Hitching a ride on a Colombian military plane (sort of)

Time is of the essence. In order for my bus trip to happen, I have to get back home as soon as possible (for my family and for work). But here is the dilemma: Once I am done and have reached the end of the Pan-American Highway in Turbo, must I ride a bus nearly 20 hours back to Bogota to fly home to America? It's not only a waste of time, but it's also uncomfortable. By then, I will have already been riding buses for 75.5 hours over a five-day period. I would go insane.

So do I fly back to Bogota? How?

Turbo has an airport, but I can't find any commercial carriers that fly there. That Google Street View's view of the airport entrance is this, and ends there, is not a good sign.

Fortunately, I snooped some more and discovered SATENA Airline. It's an airline created by the Colombian military to serve far-flung destinations along the Pacific Coast and the Amazon jungle. They serve Apartado, a town half an hour by taxi (car or motorbike) southeast of Turbo. For less than $100, I can take an ATR puddle jumper and fly to Bogota in 90 minutes direct or two 50 minute flights to Bogota via Medellin.

Here is a cool promo for SATENA Airline. The pilot even got picked up at home in a Duster!

And here is a two-part video of the flight from Medellin to Apartado. The planes at the airports are fascinating and the city of Medellin is oddly beautiful from the air.

Raphael O unscathed after rally car crash

So glad you're okay, man. Full story here.

Friday before Baku F1 race

Marshals getting ready to go to the track.

Tires and noses.

Scrutineering.

I love the font used on the license plates.

Checo.

Daniel Ricciardo?

Definitely Max V. here.

Alonso.

I didn't realize volunteer marshals worked in scrutineering.

Ulan Bator, city planning, and yurts

Tuesday before Baku F1 race

Tarlan worked as a marshal again at the Baku race and he took tons of photos. These are from the Tuesday before the race, when the marshals were getting acquainted with the track.

Atomic Blonde Lada chase scene

Via Flavio Gomes.

Mauritius and UK fight over Diego Garcia

This is a good summary of the recent UN vote:

And this is the result:

Note how many of the EU countries abstained and Commonwealth countries sided with Mauritius. Could this give Argentina the confidence to try to get the Falkland Islands?

Interjet Sukhoi Superjet 100

It appears Mexico's discount airline Interjet has some great deals to Lima and Bogota (out of LAX). I had never heard of the airline before and it is one of the few non-Russian carriers to use the Superjet 100. Has anyone here ever flown on a Superjet 100? Putin is supposedly going to make it the official Russian presidential plane.

Man collects 35 bags of microplastics in one day at Cornwall beach

More photos here.

79 year old female racer drives F1 car