We are in the mountains in the cloud forest an hour or so away from Cali reached by hairpin roads. 6am, no sign of Jorge, el taxista. Whatsapp indicates, hay problema, llanta pinchada, hmmm flat tyre wherever Jorge is in Cali.
No problem, he says, flight's at 0822, plenty of time. easy peasy, tranquilo, I got you, be with you pronto. Dale, ok, I say, maybe needs a pinch of salt!
About 20 minutes later, Jorge says he's all fixed, on his way. 15 minutes later, no sign of him, he says it's Monday, tons of kids going to school are holding him up.
Then magic, he's here, fire the bags into the boot. We shoot off along the dirt track with giant potholes, eventually joining the asphalt and the hairpins. This is where Jorge excels in his element, a true fullblood horse released on the racetrack, barely impeded by mothers dropping kids off in the mist. It is 0650, the bagdrop at the airport closes at 0735. I can tell Jorge likes a challenge and we are laughing.
Woah, this is intense, really intense, Formula 1 eat your heart out stuff! Pedal to the metal, sit 2mm on the bumper of the bus in front, practically get inside the shirtcollar of the motorcyclists. Brakes are juddering, smells nice, lucky nothing in my stomach, just a cafecito, as if I need more adrenaline? Blind bends, double lines, you name it, we can overtake it.
Saving grace after 35 minutes is the peaje or tollroad where it feels like 150kph as we undertake, overtake, anything goes, piece of cake.
You know, I am absolutely feeling fine. Why? I am laughing inside, having a great time, there is nothing else to do but sit back and enjoy the ride. Logically, what's at stake is just a maldito vuelo or f-ing flight, but for Jorge and ultimately for us, it appears to be existential. I am 71, have had an amazing life, it is what it is, who knows what's next? Not so sure I'm going to die peacefully in my bed! We screech into the airport at 0745. Jorge lives to fight another day. So do we!
The chic lady at the checkin says oh, sorry, flight closed 5 minutes ago. A smile from me as I ask how can we regulate this little problem. God smiles, so does the attendant, who magically activates rapidisimo a bevy of more smiling ladies who are happy for me to tell them how enchanting my experience is, and whisk us through at breakneck speed.
God I love it here, what fun!
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Colombia, Taxi Ride to Cali, Taxi
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