Two more days until we leave. I'm a bit irritated at my Dr. because he gave me my Typhoid pills Friday (he said to pick them up then), and the directions clearly state that they need to be taken entirely at least a week before potential exposure. Ah well, I guess I will be eating all that is burnt to a crisp for the first week or so of the trip.
Other than that, I'm getting pretty excited. Tonight I packed a bit, so a lot of that is out of the way. I have some loose ends here that I need to tie up in terms of canceling phone service, the gym membership, etc.. All that shouldn't take too long. I still need to figure out how I am going to carry my camera equipment; using a camera bag just seems like I'm asking to be robbed, but just cramming expensive equipment in a random shoulder bag without any padding seems a bit careless. I'll see if I can get any opinions from experienced travelers that lug along gear.

Lost in translation

I've been trying to reserve tickets with a Peruvian airline since late last month, but things haven't been going well (mainly due to the fact that their website is broken). I keep getting these emails that are poorly translated into English (they're clearly the template email they send to everyone, and never change no matter what I ask) that are less than helpful. I finally told them to forget it, and that I'd be going through an agent my co-worker is friends with, but I thought I'd post up some emails for the hell of it. I even tried corresponding in Spanish (they initially contacted me in English - I would have preferred to have kept it Spanish for the sake of clarity), but to no avial. My alternative to online payment was going to be photocopying my passport and faxing that and my CC info with signature to some random person; call me crazy, but that didn't really appeal to me.

anyway - here they are, for those of you who don't mind a bit of a read:

Sr. *****,

Thank you for reserving our flight for us. There seems to be a slight issue with your site accepting payment. When I get to the form where I fill out my credit card details, it won't let me click the 'efectuar pago' button to proceed. Is there another way that I can submit my payment? I don't want to lose our tickets!

Lisa

_______________________First response:

Mss. ***********:

The reserve *********** it was cancelled because the date limits I expire.

I have taken a new reserve **********.

The itinerary is:
Flight : 271
Day : 04 of May
Route : Lima - Arequipa
Hour : 12.15 p.m a 13.25 p.m

The passengers who appear in this reserve are:

- ***********/ELIZABETH

- *********/CLAUDIA

The date limits after the payment is 13 of April - 10.00 a.m

The amount to pay is 104.72 dollars.

This promotional price is not - reimbursable and it does not allow date and name change.

One does not forget that it will have to be in the airport two hours before the flight hour.

You will be able to make the payment by Internet through the Web with credit card VISA or Mastercard. In order to travel it will have to carry its passport and it copies of the credit card with which it carried out the payment.

If it continues having problems to make the payment, I make shipment of another. Means of Payment MOTO: format of payment by means of Card Master Card, Visa or American Express. To send correctly filled it and signed. To send copy of its passport or DNI and of its credit card by both faces.

It will be able to send scanned it by this means or fax to the number ********************8.

Choose one of the formats and to send it to this mail with copy a *****@******* or scanned going a ********************* or ***************** to he himself I number of fax.

Any other consultation does not doubt in communicating with our Power station of Reserves ******* (Lima), to this same direction email or through
the Web: www.aerocondor.com.pe

Sincerely,

José ***** ******
Reservations Area


_____________________________-My response

Sr. **********,

I've repeatedly tried to contact you and your airline about the fact that your website has not been allowing me to submit payment, but nobody has responded to my questions. I tried multiple times to submit my credit card information, but the form would not submit. I am going to try to book my flights through an agent, due to the fact that my attempts to book through the site have not been successful. Thank you.

****

_____________________Him:

Mss. Lisa **********:

You already have the reserve ********.

We have had updates in our Web, but already one is operative.

Again try to carry out the payment of this reserve with its card.

If it continues having problems to make the payment, I make shipment of another. Means of Payment MOTO: format of payment by means of Card Master Card, Visa or American Express. To send correctly filled it and signed. To send copy of its passport or DNI and of its credit card by both faces.

It will be able to send scanned it by this means or fax to the number **************.

Choose one of the formats and to send it to this mail with copy a *********** or scanned going a ****** or ******** to he himself I number of fax.

Any other consultation does not doubt in communicating with our Power station of Reserves ******** (Lima), to this same direction email or through the Web: www.aerocondor.com.pe

Sincerely,

José ****** *****
Reservations Area

_____________________ Final Response From Me:


Mr. ******,

I just attempted to pay one more time online, but it is still not working. I do not feel comfortable sending my private information, images of my passport, and credit card numbers over a fax or email, so please cancel our reservations. We will have to book through an agent. Thank you for your help.

Lisa ********

Getting Started

I'm in the process of getting ready for my trip, so I thought I'd do what any good 20-something traveler would do and set up a blog to keep people informed (or, more accurately, to talk to myself when I'm on the road so that I can remember what I've done a couple years later). Keep your eyes on this page through the month of May, and beyond, if you like, in order to see what I've gotten up to in my travels, and the post-travel comedown.