2nd June 2024

RANT: Well, well, well, twelve impartial citizens of New York have found Donald Trump guilty on all charges! It can’t have been a difficult decision, given that much of the free world had long concluded that this detestable bully is a fraud and a compulsive liar.

Sadly, far too many American voters remain blind to his narcissism and misogyny, seemingly willing to excuse him of any sin. But surely, in any functioning democracy, a fundamental principle must be that a convicted criminal is ineligible to hold high office. Individuals with such glaring moral failures would only exploit the system for personal gain, not to serve the people they are meant to represent.

The U.S. Constitution is in urgent need of amendment. No person convicted of serious crimes should be permitted to stand for any political or judicial position. The law must be unambiguous: all citizens, whether a President or a street cleaner, are equal before it. Furthermore, the right to endlessly appeal under the guise of due process should be limited. Judges must have the power to curtail such tactics when clearly used to obstruct or delay justice.

Galápagos Journey: Departure Preparation
In the days leading up to our departure for the Galápagos, Sue and I were busy making sure everything at home was in order. Leaving the house for a fortnight is always a logistical exercise, but even more so at this time of year, with plants thriving and the weather refusing to cooperate when it comes to washing and drying clothes. By the time we left for London, however, the suitcases were packed with freshly laundered clothing, lawns and paths were mown, and the greenhouse’s self-watering system was fully operational.

Sue had insisted on going carbooting in Saddington at the unholy hour of 5:30 a.m. I didn’t rise until two hours later, preferring to give the garden one last watering. Frustratingly, the damp weather of recent weeks had vanished, replaced, of course, by a glorious summer’s day. I wasn’t the only one enjoying the morning: one of our resident muntjacs was spotted nibbling at the grain I’d scattered earlier for the birds beneath the pine tree.

We left Willow Bank and drove to the Thistle Hotel at Heathrow, where we would spend the night ahead of our early Monday flight to Miami. It’s far less stressful than navigating the M25 in the dark, worrying about traffic or car trouble.

We had planned a rare McDonald’s dinner, but the nearest branch was closed for renovations. A five-minute walk took us to a Chinese restaurant instead, where we enjoyed a delicious, though decidedly London-priced, meal. We returned to our room and wound down with a bit of TV before bed.

3rd June 2024: British Airways & Airport Chaos
To our surprise, we slept soundly despite the hotel’s proximity to the airport. Aircraft noise was audible outside but absent inside, full marks to Thistle Hotels.

We were up just before 6 a.m. and quickly showered and caffeinated. A short ten-minute drive took us to Terminal 5, where we handed the car over to the ‘Meet & Greet’ team. Despite being unable to check in online, check-in at the desk was swift, and no additional paperwork was requested beyond our passports.

Sue, once again, fell foul of airport security with her extensive collection of gels and liquids. One of her liquid containers was mistakenly dropped into my tray, meaning I too had to wait while it was cleared.

After a WH Smith’s Meal Deal breakfast in the concourse, we noticed a one-hour delay on our flight. Not ideal, but manageable. We proceeded to Gate C via the transit train and waited again. At around 12 noon, we began boarding, only to be held in the corridor for another half-hour while the plane’s software rebooted.

We eventually took our seats, pleased to find the ones beside us were empty. Though our connection in Miami to Quito would be tight, we remained hopeful. But as we trundled toward the runway, a loud bang shook the aircraft. Moments later, we came to a halt.

The captain eventually informed us we’d burst a tyre. After some deliberation, the decision was made to return to the gate. There, we were told that not one but four tyres and the braking mechanism needed replacing. Estimated delay: two hours.

On board, drinks and meals were served, and the atmosphere remained relatively calm. But the air conditioning, running on battery power, was struggling. Four hours passed. Repairs completed, we were told we were nearly ready, until it emerged that several passengers had opted to disembark. Their baggage had to be located and removed.

I contacted our tour operator, Exoticca, to explain the situation. We agreed to continue to Miami and attempt to catch our connection with American Airlines. But the heat inside the aircraft was becoming unbearable. More passengers chose to leave. More delays followed. Then, a new hurdle: several of the crew were now “out of hours” and would need to be replaced.

By 5 p.m., with a full replacement crew and temperatures bordering on stifling, the captain announced the inevitable: the flight was cancelled.

Disembarking was slow and chaotic. At the gate, a handful of BA staff attempted to manage a crowd of 300+ hot and frustrated passengers. We managed to secure meal vouchers and the location of the Customer Services desk. Fortunately, a staff member advised us to check the BA App, and flights were being reallocated. I found ours, confirmed them, and updated Exoticca. We were being rescheduled with American Airlines.

Meanwhile, Sue obtained hotel and bus vouchers. We grabbed a quick bite at Café Nero, then headed to bus stop 17 for the Hoppa Bus to the Ibis Hotel. The wait was long, over an hour, and by the time the bus arrived, the crowd had swelled. Years of rugby proved handy; we managed to secure spots. Many others weren’t so lucky.

At the hotel, another queue awaited. But the end of our dreadful day was in sight, and as a small consolation, the buffet dinner and breakfast were included. After a hearty chicken curry with chips and a photo of the next day’s bus timetable, we collapsed into bed.

4th June 2024: Redemption by American Airlines
We were up early for breakfast, a generous buffet of hot food, cold meats, and cheeses, and caught the 7:37 a.m. Hoppa bus to Terminal 3.

Check-in at American Airlines was smooth. Security was a breeze compared to yesterday, and we made it through with no mishaps.

Our flight to Miami was packed, but we left only fifteen minutes late. It was a nine-and-a-half-hour journey, with two meals, a snack, and plenty of drink offerings, wine and beer included, which I gratefully accepted.

We landed early in Miami and transferred by shuttle to passport control. With formalities completed, we braved yet another round of security scanning. No issues this time. At the main concourse, we found our departure gate for Quito, Gate 45, on the large screens and marched toward it. A handful of passengers were already waiting, including two in striking traditional Ecuadorian dress.

Arrival in Quito

The flight to Quito was overbooked, and the staff appealed for four volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for a flight the following day, overnight hotel accommodation, and a return ticket to any destination on the network, valid for a year. Four passengers accepted the offer, which allowed the rest of us to board, albeit half an hour late.

Once onboard, we endured another thirty-minute delay while the luggage of a no-show passenger was located and removed from the hold.

The first hour of the flight was extremely bumpy, but things eventually settled, and just under four hours later, we touched down in Quito. Progress through passport control and security was slow but thankfully uneventful.

Outside the terminal, however, things became less straightforward. We were supposed to meet our driver, but no one was there holding a sign or looking vaguely expectant. After messaging our tour guide via WhatsApp, we began scanning for anyone affiliated with our accommodation at the Holiday Inn. We eventually found their driver, but he was expecting entirely different guests.

At that moment, a woman approached us and introduced herself. She was on the same trip and similarly confused by the lack of transport. Between us, and after a little back and forth, the Holiday Inn driver finally realised that we were his missing clients.

A ten-minute drive later, we were checking in at the hotel at 12:15 a.m.

With a 5 a.m. start the next morning, there wasn’t much time left for sleep!