entrance/exit 6.
5. make sure you have that card, and your tickets or reservation to
get on the flight.
6. Because of all the screening, I would recommend what I did and put
everything (wallet, keys, change) in a jacket if you have one so
that all you have to dois put the jacket in a basket and you can
grab it and be on your way.
That's about the main things I can think of right now. If anyone has any questions let me know, and I'll try to answer what I can.
Happy travels
Daniel
God Bless America!
0 funny, 0 helpful.
