Delta’s 11:45pm flight out of LA on Sunday, March 4, 2012 with a flight to Detroit. Then, after a 2+ hour layover, I boarded their next plane to Cancun. ETA noon on Monday Mach 5, 2012.
My arrival in Cancun was delayed by some airplane trouble, and their refusal to let us switch to other already-outgoing plans. (I’m sure happy that Delta didn’t fly a questionable plane but they could have done much better for us.) After several lost hours, they gave us a new plane. I arrived Monday night after dark, after 23 hours of airports/planes.
I’d planned to have hours to find my way into Cancun, introduce myself to Cancun and find my way to the home of CouchSurfing hosts. However, that plan went out the window with Delta’s delay and darkness entering that window’s field of view.
Instead, at the Airport I enlisted the help of one of the tourist info men, asking them to call my CouchSurfing hosts for me. One of the men showed me the way to the bus that went to the ADO bus station in town. The fare was 45 pesos. I didn’t have pesos yet. I don’t recall what thy charged in dollars.
At the ADO bus station, a comedy of errors ensued. I learned I needed a phone card to call my hosts. Then across the street, calling them again required coins, which I didn’t have yet. At any rate, each call was in vain. It turned out that when the man called them from the airport, they’d come to the bus station to pick me up. Only I was still at the airport. So they waited a long time, then gave up and went home. It was hours before we connected. They were incredible about the whole thing — and then took me out to dinner.
On the 7th I posted to Facebook:
I finally caught up on sleep I’ve met great people & almost feel like I live here. Haven’t seen a pyramid yet. Haven’t spent a day on the beach. Have had some terrific, real, local food where real residents live. Finding my way through local streets. And have been to Purim services here too!