12.8.2009 Cancun airport

(Vuelo Magazine 8/2009 Interview with Quentin Tarantino)
“Eli Roth says it´s thanks to you he learned that the important thing is to enjoy the ride.”
Tarantino:
“I think everyone, even if you´re not involved in the artistic or creative world, should be aware that it´s not the final destination, but the journey that´s important. It doesn´t matter where you end up, what´s interesting is everything you learn and how you grow on the journey. What you do and experience during that process is what will decide your future. If you don´t know how to enjoy it, savor it and live it, when you get where you´re going you won´t have learned anything.”

While writing this ´note´ I was sitting on an airplane in Cancun. Destination: New York. This was exactly 2 weeks ago on Wednesday 12th of August. Today is 26th of August and I´m back in Cancun. I have just “done New York” as the Australian and English travelers like to say.

12.8.2009 Cancun airport
I´m taking a risk and I´m writing about this journey before it´s come to an end. I´m sitting inside Airbus 319 with 12 first class seat. Those seats are not meant for me. My seat is 21A and 21B and 21C. That gives me quite a bit of space to stretch my legs. Can´t complain about that.

On my itinerary this flight looked simple enough: Guadalajara – Mexico City, 3 hours wait and then to New York. So what was I doing in Cancun? Things don´t always go the way you´ve planned.

My journey so far: Guadalajara flight one hour late (that´s not news in Mexico). Walking back and forward around Mexico City airport trying to find immigration office to get rid of my visa, only to find out it can´t be done there. The paperwork has to be done in Cancun. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that my Guadalajara – Mexico City – New York flight had a pit stop in Cancun.

…I´m fastening my seatbelt. It looks like we are finally about to leave Cancun behind. There is a baby crying 6 rows ahead, the air conditioning is on maximum like always in this country and I´m freezing my ass of on seat 21A…

Yes, Cancun. We popped to Cancun. My flight ticket or itinerary didn´t mention the stop but that´s cool, this is Mexico. In Cancun everyone had to get out of the plane even though it was the very same plane that was suppose to take us to New York in half an hours time. Airport staff made us form a military type of line outside the plane (reminder to myself: resign from the army if possible). Then started the shouting and giving of the new boarding passes to the plane I could see 50 meters from us.

After 100 boarding passes and one squeaky voiced airport worker, they marched us to through the 3rd security check of this journey. I had to throw away my second almost full water bottle. At least on the way to the security check I got rid of my visa.

12 hours ago I had kissed a girl goodbye. It had been quite a long day and I could feel the stress creeping in. My stomach is a good indicator for that. Everyone who were going to New York were now on the plane. Next the plane had technical problems so they told us we would have to go to the terminal to wait for further instructions. Everybody got out of the plane into a bus that was waiting outside. After 10 minutes of waiting for something to happen inside the bus we started moving. It made a 500 meter trip and returned back to our plane. That was funny. Apparently they fixed the plane by getting temporarily rid of the obese people inside it.

We´re rolling on the taxiway. The sun is setting and I´m worrying if the hostel´s night shift in New York has the patient to keep my bed reserved for me. I won´t be there in time. Some review of the hostel said that they had given away the bed because the girl had arrived later than she had informed. Cause: flight delay.

The runaway lights are lit. These lights aren´t made by Idman Airfield Lighting. I used to work for them so I know. These lights are some cheap ass stuff, probably from USA or China. The blue taxiway lights change to yellow runaway lights. I don´t know which category airport is this. I´m sure my father would know. My back is clued to the seat, the tires leave the tarmac of Cancun. We´re airborn and I´m enjoying the journey.