After the problems BA had with their check-in system earlier this week, we decided to allow plenty of time to get to Heathrow. Dad gave us a lift to Royston station, parents are good like that, and it seems a good way to start our travels at a train station.
All the trains went to schedule and we arrived mega early at Heathrow – having time to eat lunch and enjoy a glass of prosecco before check in was open. It also gave us time to catch our breath and get into travel mode, after the hectic time over the last few weeks. It had to be some fizz for lunch to get in the mood, especially as the flight was already shown as running an hour late.
Our first four nights in Mexico City are booked but the plan after that is a bit hazy. Such as it is we think it will be:
- Head north to Guanajuato for Independence Day
- Work our way south for a few weeks to the border with Guatemala
- 28th September to 14th October travel through Guatemala and Belize
- Revisit Yucatan for a few days ending up in Cancun
- Fly to Lima and visit Plaza de Armas which was closed off last time
- Fly to Tacna on 22nd October (south Peru in case you rush for a map to find out!)
- Cross to Chile and take a month to meander down between coast and Andes to Santiago
- Spend three weeks in Argentina sampling wine and beef and other pursuits before flying out of Buenos Aires on 8th December
Only the flights and the Guatemala and Belize piece are booked, the rest is yet to be determined.
Whilst waiting for our delayed flight we just had to make use of the Starbucks. The sign does not reflect the number of mugs we got through! The flight to Mexico city was surprisingly empty and the steward insisted we had two glasses of fizz each to save wasting it. We were tempted to try and sneak into the business section for a sleep as it was almost empty and the premium economy seats were less comfortable than we remembered them to be. Still the flight passed uneventfully and after two films and a kip we arrived in Mexico City airport at 11pm.
Immigration was quick and easy. The only worrying moment was when the sniffer dog took a liking to my backpack. We thought it would be marked with red sticky tape for selection to be searched but after smiling sweetly and saying the dog was after the biscuits in my bag, we were allowed to go.
As it was late at night we had splashed out and arranged for the hotel to send a taxi for us. Sadly, no one was there with a board showing our name so we took an authorised airport taxi instead. Good call as it was a third of the price of the hotel transfer. From the air the roads looked busy but once we arrived the taxi sped through the streets. The hotel we have chosen looks comfy and close to the centre. We caught a glimpse of the historical centre and cannot wait to explore tomorrow.