Sunday, August 12, 2012

Tickets Have Been Bought

After several tense weeks of not knowing when Señor B's shift change would start, due to his new position at work, we've finally been able to book our tickets. But because we didn't know when his new shift would happen, we missed out on a great deal with Continental. Oh well. Ni modo.

Usually we take a red eye from our home airport to Toronto and then to Cancun. Then the bus from Cancun to Mérida and then a cab to Progreso. It takes us a full 24 hours to get from our house here to our condo and makes for a very long and arduous trip.

This time, we're doing things a bit differently. We're going to fly with Continental instead of WestJet. We'll leave from our home airport, connect in Houston and then fly to Mérida. The flight is a bit more but we also factored in the bus ride to and from Cancun as well as a night's stay in Cancun, which we always do the night before we leave México, to ensure we don't miss an early morning bus from Mérida. We've heard stories of bus schedules being changed without any notice, leaving passengers in a bind. We prefer not to have our adrenaline pumping too hard first thing in the morning.

Going with Continental will make our travel time quite a lot shorter, about 15-18 hours each way. That might sound like a lot to most, but when you practically live in the friggin' tundra like we do, it's just the way it is.

The only concern I have is going through US security. Señor B always sets off the alarm because of his hip replacements. The TSA has a reputation for being rather intolerant. Señor B doesn't think he needs a letter from his doc about his hips but I think it would be wise to have it. We've never encountered any problems but we haven't gone through US security since his operations. I guess we shall see what happens.

So!...all of that to say...we'll arrive to Progreso late evening of Oct 30 and leave early morning Nov 30.  I can't wait!

11 comments:

  1. Well that's a shame...we arrive Dec 1 and leave Jan 4th..... we miss you by a day! Someday I would like to be in Merida the same time as another blogger so we can meet someone! So have a great time and take some warm back with you to the tundra!

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  2. Well, shucks! I'm sorry we'll miss you, too. I've been following your blog and would love to meet you and see your place. We'll be back in March. Will you?

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    1. We'd like to try to be in Merida for carnivale, (it in the early part of Feb this year, which may be a problem since Carlos is already taking off the month of Dec!)
      but nothing is on the schedule for 2013 yet.

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  3. Barb, I think Sr B should get the letter. If he doesn't need it fine, but if he does, he is prepared.

    TSA feels like a bad sci-fi movie to me.

    It's been raining every day this week but only in the afternoon. I'm looking forward to seeing you!

    regards,
    Theresa

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  4. Thanks, Theresa. Your opinion as an American will carry more weight with him than mine as his wife. Why are guys like that? lol.

    Looking forward to seeing you, too.

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  5. Barb,
    TSA is so unpredictable,the chiropractor I worked for used to have to write letters for his patients that needed to get up and walk around periodically on the airplane!

    I think that it's that "no one is a prophet in his own land" factor that works against us as wives.

    regards,
    Theresa

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  6. I have been advised by my surgeon to get a docs letter stating I have an artificial hip ( once it's done that is!) & always carry it with me when travelling. My brother has steel plates in his body & has always had a docs letter with him. Better safe than sorry I say.

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  7. Unknown, I agree with you...better safe than sorry.

    *Asking quizzically*...Who are you? Do I know you?

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  8. Barb, Alan had a hip replacement about two years ago and carries a card with him, but in all this time, he has never had a problem at security and has never been asked for a letter or card.

    Señor B will most likely get pulled over for the body scan, but that is usually not a problem. Just takes another couple of minutes. Joint replacements are extremely common these days. Seems like there is always someone in line and we have never observed in problems.

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  9. Thanks, John. I'm sure we won't have any problems but I like to be prepared, just in case. Murphy's Law, and all that...

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  10. Hey Barb, I know you're back. You met my friend on the plane from Houston. Give me a call or send an email...

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