Exciting Times

First off, let me just say that this is not Natalie. She is busy bonding with Alexander, so I have been delegated as the trips blogger. So for those of you who are used to these posts having a certain standard of insight, poeticism or just plain good spelling and grammar -- You are out of luck.

But to the details,

1 ) The plane trip. The feud between the Dallas Airport and our family continues to rage. Storms throughout Dallas delayed every flight in and out except the one from Dallas to Guatemala City. So while we were an hour late our flight out was leaving right on time (Go figure!!). So knowing that our only flight that day was leaving in 10 min, Natalie and I decided to split up. I was to run ahead with the boarding passes and hold the plane until Natalie arrived. So off I go. For those who aren’t familiar with the Dallas Airport, the international terminal is approximately 1, 256 miles from the regular terminals -- give or take a light year or two. So as I arrive, the very nice gate attendant is already making last call announcements. I hand over both of our boarding passes and say that my wife is just behind me. I even motion with my hand toward a group of approaching people, who I don’t know from Adam for emphasis. My charade (so much a better word than LIE don’t you think) works and she enters both of us onto the flight list. I immediately bolt back up the concourse to retrieve my wife. I simply ignore the now not so nice gate agents as they call out that not boarding the plane at this instance is both "highly irregular and discouraged". I find Natalie a couple of gates away looking more that a little flushed, so I drag her the last few steps pass the frosty glares of the gate agents and get on the plane. The closing plane door literally hit me on the back on the way on.

Guatemala here we come.

2) The Hotel de San Carlos. I am told that this hotel is very beautiful. It has a beautiful garden with a pool complete with waterfall. I am also told that the food is excellent and the service if very friendly. I must mention that I have no first hand experience, because by the time the plane lands and we arrive at the hotel, I am already showing the symptoms of the flu that has run through other members of our family the last few days. So with all the loving kindness of a mother bear protecting her new cub, Natalie "suggests" I move to the hotel next door so I don’t get Alexander sick as well. It is the logical and wise choice, but I resist as I don’t want to miss anything. I am convinced that my super macho immune system will kill this pesky bug by Tuesday morning.

So by Tuesday morning I am too weak to stand, but somehow I find myself dressed and walking down the street with my suitcase in hand. I can’t remember for certain but I am pretty sure Natalie safety pinned a note to my shirt telling someone to take to me to Casa Grande Hotel where a room had mysteriously been reserved for me. Natalie was meanwhile busy moving to a new room in the San Carlos that had not yet been cootiefied by her husband. I proceed to sleep for the next 30 hours so the majority of the next blog entry is taken completely from Natalie’s notes.