South of the Border

Episode Uno (Contd) 29/30 Nov '17

The BC experience! After kids in arms & differently- abled passengers, we were ushered into our own cocooned spaces. Wifey & I were at different ends of the seating, but luckily, there was  one right next to me, so after a brief separation, we were seated together again! Here, each Purser was allotted 3 rows to look after, ie 6, which meant personal attention to each. After getting the right pronounciation of our surnames, Alexandra, our “looker-after” made us at home. Welcome drinks ranged from water, juices to bubblies & the food menu was a gourmet’s delight.

 The seats were hinged in so many places that one could actually manoeuver each section, according to the contouring of one’s body! Above all, the flight was so smooth that one really didn’t feel the movement. The fact that I could sleep it off for 3 hours +, speaks volumes of the pilot’s skill & the aircraft design.

Food & Drink I will not waste the readers’ time on vivid description of the food, for fear of being cornered (& clubbed) for only tickling their palates , a la Tantalus, pictorially!  

Currants & Beetroot on Baby Spinach + Sesame Tofu

Suffice it to say, the airborne experience was very memorable. And so began the descent, aeronautically & literally.

Trad Goose, pickled Red Cabbage , potato dumplings!

 Mexico looked beautiful with all her lights, which gradually revealed their  many colours. A perfect landing, brought me down to reality! The immigration queue was as serpentine & long as never imagined, as there were far too many arrivals. Another discovery I made was that “siesta” was not restricted to 1-4 (like our Puneri Shops), but could be anytime. Of the 17 Imm counters, only a handful were operative! How else could one arrive at this brilliant piece of logic. The line, moved on like a python’s sluggish pace, after it’s having devoured a meal! The ACs weren’t too effective or perhaps the ratio of ACs to persons, had gone haywire. The wait also gave me an opportunity to make some discoveries. As they say, “when you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go!!” So, swimming against the surge of people & muttering something that I though would pass off as Espanol ( Xuse’, gracias etc etc), I reached the “Rest Room’ for a much-needed rest! Welcome to Mexico! Puzzling situ. Miles of T rolls, but water having decided to call it a day!

Home & dry! At last, after so many hiccups (caused by Imm guys suddenly shutting shop & other counters opening up at leisure), we found ourselves at the counter. We had mentally prepared ourselves for questions that are usually asked, memorising Janu’s address etc. but I wasn’t prepared for…………….

“how long do you want to stay”?!? Had I said One year, I’m sure he would have waived us on. Very friendly place, no biometrics, no piercing & arrogant looks. We had crossed the “Wall”! Locating our baggage, trying to find the ‘Exit” through that maze, we nearly walked into the “Self Declaration” check. Doing a quick 180 deg turn, we found the “nothing to declare” passage & our passage out.

Niku had left Jenny's arms by now!!

Jenny was there, right in front with Niku in his arms. (Janu had gone round the corner; she almost went round the bend, waiting for us!) Swiftly, a uniformed guy relived me of the trolley, Niku ran up to give us a real bear hug, & all travails faded away. Oh the powers of Grandchildren!

Home & Dry!

At first sight (& even later) Mexico is quite reminiscent of Mumbai & some parts of Pune. Some of the places were right out of Pedder/ Prabhat Road. But definitely cleaner! 

Take ur pick- K Park or Mexico Cuidad

Tfc viewed from 33 rd Floor

And many many flyovers & “tullens”, according to Niku! drove straight into the parking lot from the rear entrance, the Security guys waiving us on after routine formalities. 

('Teh)teesri Manzil'

The building being 35 stories high, One set of lifts (3) are from BP to 18 floor & the other,  from 19-35, not to mention 6 basement pkgs! We had left “Prakrtii” at 8:20 pm 29/11. We were home (33 floor) at 9:45 pm, 30/11. Bueonas Noches!

I’ll keep you informed through my blogs, as & when there is enough to report upon. Mexico has a lot, we hear, & it’ll be my pleasure, to show you around, through our eyes

AshoKalpana

P.S. Since this is NOT a computer generated correspondence, a response is expected!