first class!

We got our 8:00am flight easy enough -- the airport is located a few blocks from Bocas Town, and you can walk right onto the runway if you wanted. The flight left a bit late and we were both sweating it because there was not a lot of time between that and our connecting international flight. The plane was one of those sixteen-seaters with propellers. It was really loud, but pretty smooth and had a great view.

Once landed, we booked it to get a taxi because the domestic airport is on the opposite side of the city as the international airport. Juan the taxi driver assured us that we had plenty of time. He was right, it turned out. There was no traffic whatsoever, perhaps owing to it being Saturday morning. We even had time to shop around the duty free before our second flight boarded.

Here is where I regale you with tales of our FIRST CLASS SEATS experience. Yes, that's right, I said first class, row 2. The seats were wide and comfy and there was ample leg room that neither of us could even take full advantage of given our height (or lack thereof). In addition to hot towels, eye shades, and a dedicated flight attendant, we were served the following:

• pre-flight orange juice
• a menu
• drinks (Baileys for me, obviously)
• pretzel snacks in a ceramic dish (I'm pretty sure they just opened the little snack pack foil wrapper and poured it into a bowl.)
  
• appetizers (corn soup! in a ceramic bowl! With a fabric table-cloth!)
• main course which was artfully displayed on white ceramic plates, like how they would be served in a restaurant, and not like how they are usually served in plastic tubs in coach class)
• dessert (ice cream sundae!)
• plentiful drinks
• a second meal of toasted avocado/tomato/cheese sandwich served on nice plates yet again

We both read for most of the trip, played a little cards, slept a bit, and needless to say, were completely stuffed by the time the plane landed. (The flight was only seven hours.) Los Angeles looked gray and cold from above. We got through immigration and customs with no problems but unfortunately also with no new stamps. Nadiv's mom picked us up in the greeting hall, and with that, the trip was done!

We had a fabulous time.