Travel day started early, with a 3:30 am Uber to the airport. My motto has always been early is better than late, and this was no exception. It was a really short ride, and since I had no luggage, I hit the kiosk for boarding passes and made it to the TSA checkpoint before it opened. I’ll learn someday, maybe. At least I pack light.
Flight to Denver was smooth and uneventful, and having an empty seat next to me was nice
In Denver, since I had a three-hour layover, I grabbed the best breakfast burrito in any airport at La Cantina: upstairs in the center of the B concourse. I got carne asada and eggs—no potatoes, thank you—foregoing the equally excellent chorizo.
While noshing, I double checked my boarding passes. United has changed the itinerary from RNO-SFO-IAH-PTY to RNO-DEN-IAH-PTY, and in the process added layover time at the first stop, and significantly decreased the time in Houston.
Looking closer, I saw my arrival time was 1558, and boarding for my flight to Panama City started at 1550, with departure at 1528.
Huh.
Thirty minutes to get off one plane, traverse who-knows-how-many concourses and gates to board the next.
I checked in with the gate agent to get reassurance that the was, in fact, a viable and reasonable thing.
She paused and suggested she get me a seat closer to the front, so my odds would be better.
Not reassuring.
But, true to her word, I was moved from a nice window seat in row 28 to a middle seat in row 8. First one outside of first class, in economy plus. The people on either side weren’t plus, so that was good. And nice legroom.
As it turned out, we parked at the single most disadvantageous gate possible…but, we arrived 10 minutes early. As soon as the doors opened, I legged it.
I made it with 10 minutes to spare, and wasn’t even the last person to board. I didn’t quite run, but pushed hard. Maybe my ankle will heal.
I also had an empty seat next to me on this flight. The flying gods liked me.
Pretty simple passage through immigration and customs and I was on my way. Picked up a SIM with 2 weeks of data. More than I expected: $50. But the postings gotta go, right? Hit the hotel by 8:30 and the bar by 8:40 and my room by nine. Priorities, y’all.
It’s a quiet place. Seems most rooms are empty. Pool looks nice. Tomorrow is exploring.
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