JFK to Brazil

After an emotional airport goodbye, I boarded my flight to Sao Paulo on Friday evening.  Sick passenger = 1.5 hr delay = Late arrive in GRU airport = chaos.   My connecting flight to Itacare (actually Sao Paulo to Belo Horizonete to Illheus) was tight to begin with, not to mention I initially knew I needed clear customs and recheck my luggage to continue traveling through Brazil.   By the time I got off the plane and got my visa stamped, I had maybe 45 minutes until my flight was scheduled to take off.  I watched my luggage sit on the truck while literally every other bag came off the plane.  When I finally got the bag, there was no ‘easy check-in’ as promised by American.  Instead a massive line at the GOL counter – thankfully a very kind guy in line behind me noticed the universal sign of ‘I’m panicking and might miss my flight’ and got me ahead of the group.  I literally made it to the gate with five minutes to spare.