After 36 long and stinky hours in airports and terminals we finally have made it to Brasilia. Originally we were to have only one lengthy layover in Atlanta before the nine hour flight to Sao Paulo, meaning that we should have arrived in Brasilia around 10am on Monday (instead of 10pm). But. . . there was a bit of a problem when we arrived in Sao Paulo due to the delayed take-off and landing of our Atlanta flight, and Brazilian customs. Things weren't looking so great time-wise when we stepped off the Atlanta flight, but once I got a look at the lines to go through customs I should have known it was impossible.
First there was the line to get our passports stamped, then to get a baggage cart, then to wait for the bags to arrive, then a huge line for customs, and only after that could we actually check-in for the flight. So much for the U.S. airline telling us in Des Moines we wouldn't have to pick up our bags in Sao Paulo. . . I did ask a couple airport workers in Sao Paulo abou
t catching connecting flights in one hour and just got laughed at and told to stand in line. But we decided to go for it anyway, skipping the baggage cart line (terrible idea, as demonstrated in the picture to the left), while we took turns checking for our bags and standing in the customs line. When the bags did arrive it happened to be on my 'shift' so I frantically pulled off our 175 or so pounds of luggage and dragged it through the throng of people to where Marshall waited. We rushed as well as we could laden with eight rather full bags of various sizes, and made it to connecting flight check-in 25min before the flight left only to find out it was already closed!
Marshall having a fun time at the airport!
And arrive we did, around 8pm (which was an hour earlier than I was told), but at least we found Derrick, the principal of Marshall's American high school in Brasilia, and made our way (AT LAST!) to the awesome hotel. While driving through the city Derrick pointed out some sites, and I thought the city was quite ominous looking at night with the 'space-age' (socialist) architecture jutting up into the dark sky. I'm excited to see what everything looks like in the daytime. At the hotel I had a great time with Portuguese at the reception desk where all three of the guys there were trying to make sure I knew what they were saying, and finally to the blessed room, a shower, and sleep!
First there was the line to get our passports stamped, then to get a baggage cart, then to wait for the bags to arrive, then a huge line for customs, and only after that could we actually check-in for the flight. So much for the U.S. airline telling us in Des Moines we wouldn't have to pick up our bags in Sao Paulo. . . I did ask a couple airport workers in Sao Paulo abou
t catching connecting flights in one hour and just got laughed at and told to stand in line. But we decided to go for it anyway, skipping the baggage cart line (terrible idea, as demonstrated in the picture to the left), while we took turns checking for our bags and standing in the customs line. When the bags did arrive it happened to be on my 'shift' so I frantically pulled off our 175 or so pounds of luggage and dragged it through the throng of people to where Marshall waited. We rushed as well as we could laden with eight rather full bags of various sizes, and made it to connecting flight check-in 25min before the flight left only to find out it was already closed!Actually changing the flight took about 1.5 hours of traversing the entire airport (though this time with a baggage cart, thank goodness) for the correct Delta office, which only a few people seemed to know of, only to discover we couldn't get a direct flight to Brasilia until 6:30pm (it was about 10am at that point). Fortunately, lots of pay phones meant relatively easy connection to the hotel and our U.S. saviors (my mom and Leigh Martin, Marshall's UNI prof) to make sure we had a ride to the hotel from the airport when we finally arrived.
Marshall having a fun time at the airport!And arrive we did, around 8pm (which was an hour earlier than I was told), but at least we found Derrick, the principal of Marshall's American high school in Brasilia, and made our way (AT LAST!) to the awesome hotel. While driving through the city Derrick pointed out some sites, and I thought the city was quite ominous looking at night with the 'space-age' (socialist) architecture jutting up into the dark sky. I'm excited to see what everything looks like in the daytime. At the hotel I had a great time with Portuguese at the reception desk where all three of the guys there were trying to make sure I knew what they were saying, and finally to the blessed room, a shower, and sleep!
Today we've got nothing planned but eat and sleep, maybe do some exploring, when we set out to find a place to live! before tomorrowThe hotel provided an amazing breakfast with crazy fruit, breads, cereals, eggs, sausage, beverages, etc etc. Though I won't be having the tiny
berry things again tomorrow. . . weird tangy/spicy ones. I'll have to figure out what they are later. For now I have a full stomach, free internet, and a bed, and couldn't be happier!
Ate ja!
berry things again tomorrow. . . weird tangy/spicy ones. I'll have to figure out what they are later. For now I have a full stomach, free internet, and a bed, and couldn't be happier!Ate ja!
Our nice hotel room
1 comment:
Good luck with the house search.
Maybe you can rent/buy a bicycle or a scooter to get around.
Study hard and play hard and enjoy the moments. We'll be here as always. Love, Dad & family.
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