Monday, February 2nd, 3:00 am? Day 2
Funny things are going on, I just have to tell you. All kinds of fireworks are going off even though it’s barely light out. Huge bangs. The last one was great, really loud. Then all you hear is hundreds (sounds like it at least) of roosters crowing. But it sounds like cheering. I guess that’s what it is. Then a bus driver starts beeping his horn. Like when there’s a wedding. Happy beeping. Everyone here’s celebrating the fact that the sun’s come up for a new day. Except us gringittas. They just keep snoring! I’ve been up for at least an hour but no movement yet. I can’t get out either because the sea of bodies is too much. I’ll bet you the men are up. Oh well, I’m only hard on the ladies with you see ’cause I have to be so damn nice to them in real life. Ha ha. I am starting to feel like myself again after a good long sleep. I ‘d say 8 hours at least. No more migraine. I call it that and don’t care what you say. That’s severe pain. I pray that today I’m not so handicapped. Could be worse that’s what I always say at the worst of times.
That reminds me of our travels here. You know who sucks? Americans. I got frazzled at Miami, at the x-ray belt. I said (now what did I say) oh yeah “this system’s fucking nuts!”. It was. I got mad. No one heard me except a nice young lady from (nearby town). We politely respected each other but I’ve only learned one girl’s name. Anyway, she helped. You see, we had an hour to transfer over. It was tight. But to us (home town) people there was all the time in the world to pee and stand around looking stupid. When we finally got to our line (to be scanned again) it was 2 miles long. They eventually pulled us out but this causes a mad rush. You had to race to get your boots, sweater even belt into their buckets. I forgot to put my money belt in the bucket. As well it is these young men’s custom to be rude. Their boss is on the walkie talkie saying “get those jerks for the Guatemala flight through!!”. All very nutso. So me not taking this belt off is damn stupid. Of course we were so rushed my zippers were open. Joe U.S. tried to help but they are really bad at their job. My money belt and belt and change were thrown in a little bucket and sent down as well. But they were so rushed and so much baggage on their little belt that the little bucket with my stuff gets crunched and spins up in the air. It’s actually funny now looking back.
“You can’t wear a belt!!?” Apparently I was the stupid one. Anyway, perhaps Mom will enjoy this part. At this point you are expected to get your belts, boots, belongings and luggage together in 10 seconds and move along. Believe me, this was my intention. Except I happen to notice Mom’s little stone is trapped between the spinning belt and…wait. There’s some sort of marching band. I am not kidding. I’m going outside, ladies be damned.
Ha ha, I guess I was wrong, despite the roosters, fireworks and marching band ( I wasn’t imagining that) it is nowhere near morning. The light I saw was just from our street lights. I bet it is 4:00am at the latest. I’ll go back to bed soon, when I’m done writing. Only you know what a dork I am diary.
Anyway, my harrowing story of good (that’s me) vs. evil. So her stone that is so special to her was stuck between metal and spinning conveyor belt. I just stuck my hand in it to get it out but it wouldn’t. I had to flick it out onto the ground and then crawl under to find where it had bounced. But before this a lady comes over and says “You can’t put your hand there”. I didn’t even look at her. I solved my own problems. It was just like the first x-ray guy. I was getting the key from my belt to open my luggage because he said my film couldn’t go through. And he said “No, lady, just take the belt off and put it through”. Like I was an idiot. Always with the treating people like idiots. I had to explain that if he expeted me to open my luggage I had to do this. Then it was his turn to feel dumb. Ha ha. Anyway the whole thing was a comedy of errors for awhile but we got through. I can’t begin to describe the types of people on the flight, the view of Guatemala from the plane etc. the smells at the airport. Oh but finally, Nicola will be interested to know that the soap at the airport was different. For one they keep it in a special Styrofoam cup that you dip one finger in. And, it smells like bubblegum. Good night everybody.
Wait. I just have to tell you one more funny thing about Guatemala. People here are always celebrating. I mean, it’s the middle of the night and drums and tubas. Anyway, on our bus ride here we saw young dudes as clowns in the street ( for money). Someone says “now is today a special festival day?”. No silly! This is what we do.
