I met many of my with friends and relatives the week before my trip. I had so much to do every day that for a moment and amid the meetings and parties, I got the feeling that time was not going to be enough. However, it was wonderful to feel so loved and appreciated. I enjoyed every shared moment, every smile, every story, every hug. Definitely there is nothing like family and friends.


Mexican night at my mom's with my group of friends from high school. Since it was October 30th, we wore masks and wigs. A fun and special time with my friends.


Saturday, November 1st was spent with relatives from my mom's side. We had lunch at an uncles farm. Seeing so many fruits, many animals, me lying in a hammock and seeing such joy on my relatives faces; reminded me of all the little things I was going to miss.


On Sunday, Nov 2th was my friend's wedding. Initially D and I had planned my flight back to Germany for Oct 22th, However, I didn't want to miss my friend's wedding, so we changed it to the 4th. That way I could attend the wedding and say a proper goodbye to my friends from high school

November 3rd was a holiday in Colombia. I spent that day at my father's farm, together with my grandpa, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. Again super-grateful for the shared moments, laughter, food, everything. Although in the end I cried when saying goodbye to my relatives and my friends. It never gets easy, no matter what.

On the morning of November 4th, I was woken up by my iPod. It kindly reminded me the day to close the distance had arrived. Since the trip was not until after 6:00 pm, I took the day to make sure everything was in order, I went downtown to withdraw money from the bank and then went to have lunch with my mom. For days I had been longing for a seafood casserole with coconut rice and fried plantains -patacones!-. Together we went to a seafood restaurant. The lunch was delicious! After lunch my mom went to work and I went back home.


Countdown is over!

Around 4pm my mom came home and 45 minutes later my dad. They all helped me placing everything in the car and then we left to the airport. The sky was cloudy and my biggest fear was arriving and being told the flight had been canceled, especially because my brother had called to tell me in Bogotá it was raining cats and dogs. When checking my bags, the person in charge told me that for unknown reasons it was not possible to check my luggage to Hanover, only until Bogota. These were shocking news because I had one suitcase with 20 Kg, another one with 23Kg, plus a carry on with 8kg and a briefcase with the computer. Having to claim the heavy bags and checking in again in Bogota was not the biggest problem; the biggest problem was that I had the exact time to catch my flight to Frankfurt and I was almost certain that by having to do all that at the airport in Bogota, I was going to miss my international connection. As there was no other option, the man just checked my bags to Bogota.

I shared the final minutes with my parents. I tried to be strong but I could not. I cried when I said goodbye, hugged and kissed them. My mom tried to calm me down and with tears running down my face, I walked to the security checkpoint. 10 minutes later, the airline announced our flight was delayed. I did some quick calculations and I knew I would not arrive on time. I talked with the airline officials, I told them my situation and how despite having bought my plane tickets with Avianca (international connection and national flight operated by Lufthansa), my bags could not be checked to my final destination. I asked him to be please stick "priority" stickers on my bags, so that they could come out first and to please change my seat to one closer to the exit.

We took off. I impatiently checked my watch. We landed -not in the international terminal, of course- I think in the farthest part of the world. I was desperate. The plane took forever to park, then the bus that would take us to where we should claim our bags, also took forever. It was more than obvious, I was going to miss my flight to Germany. Before claiming my bags I went to the Avianca connections front desk, I mentioned my case and the women would not give me an answer. I felt so helplessness at that moment. Finally one of them told me I should go to the Avianca customer service office, explain my case and that they would write a letter for me to bring to Lufthansa, so that they would not charge me a penalty and would place me on the next flight. In the midst of my anger, sadness and despair, I went for my bags. While waiting for them, I called my mother. Crying I said I had missed the flight. 5 minutes later my brother and cousin called, both offering help.

I drew strength from where I didn't have and how I could, I put all my luggage on a cart for which I had to pay $4,000. Fortunately the guy understood my situation and gave me a voucher to claim another cart "without paying" once I arrived at the international terminal. I arrived at the customer service office. She listened and after waiting more than 20 minutes, she asked me to please give her one hour to book me a hotel room, transportation and a new flight to Germany the next day. I felt so relieved when she told me that. I went to have dinner in the meantime, call my mother again and write D a message to let him know what happened. He simply could not believe it. It was definitely bad news for both.

While dining, I mentally prayed for a clean and comfortable hotel. I needed a break from so much stress and be fine for the next day. I went back to the office and the girl had everything ready. She told me I would spend the night at the Tryp Embassy Bogotá, a hotel located 20 minutes from the airport. The bad news was that I was not longer flying with Lufthansa, but with Avianca and Iberia and the layover would not be in Frankfurt but in Madrid. Good thing the departure time would be earlier. I just wanted to relax and be with D as soon as possible.


I did get a nice and clean hotel. Breakfast was also great

My flight back to Germany was on November 5th at 2:30 pm colombian time. Unfortunately the airplane food made my stomach really sick and after landing at the airport in Madrid, I had to go to the bathroom quite often. Which was both, embarrassing and annoying. It had never happened to me before and for me it was terrible! I had more than 4 hours of waiting at the airport and they were endless. I could not wait to get home, I was very tired and in addition to that, with stomach problems. Luckily the airport in Madrid, or more specifically Terminal 4, which is where was- is quite friendly to passengers in regards of seats and places where to rest. Thanks to that I was able to rest -when my stomach let me do it- and I was able to even sleep a bit before heading to my next destination and where I would finally meet my husband: Hannover


Waiting in Madrid