Our original flight plan had a 60 min connection in Paris CDG: the late departure and headwinds reduced this to a arse-twitching 40 mins. Chris, of course, knew the secret short-cut between terminals E and F that avoided nail-biting waits for buses, and we managed to make the gate just in time: they had closed the flight, but made an exception for us. Despite being a bit 'frazzled' at this point, once on the plane, a free glass of champagne in hand, lots of buttons to play with on my fully reclining seat & video screen and the promise of some really nice food to come, I soon settled down for the 11 or so hour flight to Sao Palo.
Very soon, Sean and Chris were dead to the world but, despite the comfy chair and masses of leg room, I couldn’t sleep and spent most of my time watching films and staring into space listening to music.
Yes Jill, you were right...I should have brought my Kindle!
Air traffic problems at Sao Palo, meant we had to circle a few times before we managed to land. Passport control was pretty quick and I received my first every stamp, together with paperwork to remind me I was a foreigner; something else to carry with me at all times together with my passport and yellow fever vaccination card....or else! When the carousel stopped turning, and everyone else had toddled off with their bags, Sean and Chris were left bag less: strangely my rucksack had made the transfer at Paris Sorocaba
Around midnight (local time) I had a nice, large, double room on the 14th floor, complete with aircon, microwave and fridge in the Trans America hotel, 1 of only 2 large hotels in Sorocaba ; it had only taken me 21hrs to get there !. There was car a picking us up at 0730am, so bags and clothes were dumped on the couch and I collapsed into bed….zzzz