Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003 - 10:04 p.m.
****Fly AeroMexico! NOW!!! On the flight back this is what I had...Complimentary wine (or any other booze) then dinner: Lasagna that was 1.5 inches thick and about 5"x7" and LOADED with meat and a cheese sauce; a roll, a pepper salad and flan. Then hot tea or coffee..THEN when you think you're done, Gran Marnier or Amaretto!! How cool is that??
***On the return trip I was seated right smack dab in the middle of a Polish pilgrimage group (to Guadalupe) at the back of the plane. At the moment the wheels touched the runway they (and only they) burst into spontaneous applause. Maybe flying LOT airlines, non-eventful landings are deserving of applause...
*** Aztec History places us in the 5th era. The first four met their destruction by fire, wind, earth and water (I believe)...this one is to be destroyed by earthquakes....
*** In the air, north of Mexico City you can see dormant volcanoes! And there are other shapes that are definitely un-excavated pyramids...
*** I received a double upgrade with my Hertz Gold card: From A VW bug to a Dodge Neon....
*** Arturo at La Perla in Tulum: "Argentineans are the worst customers - they think they're Europeans. They always want a discount. So when we have a room that is going for 650 pesos, I tell them it goes for 900. They say it is too much so I say 800 and they take it..."
*** In spite of laying on my back and roasting in the sun quite well, the area under the chin, especially when covered with a beard, does not tan as I found out when I shaved the hair off and noticed a white underside to my chin....
***The signs in the Yucatan call seat belts: "Centurion de Seguridad" (or "Centurions of Security" - I expected to see a soldier somewhere guarding the roads!) and of the few people I asked, NO ONE knew what "Centurion de Seguridad" was... In Mexico City the signs call them "Centurion de Seguridad" but the people know what they mean.... On the AeroMexico flight they are called "Cinturon de Seguridad" (which is what a Spanish dictionary calls them ...
***When a street sign tells you to slow down (disminuya la velocidad) upon approaching a town, DO IT! There are speed bumps both metal and concrete that are 6" to 10" high; most car suspensions will not survive the impact at over 20 kilometers per hour...
*** Discussion with Customs agent in Chicago:
"So it says here you were on a livestock farm and you touched livestock?"
My reply: "No, I was in a restaurant called "Foculares" that had live roosters in them, I petted one."
"Go ahead."
I walked through the doors and was officially home......
