Despite the flurry of last minute planning (Friday afternoon the day before our flight Emily suddenly decides that she´s no longer comfortable with the let´s-just-go-and-see-when-we-get-there attitude), we managed to arrive in Antigua this morning safely and, while sleep-deprived, soundly, with not only a ride to Antigua, but also a place to stay, and a week of Spanish instruction at a school here (www.sevillantigua.com). Thank you, thank you, cheers to last-minute planning in true Jucovics style. (I´m taking a bow as I type.)And while we´d heard numerous stories of highway robbery and the likes in Guatemala, the largest challenge we´ve faced so far was getting to LAX from San Diego to catch the flight. Thanks to Eli´s debatedly-reckless driving, Milagros´s savy Internet skills, and the knowedgeable and efficient Greyhound employees (¨just go pick-up the red phone¨), we made it to LAX. (As a side note, all our fellow-passengers on the Greyhound HAD their noses completely intact and it was a very pleasant ride! Thank you very much for the scary stories and unnecessary anxiety though.)
Here in Antigua we´ve spent most of our time so far sleeping. (Emily´s actually an impressively sound sleeper, through a political rally/parade and all!)
The family I´ll be doing my homestay with (and Emily will too, judging from our first impressions so far, the delightful smells emanating from the kitchen, and her lack of interest in being proactive with her planning) seems very friendly and even more importantly, very patient with my massacre of their language. We did manage to wander out long enough to get a feel for the town and find food, water, an ATM, and the Internet. 
Emily´s already been wooed by all the travel agencies here and if it were up to her, we´d be spending each day in a different country. True, the options are all amazing, and travel here seems like it will be fun and cheap. We´re looking foward to some volcano hikes, bike tours, surf beaches, white water rafting, Mayan ruins, exciting border crossings... and of course, Spanish 101.
2 comments:
A part of life that has thus far managed to escape me is the "I'll figure it out when I get there" approach. Cheers to you for your adventuresome spirit, and, as if I hadn't pointedly assertained from my intial half hour with you, you are someone who lights the envy fire in my belly. Enjoy your conquest for knowledge and wonder, and please schedule time to describe, in detail, the why, what, and how of the excursion. In fact, let's do it atop Blackcomb mountain, say 8:00 PM on January 22nd, in the warming hut specializing in fondue and well-chosen wine. This locale is only reachable by snowmobile or snowcat, so dress warmly.
Later days, MJ --
Scott
You should totally come on the volcano hike with Theresa and me. It'll be awesome!
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