This is less than 3 days of my life. In a nutshell this is what traveling is like: the random people you run into, the waiting, the lucky situation, the diversity, and the how the hell did I end up here?
July 3th:
- I waited for my luggage at the back of the airport bus.
- A boy walked off the bus with my iPod and gave it to me.
- I dropped off my luggage.
- I turned around to the desk, so the flight attendant could give me back my passport.
- Stephanie and I had a sandwich.
- We waved goodbye while I walked through Airport Security.
- I had a good flight from Medellin to Bogota.
- The taxi driver brought me to the Cranky Croc hostel.
- I walked around the La Candelaria neighborhood and I had dinner by myself.
- When I just went to bed my roommates arrived: 4 Americans and a Dutchie.
- One American couple were on the same flight as me the next day.
- She also worked as a flight attendant for the airline we were flying with.
July 4th:
- I had a typical Colombian breakfast around the corner, called Tamale. It contained peas, potatoes and chicken.
- In the hostel kitchen I met a Mexican, who had an interesting story. Someone told him about a special shaman. So he went by boat to an island off the coast of Peru, and he walked to through the jungle to get to the shaman. He stayed with him for 15 days. In those 15 days they did Ayahuesca, an ancient ritual. He hallucinated he was in a room, as big as the hostel kitchen. The room had two small domes and huge worms were crawling around.
- He's Facebook friends with the shaman.
- We became Facebook friends.
- I split the cab with the two Americans. She had her Spirit Airlines uniform on, while she wouldn't be working on our flight.
- My flight to Chicago was canceled. Technical problem. So I had to stay in my stop-over destination: Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They gave me vouchers for a hotel and a meal.
- I spent my last Colombian Pesos at Juan Valdez for a coffee and a big cookie.
- I called Stephanie before take-off.
- On the flight my American flight attendant brought me a free drink.
- The guy next to me advised me to go see the 4th of July fireworks at the beach.
- In Fort Lauderdale I had to wait in line for 2 hours at Customs.
- It took me 15 seconds to go through Customs.
- After picking up my bag I had to wait another 10 minutes to get outside the airport.
- I took the shuttle to my hotel.
- At the horizon I saw 2 firework arrows.
- At the hotel I had to wait another 20 minutes before I could check-in.
- The hotel did not serve diner, so I waited 20 minutes for a shuttle to a different hotel.
- The shuttle driver told us he would not bring us back, because his shift ended at 10 PM.
- I had dinner with a friendly Indian couple, who lived in Chicago. I had a burger. It was the first thing I ate after breakfast.
- We had to wait another 25 minutes until the Airport shuttle driver arrived at the hotel.
- Another guy just started his shift, and drove us back to our hotel. We told our story. And we said we're flying with Spirit Airlines. He told us we were lucky, because we had a ticket flying out the next day. Normally they keep people there for two or three days.
- I got back at the hotel around 11.30. I fell asleep one hour later.
July 5th:
- I woke up at 5.05 AM.
- My alarm went off at 5.20.
- Downstairs I asked the breakfast personnel, who was preparing breakfast, if I could have a bagel. They said yes.
- I ate my bagel and drank my coffee in the shuttle to the airport.
- The Spirit Airlines desks were very busy, because around 10 flights were canceled the day before.
- I got through without any problems.
- A woman was stopped at the gate, because she didn't pay to bring hand luggage. She asked how much that would cost her. The answer: 100 dollar at the gate, 70 dollar at Spirit Information.
- I walked through.
- On the Chicago flight I read a book on my iPod, which I didn't know was on there. I liked it.
- At O'hare Airport I went to the Spirit Airlines desk. I had no-one behind me in line, which was in my advantage. I wanted to change my flight back to one day earlier. This turned out to be no problem, after he heard my experiences of the previous day.
- I walked to the O'hare L Station. The L is the Chicago subway system.
- I had no exact cash to pay for my ticket, so the guy who worked me let me go through for free.
- On the L I sat in front of an Amish family: father with beard, only below his jaws; three boys, staring through the window as curious as they're allowed to be. All males were wearing big straw hats. Mom was wearing a traditional hood like Little Red Ridinghood - Roodkapje - only not red, but transparent white. At my left a fat Asian kid with glasses was busy on his Samsung smartphone. He had headphones in.
- I got out at Washington Station to transfer to the Red Line.
- I had to walk through a Mall to do so.
- I went up the escalators to buy a SIM card.
- I was in downtown Chicago. The sun was shining, the sky was blue. The wide streets were clean, no Colombian street vendors. Enormous skyscrapers were shiny bright.
- I felt like I arrived in Disneyland.
- I walked into the AT&T store.
- A large black guy directly stood there to welcome me. He reached out his hand, while holding an iPad under his left arm.
- While I buy a SIM card we chat. We prefers the European system. While he's tapping on his iPad, he explains with a very meaningful voice that Chicago has many bad neighborhoods and corrupt politicians.
- I call Cynthia while waiting for the Red Line.
- An old black guy with black curly hair and a white beard sits very relaxed in his wheelchair. He has no lower legs. He has a bag hanging at the back of his wheelchair. An American flag is sticking out. In the chair closest to him sits a black woman. She's quiet and her eyes look very sad. The two are not together. A brother and a sister sit down in the seats across the woman. They are around 18 years old. He's dressed like he's about to go for a run on a hot day. She has golden colored flip flops, and she has fancy sunglasses and a fancy bag. She's holding the latest top class smartphone in her hand. She's very upset, and he joins her emotion. Apparently she should get a company car, but she's getting a hard time at the office. She sighs heavily. The black woman looks at them. The black man is as relaxed as he was before.
- I get out at Berwyn.
- I've to walk a few more blocks.
- Berwyn Street is beautiful: nice houses, and so much green that it smells like a park. Many bicyclists pass by.
- I turn right on Clark. A young guy wants to people about gay rights. I see many little shops, very originally decorated. Houses are no more than three floors high.
- I arrive at 5357. Cynthia opens the door. Her apartment looks very nice with many colors and many details. She tells me she is a nurse and singer/songwriter, who also gives physiotherapical massages. She gives me advice where to buy wine, clothes and a bicycle.
- My room is exactly what I need.
- I check my email. My parents wonder if I arrived in Chicago. I sent them my phone number. They call seconds later. It's nice to hear their voices. My sister handed in her final draft of her Master thesis.
- I take a shower.
- I finish my app messages to Stephanie, which I started before my parents called.
- I go outside.
- I sit down on a pile of cushions at the Traveler's cafe. First thing, without me asking, the waiter puts down a glass of water filled with ice cubes on my very low Japanese table. Coffee and cheesecake give me energy.
- The shoe store on the corner has a sale. Ten really old men are working there. Apparently on commission only, because my guy is running all around the place, helping as many people as he can.
- I reserve two pairs of Pumas, because I don't have any cash on me.
- The ATM lets me down.
- I go back to the shoe store that I'll come back the next day. My shark looks disappointed, while holding a tower of three carton boxes in his left hand.
- I'm looking for bicycles on Craigslist in my room.
- My other roommates Ann walks into the apartment. She smiles while she welcomes me.
- I walk up and down Clark Street. I see many little stores. They remind me of the 9 little streets in between the Amsterdam canals, only a bit more raw. I like them. Many seem organic aware.
- I turn right. IN the side street I find a store where everything is made from recycled materials, like can lids, car wheels, pencils and seat belts. The woman who works there tells me stories behind the items. It feels like I'm in a museum.
- I eat a burger next door.
- I take a 1.5 hour nap.
- I listen to Cynthia practicing her songs. She assists herself on the guitar.
-Cynthia, Ann and I stop at the supermarket. I get an additional 100$ cash while buying a water and three Hershey chocolate bars.
- We drive to an Indian restaurant. The food is great. I apparently ordered a giant pancake with potatoes in it. After every zip our water is refilled.
- We go to a bar, where Cynthia has many friends. There is good live music. Cynthia introduces me to everyone. Everyone is very friendly. Dan directly invites us to go sailing the next day on Lake Michigan. Everyone is around 50, but I know 30 year olds who are much older.
- Cynthia's son and his fiance are there too. The give and Ann and me a drive back. Cynthia sticks around a bit longer.
- Exhausted and happy I drop down on my bed.
- I waited for my luggage at the back of the airport bus.
- A boy walked off the bus with my iPod and gave it to me.
- I dropped off my luggage.
- I turned around to the desk, so the flight attendant could give me back my passport.
- Stephanie and I had a sandwich.
- We waved goodbye while I walked through Airport Security.
- I had a good flight from Medellin to Bogota.
- The taxi driver brought me to the Cranky Croc hostel.
- I walked around the La Candelaria neighborhood and I had dinner by myself.
- When I just went to bed my roommates arrived: 4 Americans and a Dutchie.
- One American couple were on the same flight as me the next day.
- She also worked as a flight attendant for the airline we were flying with.
July 4th:
- I had a typical Colombian breakfast around the corner, called Tamale. It contained peas, potatoes and chicken.
- In the hostel kitchen I met a Mexican, who had an interesting story. Someone told him about a special shaman. So he went by boat to an island off the coast of Peru, and he walked to through the jungle to get to the shaman. He stayed with him for 15 days. In those 15 days they did Ayahuesca, an ancient ritual. He hallucinated he was in a room, as big as the hostel kitchen. The room had two small domes and huge worms were crawling around.
- He's Facebook friends with the shaman.
- We became Facebook friends.
- I split the cab with the two Americans. She had her Spirit Airlines uniform on, while she wouldn't be working on our flight.
- My flight to Chicago was canceled. Technical problem. So I had to stay in my stop-over destination: Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They gave me vouchers for a hotel and a meal.
- I spent my last Colombian Pesos at Juan Valdez for a coffee and a big cookie.
- I called Stephanie before take-off.
- On the flight my American flight attendant brought me a free drink.
- The guy next to me advised me to go see the 4th of July fireworks at the beach.
- In Fort Lauderdale I had to wait in line for 2 hours at Customs.
- It took me 15 seconds to go through Customs.
- After picking up my bag I had to wait another 10 minutes to get outside the airport.
- I took the shuttle to my hotel.
- At the horizon I saw 2 firework arrows.
- At the hotel I had to wait another 20 minutes before I could check-in.
- The hotel did not serve diner, so I waited 20 minutes for a shuttle to a different hotel.
- The shuttle driver told us he would not bring us back, because his shift ended at 10 PM.
- I had dinner with a friendly Indian couple, who lived in Chicago. I had a burger. It was the first thing I ate after breakfast.
- We had to wait another 25 minutes until the Airport shuttle driver arrived at the hotel.
- Another guy just started his shift, and drove us back to our hotel. We told our story. And we said we're flying with Spirit Airlines. He told us we were lucky, because we had a ticket flying out the next day. Normally they keep people there for two or three days.
- I got back at the hotel around 11.30. I fell asleep one hour later.
July 5th:
- I woke up at 5.05 AM.
- My alarm went off at 5.20.
- Downstairs I asked the breakfast personnel, who was preparing breakfast, if I could have a bagel. They said yes.
- I ate my bagel and drank my coffee in the shuttle to the airport.
- The Spirit Airlines desks were very busy, because around 10 flights were canceled the day before.
- I got through without any problems.
- A woman was stopped at the gate, because she didn't pay to bring hand luggage. She asked how much that would cost her. The answer: 100 dollar at the gate, 70 dollar at Spirit Information.
- I walked through.
- On the Chicago flight I read a book on my iPod, which I didn't know was on there. I liked it.
- At O'hare Airport I went to the Spirit Airlines desk. I had no-one behind me in line, which was in my advantage. I wanted to change my flight back to one day earlier. This turned out to be no problem, after he heard my experiences of the previous day.
- I walked to the O'hare L Station. The L is the Chicago subway system.
- I had no exact cash to pay for my ticket, so the guy who worked me let me go through for free.
- On the L I sat in front of an Amish family: father with beard, only below his jaws; three boys, staring through the window as curious as they're allowed to be. All males were wearing big straw hats. Mom was wearing a traditional hood like Little Red Ridinghood - Roodkapje - only not red, but transparent white. At my left a fat Asian kid with glasses was busy on his Samsung smartphone. He had headphones in.
- I got out at Washington Station to transfer to the Red Line.
- I had to walk through a Mall to do so.
- I went up the escalators to buy a SIM card.
- I was in downtown Chicago. The sun was shining, the sky was blue. The wide streets were clean, no Colombian street vendors. Enormous skyscrapers were shiny bright.
- I felt like I arrived in Disneyland.
- I walked into the AT&T store.
- A large black guy directly stood there to welcome me. He reached out his hand, while holding an iPad under his left arm.
- While I buy a SIM card we chat. We prefers the European system. While he's tapping on his iPad, he explains with a very meaningful voice that Chicago has many bad neighborhoods and corrupt politicians.
- I call Cynthia while waiting for the Red Line.
- An old black guy with black curly hair and a white beard sits very relaxed in his wheelchair. He has no lower legs. He has a bag hanging at the back of his wheelchair. An American flag is sticking out. In the chair closest to him sits a black woman. She's quiet and her eyes look very sad. The two are not together. A brother and a sister sit down in the seats across the woman. They are around 18 years old. He's dressed like he's about to go for a run on a hot day. She has golden colored flip flops, and she has fancy sunglasses and a fancy bag. She's holding the latest top class smartphone in her hand. She's very upset, and he joins her emotion. Apparently she should get a company car, but she's getting a hard time at the office. She sighs heavily. The black woman looks at them. The black man is as relaxed as he was before.
- I get out at Berwyn.
- I've to walk a few more blocks.
- Berwyn Street is beautiful: nice houses, and so much green that it smells like a park. Many bicyclists pass by.
- I turn right on Clark. A young guy wants to people about gay rights. I see many little shops, very originally decorated. Houses are no more than three floors high.
- I arrive at 5357. Cynthia opens the door. Her apartment looks very nice with many colors and many details. She tells me she is a nurse and singer/songwriter, who also gives physiotherapical massages. She gives me advice where to buy wine, clothes and a bicycle.
- My room is exactly what I need.
- I check my email. My parents wonder if I arrived in Chicago. I sent them my phone number. They call seconds later. It's nice to hear their voices. My sister handed in her final draft of her Master thesis.
- I take a shower.
- I finish my app messages to Stephanie, which I started before my parents called.
- I go outside.
- I sit down on a pile of cushions at the Traveler's cafe. First thing, without me asking, the waiter puts down a glass of water filled with ice cubes on my very low Japanese table. Coffee and cheesecake give me energy.
- The shoe store on the corner has a sale. Ten really old men are working there. Apparently on commission only, because my guy is running all around the place, helping as many people as he can.
- I reserve two pairs of Pumas, because I don't have any cash on me.
- The ATM lets me down.
- I go back to the shoe store that I'll come back the next day. My shark looks disappointed, while holding a tower of three carton boxes in his left hand.
- I'm looking for bicycles on Craigslist in my room.
- My other roommates Ann walks into the apartment. She smiles while she welcomes me.
- I walk up and down Clark Street. I see many little stores. They remind me of the 9 little streets in between the Amsterdam canals, only a bit more raw. I like them. Many seem organic aware.
- I turn right. IN the side street I find a store where everything is made from recycled materials, like can lids, car wheels, pencils and seat belts. The woman who works there tells me stories behind the items. It feels like I'm in a museum.
- I eat a burger next door.
- I take a 1.5 hour nap.
- I listen to Cynthia practicing her songs. She assists herself on the guitar.
-Cynthia, Ann and I stop at the supermarket. I get an additional 100$ cash while buying a water and three Hershey chocolate bars.
- We drive to an Indian restaurant. The food is great. I apparently ordered a giant pancake with potatoes in it. After every zip our water is refilled.
- We go to a bar, where Cynthia has many friends. There is good live music. Cynthia introduces me to everyone. Everyone is very friendly. Dan directly invites us to go sailing the next day on Lake Michigan. Everyone is around 50, but I know 30 year olds who are much older.
- Cynthia's son and his fiance are there too. The give and Ann and me a drive back. Cynthia sticks around a bit longer.
- Exhausted and happy I drop down on my bed.
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