Would I go over to Bogota for a week and then go to Miami for several days and do a training course for ULD management. I did not have to be asked twice as I had been to neither before.
I was to be met a Bogota Airport on arrival by my contact over there and would be brought to my Hotel. It was a very early arrival about 02:30 in the morning. I arrived and waited for about 30mins or so but no one was there to meet me.
Several dubious characters approached me offering to take me on my journey. I waited another 30 mins but still no one came. I looked around for a 'proper taxi' but there was none. Mine was the last flight of the night.
This was getting a bit scary as I had to make the decision to take a lift from these dubious characters who were eyeing me up like vultures. After all this was Bogota, the kidnap capital of the world. I decided to go with a youngish guy who looked the most reasonable. I struck a deal (I did not know if the price was good or bad) I followed him on foot down a dark alley way and reached his car, an old ramshackle affair. What have I let myself in for?. Would he take me to my Hotel or would sell me off to some gang for ransom. Or even worse. My mind was racing.
The journey was about 30 mins and not one word was spoken between us. Where were we going? Suddenly in the distance I saw the familiar green sign of a Holiday Inn, we arrived and I don't think I have ever felt so relieved as I did then.
A Classic by Mercury Rev, beautiful track but I was never really sure about the saw part. The dubious character was ready to ship you off to Medellin but the crazee Breetish toourist, thinking he was getting a deal, probably inadvertently negotiated his own ransom.
I remember the first time I heard this song! I was standing in the conservatory with you and we both loved it. The saw was a selling point. I see this story ending up like most Old Pa stories... Nothing a few local bevvies won't sort!
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