America 2004

NORTH AMERICA 2004

We set off for Miami and Boston from Caracas. Flying American Airlines leaving Caracas supposedly early in the morning. However when we got there we found to our dismay that we had been bumped off. We had turned up less than an hour b4 departure so they refused to let us board. God, we were actually in the airport with plenty of time to spare but I had to change some money into Venezualan Bolivars so that I could pay our taxi driver. By the time I finished running around we fell just within the hour. Frankly I think that the flight had been overbooked and they were glad to have an excuse to chuck us off.

Anyway we ended up in AA Business Club lounge so maybe not too bad after all. We had some time to wait for our next plane so plenty of time for a kip and some food and drink. Not that we over indulged of course. Would you believe??

The plane flight was smooth but we both had to clear customs at Miami. I wasn’t looking forward to that. Stories of rude Customs officials, mile long queues in the arrivals hall, fingerprinting and photography – well not a good scene. But as it turned out the process for us getting in to US of A wasn’t too fraught. I was behind an Aussie lady who had the works. Questions, fingerprint, photos; all the rigmarole. Then I got thru’ with a minimum of fuss. Not even fingerprinted or photographed. Why the difference between the ozzie and me, I will never know. Leah the same – relatively painless but her “fun” was to happen later. Huge crowds in the Arrivals area and mostly Spanish spoken. A lot of the signs were in Spanish with English subtitles. So the face of America certainly seems to be changing.

Now remember that all our luggage was checked on arrival. We were transit passengers so we went straight to the departure area. We identified our baggage and it was taken away by various handlers. We did not really have contact with anyone else but we were subject to a full scrutiny again as we were ticketed for our Boston connection. This is where Leah for some reason got the fourth degree. She was pulled out and subject to a full body search. And it was full on. Clothes, shoes, small day pack, hat, books, the lot – they must have thought she was Osama in disguise. Actually I think that the authorities have some sort of passenger profiling system. So if you have an arab/jewish name (Leah) with a one way ticket then they probably give you the 100% going over.

We finally got on to our Boston flight and it was cattle class in every sense of the word. I will never criticize Qantas again. No food – only a small can of soft drink for a three hour flight. But we got there. Landed fairly late, cleared all the security which they are taking seriously and then out and a cab into town and the YHA. Slow trip as there was a hold up in the tunnel but we arrived, booked in and ended up with a six bunk room to ourselves. The Hostel wasn’t too bad and only a 20 minute walk into the main part of town. I have always liked Boston ever since I visited on a business trip back in the mid 90’s. A very historic town with a nice relaxed feel to it. They have done a great job of keeping a lot of the old character and buildings and I was looking forward to seeing a lot of the things you read about in American history books.