SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2486 posts, RR: 17 Posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 3018 times:
Greetings
This is my first trip report on Airliners.net, but fortunately I've read several stories before, so I think I have the idea. Anyways, I'll give it a shot. I hope you like it.
NOTE: Schedule departure/arrival hours and flight time are from gate to gate.
TRIP BACKGROUND
Since June, my dad began to build the idea of making a very complete trip inside our country, Colombia. On other vacations before the one I'm describing, we had travelled to the United States, Venezuela, and other interesting foriegn places, so we thought it was time to give ourselves the chance to meet more our precious country.
The trip was initially planned for the present December, but we managed to arrange it for the low season (being a lot cheaper than towards the end of the year) and ended up travelling in mid-October. My dad made the proper reservations through his preferred travel agency, asked and were given the permission in my high school, packed our bags the days before, and we were ready to go.
THE TRIP
From: MEDELLIN (Jose Maria Cordova International Airport) (RNG / SKRG)
To: CARTAGENA (Rafael Nuñez International Airport) (CTG / SKCG)
Date: Tuesday, October 14th. 2003
Airline: Avianca
Flight: AV034
Aircraft: MD - 83 EI-CEP
Scheduled Departure Time: 7:00
Scheduled Arrival Time: 8:00
Actual Departure Time: 8:35
Actual Arrival Time: 9:35
Scheduled Flight Time: 1 hour
Total Time in the Air: 40 minutes
That night i didn't sleep very well as I was really anxious because of the flight the next day, well, that's how we aviation freaks are. I woke up at 4:30 AM, as our flight was schedule for departing at exactly 7:00. We had to be at the airport at 6:00. Jose Maria International Airport is quite far away from Medellín, so we'd had to drive the typical 45 minutes to get there. Anyway, when I woke up, I found out that my parents were almost ready, so hurried to prepare myself in order to catch up with them, and help to get the suitcases in the car. I dressed up in a rush, tough picking wisely my clothes, because at that hour and being my home town airport so high above sea level (7100 ft) I was possitively sure that it was going to be really cold. Besides, Cartagena at noon is the hotest place one can be.
At 5:05 in the morning we were ready to leave. My dad called a taxi cab, and while it arrived we got all our luggage downstairs an ready at the entrance of the building. We were taking a total of three suitcases, one for each person.
On the way to the airport, my mom and I went in silent watching the city go by through the cab's windows while my dad talked with the driver all the long 45 minutes about politics, politics, oh... and did I mention politics? and about politics too.
We finally arrived at the airport at around 5:50 in the morinin, with freezing cold. Once entered, the three of us encountered a rather busy terminal as several flights were departing at the same time. Fortunately, Medellin/Rionegro airport is quite nice and spacious. See the photo below.
Avianca has put a total of 10 Economy-Class counters in the main terminal, and 2 for Premium Travellers. We managed to pull our very heavy leisure-traveller bags to one of the counters and a friendly agent checked us in. She also told us that the flight would be delayed because of the critical fog layer that Medellin/Rionegro was under.
We walked around the airport for a while, and after drinking a cup of coffee, we decide to go to the gate. We passed security quickly and got to gate 11 were our flight was supposed to leave and there was our aircraft waiting patiently. It was beautiful MD - 83, obviously and unfortunately in the new livery. Boy I miss the old red.
The gate was packed with people and everyone was in that annoying attitude of complaint. Well, boarding was supposed to begin at 6:30, but the clock showed 7:00 and nothing happened. The weather was really bad that day. So I decided to spot planes a while before they called for boarding. Indeed all the flight were delayed and departures that were schedule for 6:00 were still there.
Medellín/Rionegro airport has a main terminal with 9 gates with jetbridges, and another 10 stands. That day, at that hour, in the stands I could see:
- West Caribbean Airways ATR42 departing for San Andres Island
- West Caribbean Airways MD - 83 departing for Bogota
And in the gates were:
- Avianca MD - 83 departing for Bogota
- Avianca 757 - 200 departing for Bogota
- Avianca MD - 83 (ours) departing for Cartagena
- Avianca 757 - 200 departing for Miami
- Avianca Fokker 50 departing for Cali
- Avianca Fokker 50 departing for Barranquilla
- AeroRepublica MD - 81 departing for Bogota
- Copa 737 - 700 departing for Panama City
- American Airlines 757 - 200 departing for Miami
Finally at 8:00 (one hour after scheduled departure) boarding began. It took a while as many tourist had lots of bags. The interiors of the plane were simply great ! all clean, good looking, nice smell and the seats were really nice, although could be more wide. We had the 3 seats to the right of the plane in row 16. We pushed back. And began to taxi to the active (rwy 36). We had to wait until half of the aircraft mentioned above took off, to be cleared for take-off. We got into the runway and began to roar down the long strip. The roll was veeery silent (those who have been in the MD - 83 know what I'm talking about) and rather sluggish because of the high conditions of the airport. Rotation was slow and we were on the air after consuming nearly the whole lenght of the 12000 ft asphalt runway. We didn't turn, just flew straight to the north towards the Caribbean coast and trough the thick layer of clouds. Passed over green mountains and being Medellin/Rionegro at 7100ft it was not a problem reaching 10000ft in a minute, and then our cruising altitude of 30000ft.
"Service" began for this 40 minutes hop. Extremely friendly flight attendants passed out the typical peanuts in small silver bags printed with the new Avianca butterfly, then began giving a box wich contained a small sandwich in a triangle form, with a piece of ham, lettuce and mayonnaise, with some fresh tropical fruit at its side. While the other flight attendant served drinks, wich were coffee, orange juice or coke.
After eating the small meal, wich was quite good and appropriate for the moment, I decided to look out the window, to see that the interior highlands had dissapeared and we were flying over the northern plain, a sign that we were approaching our destination. Inmediatley after that, our plane began its descent. The flight attendants passed picking up all the trash. We hit some moderate turbulence on our way down, even tough there was not a cloud in the sky, typical Cartagena weather. We stabilized at 7000ft and kept flying for a while longer near the coast. The pilot applied some flaps for the final descent. We passed through the southern part of the city, were the pilot lowered the landing gear, and that plane really rumbled !... after that we just kept flying lower and lower above Cartagena, and in the horizon I could see the beautiful beach and hotel strip of Boca Grande, the most touristical zone in Cartagena. We flew over a small bay and out of nowhere appeared the runway. Landing in runway 36 was a bit rough due to the limited lenght of the runway and that reverse thrust really roared like crazy !!. We exit the runway inmediately as there was traffic behind us, and park in the main platform, as Cartagena doesn't have jetbridges. We had to wait a while until the door was open and whooooaaa ! Those 40°C (almost 100°C) are something ! We descended to the platform and walked to the terminal. There was another Avianca MD - 83 arriving from Bogota. The terminal is a simple building in a rectangle form with marble floor and lots of open windows to let some air in !. Our 3 bags appeared in a second and we exit the airport through the nearest door. Once outside, the heat was irresistible, plus all those taxi drivers asking you if you need their service... duuhh... if you need it, you ask for it. We caught cab and drove us to the Hilton Hotel in Boca Grande were we were going to stay the next days.
Those were fabulous days in the beautiful and exotic Cartagena, shopping, swimming, walking around the town, etc. It was a good time !.
Two days before leaving for Bogota, we took a taxi cab to Barranquilla (1 hour and a half away from Cartagena) to visit a relative. The highway is one of the many scenic roads that Colombia offers, all the way near the cristal clear Caribbean shore. Barranquilla is not a tourist city, it's more like an industrial city wich has one of the most important ports of Colombia. After having 2 hot and not so fun days in Barranquilla, we were ready to leave for Bogota.
From: BARRANQUILLA (Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport) (BAQ / SKBQ)
To: BOGOTA (El Dorado International Airport) (BOG / SKBO)
Date: Thursday October 23th. 2003
Airline: Avianca
Flight: AV9523
Aircraft: MD - 83 EI-CBY
Scheduled Departure Time: 10:15
Scheduled Arrival Time: 11:45
Actual Departure Time: 10:20
Actual Arrival Time: 11:40
Schedule Flight Time:1 hour and 30 minutes
Total Time in the Air: 1 hour and 5 minutes
We arrived at the airport, in the middle of the chaotical traffic of Barranquilla combined with the extreme heat. Walked up to one of the several counters that Avianca had opened for the only fly at that hour and the second flight of the day to Bogota. The first flight of the day to Bogota is operated by a 757 - 200, but my dad said that he didn't want to wake up so early again, so damn ! MD - 83 again. There's not really that much to see or do at the Barranquilla Airport. There were no planes at the at the terminal at that hour, only a strange cargo Dash 7, the treat of the day.
We decided to enter to the waiting room at gate 3 at 9:20. My dad sat down to read the paper while my mom read a fashion magazine she'd bought the day before. I, on the other hand, looked all the time through a window, spotting... mmmmm... the seagulls ! yeah... that's right, seagulls. There was nothing else to see. At exactly 9:40 our plane made an impressive landing on runway 4 inbound from Bogota and taxied to our gate in a rush.
When all the people arriving from the Capital of the country had left the plane, we were called for boarding, at exactly 9:55. The plane was like 75% full so boarding was not so heavy. The interiors looked exactly the same as the other plane that took us to Cartagena, and we were assigned row 13 on this occassion. At 10:20 we were pushing back, almost on time, and the crew was giving us the classical warm welcome. They showed the safety instructions as we taxied to rwy 4. As I observed through my window I managed to see a Cessna Caravan arriving, and that was the only thing, apart from the aircraft I was onboard, that I saw while at Barranquilla. . Fortunately I knew that in Bogota it was going to be a whole different story.
We got to the runway, inmediately got cleared for take-off and rumbled down a quite bumpy concrete runway 4. This take-off was powerful and the complete opposite of the Medellín take-off. The pilot began, right after take-off a sharp turn to the right, giving the back to the Caribbean coast and heading directly to the south. We managed to build a path through some dense clouds that caused light turbulence, and before we knew it, we have reached 10000ft. After 15 minutes of calm flight at 31000ft, the service began. We were handed out peanuts as usual, and then another "surprise" box. This time, it contained a delicious soft piece of cake with a mini-croissant. Then... with the drink, the flight attendants passed out coffee cream for the cake, just after everyone, except my mom, had eaten the cake.
After the tasty meal, I managed to make my coke last until the end of the flight. I looked everything down below. We passed all the northern plains, flew over marshes and lakes and then reached the highlands. In no time we started our descent, and were given the instruction to fasten our seat belt because the approach into Bogota was going to be bumpy. Indeed it was, although the pilot did a great job trying to avoid the most terrifying clouds of all. In a matter of minutes we were very low, because Bogota is at 8300ft over sea level !. Watching through my window, it could clearly see that we were headed to one of the 13 runways, but initially didn't know wich. All of a sudden, the flaps were lowered a and the gear cracked down. We were over green countryside that lead us to runway 13R. We made a perfect landing in the mentioned runway, the spoilers were deployed and the reverse thrust roared all the way down the rwy. We abandoned the runway through the nearest taxiway.
As usual, there was interesting traffic at BOG. Althought because of the hour, non of the transatlantic services had arrived yet. I saw:
- TACA A320 arriving from San Jose
- American Airlines 767 - 300 headed for Miami
- Continental 757 - 200 headed for Newark
- Lots of Avianca MD - 83 and Fokker 50s.
- Several Avianca 757s
- Several AeroRepublica MD - 81/3s.
On our way to the Avianca terminal, we passed by terminal 1:
Both of these terminal are quite nice inside, but I think they could use a little work on the outside.
We got to the Avianca terminal were other more MD-83 waited for departing. We left the airplane, got our bags in a matter of minutes and outside was waiting for us mi mother's cousin.
The day after I begged my mom to take me to the Airport to watch some airplanes. Lucky me, I got to see the Iberia A340 - 300 and Air France A340 - 300 arrive one after another, coming from MD), Spain">MAD and CDG respectively. Didn't see the British 767 I was hoping to see... oh well. The usual ton of MD - 83 and Fokker 50 and several Avianca 757 and 767. I got to see the hybrid Avianca 757 leased from Icelandair pass by. What a fantastic day, and what a great time y had in Bogotá, although weather was not the best.
From: BOGOTA (El Dorado International Airport) (BOG / SKBO)
To: MEDELLIN/RIONEGRO (Jose Maria Cordova International) (MDE / SKRG)
Date: Sunday October 26th. 2003
Airline: Avianca
Flight: AV9324
Aircraft: 757 - 2Y0
Schedule Departure Time: 8:00
Schedule Arrival Time: 8:55
Actual Departure Time: 8:00
Actual Arrival Time: 8:40
Schedule Flight Time: 55 minutes
Total Time in the Air: 20 minutes
As I've said in other post, a flight from MDE to BOG or viceversa is like walking to the corner of your block. A 20 minutes mini-hop. We woke up a 6:00 to find a beatiful dawn at Bogota, unlike the crappy weather the days before. Got ready, and my mom's cousin drove us to the airport. We arrived at the Avianca terminal at 7:10 to find a rather empty place. Of course... sunday.
We checked in though and found out that our flight was going to be nearly full and that it was going to be a 757 ! Very short leg for that aircraft huh? And you guys at the US travelling from 4 hour flights in CRJs....:D
We inmediately passed through security with no problems at all an entered the full waiting room. Boarding was called at 7:25 an everyone began to board the plane, as usual. Incredibly, the interiors in the 757 are exactly the same as in the MD - 83 only that with one more seat per row as you know. Being the flight soooo short, the flight attendants didn't have time to do much, so they handed out the peanuts at the entrance of the aircraft. At 8:00 we were pushing back, and on time !. That morning the active fro departures was 31R... really odd. So taxi was so quick, that the pilot had to wait a minute before requesting take-off clearance until the safety instructions were give. Once that was done, when steped into the rwy and roared down the path, making a quick rotation considering the conditions of BOG, but slow for a 757.
In 40 seconds we had reached our flight level and in no-time at all we reach cruising altitude of 20000 ft. The flight attendants, in a rush, managed to served drinks to a full 757 in 10 minutes. Good job.
I looked down and only saw mountains and more mountains covered with low clouds. Quickly we started our descent and made an approach straight in to runway 36. My hometown airport only had the usual American 757 and a Copa 737 - 700 taxiing for departure. We parked at gate 11 and got off-board.
It was sad my trip was over but happy to be home again. What a great trip and Colombia is, no matter what, a beautiful place.
Any questions or comments will be kindly received and answered, if you have any doubts or want to know something about my country or my trip, just ask and I'll be happy to answer. Thanks for reading it and for your opinions.
JOSEMEX From Mexico, joined Oct 1999, 1539 posts, RR: 35 Reply 1, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2856 times:
Very interesting report, Federico. (Of course, I'm biased towards anything Colombian since I visited there a couple of years ago.)
Regarding Avianca's new color scheme, is the one with the grupo Summa butterfly permanent? I was under the impression that it was just a temporary thing, as I definitely prefer the old red one (I love seeing their red 767's at MEX).
SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2486 posts, RR: 17 Reply 2, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2606 times:
JOSEMEX,
Thank you for your comment and for replying so fast.
Yes, the new Avianca/Summa livery will be permanent from now on. Initially, when they started painting some aircraft in May 2002, the stated that it was going to be something temporary.... yeah sure. By Decemeber 2002 and until today, the entire fleet is painted that way, incluiding the few planes operated by Sam in behaf of Avianca.
As you know, the airline is in no financial position for making livery changes. Plus, all the aircraft interiors, and the Avianca terminal in Bogota has that mad butterfly printed absolutely everywhere !
Jsnww81 From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1771 posts, RR: 19 Reply 3, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2573 times:
Great report... as a US resident, it's nice to read something a little out of the ordinary. Certainly a change from all the "exciting" Chicago-Dallas and Chicago-Atlanta segments I've been making!
I wish we saw more intra-South America and intra-Asia trip reports on this site, but I suppose the majority of users are from North America and Europe.
SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2486 posts, RR: 17 Reply 4, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2566 times:
Jsnww81,
Thank you for your kind words.
Well, at least from me you should expect more trip reports as I travel often inside my country. I also thought it would be a treat for you guys, as it is for me reading reports about intra-european flights.
LatinPlane From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 2568 posts, RR: 17 Reply 5, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2377 times:
Trip Report Grade: A+
Nice job. Hope to hear more experiences from Colombia.
SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2486 posts, RR: 17 Reply 6, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 2370 times:
Thanks a lot LatinPlane.
And of course you will hear more about trips down here. And even more if kind words as yours keep comming.
I think we're going to travel to Bogota soon because we have a relative there in very serious health problems. If we do, expect the trip report. And if we don't I'll right about our last trip to the US from Colombia, so you can see how international flights go on here.
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11482 posts, RR: 54 Reply 7, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days ago) and read 2314 times:
Great to read and also to hear that service levels on the South American carriers has not declined like on carriers in other areas. Thanks for sharing, really enjoyed it.
USAFHummer From United States of America, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 58 Reply 9, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 2297 times:
Just to carry on the sentiments of others: Superb report!!! This is definitely one of the more unique TR's out there and I look forward to seeing some more as well...having been to Cartagena a few years back, I agree that that place is ridiculously hot...wayyyyyyyyy too hot!
The one question that I have though is: Why did you need permission from your school to go on a family vacation???
Greg
Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru
SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2486 posts, RR: 17 Reply 10, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 2294 times:
Hi Greg,
Thanks a lot for your comment. It's great to hear people like the things you do.
Well, Cartagena, as you say, is very hot. But I dare to say that Cartagena is a freezer comparing it with Barranquilla. I think that's the maximum temperature one can experience without going crazy.
Greg, referring to your question, as you may know, in mid-october all schools around the world are in normal classes. The thing is, I just couldn't stop going to school for almost 2 weeks without giving some valid reason, or I would have gotten expelled.
Anyways, expect more trip report soon. My next one will be my trip to Cali via Bogota. And then, I'm planning to tell my last trip to the US.
SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2486 posts, RR: 17 Reply 13, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2203 times:
Pzurita1,
Thanks for the reply.
Yes, have to agree with you on the airport opinions. Unfortunately, those are the airports most visited by tourists. Said by many people, although BOG is larger and has more activity, MDE is far the best and nicest airport in the country.
And of course, the most gorgeous and beautiful women of all are from here too. Almost all colombian models were born here in Medellin.
Copa737 From Panama, joined Jan 2002, 331 posts, RR: 7 Reply 14, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2182 times:
Federico,
Excellent report, I really enjoy reading it.
You said that you saw Avianca hybrid 757 leased from Icelandair, its a new one? I knew they operates one from Transmeridian and another one Ex-Aeromar. I heard that they will bring some 757s more its that true?
SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2486 posts, RR: 17 Reply 16, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 2177 times:
Felipe,
Thanks a lot for your words.
First of all, let me tell you that I'm not very fond of aviation photography, although aviation is one of my greatest passions, if not the greatest. I think that being a good airplane photographer requires, apart from skills, a well-defined aesthetic notion.
Referring to the Avianca 757, indeed, they are bringing some more due to the high loads that some specific routes have been experiencing. Plus, when ACES when out of the market, obviously the A320 did too. So the 757 are replacing them.
So, apart from the 757 you know about, there's another hybrid 757 in Avianca and Icelandair color, but operating, for now, only domestic routes I think. And I think there are even more.
I'm writing from Cali right now. Hope you enjoy my next Trip Report. I'll post it on next Friday or Saturday.
Lima From Argentina, joined May 1999, 1122 posts, RR: 20 Reply 17, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 2156 times:
Hello Federico,
Thanks a lot for the very good trip report. It is written with a very nice latin enthusiast, full of details giving the impression that we did it too. I have a fascination for Colombia myself so was double interesting.
One question related. How is Avianca economic situation? any rumours or plans to resume closed routes to Europe for example (i.e. Frankfurt, Paris).
Thanks you
Greetings,
Lima
PS: dont forget to eat a bandejita paisa for me OK
SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2486 posts, RR: 17 Reply 18, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2166 times:
Lima,
Thanks for your comment. And be sure that once I get back to Medellin on friday and after posting my next trip report, I'll enjoy the bandeja paisa that you're talking about.
Referring to Avianca's destinations. They stopped serving FRA a couple of years ago and CDG aswell. . They are no rumours or news related to this. They lost the slots at LHR, AF recently increased service to CDG and IB is flying a 747 from MAD these days. The only european destination currently is MAD.
Their economic situation is not the worst, but it's not the best either. Fortunately they have not stopped providing and excellent and warm service in all opeartions. Plus, they have taken serious decisions to help the finances get better. Hope everything turns out OK. As said before, they're leasing more aircrafts (757), so that may be a good sign.
Copaair737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 14 hours ago) and read 2140 times:
Nice trip report SOUTHAMERICA. I lived in Colombia for a little while, and Id have to say it was the top country ive ever visited. Cartagena is cool, but the street vendors were very annoying. I really enjoyed the Islas Rosario, and Bogota is a great city, especially the Zona Rosa.
SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2486 posts, RR: 17 Reply 20, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 9 hours ago) and read 2117 times:
Copaair737,
Thanks for your comment. I'm glad you really liked our country.
Yeah, Cartagena, as said, is simply great. Although, what you say is true. It's specially annoying when you're relaxing at the beach and suddenly those vendors disturb you repeatedly. Anyway, I never really enjoy the beach at Cartagena. I like better the pool at the hotel I'm in, and the city itself is nice.
Bogota is an amazing place aswell. I'm writing precisely from here.
Chepos From Puerto Rico, joined Dec 2000, 5751 posts, RR: 14 Reply 21, posted (8 years 2 months 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 2115 times:
Bienvenidos a Airliners.Net
Great to see a trip report from Colombia, especially such a well written one and one from Avianca (not seen very often around here). It's a pity that Avianca decided to replace their previous c/s with that butterfly thing- its just dull and bland.
Diego767 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 22 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (8 years 2 months 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2070 times:
Federico, what a great report specially since I am a Paisa living and working in the US for a major airline, I try to nonrev my way to colombia at least 3 times a year on American to MDE BOG and CLO since my wife is from Cali I have to, je je and let me tell you a day doesnt go by without me thinking about returning for good to my beatiful country and my dream is to work in the aviation industry someday anywhere in Colombia, I wouldnt think twice about going back, I have really enjoyed my time at the airports you mentioned, last time I was at RNG in April the observation decks were chained up which was a bummer, the puente aereo in BOG is a lot of fun and CLO is ok but no good views. We ll be going in February for 2 weeks since its a good time to nonrev and more than likely it will be SFO MIA MDE on american and either Avianca or West Caribbean to Cali, I really wanna fly WC's ATRs and then CLO MIA SFO on american again, I ll try and write my first trip report also and YES Colombian women are unique thats why I had to marry one, even if she is from Cali.
SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2486 posts, RR: 17 Reply 24, posted (8 years 2 months 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2084 times:
Diego767,
First of all, thanks a lot for the kind comment. Great to see more colombian people here, specially paisas.
It's great that you are comming so soon to Colomia again. I hope and know you'll enjoy your stay 'cause this country is better than ever. Although I've been several times in San Francisco and it's a gorgeous city.
Right now the observation decks at MDE are opened again .
I agree with the comment about the Avianca terminal at BOG being fun and nice, specially after the heavy works they did to it.
I've flown the route SFO-MIA-BOG and it's a fairly nice trip, nothing special though, except for the superb arrival at BOG if the active is 31L !
West Caribbean's ATRs are nothing special either. Try to pick the continuing leg from AV JFK-MDE trip, and you get a 35 minute ride to CLO on a 767 !
I agree and state it again and again, Colombian women are simply the best, specifically the paisas. The girls from Cali are not bad but nothing alike the girls from Medellin. I you wanted to get married, there was plenty to choose from here, but I think love is blind anyways just kidding.
EXPECT MY NEXT TRIP REPORT AT THE END OF THE WEEK when I arrive to Medellin.
Saludos y gracias.
Federico.
P.D.: If you are called Diego, you have a cool name.
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From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2486 posts, 
. Fortunately I knew that in Bogota it was going to be a whole different story.
From Mexico, joined Oct 1999, 1539 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1771 posts, 
LatinPlane
From Greenland, joined Sep 2002, 1377 posts, 
From Panama, joined Jan 2002, 331 posts, 
From Argentina, joined May 1999, 1122 posts, 
. They are no rumours or news related to this. They lost the slots at LHR, AF recently increased service to CDG and IB is flying a 747 from MAD these days. The only european destination currently is MAD.
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Puerto Rico, joined Dec 2000, 5751 posts, 
.
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