Ocean Blue & Sand, La Altagracia, Dominican RepublicA long day indeed but with an unexpected ending!
No matter how hard I try to get everything together, despite my best efforts and preparation, I will always find myself up until after midnight, the night before a 5 am flight! Curses!
With not much more than 3 hours sleep we were up and at the airport, checked in and waiting to board just after 4 am.
With only 1 gate to navigate in our entire airport, we flicked though security while listening to an upbeat security officer sing country songs, complete with a little hip wiggling!! Loves it! Gander International Airport may be a wee little thing but you can’t beat the people!
With just less than 24 hours travelling time ahead of us, I tucked in for a wee nap en route to Halifax. From there, our itinerary should have brought us to Montreal in Canada, Punta Cana in Dominican Republic, Panama City, Panama and finally Lima, Peru.
Montreal airport was ghostly; unnaturally quiet. Some post-security stores closed and lounges locked up. It was weird, really weird.
When we learned of a weather system in the Caribbean, we headed to Customer Service to see how it would impact us and investigate what we could do in advance.
Customer Service: Behind a counter, far beyond the zig-zagging guidance ropes, we navigated the empty route, to speak to a lonely attendant who, without looking up, said “I am closed”. I thought Paul might have a stroke!
Some “banter” ensued, which really amounted to a stern talking-to from the service agent to us for wasting her time.
Without help or hope, heads down, we left with our tail between our legs armed with nothing more than a simple email address and phone number. The Customer Service Agent, irritated with our existence, “invited” us to use these contacts if we wanted to discuss the weather system and a missed flight we were certain was ahead of us. Really, it was the equivalent of “Here’s a quarter; call someone who cares.”
Knowing that the difference between adversity and adventure is attitude, we trudged on.
Punta Cana. The stewardess en route told us that she was shocked we had onward flights. “Punta Cana is the end of the journey for everyone” she said with a tiny chipper voice! “Well, then!” I thought! “Pfth!”
We were the first off of the flight. The stewardess walked ahead of us to speak to a flight service agent who was waiting for “Mr. Paul and Ms. Dina”. We were instructed to stand on the tarmac and wait as the gentleman walked to the cargo side of the plane, spoke to a few people inside of it’s belly and moments later, emerged with our backpacks! Impressive!
With broken English and a few hand gestures, we were instructed to follow him.
..and we did. We passed long lines of people navigating customs, got a stamp in our passport in record time, skipped out the door and into a nearby terminal, up two flights of steps and into an uncomfortably humid (and tiny) office packed to the rafters with staff coming and going. They turned on a fan for our benefit! Praise the Lord!
We were offered wifi passwords and some of the agents tried making conversations as we sat and waited. Then, we waited some more...aaand we waited!
The agent made several different calls and was placed on hold a dozen different times. He communicated what was happening as best as he could. Nearly two hours later, we were rescheduled for a 5 pm flight tomorrow. With a great deal of get-her-done professionalism an agent picked up our bags and walked us to the taxi stand where an air conditioned van was waiting to take us to our “hotel”...all arranged without asking, begging or quarrelling. This is the best of Air Canada!
Side note: If Air Canada should ever feel it necessary to provide professional development to its Customer Service contingent in Montreal, they should fly these fine young men to Montreal to teach them how its done!
The “hotel”.
..Praise Jesus! A 5-Star, all-inclusive resort! Are you kidding me? Mini-bar for Paul, welcome bottle of red for me; meals, pool services, entertainment, drinks and more...all included! What!?? Crazy!
The resort was impressive but more impressive is that Air Canada footed the bill without prompting! OMG! If ever you are ever headed to South America, fly through Punta Cana in hopes of being delayed and you won’t be disappointed!
With 19 hours of travel time tucked in our belt, tired and beat, we did what all weary travellers do...shower, change and hit the bars! Booya! Baby!
Some lobby entertainment, crisp white wine, cold Presidente beer and a peruse of the property we called it quits somewhere near midnight!
If the first 24 hours foreshadows the next five months, this will be an epic adventure!
Jill Warren
2019-09-17
So glad you’re terrible experience in Montreal was overshadowed by the impressive DR service in Punta Cana. Fingers crossed that’s the worse thing that happens during this trip. Safe travels and enjoy!
Jenny
2019-09-17
How exciting!! Looking forward to reading about all your upcoming travels . You two stay safe.
Terry Sr
2019-09-17
Hope the rest of your trip goes well for you and Paul,keep safe
Linda
2019-09-17
Sounds like your having a great time so far,stay safe
Stephanie
2019-09-18
You're off to a fantastic start!!! I'm so excited for you!
Holly
2019-09-22
I absolutely love what you said about the difference between adversity and adventure! Love your writing ( and your attitude)!